Camp WWE Showrunner to 411: ‘Vince Has Been a Dream Come True’

Recently, 411mania had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Camp WWE; showrunner and head writer Aaron Blitzstein. Camp WWE was created by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and the team of Seth Green, Matt Senreich, Eric Towner and John Harvatine IV, the team behind the comedy behemoth Robot Chicken. The animated series re-imagines WWE Superstars as eight-year-old boys and girls at a summer camp. The show recently premiered earlier this month on the WWE Network.

As a writer, Blitzstein has had a impressive career. His work spans The Late Show With David Letterman, Ugly Americans;, and the hit animated series Family Guy. Blitzstein had a lot to say on his experience working on Camp WWE and creating a hysterical and elaborate world with professional wrestlers being transformed into kids and what it was like to work with with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. McMahon actually voices his own character in every episode of the animated show. Here’s what Blitzstein had to say about heading up Camp WWE:

Jeffrey Harris: Where did the concept for the show, and how did the journey start for you?

Aaron Blitzstein: Well the concept actually predates me a bit. I think Seth [Green] had been in talks with WWE before about creating this world with Superstars as kids at a camp run by WWE had been discussed. And then when Seth brought me on to help get involved with the show and build up this world, we just started thinking about characters and who these kids would would be at eight and nine years old; and how much from the real-life WWE Universe we would take and how much we would create. And along with WWE’s involvement, they absolutely helped us throughout this journey creating the tone of the show. What Seth and I kept doing was following the laughs. I think when Seth and I were laughing listening to pitching jokes and pitching the world and the characters, that’s what we kept following. WWE has been so encouraging in terms of just going for it and not holding back. If there was a point they felt or even they felt we needed to temper things a bit, we did. In general, I would say we just wanted to make ourselves laugh.

Jeffrey Harris: This is a show created exclusively for the WWE Network, which is a digital, video-on-demand, streaming network. We’re in a very interesting era where we see content being specifically produced for a streaming outlet like this. It’s not only happening for WWE Network. It’s happening for Netflix, and for Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, it’s also happening on Crackle with Super Mansion. As a content creator and person who works on delivering this content, what is this era like for you? Is it creating opportunities for content, or is it diluting the market?

Aaron Blitzstein: I would say it’s an incredible time to be creating because there was once a time when you had X amount of networks or cable channels to go and pitch show ideas to. And to each his own, I think there are still people who write for network television. That is their tone and that is their home. But for people who are trying to create something a little bit different, off-the-grid, edgier at times, this era is so exciting because us being able to do this show for the WWE Network — I mean it’s incredible. It’s just an incredible opportunity. Not to say that we couldn’t have, before the WWE Network existed, pitched Adult Swim or HBO or FX or whatever, but being able to partner with WWE, it’s a dream. I think having other streaming networks out there is incredible. It’s definitely providing other places for writers to go and explore and go crazy. Not crazy in the literal sense, but to have other voices we aren’t allowed to necessarily have on other networks.

Jeffrey Harris: Had you ever worked with the gentlemen at Stoopid Buddies before this show? Did you know Seth Green and Matthew Senreich at all?

Aaron Blitzstein: No, not at all. Well I wrote on Family Guy, and Seth obviously voiced Chris Griffin since day one. So obviously were well aware of one another. When this project and both our passion for WWE — it just became obvious when we sat down face-to-face all the places that we could go with this show. I think I remember in that first meeting sitting with Seth and looking at Robot Chicken posters and Superman s*** and everything around, and we’re talking about Roddy Piper and Vince McMahon and all the things that we could do. I think I said to Seth, “This is my Rushmore. I feel like all paths have led to you and I sitting down and having this conversation. It just felt so obvious and right that we would do this.”

Jeffrey Harris: What was your fandom for professional wrestling before you started working on this show?

Aaron Blitzstein: I’ve been watching wrestling since I was six or seven years old. And that’s almost religiously. I don’t think — there may have been one period in my life I think in the early 90s where I was not watching for whatever reason. I go back to the WWF era of wrestling. I’ve been a devout follower of sports entertainment forever.

Jeffrey Harris: Getting Vince McMahon to play himself in this show, I don’t know who else could do that because of his unique voice. So how was it working with him, and was there anything in particular he was confused about in particular with the humor?

Aaron Blitzstein: Vince has been a dream come true. I mean I know you’re asking about Vince, and I will say that about Vince, but I will say this across the board about Vince, Ric Flair, Sgt. Slaughter, The Godfather, Jake Roberts, everyone. People I don’t think give this world and these people enough credit for their range, their timing, their memorization of lines, just putting them in a certain environment and seeing how quickly and effectively they adapt. Vince has been incredible. I mean there have been zero times we’ve written something that he hasn’t gotten immediately, and where Seth, Vince and myself have been laughing hysterically in recording sessions. And watching him laugh, doubled over, walking out of screen in the studio, and Seth and I were laughing — it’s been amazing. And not only that, to Vince’s credit, there have been times during records where we’ll say, “Run a line with Vince two or three times.” And Seth and I will look at each other and say, “OK, I think we got it.” And several times, Vince we’ll say, “Hang on guys. I think I got a better one.” And then he delivers the same line in a different way, and he nails it. He and everyone have been so great. Part of the beauty is — knowing this world and how we’re writing this show — we’re not looking for Daniel Day Lewis to appear in an episode and have these crazy acting chops. What they’re delivering, we are expecting. I think that marriage of the writing and what Ric Flair and Sgt. Slaughter and all the other legends are capable of doing, we are writing to their strengths. It’s been great.

Jeffrey Harris: Is there any chance Sting could show up in this show as an activity counselor?

Aaron Blitzstein: Anything is possible. I could say that. I’m not just saying that to tease, but we have gone to WWE and requested — I mean there are a lot of Easter eggs throughout the show. You’ll definitely catch things in the first viewing, but second, third and fourth, you’ll catch things in the background and references being made throughout the rest of the series that are going to catch you off-guard and be a lot of fun. In terms of the Superstars and bringing them in as characters, honestly, anything is possible. It’s absolutely plausible. We’ve made requests where we asked for Jake the Snake, and we got Jake the Snake. We wanted Sgt. Slaughter, we had Sgt. Slaughter. WWE’s been incredible. They just want what we want, that is a great, great, fun show. I think being able to make requests whether it’s for Sting or other legends, I don’t perceive it as being a problem.

Jeffrey Harris: Any possibilities for some action figures or maybe some Pop Vinyls or other collectibles made of the characters as they’re depicted in the show?

Aaron Blitzstein: We pray that happens. Ever since we saw the final version of John Cena, every single person involved in the show has asked that question. Everyone wants to hold the versions of these Superstars in their hands. Creating these characters has just been so much fun. I think there are endless opportunities to see these characters in multiple forms, from vinyl figures to everything. I’m hoping that does happen.

Jeffrey Harris: I really just enjoyed the way that The Undertaker’s care package of cookies was shaped like a coffin. So do you want to hang your hat on that, or who takes credit for that idea?

Aaron Blitzstein: I don’t want to take credit for anything. This has been a collaborative effort for not just Seth and I, but the writing staff on this show, which goes from writers from Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, Archer, Rick & Morty, Community, we have some funny, funny people in that room pitching from all different sides. We were really fortunate to have those minds in that room all pitching on characters like Undertaker, Cena, things that would be happening in the background — sudden appearances of someone that has nothing to do with a certain scene — so we had some great minds in that writers’ room. I definitely can’t take credit for anything. Also from that respect, WWE — their notes on the show were spectacular. They were so on it. Obviously, they’re going to know their brand, but they also helped us navigate this world that we were constantly changing and creating on the fly. They had such great input too. Yeah, it’s been a team effort for sure.

Jeffrey Harris: How many episodes can we expect for the first season?

Aaron Blitzstein: There are five episodes that WWE will be airing throughout May, beginning on May 1 after Payback. And then in weeks immediately following Raw, all on demand. So there are five, and definitely more episodes following that. And hopefully a hell of a lot more. But we can promise five throughout the month of May and June, and we definitely got more.

Jeffrey Harris: Can you give us any hints about Ultimate Warrior’s appearance in the show?

Aaron Blitzstein: Yes, Ultimate Warrior’s likeness and character are definitely in the show. He’s got a huge episode that he plays a spirit counselor. He’s very much Ultimate Warrior, kind of along the lines of people saying Vince McMahon being the Peter Griffin of this universe, or Mr. Burns on steroids or whatever. But as far as Ultimate Warrior, we’re definitely keeping to the spirit of who the Ultimate Warrior was and always will be to so many fans and taking it to a whole other level. That episode is so amazing.

Jeffrey Harris: When you got the opportunity to write for David Letterman on The Late Show, what did you learn as a person from that process?

Aaron Blitzstein: I mean it was incredible. Growing up, he was my everything. Pretty much in terms of comedy, after Johnny Carson — even a little bit during Johnny Carson — but Dave, he was comedy to me. His tone of just being a smartass, but really being smart underneath it all, it was so awe-inspiring. But to be there working for him, it was incredible. I learned so much. If anything, one of the things I would say I learned most was that I can do this. Being placed into an office and being told every 40 minutes, “The next segment we’re working on is this.” And then shutting the door and writing and making sure you have two-to-three pages of jokes every 40 minutes. That’s something honestly I didn’t know if I was capable of doing that. It was a hell of a challenge, but the takeaway was, “Oh, I think I can do this.” And then obviously, developing one’s voice and collaborating with other people. It was an incredible opportunity.

Jeffrey Harris: On an emotional, what was it like when Letterman retired?

Aaron Blitzstein: Seeing him go was terrible, but that’s how it goes.

Jeffrey Harris: So I like this idea that you can get the free month of WWE, and you can pretty much dedicate your whole life to watching nothing but wrestling and Camp WWE for that time.

Aaron Blitzstein: I wholeheartedly support that.

Jeffrey Harris: Thank you for your time Aaron, and I really appreciate it.

Aaron Blitzstein: No problem. Thank you.

Thank you to Aaron Blitzstein for taking the time to speak with us. Camp WWE is now streaming on the WWE Network, with new episodes premiering Monday night weekly.