HAPPY ACCIDENTS
Cartoon masterminds spill beans on creating Milo Murphy, the world’s unluckiest boy...
What if everything that could go wrong, always went wrong? Milo Murphy is a 13-year-old descendant of the famous fellow who inspired Murphy’s Law and young Milo has inherited his forebear’s fantastically bad luck. A typical day can include being chased by ravenous wolves, riding a runaway subway car, or even alien abductions, yet Milo never loses the spring in his step. Created by Phineas And Ferb’s Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (pictured), Milo Murphy’s Law is about positivity in the face of outrageous adversity. “I’ve always believed that what you do with what life throws at you is up to you,” says Marsh. “You can either let it defeat you, make you a bitter person, or you can look at it as a great experience.”
The irrepressible Milo is voiced by comedian Weird Al Yankovic. “We auditioned hundreds of people trying to get somebody who sounded super positive and optimistic without sounding either smarmy or sarcastic,” says Povenmire. “Al is just naturally such a genuinely upbeat guy that it worked perfectly for Milo,” adds Marsh. And it helps that Yankovic can carry a tune too, as Milo is prone to bursting into song. “I think we are physically incapable of producing a show without some music in it,” says Marsh. “We’re failed musicians so we put music in everything,” confirms Povenmire.
Each episode builds from small mishaps to major calamities, just as the series grows in intensity with a slowly emerging overriding plot arc. “If you’re paying attention, you can follow it and it actually does build into a big season finale,” hints Dan. “I always tell people, the show is really fun at the beginning, but it’s going to get weirder and more fun as it goes on, so stick with it!”
Milo Murphy’s Law airs on Disney Channel from 3 April.