Interviews
Comic Book Men – Q&A With Harley Quinn Smith
Comic Book Men returns this Sunday, February 15 at Midnight/11c in a two-episode midseason premiere, but you can get your Secret Stash fix right now with the first half of Season 4 full episodes on amc.com. One highlight of the season so far? Kevin‘s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, stopping by store! Here, she talks about her time hanging out with Walt and the guys in the season premiere and what it’s like starring in her dad’s new film.
Q: You came to the Stash to prepare for your starring role in your dad’s new film, Yoga Hosers. What’s it about?
A: Yoga Hosers is about two Canadian high school girls who work in a convenience-store, and they are yoga fanatics. One day, they get invited to a senior party, but things end up going pretty differently than what they expected, when they are faced with these small monsters that they have to fight off.
Q: What was being on set like? Any highlights?
A: It was amazing. It was the best experience of my life, I miss it so much… I was able to work with amazing actors that I have looked up to for so long and that I’ve watched on my favorite TV shows and movies. Everybody who was there and on the crew was so sweet. I came to think of them all as family. Every day coming to set was a highlight.
Q: What was it like working with your dad in a professional setting?
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Comic Book Men – Q&A With Ernie Hudson
Comic Book Men guest star Ernie Hudson talks about Ghostbusters’ appeal, his experience in Comic-Car 1 and how he would fare in a zombie apocalypse.
Q: What were your first thoughts when Walt said you all were going to dress in a uniform and get into the ice cream truck?
A: I have this habit where people will approach me with something that’s a little weird or a little different and I’ll go with it. They’re passionate about it. People will come up to me on the street and say, “Oh, my mother is a big fan of yours. She’s in the hospital but she always wanted to meet you. Can you come with me?” And I’ll say “Oh, okay.” My curiosity will sort of run that way.
So [for the show], I’m driving the truck and I kind of get that Winston Zeddemore aspect from Ghostbusters. I didn’t realize comics were that popular. I know they’re popular, but I didn’t think they were going to be selling-them-off-an-ice-cream-truck popular.
Q: What was it like delivering comics from an ice cream truck?
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Comic Book Men – Q&A With Bryan Johnson
Bryan Joh
nson, star of AMC’s Comic Book Men, talks about his experience at BronyCon and his favorite thing about spending time at the Stash.
Q: You’re a long-time friend of Kevin and have appeared in several of his films. What still manages to surprise you about him after all these years?
A: I would say his output. I’ll be honest – when he made Clerks, and you see that kind of laze throughout the movie, that’s the way we were: slackers. We hung around doing nothing. In the last couple of years, his creative output is nothing less than astonishing. As he’s gotten older, he’s even more ambitious and prolific.
Q: Does hosting the podcast “Tell ‘Em Steve-Dave!” with Walt help for appearing on the show together?
A: I’ve known Walt since fifth grade and we’ve been really good friends. When people find out I used to work at Quick Stop with Kevin, they write it off as a crappy job, but aside from Comic Book Men, it was the best job I ever had because you got to hang out with your friend all day. At the time, you didn’t realize it, but all those conversations we had were practice. Us sitting around and having conversations was our [version of] college. I think the podcast helps in terms of reacting faster than you might otherwise. My job is to basically make fun of people, so I have to be on point and think about where I’m going to interject. Knowing Walt for so long definitely helps in terms of playing off of each other.
Q: Although you’re not an official employee at the Stash, what is your favorite thing about spending time there?
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Comic Book Men – Q&A With Ming Chen
Ming Chen, star of AMC’s Comic Book Men, talks about what to expect in Season 4 and which of his Stash coworkers he’d team up with during a zombie apocalypse.
Q: We’re now into Season 4. Has Comic Book Men changed your daily life?
A: I’m definitely getting stopped at the mall. I think out of all four of us, Bryan probably gets the most attention and is the most recognizable because of the beard, but people stop me here and there. One of my favorite instances was at my favorite restaurant a few months ago. I noticed one of the waiters in the back looking at his phone, back up at me and then he came up to me. I love the fact that it was at my favorite restaurant and maybe the service felt even better that day.
Q: Do any of the other guys get jealous when you’re recognized?
A: Walt actually hates attention, but he’s so good on camera. Even if I wasn’t on the show, I would love to just watch him. With Bryan, it depends on what day it is. Sometimes he loves it, but he tends to be a grump. I think Mike loves it as well.
Q: Tell us more about babysitting at The Stash during Season 4, Episode 4, “Super Baby.” Are you naturally good with kids?
Comic Book Men – Q&A With Walt Flanagan
Walt Flanagan, star of AMC’s Comic Book Men, talks about which moment from the show made him laugh the hardest and the rarest item he’s seen come into the store.
Q: You challenge the guys to perform stand up comedy at The Stash in Episode 403. Who do you think has the most potential as a stand up comedian?
A: Positively, without a doubt, Bryan. The other efforts were admirable and it’s not easy to go up there and try to make people laugh – so I’m not disparaging Mike or Ming’s efforts, but I think Bryan may have a leg up on the guys in the stand up department.
Q: Speaking of comedy, what moment from the series so far made you laugh out loud the hardest?
A: I’d have to go back to Season 2. It was when we had just gotten back from the auction [Season 2, Episode 2, "My Big Fat Geek Wedding"] and we were letting Robert Bruce tally up the booty that we had gotten. We had a bet going on for which team could bring back the better booty and Robert chose our stuff as more prize-worthy. Mike and Ming started arguing amongst each other and that’s still my favorite moment. They turned on each other so quickly!
Q: On camera, you always seem focused on the bottom line… Has Comic Book Men attracted more customers to The Stash?
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Comic Book Men Q&A – Michael Zapcic
Michael Zapcic, star of AMC’s Comic Book Men, talks about what being a comic book man really means and the most interesting thing he’s learned about Ming.
Q: Ming chose you for who he’d want on his team during a zombie apocalypse. What kind of skills would you bring to the table?
A: I’ve got an arsenal in my house. It’s kind of funny. My children are into martial arts, so they’re dealing with nunchucks and swords. We’ve bought them actual swords. In my wife’s car, she’s got a complete set of emergency flares, road signs and everything she needs. I also put in a machete, just in case.
Q: Hey, you never know when you’ll need a machete, right?
A: Exactly! The one thing that’s most important is I have a plan. I’m the kind of guy who likes to think about stuff before it happens. I’d rather have a plan and not need it than need a plan and not have it. We were caught in Hurricane Sandy and we weren’t prepared for everything. Now I’ve got an emergency preparation plan that can pretty much be used for almost any situation. It’s not necessarily a zombie apocalypse plan, but it can be used for that. It’s fun to think about it.
Q: If you had to pick any superhero to back you during an apocalypse, who would it be and why?
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4th and Loud Q&A – LA KISS’s Aaron Garcia (Quarterback)
4th and Loud’s Aaron Garcia, the LA KISS quarterback, talks about breaking a passing record set by John Elway and hearing KISS for the first time live.
Q: You broke John Elway’s high school football passing record. While Elway was an owner of an AFL team, did you ever have an interaction with him about that?
A: We had chances when we played against the Colorado Crush, the team that he owned at the time. I don’t know if we had that conversation specifically, but I know it was something people always documented. It was a pleasure and an honor to meet him and to compete against [his team] at the time.
Q: Co-owners Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons were an integral part of getting you to come play for the LA KISS. Did they promise you fame and fortune?
A: No, they didn’t. They were very personable. I was very pleasantly surprised at the conversation that we did have. Something that I’ve always known as an athlete [is if] I came in there, tried to turn that thing around and win games, a lot of good things would’ve happened, not just for myself but for all the players on the LA KISS. Unfortunately, once I got there, we weren’t able to turn the season around, but also [Paul and Gene] went out on tour, so there wasn’t a lot of interaction after that point, and I wish I could’ve talked to them more. I think it’s great the amount of commitment they’ve put into this league, and I really hope they’re able to turn things around and make that a great franchise in the future.
Q: Taking over for another QB mid-season has got to be tough. Did you find there were chemistry problems from the get-go, or did you feel comfortable in your new role?
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4th and Loud Q&A – Donovan Morgan (Wide Receiver)
4th and Loud’s Donovan “Captain” Morgan, the LA KISS’s star wide receiver, talks about his fiery post-game locker room speeches and whether or not he’d make a good rock star.
Q: When you first heard about your old friend Bob McMillen coaching a team co-owned by members of the rock group KISS, what did you think?
A: At first, I thought maybe I don’t know if this is going to last; I don’t know if this team is really going to become a part of the AFL. But once I’ve seen that everything was official, and it was in Los Angeles and it was owned by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, it kind of was surreal. It was kind of one of those things: “Do they really know anything about football? Are they really going to come to the games?” And all that was proven right to me. They really did know nothin’ about football, but they were coming to the games and wanting to learn more about Arena Football. And just having Bob as the head coach solidified everything.
Q: Who is the easier guy to get along with: Bob McMillen, the player, or Bob McMillen, the coach?
A: [Laughs] I mean, I would say Bob McMillen as a coach, because Bob McMillen as a player, you got to see this fire in him… He was much more animated as a player than he is as a coach. He was one of those passionate, fiery guys on the field.
Q: You were a co-captain of the LA KISS this season. What characteristics do you think make the best team captains?
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Comic Book Men Q&A – Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith, star of AMC’s Comic Book Men, talks about a celebrity guest that fans can look forward to in Season 4 and which superheroes the guys from the Stash would play in a movie.
Q: What can fans expect during the upcoming season of Comic Book Men?
A: This year, we find our niche. We let our geek flag fly. In the past, we held back a little because we wondered if anyone would understand who or what we’re talking about, but this season, we went for it. There are a lot of guest stars including DMC from Run DMC, which was awesome for me. My jaw hit the ground. He had some amazing stories about selling comic books to buy his turntables. Stuff like that is heaven to me.
Q: Is there a moment from the first 3 seasons that made you laugh out loud?
A: The beauty of the show is you get to see me laugh out loud during the podcast sequences. There have definitely been moments, like the Trivia Chew-Off we did last year, I thought were really hysterical. Walt has some crazy one-liners and when the boys sit around the store, that’s the stuff that makes me laugh the hardest. To be fair, they’re all my friends. I’ve found them funny for years.
Q: Any plans to live-tweet this season? What do you enjoy most about interacting with fans in real time?
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4th and Loud Q&A – Kenny Spencer (Kicker)
4th and Loud’s Kenny Spencer, the LA KISS kicker, talks about his relationship with an LA KISS girl and some “fatherly advice” he received from Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.
Q: Did you grow up on KISS?
A: No, [but] you heard ’em every now and then, like, in a movie or a show. But after starting to play for the team and hearing them do their thing… they know what they’re doing. That’s why they’re rock legends and in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Q: Is the relationship you had with one of the LA KISS girls still going on, or is it over?
A: No, it’s not really…we’re just friends… It wasn’t a big deal. She dances for the team, and it’s frowned upon that the players date the dancers. But it was never frowned upon to hang out and have fun together, you know? So, we had fun and we hung out and we had a good time, and we’re still really good friends. She did her job, I did my job, and there was one game I missed those three PATs, and they thought that that was the reason. I’m like, Dude, a girl’s not going to be a reason for me messing up some PATs. When I step on that damn field, that’s football, not a chick. I just f*cked up, you know?
Q: Paul and Gene met with you about the issue, too. What did you get out of that conversation with them?
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Features
Comic Book Men – Q&A With Bryan Johnson
The Comic Book Men star talks about his experience at BronyCon in Season 4, Episode 5 and which superhero he’s most similar to.
AMC Renews Hell on Wheels for a Fifth and Final Season
The Western drama starring Anson Mount and Colm Meaney is returning for 14 episodes in Season 5.
Comic Book Men – Q&A With Ming Chen
The Comic Book Men star talks about getting recognized by fans and which of his Stash coworkers he’d team up with during a zombie apocalypse.
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