MAXIM: Can you tell us a bit about the show and what your role is in all of it?
JASON MEWES: The show is called Todd and the Book of Pure Evil and I play Jimmy the Janitor, which is awesome because he's a bit like Yoda to Todd. Kinda like his mentor, and you see in the character build up during the show that he's taken a liking to Todd, you don't really know why, but as time goes on you get to know a bit more about the characters. I like to explain it kinda like 90210/Degrassi meets Tales from the Crypt, because it's about these kids in school and about their insecurities, all the usual stuff that goes on in school, but also there's the book of pure evil in the school which hunts out the kids who think they aren't pretty enough, too fat or not cool and grants them one wish. Sounds nice, but that wish comes with consquences! There are loads of cool effects and monsters with lots of crazy business that goes on.
MAXIM: Tell us a bit more about your character, Jimmy?
JASON: At first glance he's just the janitor, but there's a bit more to him than that. As the season goes on you learn a bit about him, and when season 2 comes out you learn even more. It's awesome. My character's in every episode, but he's only in it for one or two scenes for about 20 seconds. Regardless, the whole show I think is very entertaining. It's something I'd watch! I'm into stuff like Buffy, Angel and Firefly, those types of Sci-Fi shows, although Murder She Wrote is my favourite, but anyway! I just like to hit home that I'd definitely watch it, regardless of my involvement.
MAXIM: Did you have fun shooting it? What was the best part?
JASON: I had a lot of fun shooting it! Second season even more so... shooting TV shows to me is awesome. I'm really looking forward to getting season 3 going, it's just so much fun, really fast paced. It's a bit like a movie... going out somewhere and staying there for a month or two, going to the set every day, but definitely more fast paced. Everyone I work with is really awesome, all the kids, the crew, just awesome. All the special effects and cool costumes really add to the experience too, plus the variety of episodes! We have a music episode, a video game and arcade based episode... my stand out episode was the musical one though, because I actually got to sing it properly in a studio, then shoot and perform the scene and lipsync on camera, it was great.
MAXIM: Did you do anything crazy in school? We bet you did.
JASON: I was very obnoxious in school, I got thrown out and put in the "bad" school of my area which was called Oakwood. I got thrown out for a bunch of things, but the final straw came when I dropped my pants in front of the teacher, bent over and performed the Carvel ice cream song with with my butt by pulling my ass cheeks apart. She didn't like that so much!
MAXIM: Not a lady of taste, clearly. Out of all your film, television and voice acting roles, what's been your favourite and why?
JASON: There's been some cool characters I've played, like Vinny the mobster alongside Harvey Keitel, that was really different for me. Slicked back hair, cool cars and clothes from the 50s, I really enjoyed it, but I'd still have to say the Jay character is the one for me. I've done so many and it got me started in what I do now, I get to work with Kevin and Mallrats was definitely my favourite movie.
That was so surreal for me, shooting Mallrats, as I was working a normal job in roofing after Clerks when Kevin approached me and said that he'd written the script and shooting was starting soon, but there was only about 15 of us who worked on Clerks and we were all friends. That's what it felt like, a bunch of friends making a movie! Working on Mallrats was a completely different experience: I had to quit my job and go to Minnesota, lived in a hotel, there were 40 odd crew members, people were doing wardrobe, make up and schedules. it was crazy. I even found myself working with Stan Lee and Shannen Doherty, one whose comics I had been reading since forever and I used to watch 90210, just to add to the overall experience! But yes, definitely the Jay character.
MAXIM: Jay is probably our favourite too. Let's do two questions in one; what's the best thing you remember doing in your lifetime, and what's the best thing you don't remember doing?
JASON: I had a threesome! Best thing ever because it was the two girls from our town that everyone wanted to sleep with, literally everyone, and when I got home from shooting Mallrats I got to sleep with them both! I could have a threesome tomorrow, but it just wouldn't be the same.
MAXIM: Poor you! What about the best thing you don't remember?
JASON: I pissed up my friend's door. Took a bunch of Xanax and drank... wound up pissing everywhere and then walking around this house party naked. Upset a lot of people!
MAXIM: Fantastic. What's in store for you in the future?
JASON: Hopefully I'd like to be part of a big, long running TV show with Kevin, we've got our own company (SModcast) now which my wife is a big part of, she's partners with Kevin, and we're working some animated stuff, a couple of shows, lots of stuff. I hope more things come out with the company, as I love going out and working with other actors and directors. But, honestly, if I could just keep going with my wife and my best friend Kevin and keep doing what we're doing, I'd be happy!
MAXIM: So would we. Got a crazy fan story?
JASON: I was in the toilet at the Comic-Con convention in San Diego, pissing at the urinal, and normally I'm all up for chatting to fans and signing stuff, but this guy who was standing next to me started talking to me. That was weird enough in itself, but then he wants to shake my hand like "Hey, I'm John!". I would say that's one of the weirdest, who would wanna shake my hand after I'd just been touching my penis?!
MAXIM: Well, there is definitely urinal etiquette. How about you send us off with a quote?
JASON: A quote?! Er... how about "I fuck anything that moves"?
MAXIM: Perfect.
JASON: BEFORE I WAS MARRIED!!!
MAXIM: Yes yes, we know.
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Todd and the Book of Pure Evil launches on Syfy on the 6th March
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