Downlowd: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News Joe Scott
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- TV & Film
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Downlow.d is a deep dive audio documentary series that explores the morally complicated, occasionally inspiring and often forgotten oral histories of the internet. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support
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BONUS: The He-Man Effect with Brian 'Box' Brown + Updates
With his latest book The He-Man Effect: How American Toymakers Sold You Your Childhood, documentary graphic novelist Brian 'Box' Brown tells a story about how corporations essentially brainwashed an entire generation of children to trade their imaginations for hunks of plastic. He joins Downlow.d host Joe Scott to talk about how this happened as well as what it's like being a non-fiction storyteller in a world that is more than ready to mine his ideas and storybeats for movie projects like the Apple Plus film Tetris. Lastly, they discuss the meaning of the #comicsbrokeme hashtag and how it reflects the current state of comics professionals in the United States.
Places where you can buy The He-Man Effect:
A local comic book store
A local book retailer
Or 'that place' if you absolutely have no other choices.
Plus Joe Scott shares updates about the future of Downlow.d as well as what's going on with some of the people he met as part of The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles & Ain't It Cool News.
BONUS LINKS:
Brian Box Brown's Homepage
Joe Scott's interview with Barbara Genova for Runaway
Drew McWeeny's Substack
Drew McWeeny's Other Substack
Drew McWeeny's Podcast (Patreon)
Joe Scott on BlueSky
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support -
Bonus Episode: Exit Interview with Alan Cerny
Former AICN writer Alan Cerny, aka Nordling, talks with Joe Scott about his experiences with The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles, and shares what he liked and didn't like about the show. Alan also speaks to why he chose NOT to listen to the interview with Harry Knowles.
READ ALAN'S REVIEWS:
https://www.vitalthrills.com/author/alanc/
LISTEN TO ALAN'S PODCAST:
http://matineeheroes.com/
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BONUS: The Final Comments Section of Season One
Executive producer Kristina Bell returns to talk with Joe about reactions to the interview with Harry Knowles, updates within the world of AICN, and wrapping the first season of their show. Plus a deleted 'wedding scene' from Episode Seven.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support -
BONUS EPISODE: Postscript From Xanadu at Skull Island
After the conclusion of The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News, we are sharing excerpts from a 2021 conversation with Harry Knowles. During this talk, we try to find out what - if anything - the once pioneering webmaster learned from The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support -
Episode Nine: "The Air We Breathe"
The emotional conclusion of "The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News." Even after Harry Knowles destroys his website twice, there are lingering influences from AICN that few could have expected.
Written, narrated, and edited by Joe Scott.
Executive produced by Kristina Bell
With production and sound engineering by Eddie Garcia
Production assistance by Abrar Mubashar
Online production by Janessa Smith.
With Ben Jones as the voice of Harry Knowles
And Jake Steward as The Christmas Eve Poet
Got questions or comments?
Visit our website at www.downlowdpod.com
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support -
Episode Eight: "Hay Bales (Parts I & II)"
Part I (0:00) - In September of 2017, a perfect storm of controversies threaten to destroy the Alamo Drafthouse, Fantastic Fest, and Ain't It Cool News.
Part II (50:07) - The bravery of the women who stepped forward to speak out against Harry Knowles helped one woman to gain new context for events that transpired in 2004. Plus an examination of the culture that enabled sexual harm in the Austin film and internet movie geek communities for more than two decades.
Written, narrated, and edited by Joe Scott.
Executive produced by Kristina Bell
With production and sound engineering by Eddie Garcia.
Editorial assistance by Erin Poythress.
Production assistance by Abrar Mubashar
And Online production by Janessa Smith.
With Ben Jones as the voice of Harry Knowles.
AJ Schraeder as James Gunn
Jake Steward as Devin Feraci
Cabell Wilkinson as Caroline
Jon Chenoweth as Todd Brown
Kristen Korkowski as Jen
And Jasmine O'Connell as Diane.
Got questions or comments?
Visit our website at www.downlowdpod.com
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/downlowdpod/support
Customer Reviews
Hardwork and compelling topic dragged down by extraneous agenda
This is such a great idea for a podcast, and the work that the host did to get interviews with former contributors goes a long way to make this podcast worth a listen. However, there is an overt agenda that the host has that, regardless of whether or not a listener agrees, only drags down the story. The podcast needed more editing and less editorializing. Fascinating subject matter is almost ruined with the over editorializing of the host.
Facepalm in podcast form
“How can I push my political beliefs and extreme views on people? I know. I’ll pretend to make a podcast about AICN so people download it. But it will really just be a rant about groups of people I don’t like. Genius!!!”
Joe Is Annoying But Not Wrong
Yes, “white male nerd rage” is a thing and still prevalent on the internet. That is true.
Do I think Joe is also a virtue signaler of the worst kind? Also true.