Kevin Smith: Media Mogul
By: TFG1Mike
So coming up on GeekCast Radio the flagship podcast here at The GeekCast Radio Network we have Episode 37. This episode is dedicated to the media mogul that is THE KEVIN SMITH!
“I’M NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY!”
There is no denying that Kevin Smith is a media mogul. From the View Askewniverse films, to the evening with specials, to his podcast network, and so much more. Kevin Smith is a definition of an independent Hollywood icon. He started out as a independent filmmaker, and since then has taken Hollywood by storm.
VIEW ASKEWNIVERSE:
“FLY FATASS FLY!”
I think Mallrats on VHS was the first exposure I had to Kevin Smith, but I didn’t really know who he was. That was maybe mid 1996, and a fucking loved Mallrats!!! My friend Nick really got me into the View Askewniverse stuff. I went back to the beginning and saw Clerks. At first my 16 year old brain was like “what the fuck black and white????” For me before Clerks the only two things I accepted in black and white were the three stooges and The Thin Man films. After Clerks though I was converted. Clerks was simply amazing, essentially the story of a guy who wants more out of life. Yet he has no real drive to go for his dreams, and his best friend who is happily content in the lives they lead. I think that really boils it down. The jokes were great, the story was well thought out, and it felt like a true “buddy comedy” I think after seeing Clerks, Nick then turned me onto the animated series version of it, and I loved that as well. Damn shame there weren’t more of those.
“WHAT’S A NUBIAN?”
So those are my experiences with Clerks and Mallrats, Chasing Amy was a strange experience though. In 1997 I went to the dolar theater to see god knows what, but I snuck into Chasing Amy, because I thought it was a softcore porno. (IN HINDSIGHT WHY WOULD A DOLLAR THEATER PLAY PORN???) I actually fell asleep in the theater, the only other time I’ve ever done that was when I saw G.I. Jane. Once Chasing Amy hit VHS I did watch it all the way through, and again like Clerks and Mallrats before it I loved it. It was a film with something to say, yet still retained the jokes we were used to from Kevin Smith. YA FUCKIN TRACER!!!!
“YOU PEOPLE. IF THERE ISN’T A MOVIE ABOUT IT, IT’S NOT WORTH KNOWING, IS IT?”
Dogma was something I saw on DVD in late 1999 early 2000, I liked it for the most part. I think for me where Dogma jumped the shark was the shit demon, to this day that is the only scene in the film I fast forward. Going back and watching Dogma now the statement I just made is still true, but the film on a whole I did enjoy. Lots of great comedy and it tackles a serious subject matter, while remaining in the veil of comedy.
“WE WANT OUT MUTHA FUCKIN MOVIE CHECK!”
After all that having these characters Jay and Silent Bob in the background, in 2001 they are given time to shine. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was a way to tie all the View Askew films together, and it did. All the cameos, all the comedy bits, and giving Jay a love interest, made this film a true comedic masterpiece. I just loved how the story is told, we see the origins of Jay and Bob, and so much more.
“Why can’t you ever say something useful for a change”
“Well what the fuck you waitin for that’s your cue man”
“I got nothin”
Fast Forward five years after Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back to Clerks II in 2006. I saw the Cannes standing ovation video on YouTube I think, and I was like woah, Clerks II!!!!!! After the first film I always wondered what the hell happened to Randal and Dante. Clerks II for me is exactly what a superb sequel is. It takes bits from the first film here and there, yet brings the characters to what they are doing today. In 2006 if you are a View Askewniverse fanboy or fangirl, you knew what to expect with these characters. At the same time you hagve no idea what is gonna happen in the story. Clerks II brings the entire Askewniverse to a close, and it comes full circle. I absolutely loved it, and even teared up at the end.
FILMS OUTSIDE THE VIEW ASKEWNIVERSE:
Zack and Miri, Cop Out, and Red State are the three other films Smith directed after the Askewniverse ended. He also served as producer on a number of projects. I have never seen these three films, so I can’t say much about them. He has also appeared in other such films as Daredevil, Live Free or Die Hard, and many others. I always like when he shows up in stuff, it’s funny as hell.
AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH
There have been five Q&A/comedy specials that Smith has done. Three evenings with, Too Fat For 40, and Burn in Hell. I have only seen the first Evening with, and Too fat for 40. I loved them both and need to go back and watch the others.
I was super stoked that AMC was airing this! This show reignited my interest in Kevin Smith media consumption. Comic Book Men is essentially the Pawn Stars format with a podcast recording in between the store scenes. I thought it was very interesting to see the inside of the Secret Stash. Ever since Chasing Amy I wante to go to Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash! Season 2 of CBM is coming soon, and I can not fucking wait!!!!!!
SMODCAST, SMODCO, and SMODCAST INTERNET RADIO
When I was first using iTunes, and found podcasts, I found SmodCast. I listened to the first episode and there were wayy too many dick and fart jokes for my liking. I am in no way saying anything against the podcast, I dunno it just kinda turned me off to the Kevin Smith I knew as a filmmaker. Since that time in 2008, I have now become a full fan of the S.I.R.S. While I do not listen to Smodcast actively, I do listen to Secret Stash, Fat Man on Batman, and Tell’em Steve Dave! Secret Stash I started listening to because of Season 1 of Comic Book Men!
I listened to the first 6 episodes of Fat Man on Batman in one day, and then after SDCC 2012 episode 7 was released, and I listened to that. I absolutely love the podcast, during the process of writing this blog I’ve listened to the first 6 episodes of Tell ’em Steve Dave. In addition to that I’ve listened to the first episode of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. I’m loving the podcasts I’m listening to from SmodCo, and everyone should check them out.
Kevin Smith’s favorite hero is Batman, and this is a podcast all about that! It’s a very interesting listen, and I can’t wait for more episodes.
The Comic Book Men companion podcast, I love it, and it’s a great way to hear more adventures after the show goes off the air.
I’ve only gotten through the first episode, but I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to dive into more episodes of the further adventures of Jay and Silent Bob.
The further adventures of Steve Dave and Fanboy! OK well Walter Flanagan and Bryan Johnson. Really enjoy listening to these guys tell stories of their lives.
SPOILERS: A Hulu Original Series:
Spoilers is a weekly Hulu series from Smith, where he takes out an audience to a film. They then have a discussion about it, and it features an interview segment with a guest afterwards. In between these segments are a coupla cartoons. I’ve seen several of the episodes that have been released so far, and absolutely love the series. I think it’s something unique, and something that really only Kevin Smith could pull off.
IN CLOSING:
Herein this blog post have been my thoughts on Kevin Smith as a media mogul over the last twenty or so years. At this point I pick and choose the content I want to hear and or watch from him. Overall I love most everything he does. Be sure to check out more Kevin Smith discussion in GeekCast Radio Episode 37.
“WHAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT?”
