Watch My Show: Spoilers' Kevin Smith Answers Our Showrunner Survey
Director Kevin Smith has publicly announced his retirement from filmmaking, yet the brash auteur seems busier than ever. He produces and appears in the AMC reality series Comic Book Men (set in the New Jersey comic book store he owns), has launched a podcast and Internet radio service, and is behind the new Hulu movie-centric talk show Spoilers. The show features Smith and a studio audience chatting about an upcoming summer movie (which they previously screened). Among the upcoming movies discussed: Magic Mike, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and Total Recall. Smith answered our showrunner survey to explain why we should log in and be spoiled.
TV Guide Magazine: These days, which do you think are better, TV shows or movies?
Kevin Smith: I'd rather watch Mad Men or The Walking Dead than go to the movies any day. I'd include Comic Book Men on that list as well, but I'd still rather see The Avengers. The Avengers over Comic Book Men, so that we have [stuff] to talk about on Comic Book Men.
TV Guide Magazine: Are there spoilers for Spoilers?
Smith: That's so meta! Here's a spoiler for Spoilers: [Actor] Jason Mewes took one look at the throne we built for the guest interview segment and said, "Can I have that when Hulu cancels your show?" We call the throne the Hulu High Chair. I've already tested the name. Totally legit.
TV Guide Magazine: Give us an equation for your show.
Smith: Spoilers = Siskel & Ebert ÷ Ebert + Roper - standard thin guy + audience participation - thumbs x cartoons - manageable waistlines + an interview in a throne
TV Guide Magazine: What's the best thing anyone has said or written about you?
Smith: An ex-girlfriend's mom once wrote me a note that said, "Kevin Smith will never be a famous writer. He lacks the drive." It was the worst thing anyone ever wrote about me. Also one of the dumbest. It still makes me smile to this day, so ultimately it's also one of the best things anyone ever wrote about me.
TV Guide Magazine: What's the worst thing that anyone has said?
Smith: Some jackass airline lied about me and said I was too fat to fly. But then I turned that into something positive, too. So ultimately, while it was bad and unfair in the moment, I refused to let it ground me — pun intended. A lot of people will talk s--t and it's very tempting to listen... Until you remember the people talking s--t rarely have anything to show for their time beyond their commentary about what others build.
TV Guide Magazine: Who was right?
Smith: They're all correct in some way, because art is subjective. It's gonna mean something different to every person in the audience. I've had a person tell me that Jersey Girl saved their life. Jersey Girl — the most critically reviled movie I ever made. And yet, this person obviously got something more profound out of it.
TV Guide Magazine: What's the worst movie you've seen so far this year?
Smith: I'm not gonna leave that here in the locker room. I'm taking that to the ice: Find out on Spoilers!
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