| Christian Jacobs | |
|---|---|
Christian Jacobs |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christian Richards Jacobs |
| Also known as | The Caped Commander, The Bat Commander, MC Bat Commander |
| Born | January 11, 1972 Rexburg, Idaho, United States |
| Genres | Rock, pop punk, New Wave, synthpop, ska, punk |
| Occupations | Musician, television producer, actor |
| Instruments | Singing |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Associated acts | The Aquabats |
Christian Richards Jacobs (born January 11, 1972) is an American musician, television producer, voice actor and former child actor. He is known for his work as the founder and lead singer of the Orange County rock band The Aquabats (in which he performs under the stage persona of The MC Bat Commander) and as the co-creator of the popular Nick Jr. children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba! and the upcoming series The Aquabats Super Show! for The Hub.
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Jacobs was born the second of five children in Rexburg, Idaho in 1972. Following his family's relocation to Los Angeles in 1976, Jacobs and his siblings began working as child actors, primarily within television. Throughout the course of his childhood and into his late teens, Jacobs appeared in numerous productions, notably in bit parts in films such as Pretty in Pink and Gleaming the Cube and episodes of Married... with Children and Roseanne.
While working on Gleaming the Cube, Jacobs was introduced to a number of well known and highly influential skateboarders and artists in Southern California. In 1990, Jacobs worked alongside Mark Gonzales and Jason Lee on Blind Skateboards' Video Days. As an artist, he also did board graphics for Tony Hawk's Birdhouse and for the Jason Lee and Steve Berra pro models.
A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jacobs left the United States on missionary service in 1991, living in and around Tōhoku, Japan for two years. Upon returning to California, he began working various jobs and moonlighting in bands.
In 1994, Jacobs co-founded the Huntington Beach-based superhero-themed band The Aquabats, in which he serves as the lead singer and primary songwriter under the stage name The MC Bat Commander (formerly "The Caped Commander" and "The Bat Commander"). Noted for their matching costumes and scripted onstage "battles" with supervillains, the band initially formed as part of the Southern California third wave ska scene, though since 2000 have evolved into playing more New Wave and pop punk-influenced rock.
The Aquabats experienced a commercial breakthrough with their second album, 1997's The Fury of the Aquabats!, which peaked at 172 on the Billboard 200.[1] The band toured full-time during the latter half of the 1990s, traveling internationally as part of the 1998 Vans Warped Tour. During this time, Jacobs was also active with his friend and creative partner Scott Schultz, producing a number of additional skateboarding and music videos.
As of 2011, The Aquabats continue to tour and record, and released their fifth studio album Hi-Five Soup! in January 2011 on Fearless Records. In March, cable television channel The Hub announced that it had ordered 13 episodes of a television series based around the band, The Aquabats Super Show!, with Jacobs serving as co-creator, producer and star.[2]
In 1999, Jacobs and Schultz started developing concepts for children's programming with their production company The Magic Store with the goal of trying to create shows that they could enjoy along with their own children. In 2005, Jacobs and Schultz filmed a pilot for a pre-school program called Yo Gabba Gabba!. The show soon found a home on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block and has since completed three seasons, and has been recently renewed for a fourth.
Christian Jacobs is an avid surfer, skateboarder, Japanese toy collector and artist. He currently lives in Orange County, California, with his wife and four children.
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Pretty in Pink | Boy in record store |
| 1989 | Gleaming the Cube | Gremic |
| 1994 | There Goes My Baby | Jeff |
| 2008 | Punk Rock Holocaust 2 | The MC Bat Commander |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Love Boat | B.J. | Episode: "The Best of Friends/Too Many Dads/Love Will Find a Way" |
| 1982–1983 | Gloria | Joey Stivic | Series regular |
| 1984 | Second Sight: A Love Story | Bruce | TV movie |
| Finder of Lost Loves | Scott Hargrove | Episode: "Maxwell, Ltd." (series pilot) | |
| Highway to Heaven | Danny | Episode: "Catch a Falling Star" | |
| ABC Weekend Special | Kurt Landry | Episode: "Henry Hamilton, Graduate Ghost" | |
| 1985 | The History of White People in America | Tommy Harrison | TV movie |
| The Canterville Ghost | Rob | TV movie | |
| Berrenger's | Bob | Episode: "Dangerous Ground" | |
| V | Billy | Episode: "Breakout" | |
| Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears | Cavin | voice only; series regular (season one) | |
| 1986 | The History of White People in America: Volume II | Tommy Harrison | TV movie |
| 1987 | In Love and War | Jimmy (age 14) | TV movie |
| Convicted: A Mother's Story | TV movie | ||
| 1988 | Portrait of a White Marriage | Tommy Harrison | TV movie |
| Out of This World | Derek Rogers | Episode: "Broadway Danny Derek" | |
| Just the Ten of Us | Club Leader / Todd | Episode: "Move It or Lose It" Episode: "The Unkindest Cut of All" |
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| 1989 | Married... with Children | Shep | Episode: "A Three Job, No Income Family" |
| Hard Time on Planet Earth | Mark Brady | Episode: "Rodeo Show" | |
| ABC Afterschool Special | Danny | Episode: "My Dad Can't Be Crazy...Can He?" | |
| Roseanne | Andrew | Episode: "Chicken Hearts" | |
| 1990 | Guns of Paradise | Henry | Episode: "The Gates of Paradise" |
| Exile | Derf | TV movie | |
| Major Dad | Private LaBonte | Episode: "Infant-ry" | |
| 1999 | The Aquabats in Color! | Bat Commander | TV pilot. Also co-creator, writer and director. |
| 2007–present | Yo Gabba Gabba! | Plex (voice only) | Also co-creator, writer and director. |
| 2008, 2011- | The Aquabats Super Show! | The MC Bat Commander | Also co-creator, writer and director. |
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