AMC Blog

Small Town Security Appears in New York's Approval Matrix; TVLine Previews Showville

2013-05-24T04:00:01Z

This week, Small Town Security rates a mention in New York's Approval Matrix, while TVLine previews Showville's debut. Plus, Shockya.com checks out the newest episode of Small Town Security. Read on for more:

• New York's "Approval Matrix" notes Small Town Security's return, calling it a show "for people too immobilized by irony to watch regularly enjoyable TV."

• TVLine features a Showville video that offers "a taste of the series' small town showbiz."

• The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Times, CBS News, E! Online and Deadline report that Small Town Security landed a Critics' Choice Television Awards nomination for best reality series.

Small Town Security - JJK Swag Now Available for Auction at eBay

2013-05-24T02:15:00Z

In Season 2 Episode 3 of Small Town Security, Irwin attempts to capitalize on the staff's new-found celebrity by auctioning off JJK Security swag. If you watched the episode and thought you could really use a genuine JJK mug or autographed poop stick, you're in luck: the items are available once again on eBay. See below for a complete list of merchandise with descriptions (written by the show's Brian Taylor) and their accompanying links on eBay. Be sure to bid quickly, as the auctions close Sat., Jun. 1 at 10PM/9c.

Second Edition Gently Used Poop Stick
"OH YEAH! Irwin is back at it again, bringing out a few new poop sticks. Irwin doesn't just give poop sticks away willy-nilly -- these rare sticks are set at a STRICT LIMIT of 5. The poop stick you'll receive will look a wee bit different than the one pictured here. Irwin keeps his collection close to his vest -- and I don't like taking pictures of them either, if you know what I mean. Therefore, each winning bidder will be surprised to receive a uniquely shaped stick. The poop stick will be signed and numbered AND will come with a Certificate of Authenticity notarized by the Wicked Witch of Georgia herself, Joan Koplan. Oh, one last thing: this stick will be properly cleaned and disinfected upon arrival, so if you're looking for one that hasn't, feel free to dirty it up yourself. It's a free country." Bidding starts at $0.99.
Click here to bid on a 2nd Edition Gently Used Poop Stick

Joan's Lipstick
"Well hello there, ladies and gentlemen! Look at what we have here: lipstick ACTUALLY used by the Queen herself, Joan Koplan. I'm not joshing kids, this is the real deal. "Tiger" Joanie Scott used this puppy during some of the filming of Seasons 1 and 2 of Small Town Security, and she's pretty much tired of it. I don't know why, as it's pretty nice-looking. As always here at JJK Security, you'll get a sweet Certificate of Authenticity that you can show off to all your jealous friends." Bidding starts at $4.99.
Click here to bid on Joan's Lipstick

JJK Security Coffee Mug With Broken Handle
"You are looking at the last of our JJK Security mugs that we had made several years ago as gifts to our clients. We have ONE left, and wouldn't you love to own it? Yeah, yeah, the handle is broken, but that only adds a majestic feature to an otherwise rare item. Legend has it that the handle was broken in a wild rage by Irwin while hearing Joan sing "Speecy Spicy Meatball." He can no longer drink a hot beverage from it, but don't let that stop you! This can easily be converted to a pen/pencil holder, possibly a serving dish for tiny bread sticks during a meal or even a container to hold your shaving cream as you dip your fancy badger hair shaving brush into it before a great shave. The possibilities are ENDLESS. This sweet item comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the great Joan Koplan letting you know you're getting the real deal." Bidding starts at $4.99.
Click here to bid on the JJK Security Coffee Mug

Showville's Lisette Bustamante and Alec Mapa Pick Personal Favorites From Holland, MI

2013-05-24T02:05:00Z

On this week's Showville, the audience of Holland, Michigan selected Maciej Biezunski as the winner but who were the favorite acts for coaches Lisette and Alec? Read on to find out...

Lisette's Pick: Darlene and Randy Schaap (Penny Whistle/Blues)

When it comes to talent, Lisette agrees that the audience made the right call with Maciej: "Even at the audition, I thought, Wow, this guy has real skills." But she admits, "To me, my favorite is the one who I remember the most and think about the most." That would be Randy and Darlene. "I love them! They send me musical instruments. They've become like friends of mine. They're wonderful people."

Alec's Pick: Maciej Biezunski (Magic Act)
Alec not only appreciated Maciej's skills, but also his enthusiasm: "I loved this guy because the competition meant so much to him." During their time working together, Alec notes that "he took our coaching very seriously." But it wasn't all about hard work, Alec also enjoyed getting to know Maciej and his gracious nature, adding that the magician from Poland "was such a lovely person."

Check out AMC's Showville Thursdays at 9/8c.

Showville Q&A - Maciej Biezunski

2013-05-24T02:00:00Z

In the Series Premiere of AMC's Showville, Holland, Michigan residents chose magician Maciej Biezunski as the winner of the talent contest. In this interview, Maciej reveals his favorite trick and which competitor he thought would win.

Q: How did you first hear about the Showville talent contest?

A: My wife got an email from the town because I perform in the street festivals in Holland, annually. So they knew all the street performers. She was so estactic. She was like, "This is perfect for you! You've been waiting for something like this all your life!" I was thinking, "What is she so excited about?" I kind of ignored what she was saying. I was thinking, Oh, she's so wrong. Nothing is ever going to happen with this. But she was so insistent. I was almost feeling sorry for her because she was so excited about me entering this. But you know that saying, "The wife is always right"? See what happens.

Q: You're originally from Poland. What brought you to Michigan?

A: My wife and I were pen pals for three years. This was before the internet was so popular. So we were writing to each other. Then she came to Poland. We tried to get married there, but back then it was still a red state, so it was difficult... So then she went back to the states. Nine months later, I arrived. And I've been here now for 21 years. We live in a town outside of Holland. But the main street in Holland is where I perform every year, so I think of that street as my street now. Because I've put out so much sweat performing there. Every time I'm there, people know me, they say "Hi" to me. So even though I'm from Poland, I feel like Holland is my home.

Q: What's the most interesting thing about Holland?

Poll - Who's Your Favorite Act in the Showville Series Premiere?

2013-05-24T01:10:00Z

In the Series Premiere of Showville, the residents of Holland, Michigan must choose between four finalists. What's the right decision? It's your turn to choose!

Small Town Security Q&A - Brian Taylor

2013-05-23T04:00:42Z

Brian Taylor of AMC's Small Town Security talks about the strangest P.I. case he's ever worked on and how he deals with Joan's suspicion that her smartphone is haunted.

Q: You're sort of the "normal" one in the office. Does working at JJK ever get to be too much for you?

A: I knew what I was getting into when I first started working here. It's always been crazy. Anywhere you work, you're going to have some level of craziness, so I've always been able to handle it and accept it.

Q: What's the response to the show been like for you?

A: Where I go to do my banking, one of the tellers was like, "I saw you on E! the other night!" That's sort of odd because I just want to deposit a check. And everybody wants to ask you a bunch of questions and knows who you are. It's a weird kind of feeling.

Q: What would you say was the most shocking moment from Season 1?

A: I don't know if anything was shocking for me, but I'm sure it was shocking for other people. [Laughs] I guess the degree and level of detail of how Irwin used the poop stick. I was surprised they were able to go into that much detail.

Q: What do you do in your time off from JJK Security?

Story Notes for As Good As It Gets

2013-05-23T03:01:00Z

Weeknights during prime time on AMC, you can catch Story Notes -- real time trivia and facts about your favorite movies! Below is the online version of the Story Notes for As Good As It Gets.

Award Notes
As Good As It Gets (1997) was nominated for a total of seven Oscars, including Best Picture. This role earned Jack Nicholson his 11th Oscar nomination - his first since A Few Good Men (1993).

Nicholson and Hunt both won Oscars for these performances. It was Nicholson's 3rd and Hunt's 1st.

The movie won an American Lung Association of LA County award for its anti-smoking message.

Kinnear got an Oscar nomination for As Good As It Gets.

Hunt was in the middle of an Emmy-winning streak: 4 in a row for Mad About You from 1996 to 1999.

As Good As It Gets was nominated for AFI's "Top 100 Funniest Movies" list.

As of 2013, Director James L. Brooks has won 3 Oscars and 20 Emmys.

As Good As It Gets won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy/Musical.

AMC Receives 7 Critics' Choice Nominations

2013-05-22T17:15:14Z

This morning, the Broadcast Television Journalists Association announced its nominations for the 3rd annual Critics' Choice Television Awards, and AMC was honored with seven nominations across categories such as Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, Best Drama Series and Best Reality Series.

AMC's nominations include:
· Best Drama Series: Breaking Bad
· Best Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead)
· Best Actress in a Drama Series: Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
· Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad)
· Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad)
· Best Reality Series: Small Town Security

This marks the second nomination for Breaking Bad in the Best Drama Series category. In the Best Actor - Drama category, this marks the second nomination for Bryan Cranston for his portrayal of Walter White, with Cranston garnering one win in 2012; and the first nomination for The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln for his portrayal of Rick Grimes. This marks the third nomination for Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss in the Best Actress - Drama category for her portrayal of Peggy Olson. In the Supporting Actor category, this marks the first nomination for Jonathan Banks and the second for Anna Gunn. This marks the first nomination for Small Town Security in the Best Reality category.

The Critics' Choice Television Awards will be presented on Mon., Jun. 10 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Ask Joan - Small Town Security's Chief on Cleavage, Canned Food and Sleeping at Work

2013-05-22T16:30:00Z

Small Town Security's Chief Joan Koplan shares weekly workplace wisdom in her "Ask Joan" advice column. This week, Joan fields questions about addressing inappropriate attire, honesty on the job and the problem with canned corn.

Q: How do you deal with a co-worker who always wears inappropriate clothing in the office? Is there a way to respectfully tell them their dress (or lack thereof) makes me uncomfortable? --McGilligcuddy

A: If someone's dressing cheap, like a female with a short hemline on her dress, showing a lot of her breasts -- I don't mean like the nipples -- but she's got a lot hanging out, I think that's inappropriate. Believe me, I'm no prude. But that's just not right. You just have to sit them down nicely and say, "I'm sorry, but that's not what I want to see throughout the day."

Q: My new job involves a lot of desk time and I'm noticing I have to watch what I eat now. How do I balance eating whatever the hell I want with not gaining a ton of weight? -- Justin Pease

A: I've been trying to eat a lot of canned vegetables. I've been putting them under the sink with hot water and draining them, getting most of the salt off. I looked yesterday and just a regular-sized can of corn said it has 300 mg of sodium. That's a lot of sodium!

[Brian Taylor in background]: That's not a lot of sodium!

JK: Yes, it is!

BT: That's not a big deal.

JK: Well, now Brian's saying it's not a big deal.

BT: It isn't a big deal. Not for a woman who eats ribs.

JK: I don't eat that many ribs.

BT: Yes, you--

JK: Oh, God. here we go! Will you please? I'm on the phone. Ugh, such idiots. I've never seen such weirdos.

Q: My son is interested in becoming a security officer. What type of training is required? -- Heather Howell

Showville Talent Coaches Alec Mapa and Lisette Bustamante Live Tweet During Series Premiere

2013-05-22T13:30:00Z

Good news: AMC's new original series Showville premieres this Thu., May 23 at 9/8c. More good news: Talent coaches Alec Mapa and Lisette Bustamante will be live-tweeing during both the East and West Coast broadcasts. To get a behind-the-scenes perspective on the quirky performers you'll see on the show, follow Alec on Twitter at @AlecMapa and follow Lisette on Twitter @LisettesLife. Not on Twitter? Not a problem. You can read Alec and Lisette's Twitter feeds on their Showville cast pages.

Story Notes for 300

2013-05-22T02:31:00Z

Weeknights during prime time on AMC, you can catch Story Notes -- real time trivia and facts about your favorite movies! Below is the online version of the Story Notes for 300.

Anthology Note
300: Rise of an Empire (2013) is the sequel, starring Lena Headey and Rodrigo Santoro.

Award Note
300 won Saturn Awards for Best Director and Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film.

Biography Notes
Director Zack Snyder started work on 300 before he even made his first movie, Dawn of the Dead (2004).

Lena Headey and Dominic West were friends before this movie. Headey jokes, "He's insane, so that helps."

British actor Dominic West is a Roman General in Centurion (2010).

Gerard Butler went on to star in Coriolanus (2011) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013).

Your Chance to Guest Star on AMC's Comic Book Men May Have Arrived

2013-05-21T15:34:50Z

Earlier this year, did you spend Thursday nights watching AMC's Comic Book Men and surrounded by your superhero memorabilia? Or maybe you just have a passion for comics and pop-culture that rivals that of Kevin Smith and his Secret Stash staff? Either way, here's a chance to achieve fan-boy fame by appearing on AMC's Comic Book Men as a guest seller or shopper. To apply, fill out the easy-to-follow Comic Book Men casting application online. Please note: All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Click here for a chance to be on Comic Book Men.

Want to Keep In-the-Know on AMC's Showville? Sign Up for the AMC Newsletter

2013-05-21T13:00:00Z

Looking forward to this Thursday's premiere of AMC's Showville? Then you're likely eager for the latest on the show's quirky talent, too. What's the best way to keep up-to-date on this small town talent show? Sign up for the AMC Newsletter. That's how. You'll get interviews with that episode's winner plus a video of the corresponding performance. You'll also get news on other AMC series such as Small Town Security, Mad Men and The Killing. Don't waste another minute...

Showville premieres Thursday at 9/8c on AMC.

Story Notes for The Scorpion King

2013-05-21T02:01:00Z

Weeknights during prime time on AMC, you can catch Story Notes -- real time trivia and facts about your favorite movies! Below is the online version of the Story Notes for The Scorpion King.

Anthology Notes
The Scorpion King (2002) is a prequel to The Mummy Returns. It's set 5,000 years earlier. The movie tells the origin story of the Scorpion King -- a character in The Mummy Returns.

The movie spawned two straight-to-DVD sequels with different actors playing Mathayus.

Award Notes
The Rock was nominated for Favorite Male Butt Kicker at the Kids' Choice Awards for this movie.

The Scorpion King was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film.

Photos - Postcards From the Small Towns Featured in Showville

2013-05-20T13:30:00Z

AMC's upcoming Showville focuses on quirky contestants in small town talent shows yet what about the towns themselves? Want to learn more about locations like Mount Airy, North Carolina or Walla Walla, Washington or Hugo, Oklahoma? Now you can check out all eight stops made in AMC's new original series with this photo gallery of postcards.

Showville premieres Thursday at 9/8c on AMC.