Pittsburgh Dad

Pittsburgh Dad

Title from opening sequence
Created by Chris Preksta
Curt Wootton
Directed by Chris Preksta
Starring Curt Wootton
Country of origin United States
Release
Original network YouTube
External links
Pittsburgh Dad

Pittsburgh Dad is an online series of short films featuring the observations of a "blue-collar" father from Pittsburgh who speaks with a thick Pittsburghese dialect.[1][2]

Background

The Internet show was created by Chris Preksta and Curt Wootton. Preksta, a native of Munhall and a graduate of Point Park University and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, serves as director.[2][3] Wootton, a native of Greensburg, Pennsylvania who graduated from West Virginia University, plays the "Pittsburgh Dad".[2] Wootton and Preksta met on the set of the 2005 web series Captain Blasto.[2] They later collaborated on The Mercury Men for the Syfy network, where Wootton entertained the crew with a character based on his own father, Keith, emulating the thick Pittsburghese accent of his youth.[2][3] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes the character as "Archie Bunker from Dahntahn or S'Liberty or Little Warshington," referencing Pittsburgh locales.[2] Dan Gigler of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette praised the portrayal, saying, "This is supposed to be a parody but it's practically a documentary. Pure genius. De Niro has nothing on Curt Wootten for method acting. This is a dead on portrayal of like, every single one of my male relatives."[4]

The first several episodes were recorded "just for fun" on an iPhone, with the intended audience only the two men's families and friends.[3] It quickly became an Internet hit, generating 3 million YouTube views within 6 months.[2][3] The series appeals to both current and ex-Pittsburghers, many of whom relate to the character's speech patterns and temperament.[2]

Each episode lasts about 2 to 9 minutes and opens with a piano theme song reminiscent of the intro to another Pittsburgh-based program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[2] Each show features the Pittsburgh Dad delivering soliloquies on topics including "grass clippings," "freeze pops," and "jag-offs in Baltimore/Philadelphia," all punctuated by an exaggerated laugh track,[2][5] which would eventually be removed.

The idiosyncrasies of Pittsburghese plays a large role in the show, including such regional words as "yinz," which means "you (plural)"; "nebby", which describes a nosy person; and "redd up", an idiomatic phrase (imported from Scots into regional American English) which means to clean up and/or to make a space orderly.[6][7]

Pittsburgh Dad was one of 3 finalists for the 2012 Steeltown Film Factory award.[8] In 2011, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named it the 3rd best internet video of the year.[9]

In November 2012 both Pretska and Wootton were hosts and guests of the annual Three Rivers Film Festival in Pittsburgh.[10]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has published guest columns written by "Pittsburgh Dad," including one for Father's Day 2013.[11]

In October 2013, Pittsburgh restaurant chain Eat'n Park issued a special edition "Smiley Cookie" bearing Pittsburgh Dad's face; the cookie, which was to raise funds for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, was the first ever Smiley Cookie to feature the likeness of a living person.[12]

On December 19, 2014, WPXI aired a Pittsburgh Dad-themed Christmas special, Pittsburgh Dad's Guide to Christmas. Hosted by WQED personality Rick Sebak, the special showed Pittsburgh Dad's previous Christmas specials, as well as debuting a new one at the end. The 1960s-era NBC "Laramie Peacock" made a cameo appearance at the beginning of the special.[13]

On July 14, 2015, Pittsburgh Dad aired a special Back to the Future-themed episode in tribute to the first film's 30th anniversary, complete with a DeLorean time machine. The episode showed Dad (all in a "what-if" cutaway) going back to 1989 just to shop at Hills, 1988 where he "appeared" in the WQED production Kennywood Memories to visit attractions "before they tear them out", to 1972 to watch the Immaculate Reception in person and buy beer for $.75/bottle while at the game (as well as telling the fans "not to hold their breath" on construction on upgrading Pennsylvania Route 28 to a freeway that didn't eventually end until late 2014), and to change Tom Brady's future from being a star with the New England Patriots to owning an automotive detailing business.[14]

Based on the aforementioned mention of Hills in the Back to the Future-themed episode as well as several episodes of Dad wearing Hills-themed attire, a Pittsburgh-based candle company released a "Pittsburgh Dad's Hills Snack Bar" scented candle that is supposed to replicate the smell of the popular snack bar from the now-defunct chain.[15]

Starting with the 2016 NFL season, Pittsburgh Dad now airs a weekly recap of the Steelers game in addition to regular episodes.

Characters

The title character watching the Pittsburgh Penguins. Note the character's stereotypical Pittsburgh glasses and facial hair, along with the Iron City Brewing Company sign in the background.

Though the "Pittsburgh Dad" is the only character visible for the duration of the episodes, a number of developed unseen characters play an integral role in the series:

Dad's Catchphrases

"3-2-1 Win" said at the end of any game in which Dad's team wins. Dad often posts this on his official Twitter account after the Steelers win,[16] and even has his own beer named "3-2-1 Win Beer."[17]

"You know what's next, right?" said when Dad complains about something, followed by a one-word description of what Dad thinks will happen as a result.

"I'd hate to be you when Mom finds out."

"Ah, what-a-you mean?"

"Hey Tom!"

"Geh-outta-there!" spoken as one word, whenever one of the family pets is in a place where they aren't supposed to be.

Controversy

On January 4, 2015, a video quickly surfaced of Wootton being out of character at a bar watching both the Steelers playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins game against the Montreal Canadiens that were playing concurrently. In the video, a drunken Wootton criticized the Penguins game and ice hockey in general in a profanity-laced rant caused by the Steelers losing the game to their archrival; both games resulted in lopsided defeats for the Pittsburgh teams. The next day, Wootton acknowledged the incident happening and apologized on his official Facebook page.[18] The following episode of Pittsburgh Dad posted January 7, 2015, poked fun at the incident, with Dad (all covered in Penguins gear in his kitchen) poking fun at Wootton and at the end of the episode breaking the fourth wall by acknowledging that Pittsburgh Dad is a series.[19] The incident would later be briefly referenced in the episode "Dad Goes Back to the Future."[14]

References

  1. Rotstein, Gary (2012-03-12). "The Morning File / Kids, listen up: This Pittsburgh paterfamilias has some edicts". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fuoco, Michael A. (December 3, 2011). "'Pittsburgh Dad' is an Internet sensation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Weaver, Rachel (May 8, 2012). "'Pittsburgh Dad' passes 3 million views on YouTube". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  4. Gigler, Dan (December 6, 2011). "Pittsburgh Dad: Watching the Steelers". Blog n Gold. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  5. "Pittsburgh Dad: Watching The Penguins". WBZZ. CBS Radio. April 11, 2012.
  6. "Online video series celebrates the Pittsburgh dad". Associated Press. November 25, 2011.
  7. "Hey! You Kids Better Be Watchin' Pittsburgh Dad N'at!". WTAE-TV. Dec 5, 2011.
  8. Vancheri, Barbara (May 4, 2012). "Film Notes: Steeltown to unveil film winner, newly named award". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  9. McCoy, Adrian (2012-03-12). "Best Web Video: Danny MacAskill". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  10. "Three Rivers Film festival schedule -- Week 3 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 15, 2012.
  11. "Pittsburgh Dad" (June 16, 2013). "Father's Day: That holiday yinz can't be just overlookin'". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  12. Heyl, Eric (Oct 15, 2013). "Eat'n Park cookies a tribute to Pittsburgh Dad show's success". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  13. 'Pittsburgh Dad' Christmas special coming to WPXI-TV WPXI (12/09/2014)
  14. 1 2 Dad Goes Back to the Future Pittsburgh Dad (07/14/2015)
  15. https://www.sugarcreekcandlecompany.com/product/pittsburgh-dads-hills-snack-bar/
  16. https://twitter.com/Pittsburgh_Dad/status/541702163249266688
  17. http://pghdad.com/home/2013/8/20/pittsburgh-dad-beer
  18. ‘Pittsburgh Dad’ Apologizes For Video Rant About Penguins KDKA-TV (01/05/2015)
  19. PITTSBURGH DAD WATCHES "JAGOFF IN BAR" VIDEO
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