This A-Profiler we bring you Kevin Yamada, host of Sprout's The Sunny Side Up Show. Kevin has been seen by millions of children daily reading mail and birthday greetings and has now become the host of the morning show live. Find out about some of the challeges he faces with a live broadcast, how he got started with Sprout, and what his favorite children's television shows were when he was growing up. If you currently don't have Sprout on your local cable or satellite provider, call 1-866-9-SPROUT to find out if you get Sprout in your area so they can see Kevin every weekday morning on Sprout.

Your site URL:
www.sproutonline.com

What is your ethnicity?
I am a Japanese / Chinese American.

Are you a native of Hawaii? Have you moved to the mainland or do you still live in Hawaii?
I was born and raised in Hawaii. I am currently living in both New York and Philadelphia.

How did you get started in acting? What did your parents think of your pursuit of acting?
I took a voice class in my last semester of college. I continued taking voice classes during my post graduate work, got into a local musical, and have been acting ever since. My parents are very supportive. They let me pursue whatever I wanted. I had a history degree and an education degree in chemistry to fall back on, so I think that made them feel a little better.

Millions of children know you simply as "Kevin" from watching PBS KIDS Sprout. How did you get started with Sprout? Was it a difficult audition process?
I went through the audition process in New York. It was good timing. I had just left a job in Hawaii working for Ohia Productions, performing and teaching children's theater. Sprout was looking for a person with those qualifications. I can't really remember the audition process much. I knew I went to a callback, then got the job. Sorry, my memory's not that good...what was the question?

You've now gone from reading the mail and birthday greetings to co-hosting The Sunny Side Up Show. How has that transition been for you?
It's been a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Sprout has done a wonderful job in preparing us for The Sunny Side Up Show. A lot of talented people have been teaching us and "showing us the light." The other adjustment is that it's a live show. No second takes. But that's what makes it so exciting. You never know what's going to happen. Some of the funniest times are when the crafts don't go exactly right. We also can give weather reports, jokes, and birthday wishes sent in by kids and their parents over the internet almost instantly.

Luckily, we have an awesome team for the show. Our production and directing team are superb technically and also have a great sense of humor. And Forrest Harding - producer/writer/puppeteer for SSU is an excellent partner. We have so much fun preparing and performing the show - you forget it's work.

Tell us about The Sunny Side Up Show. How did you get chosen to be the co-host? What is the most challenging aspect of having more screen time?
The Sunny Side Up Show airs on Sprout from 9 in the morning till 12 noon Eastern Time. We share birthdays, weather reports, jokes, and "Good Egg" awards. There are also themes of the week. And crafts, games, and activities are centered on the themes. The show is live interstitials that are hosted by a Sprout host and Chica the chicken (a puppet). The most challenging aspect of having more screen time is planning what to do. Or it might be better to say what we decide not to. We often plan more activities than we have time.

As a child, what were some of your favorite children's television shows (on PBS or other networks)?
I liked Sesame Street, the Electric Company, and Kikaida (a Japanese super hero that fought evil robots). We sometimes use ideas for activities based on our favorite Sesame Street and Electric Company segments. Not so much from Kikaida.

Outside of Sprout, what other projects are you currently working on?
I just finished a film called Old Dogs that will be coming out next year. The film stars John Travolta, Robin Williams, and Seth Green. I was fortunate enough to have Sab Shimono play my father. We got to share Ito stories. He played the character on Broadway and I performed it recently on a national tour. I told him I rehearsed by listening to him on the CD. Also, there's an internet series on collegehumor.com called Street Fighter: The Later Years, in which I play Ryu. It follows the lives of the video game characters from Street Fighter and what they're doing now.

When not working in front of a camera, what are some things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy reading, watching sports, and playing games (poker usually).

What advice do you have to aspiring Sprout hosts out there?
It's hard to give advice that covers everyone. Perform in children's theater. Teach or play with kids. Learn from them. Improv classes wouldn't hurt. Neither would a PhD in children's psychology. Work hard. Be yourself. Have fun.

If you currently don't have Sprout on your local cable or satellite provider, call 1-866-9-SPROUT to find out if you get Sprout in your area so they can see Kevin every weekday morning on Sprout.

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Kevin Yamada and Jenni Glenn of PBS Kids Sprout.

Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).