The “Supah Ninja” Life

We Ninjas thought that this child would be the great white Ninja of the legend. We were wrong. We were very wrong! – Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)

The 2nd season of Supah Ninjas premieres this Saturday, Feb. 9th at 8:30 pm ET on Nick. Why is this SO important? I will tell you why. Because MY nephew is on the show this season, that’s why! He’s a full -fledged Supah Ninja…… EXTRA that is! I’m thrilled for him!

Rule#1 Actors need to hydrate.

Meet Michael Hipwell. He’s a Junior at Edinboro University in Erie, PA and he’s majoring in music education. Michael also delivers pizzas for Pizza Hut. There are two things Michael has always wanted to be growing up. One is to be an actor and the other is to deliver pizzas be a NINJA! Both of those dreams came true this summer when he got a casting call from Nancy Mosser (his casting agent). Supah Ninja’s was going to film it’s 2nd season in Pittsburgh, PA. It was PERFECT! The location was close enough to drive to and if he had to, he could stay with friends or sleep in his car. Any sacrifice for the chance to enhance his craft.

Two Steeler fans walk past a bar… Hey it could happen!

Ahhh PITTSBURGH! Home of the Pirates and the Steelers. It’s also the hometown Eric Garcia, one of the creators of Supah Ninjas. The decision to use the city instead of filming in LA, was one of cost according to Garcia. Besides, he got to eat his mom’s home-made meatloaf for dinner every night. It was a win/win situation.

“Oh Myyy!”

Supah Ninjas stars Ryan Potter as Mike Fukunaga, Carlos Knight as Owen Reynolds and Gracie Dzienny as Amanda McKay. They are vigilante ninjas who are trained by a hologram of Mike’s grandfather, Grandpa “Hologramps” Fukunaga, aka George Takei. So where does my dear nephew Michael fit in, you ask?

Finding Michael?

Where ever he can get a chance, he’s there. He WAS hired as “Fake Parrot Guy” and you will see him in some episodes as the Ninja with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder. That’s my Michael. It took hours of training to get that parrot to sit on his shoulder.

“Look what I can do!”

 Michael’s a scene stealer that’s for sure. He took every opportunity to grab some attention. He commented that Carlos and Gracie were amazingly nice and that Gracie was extremely funny. Ryan, on the other hand, was reclusive. Seems he felt threatened by Michael’s natural talent. That’s just MY opinion. 

To the box truck baby!