May 1984 local news interview with Eastman and Laird

*ToTheNines* · 05-08-2026, 10:20 AM

https://vimeo.com/1175968095/2fc3d07...wni52jhTimw__Q

I’ve never seen this until now. Very cool.

Great Hierophant · 09-04-2026, 10:11 PM

This was the first videorecorded interview of the dynamic duo, taken for New Hampshire Public Television Durham in April or May, 1984. This was taken down a few days after it was posted, but it was of such historic importance (and personal importance for my project) that I recorded the screen as it was playing and was able to capture all of the segment. I might post it to YouTube but I transcribed the segment, so I will share that with you here:

Laird (narrating TMNT #1): MY NAME IS LEONARDO. WE MADE A WRONG TURN SOMEWHERE. NOW WE'RE CAUGHT, OUR BACKS TO THE WALL IN THIS TRASH STREWN ALLEY. BARRING THE WAY OUT ARE FIFTEEN MEMBERS OF THE PURPLE DRAGONS, THE TOUGHEST STREET GANG ON THE EAST SIDE. THE ONLY WAY THEY'LL LET US OUT OF HERE IS IF WE'RE DEAD!!

[Generic martial arts sound effects]

Female Announcer: Four teenage Turtles trained in the secret martial arts of the ninja subdue the street punks. It is a small skirmish in their real battle: to slay their sworn foe the malevolent Shredder.
The Turtles, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, are strong and wise, mutated by a mysterious radioactive ooze. They are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, New Hampshire's only comic book. Created here in Dover by Mirage Studios, the brainchild of illustrators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Both inveterate comic book readers, the two decided last year to launch their own.

Laird: Its like George Lucas said once, he had stories he wants to see, and nobody else is going to do them so he might as well do them, do them himself.

Female Announcer: What Laird and Eastman wanted to see, the adventures of the ultimate superheroes.

Laird: There are a lot of ninjas and mutants and teenage superheroes in the, in the comics market today and we just kind of lumped them all together.

Female Announcer: The fact they were turtles added an appealing touch of absurdity says Eastman.

Eastman: They're probably the last creatures in the world you'd expect to be agile enough and use martial arts weapons.

Female Announcer: The two tried selling their idea to publishers and have a wall full of rejection slips to prove it. Undaunted they scraped together enough money to print it themselves, sold out a run of 3,000, mostly mail order and are now getting nibbles from the printing houses. Will the Ninja Turtles make them rich?

Laird: Uh I don't think we'll get rich unless you have something the public craves desperately, and I don't think the public desperately craves turtles yet.

Female Announcer: But the comic book market is booming these days. Not since Superman flew onto the scene 50 years ago has the industry seen such growth. The reason, said Eastman: pure escape.

Eastman: Just like when you go see a movie, like you know Raiders of the Lost Ark, you know takes you away for a while.

Female Announcer: It takes you to a place where there are good guys and bad guys, and the good guys always win.

Laird: It's kind of a clean resolution of a, of a conflict. You know, we have, you know, dark side and a light side and they come together and fight. In some way it's resolved, but it's resolved cleanly and unlike real life, you know where struggles continue.

Female Announcer: And the future for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who strike hard and fade away? Will they prevail over the malevolent Shredder? Will they find romance? Will they lose their nunchucks? Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure.

Laird (narrating TMNT #1): I HOLD MY KATANA IN A RELAXED READY POSITION. TO MY LEFT, DONATELLO AND MICHAELANGELO FOLLOW SUIT WITH STAFF AND NUNCHAKU. RAPHAEL GUARDS MY RIGHT SIDE... I SENSE HIS BODY QUIVERING WITH TENSE ENERGY, WAITING TO BE TRIGGERED INTO SAVAGE, SLASHING RELEASE!!

[Generic martial arts sound effects]

05-08-2026, 10:20 AM	#1
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,085	May 1984 local news interview with Eastman and Laird https://vimeo.com/1175968095/2fc3d07...wni52jhTimw__Q I’ve never seen this until now. Very cool.

09-04-2026, 10:11 PM	#2
Great Hierophant Random Punk Join Date: Jun 2025 Location: Plymouth, MA Posts: 43	This was the first videorecorded interview of the dynamic duo, taken for New Hampshire Public Television Durham in April or May, 1984. This was taken down a few days after it was posted, but it was of such historic importance (and personal importance for my project) that I recorded the screen as it was playing and was able to capture all of the segment. I might post it to YouTube but I transcribed the segment, so I will share that with you here: Laird (narrating TMNT #1): MY NAME IS LEONARDO. WE MADE A WRONG TURN SOMEWHERE. NOW WE'RE CAUGHT, OUR BACKS TO THE WALL IN THIS TRASH STREWN ALLEY. BARRING THE WAY OUT ARE FIFTEEN MEMBERS OF THE PURPLE DRAGONS, THE TOUGHEST STREET GANG ON THE EAST SIDE. THE ONLY WAY THEY'LL LET US OUT OF HERE IS IF WE'RE DEAD!! [Generic martial arts sound effects] Female Announcer: Four teenage Turtles trained in the secret martial arts of the ninja subdue the street punks. It is a small skirmish in their real battle: to slay their sworn foe the malevolent Shredder. The Turtles, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael, are strong and wise, mutated by a mysterious radioactive ooze. They are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, New Hampshire's only comic book. Created here in Dover by Mirage Studios, the brainchild of illustrators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Both inveterate comic book readers, the two decided last year to launch their own. Laird: Its like George Lucas said once, he had stories he wants to see, and nobody else is going to do them so he might as well do them, do them himself. Female Announcer: What Laird and Eastman wanted to see, the adventures of the ultimate superheroes. Laird: There are a lot of ninjas and mutants and teenage superheroes in the, in the comics market today and we just kind of lumped them all together. Female Announcer: The fact they were turtles added an appealing touch of absurdity says Eastman. Eastman: They're probably the last creatures in the world you'd expect to be agile enough and use martial arts weapons. Female Announcer: The two tried selling their idea to publishers and have a wall full of rejection slips to prove it. Undaunted they scraped together enough money to print it themselves, sold out a run of 3,000, mostly mail order and are now getting nibbles from the printing houses. Will the Ninja Turtles make them rich? Laird: Uh I don't think we'll get rich unless you have something the public craves desperately, and I don't think the public desperately craves turtles yet. Female Announcer: But the comic book market is booming these days. Not since Superman flew onto the scene 50 years ago has the industry seen such growth. The reason, said Eastman: pure escape. Eastman: Just like when you go see a movie, like you know Raiders of the Lost Ark, you know takes you away for a while. Female Announcer: It takes you to a place where there are good guys and bad guys, and the good guys always win. Laird: It's kind of a clean resolution of a, of a conflict. You know, we have, you know, dark side and a light side and they come together and fight. In some way it's resolved, but it's resolved cleanly and unlike real life, you know where struggles continue. Female Announcer: And the future for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who strike hard and fade away? Will they prevail over the malevolent Shredder? Will they find romance? Will they lose their nunchucks? Stay tuned for the next exciting adventure. Laird (narrating TMNT #1): I HOLD MY KATANA IN A RELAXED READY POSITION. TO MY LEFT, DONATELLO AND MICHAELANGELO FOLLOW SUIT WITH STAFF AND NUNCHAKU. RAPHAEL GUARDS MY RIGHT SIDE... I SENSE HIS BODY QUIVERING WITH TENSE ENERGY, WAITING TO BE TRIGGERED INTO SAVAGE, SLASHING RELEASE!! [Generic martial arts sound effects]