TMNT STORY TIME: Elias Koteas wasn’t gonna let NECA UNMASK his CASEY JONES Figure & I lost my mind!

[@DavesEmpire1981]

I'm thrilled that you were able to talk it through with him. Any TMNT 1990 collection would be incomplete without an unmasked Casey Jones.

[@jolanwix]

You have NO idea how amazing this news is! You guys were my childhood! To this day, my brother and I would see you anywhere on TV and we are like "oh look! It's April!" We see Elias and are like "Oh look, it's Casey Jones!" Thanks so much for that.

[@greenhyenas]

Huge thanks to Elias and Judith for making this possible. I might have had same initial feelings and appreciate consideration. The portraits look amazing!

[@tjnix1]

Elias IS Casey. Thanks for helping make this happen for the fans!

[@frankdux5785]

def one of the best parts of the movie. love/ed that character.

[@CarlosPerez-bt1tg]

Thank you Judith for sharing this particular story. There is no other Casey Jones for us, Elias was it just like you as April.

[@cretin_called_casey]

Yay another shot at casey me love casey

[@TheWeazel80]

Wow.. great story! 1990 TMNT IS THE BEST 🥷🐢🐢 MOVIE !! EVER !!!

[@miketalife]

JUDITH YOU ROCK! 🎸 Thank you for talking into unmasking Casey. You guys are so much more than our childhood. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! ❤🙏🐢🐢🐢🐢

[@superpael]

Judith youre amazing.

[@janpauledwarddedios5366]

I'm glad we are getting an unmasked casey. Him and raph was my favorite characters when I watched the movie as a kid.

[@ishigami2]

Great news! We owe you! Thank you Judith! ;)

[@MrJaneails22x]

This is excellent. The fact that an unmasked headsculpt was not included in the first release really made me second guess the purchase. I am so glad I waiting. This is how I remember Casey. Eating that apple on the porch bench, man. That was pure acting good there. Thank you, Judith!

[@lordjimbo2]

"It's coming along nicely." CRASH

[@jjwolfeday]

Elias as Casey was one of my favorite parts of the movie! Saw it right when it came out.

[@psilva2462]

Thanks for doing what you do. You’ve basically become the curator for TMNT 1990. And I’m glad you convinced him. Nobody has been able to duplicate what he did and yourself included in those roles

[@MatiasFeliciano1]

Thank you for sharing this story, Judith and I'm happy Elias agreed to have his likeness put on the Casey Jones figure. It wouldn't be the same if it wasn't him.

[@AaronForeal]

Thanks Judith. He was always my favorite in the movie and I felt he had the best lines in the movie. Thank you very much for this.

[@johnnydi2203]

I just hope Elias knows the fans appreciate him. I adore that 1990 TMNT movie and seeing all of you in it brings me a ton of joy.

[@dagoopa637]

Wow, all I can say is thank you Judith and Elias. 😭

[@Legion831]

Thank you so much Judith, I love you too😍😍😍

[@Igothellajordans]

Great story time!! It is very important to have Elias( hope I spelled that right) be apart of this.......he is Casey Jones as far as im concerned. He made Casey a real person and not some cheesy cartoon character. Judith your the best, great vid!!!!!

[@paulbrown6984]

Thank you so much for peeling back the curtain. You are so kind to us fans and i for one couldn’t be more grateful.

[@Tambuzi729]

I’m so ecstatic thank you Judith fir speaking to your friend and thank you Elias. We’re so happy

[@a.q.gonzales9835]

Philippine collectors are eagerly anticipating both of your toy figure to complete the TMNT family - Thank you...

[@Jpansta]

Now we need the kid that played right field in the Pizza Hut commercial that was before the movie on the VHS tape! Come on NECA!! Let’s get on it

[@Jpansta]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/imaldmedhalqrbM

[@liono1983]

You got to know how to catch, you got to know how to throw.... that's why I play right field way out where the dandelions grow. Lol I'm 37 and still know all the words to that commercial/song.

[@Jpansta]

@@liono1983 hell yeah! We need a time machine to get the hell outta here and back to the good times!

[@alexvaldez83]

The scene in the film where Casey and Donatello are fixing the truck while arguing over who Mary Anne from Gillgans Island had a relationship with Gilligan or the Professor is cinema gold! Casey Jones : Not even close, Zip Neck. Professor and Mary Anne. Happily ever after. Donatello : No way, Atomic Mouth, Gilligan was her main man. They'd be married and have six kids by now 🤣

[@andrewgedge4015]

Thank you for understanding that as silly as it may seem now, pop culture snapshots like this continue to resonate in our later years. I worry it is "pathetic" at times, and there's no shortage of people who are willing to reinforce that. However, reflecting on role-playing TMNT with my friends, noticing now how the different personality types of the brothers each contributed to the cohesion of the family, and how doing good for others could be done in stealth without seeking fame makes it all so very relevant. Regardless of the opinions on the various reboots of the franchise, it has brought it forward and introduced it to a new generation. It's something I can easily talk about with my kids when we struggle to find common passions. I'm so grateful to you for your unwillingness to dismiss these fans as "sad", "pitiful", or "pathetic". You are a gem and still hold a special place in my heart.

[@jamesoblivion]

Thank you so much for speaking to Elias. He's an amazing actor, who's always reminded me of a younger Bob De Niro, and his Casey Jones was perfection. The line would be forever incomplete without his face.

[@Saugerdees]

Holy crap, you're right. He does look like DeNiro! How did I not see it before?

[@Guy-mx4fb]

I teared up a bit when you talked about how big an impact TMNT was. Cause it was for me, you guys are like family in my eyes and just so much love for everyone in that film

[@michaeltorre8170]

Thank You Judith.

[@iamfondoftmnt]

Awesomeness ! So glad you got him into it Judith !

[@jeremyburdge8573]

That is awesome because we have not had a Unmasked Casey Jones(Elias Koteas) since the 1993 playmates TMNT movie figures for part 3 and it was a two in one figures when he played Casey and Whit. He came with the Turtlepult.

[@benowen3399]

Awsum story . . everything u told him, was absolutely spot on 👌🏼 'your a natural sis' glad you & Casey are on board, the TMNT '90 set wouldnt be complete without you two. I still to this day memorise the park confrontation between Casey & Raph . . "crick'it u godd'a know wad'a crumpet is to undastan crick'it . .

[@adamthompson7262]

Thank you Judith! Its so great to hear that Elias is such a good soul.

[@MarcoFD]

your point about actors actually make sense, they have to hide away in a fake imaginary character to be able to step up to the spotlight so its like hiding yourself from the rest in plain sight really by changing your external locus to something you are not.

[@MatticusPrime1]

Awesome story! Please call Tatsu next!

[@MrOzone-hc1py]

Nice! Thanks April!!!!

[@sarahcottrell9841]

OMG! They look so cool. And I have a two year old daughter who loves TMNT. And it cool to see those my daughter's favorite is raph and casey.

[@RynMyers]

So glad he signed on.

[@edwinarzola9676]

Thank you for talking to him. You’re right, the collection wouldn’t be complete without him!

[@sabin23]

Thank you Judith!

[@Nullone36]

I was obsessed with tmnt after I saw the movie. The first ninja turtle I got was given to me by my cousin and he passed away a year ago and every time I see my collection of tmnt I think of him and I think of our childhood memories. I used to draw the turtles all the time and he was sick of my drawings. Thank you guys for the memories. Now I’m a 40 years old man collecting every neca turtle there is and trying to get my kids into it. Thank you again!!!

[@bryc2675]

If other toy lines had actors as cool as you and understanding there were be alot more in-depth collections. Thanks JH for going to bat for us 😊

[@CousinRyan]

You two had such great chemistry! I wish it would've been carried over into the next two TMNT films! You guys are the best!

[@MrManDiller]

Thank you so much for being a part of my childhood. It's pretty cool of you to celebrate a niche figure collection with/for the fans.

[@chrisk9284]

Thanks for sharing Judith. Glad Elias gave his approval. Much love to you both.

[@tomychu5892]

Thank you, Judith. That was awesome you were able to talk him into it. The collection would not be complete without him.

[@MasterSkywalker86]

Well Judith thats really cool. Glad you spoke to him. I do hope there is like a mask you can take on and off. But anyways I'm glad he decided to have casey unmasked. I have ordered for figure that comes in time for my birthday. Ill make sure I get his. This movie came out a more fun point of my life. one I often think about. I was a freshmen in high school. I wanted to see it. I didn't have many friends at the time. So having films like this come out to see with my two younger brothers is a fond memory. I was a TMNT fan starting my first year in middle school actually. And I loved the movie.

[@williamwilcox2400]

That was a great story, Judith. You and Elias were great in TMNT.

[@slimbroco572]

He has my favorite line in the movie. When he knocks out two foot soldiers n says, "So talented." 😄😄😄

[@markus_with_a_k]

I grew up in the 90s and watched the movies over and over. I don't even recall watching the cartoons. Casey was always one of my favorites and was sad (even as a kid) not to see him in TMNT2. I'm glad to have all these figures. We all should have a piece of our childhood memories.

[@RVDTITO4LIFE]

Thank you so much Judith. I love how you get it. It is so much more than a figure and it means a lot to us as a collector. He was a lot of fans favorite character and the collection would feel incomplete without him.

[@juspeel]

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about TMNT is the 1990 TMNT film and 80s cartoon series. I watched the ‘90 film countless times as a kid. Thanks for sharing Judith!

[@fancythebold]

I hope one day he will do a video with you , I'd love to hear his take on the filming process!

[@RayRoss925]

Cool story, Judith. I actually saw all the TMNT movies for the first time this past week, I love them all, such fun, silly movies. I was only familiar with your work from the Halloweentown movies and Nashville, you rocked as April, gorgeous then, still gorgeous now. 😍

[@tyleradams3490]

Absolutely wonderful. It means a lot to me. When you said "it was your lifeline" that brought tears to my eyes. When I was growing up it was me, my older brother(by a year), and our single, drug addicted mother - we didn't have a great upbringing/situation but we had these movies and these strong characters. I especially loved your version of April(we literally wrote a song which was mostly just "April O'Neeeiiiiil, I loooove yooooou" over and over haha).

[@judithhoag-goddessonfire369]

Now you’re bringing tears to my eyes ❤️🔥🐢🔥❤️

[@smooothybuns]

What a babe! Thanks Judith!

[@jasonreidlowery]

Thank you so much for going the extra mile on this. It means alot to us turtle fans! You're amazing!

[@StephenCinAZ]

I had the pleasure of meeting Elias Koteas a little over a decade ago when I was working as a TSA screener at the airport in Oklahoma City. I was checking IDs and boarding passes at the time, and I saw this really familiar-looking guy in a newsie cap waiting in line. By the time he got up to me, I'd already recognized him, but it was confirmed when he handed me his driver's license and I saw his name. I said, "Well, I'll be... It's Casey Jones!" He smiled a bit and said something like, "yeah...sixteen years now" (I assume referring to the last time he played the character in the third movie). I was able to tell him how much I loved the movie as a kid, and still do as an adult, and he shook my hand, thanked me, and headed on his way. Meanwhile, I was grinning from ear to ear as a fanboy does. :D In any case, thank you for sharing these videos and stories about the film, and for informing me of these figures that I need to go check out...

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Judith is still THE BEST April O'neil.

[@gizmotorama]

Judith I am a fan of how you characterize human emotion and explore the psychological aspects of this shared life experience. This adds another level of nostalgia for me and makes impossible the thought of not having this figure, as part of my TMNT memorabilia. I thank Elias for giving his permission.

[@judithhoag-goddessonfire369]

My pleasure!

[@jcsf0otrub992]

The one and only and the best April o Neal off all 🐢

[@chrissanford1444]

Thanks Judith!

[@lepauvrefou]

Thank you so much about that Miss Judith. You're so right by telling it's a kid dream coming true. I was sad when i was 8 and not having both of your action figures in the Playmates line.

[@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch]

Any chance you could talk Peter Weller into unmasking his NECA RoboCop figure too, Judith? 🤞🏻

[@robd1329]

Does she know him?? That would be cool but think the robocop line died out

[@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch]

@@robd1329 Not sure, but as a fellow actor who's had dealings with NECA, and considering Judith persuaded Elias Koteas, it's a sound suggestion.

[@a-dev3503]

Bit of a stretch but I had a similar thought about other cases where actors have (presumably) declined - Peter Weller, key members of the Predator cast etc

[@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch]

@@a-dev3503 Dare I say it, were Sir John Hurt still alive we wouldn't now have an unfacehugged Kane (Alien) figure; it's his estate which agreed to the use of his likeness.

[@a-dev3503]

@@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch Yeah that may be the case. Sometimes the actors really don't understand it, don't care to and there isn't a Judith Hoag to persuade them.

[@the7percentsolution]

I've always wondered how actors feel about getting an action figure made of them. I totally get Elias's reluctance but I'm glad your enthusiasm won him over! Thank you Judith! :)

[@yanez_cutz2397]

Thank you Judith for making this happened it was only right for him to be a part of this nostalgic moment that he deserves we all turtles fans appreciate it your the best!!!!

[@R00M51]

Oh Judith! Thanks for convincing Elias ❤ Now we have inmortalized in plastic your characters 🙏

[@tavo8756]

Omg! Just wooooooooow!

[@ConnorDangerCash]

This whole story is just so beautiful. Thank you so much Judith and Elias for doing this! Being able to own these figures of you both to commemorate this amazing movie and everything it meant to me growing up is a dream come true.

[@MarkyPotter]

Absolutely awesome 👏🏻 I can’t wait to have you both together ❤️

[@a-dev3503]

The TMNT line and its fans are lucky to have an ambassador such as yourself working the case! Thanks to you and Elias for signing off on these figures. Why weren't you in ALL the movies I'm collecting figures from??

[@Chainsawhappy]

Thank you so much for sharing this story. The Casey figure is amazing and we have you to thank for getting him involved so thank you again!

[@chrisbarcode3411]

Wouldn't it be great if one day we did get a live action ninja turtle series and Elias got involved to! Can't wait to get that unmasked Casey Jones figure 🐢👊

[@habiit7178]

Thank you so much many Blessings!!!

[@charlieomeara1856]

Awesome! I just ordered my April O’Neil figure last month. Look forward to seeing the new Casey Jones unmasked figure too!

[@ClaudiosCollection]

My OG couple! Nothing better than Casey and April's romance from that film!

[@jeremycoleman2736]

Love the Casey Jones action figure!

[@tompollockjr144]

Great work, Judith! The line wouldn't be the same without him. Now here's hoping you can talk NECA into another open pre-order so we can all get one!

[@anthony_arcade6269]

Aww I loved you growing up, and seeing you in the OG turtles movie I had such a big crush on you. You’re still beautiful and loved hearing this story.🥰 thank you for sharing and opening up to us fans who really hold this movie 🍿 dear to our hearts ♥️

[@LabRatWarfare]

Such an awesome story!! So awesome you were able to get him on board for us, this collection wouldn't be complete without his unmasked figure!! Thank you Judith for being such a Goddess On Fire and bringing the light to Elias!! 😉🐀

[@JONNYSORENSEN_AU]

So... Vanilla Ice unmasked next please.

[@nycbloodymoney23]

You are the best Judith!!!!! thank you so much for making this happen!!!! i hope you and your family are doing well!

[@parkerbeard6170]

Judith and Elias were the best bad ass couple on the movie! It's ashame you were fired, b/c you two would've brought bigger ratings had they kept you two together big sister! You'll always be my big sister, I still get chills that I got to meet you face to face, and you turned out to be the person I had dreams about being a big sister!

[@highscores8593]

Figures look so good

[@BuckRoberts417]

I was fifteen when the film came out and bought the soundtrack on vinyl then. Saw the film again recently (had not seen it in over three decades) and was deeply moved by its theme of fatherhood. Now I have started to collect these awesome TMNT action figures by NECA.

[@carolooch53]

Judith, you nailed the role! Rock on and hope to see future projects, TMNT 4!

[@Joey_JcM]

You look amazing girl! You don't look like you've aged! ; )

[@CarlosSoto-xe2we]

Thank you for taking Elias into green lighting his figure. His Casey Jones is perfect and it does mean so much to have him join the neca turtle world!! Thank you!!❤

[@georgerollinmud5953]

Cowabunga!! That is so awesome, i was kinda waiting for an unmasked Casey Jones. Thank u Judith & Elias 👍

[@yashik]

amazing story and many many thanks for being so active and willing to talk to Elias about it from a perspective of a collector... we appreciate it a lot, being able to recreate our most favorite scenes from the movie in our homes is so awesome... thanks

[@elche8177]

As if we needed any more reasons to love you Judith. Kudos on your figure as well as leading the charge in getting us TMNT fans an unmasked Casey Jones figure. 🐀🐢🐢🐢🐢

[@TheHattedMan]

Thanks Judith, Casey is my favorite Turtles character.

[@jhartman2730]

Thank you for getting him to do this. I remember going to the theater for the first time as the age of 6 watching the movie. When NECA started to come out with these figures nostalgia hit me hard. I was hoping for a figure of you (which I pre-ordered 2) and one of Casey Jones. To help complete the set! Now my 4 year old son is into the Ninja turtles and enjoys them just as much as me. Thank you for want you have done and the Ninja Turtles fan base is in debt to you! 😁

[@richieeee01]

All we need now is Tatsu! Judith please get in touch with the actor who played him. My collection doesn’t feel complete without him standing next to shredder and the foot soldiers lol

[@hayabusa5306]

I want em all LOL

[@dmnchla827]

Love you Judith Hoag😃 Big Casey Jones fan! 🙏🏼

[@6darkknight972]

Wow Neca did it again! Ms Judith you look beautiful as ever seems like you didn't age that much. When I re-watch again the TMNT 90's movie you suddenly became my crush, coz that time I was still young pretty innocent 😁🐢🐢🐢🐢🐀🍕🇵🇭 Cowabunga!!!!

[@ShinSamus]

Thank you so much for sharing this, Judith! You and Elias are by far my favorite April O'Neal and Casey Jones ever- God bless you both and all your loved ones, and thank you both for being such a fun part of my childhood! ❤️

[@Izzy8u]

Thank Judith, thank you Elias!

[@michaelroberts5838]

Thank you so much Judith I dressed up like Casey Jones for Halloween in 1990 he was a big part of my childhood I can't thank you enough you really are awesome!!!!!

[@ianashby6294]

My favorite casey jones working on a cosplay of him waiting on the mask