It’s funny how sometimes the smallest things can make a significant impact on a person. You can buy a kid the most expensive toys, the most popular movies and music, and yet somehow the cardboard box they found in the recycling is the thing that they have the warmest and most vivid memories of for years to come. For me, my “cardboard box” was none other than the Hot Newz 64 VHS tape - a promotional video tape sent out to Nintendo Power subscribers in 1999. It was meant to showcase Donkey Kong 64 and Jet Force Gemini, among other upcoming games for the Nintendo 64.

One look at this VHS box and you just knew it was destined for greatness.

While I had no shortage of VHS tapes of actual movies and TV shows to choose from at the time, there was something about this video tape that drew six year old me in repeatedly. The in your face visuals & music, the video game footage, the jokes...all of it absolutely mesmerized me. This free tape, simply meant to sell more video games, somehow became my new favorite thing. So naturally, 20 years and one nostalgia blog later, I did the only thing left to do: interviewed the star of Hot Newz 64, Steve Sobel!

The VHS tape in question, in it’s entirety. For anyone who wants to watch first.

First things first Steve, let’s address the big monkey in the room: how did the infamous “crush me big monkey” line come about?

DK and I were riffing and it just came out. Kidding. It was in the script. Then, they told me to look up, like I was being crushed by something (we were doing green screen). That’s it. Wish it were a better story.

How did you end up landing the role in Hot Newz 64, and were there ever any plans to make more than one of these episodes?

That role is actually really important to me because it was the very first on camera gig I ever got! I had hosted a show on my campus’ TV network back at USC. After that, I’d been auditioning for a WHILE and hadn’t booked a legit gig. When they hired me, I was so psyched and relieved that I had gotten an actual job. We shot it in Seattle, so I got a free trip too. The director and crew were super cool. Plus, after we wrapped, they gave me an N64 and a bunch of games. Including Donkey Kong Jr. of course! AND I got to keep the yellow shirt! Everyone one was happy with it. But no, they never contacted me about making another. Why mess with perfection?

What was it like working for Nintendo?

This was a production company hired by Nintendo to make the thing. I don’t specifically remember anyone from Nintendo even being there, but they might have been. Or maybe not? Maybe that’s why it’s so over-the-top? On the other hand, it’s about on-par for the 90s.

Are you a gamer yourself?

I am embarrassed to admit that I’m not. I actually booked quite a few video-game related gigs around that time. I did a promo for Xbox, I hosted an event at E3 for Metal Gear Solid, and some others. I guess I just looked the part. I was always afraid that whoever hired me would find out I wasn’t really this huge gamer dude. But most of the time, all I had to do was read what was on the page.

(if yes) What are some of your favorite games, N64 or otherwise.

Well, I’m an 80s kid, so I bet I could whip your ass at Galaga or Defender. But I never really got into console games (even with the free N64). The only game I ever got addicted to was Vice City. I grew up in Miami Beach during those years, so that one hooked me. I spent many late nights knocking over virtual jewelry stores and worse. But I started to have crazy dreams, and having the urge to crash my car into cop cars while I was on the road. So I pulled the plug. I now have a 10-year-old son, and he loves his Nintendo Switch. Sometimes we play Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros (Which I wrongly call ‘Smash Brothers’ and he thinks is hilarious.)

If Koizumi ever can't do a Nintendo Direct for some reason, would you consider filling in?

Sure! Call me! I’ll be sure to work in ‘crush me big monkey’ somewhere.

We also noticed that you just recently had a role on season 3 of Westworld, what were some of your other acting gigs? Which was your favorite?

Yes, I appear on Westworld this season (Season 3, Episode 3, ‘The Absence of a Field’). I play Thomas, a child predator who (uh, spoiler alert, I guess?) is violently killed by Charlotte Hale, Tessa Thompson’s character. I’m a huge fan of the show, so I was thrilled to play the part, even if he is a rather unsavory fellow. That was one of my favorites for sure. Another favorite that comes to mind is a film I did called ‘Love is Never Wasted.’ It’s part of the ‘Removed’ series of films about foster parenting. A beautiful film about an important subject matter.

Tell us a fun fact about Steve Sobel.

A fun fact about me is how much of a kick I get out of the fact that this weird promo I did when I was 23 impacted some kid’s childhood. I had this skateboarding video when I was a kid that I must have watched a million times, because that’s what I was into. I think this is one of those videos for some people. That makes me happy. Also, I know that I seem insane in it. When people online make fun of the clip, and say they want to punch ‘yellow shirt guy?’ I get it. If I could go back in time, I’d punch yellow shirt guy, too.