Naval Submarine Base New London Holds Special Screening of iCarly

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jim O'Donnell, Naval Submarine Base New London Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Naval Submarine Base New London welcomed more than 1,300 fans of the hit Nickelodeon show iCarly who were on hand for a special screening and cast appearance at the base's Dealey Center Theater, Jan. 11.

Before the screening, the cast paid a special visit to the crew of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768).

The cast members and guests received a guided tour of the submarine by the boat's commanding officer Cmdr. Steve Wilkinson and Chief of the Boat Senior Chief Eric Mathley.

"I was very honored to have an opportunity to give the iCarly celebrity cast and guests a tour of the boat," said Mathley.

"That the show's lead character is a military child and that some of the iCarly shows have dealt with the things military kids have to deal with is pretty nice," said Mathley.

For the iCarly cast members, it was their first time being on a nuclear-powered submarine.

"It's been my dream since I was a little kid, to go on a submarine," said cast member Noah Munck who plays Gibby on the show.

"It was pretty great to get a chance to actually go on a submarine," said Nathan Kress. Kress, who plays Freddie, said he had toured a World War II submarine once before, but that had not prepared him for Wednesday night. "To be able to go down and see something modern that our Navy is using right now was really cool.

Kress said his favorite part of the tour was the visit to the control room where he saw the center of operations for the boat. "We got a chance to look through a periscope which was probably the highlight of the tour," added Kress.

The iCarly cast spent about 30 minutes on the submarine and the cast members said they were all impressed.

"Visiting the Hartford was just awesome," said Munck. "What a great experience."

Fans of the show brandishing posters and pictures, hoping to obtain autographs began lining up at the theater around lunchtime Wednesday in the hope of getting as close to their iCarly idols as possible.

"I'm really excited to get to see iCarly in person," said 10 year-old Isabella Iaccarino. "I've never seen anyone from television before, and I'm kind of really looking forward to this.

Although the show's audience focus is the 5-12 year old demographic, there were even a few more mature fans in attendance.

"I guess I'm a fan too," said Chief Master-at-Arms Charlie Wenzel who, in addition to ensuring security was prepared for Wednesday night's event, was making sure his daughter Rylie got to see the show. "I watch it with my daughter and it's a funny show, I like it."

"I also like the fact that it deals with kids that have a parent in the military deployed away from home and how they handle things," said Wenzel.

iCarly revolves around the show's namesake Carly Shay (played by Cosgrove) and her friends Sam (played by Jennette McCurdy), Freddie (played by Kress), Gibby (played by Munck), and brother Spencer (played by Jerry Trainor). In the show, Carly's father is an Air Force Colonel perpetually deployed away from home, sometimes on a submarine. Although most kids here at SUBASE don't have a parent deployed year-round it is a theme that is very well understood among the population of this base in southeastern Connecticut.

In Wednesday's screening of the episode titled "iMeet the First Lady," Carly is disappointed when her father is unable to make it home for his birthday because of another deployment. Carly's friends to try to brighten her mood by putting on a special webisode for her and her dad, which captures the attention of the government and the First Lady.

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama guest stars on the show to be broadcast Jan. 16. In the episode Obama surprises the iCarly gang to thank them for supporting Carly when her dad is away.

Obama is a staunch supporter and spokesperson for the Joining Forces organization. Mrs. Obama along with the Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joseph Biden, spearhead the organization to help support military families and advocate for their priorities.

Following the premiere of "IMeet the First Lady" the cast was brought out on stage to the excited screams of those in attendance. The cast members spoke about their experiences meeting the First Lady and even demonstrated some of their personal skills like juggling and human beat boxing to the enjoyment of the audience.

After leaving the stage the iCarly cast stuck around to meet some of their fans in the back of the Dealey Center Theater. For Nathaniel Rivers, who just turned ten Wednesday and his sister Alyssa, 8, it was a chance like no other. Both Rivers children met the actors, posed for photos and received autographs from the cast.

"It was really fun because I got to see them for the first time," said Alyssa. "I got to meet Miranda Cosgrove she is a really good singer."

"I thought it was awesome," said Nathaniel. "I've never done something like this. This is my favorite TV show, I especially like to thank my parents it was the best birthday ever," said Nathaniel.