7.4 /10 1 Votes
Also known as Clerks First episode date 31 May 2000 | 7.4/10 IMDb Final episode date 14 December 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Developed by David MandelScott MosierKevin Smith Voices of Jeff AndersonJason MewesBrian O'HalloranKevin Smith Cast |
Clerks (retronym: Clerks: The Animated Series) is an American animated sitcom that was first broadcast in 2000 that was based on Kevin Smith's 1994 comedy of the same name. It was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver. It is the first (and so far only) television show to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse
Contents
- Top 10 animated shows from nickelodeon
- Broadcast history
- Proposed but never made
- Clerks Sell Out
- Reception
- Home release
- References

Top 10 animated shows from nickelodeon
Broadcast history

Only two episodes were broadcast on ABC in the year 2000 before the series was canceled. Several factors contributed to the cancellation, including low ratings, the show's not fitting in with ABC's other programming, unsuccessful test-screening to older audiences, and ABC's decision to air the shows out of order. ABC aired the fourth episode first, as opposed to the intended first episode, and then aired the second episode despite the fact that the second episode is the 'flashback' episode, and derives much of its humor from the fact that it flashes back to the first episode. Additionally, the second episode aired without the scene from "Flintstone's List", the fictional RST Video rental that spoofed Schindler's List.

All six episodes were released on DVD in 2001, marking one of the first occasions in which a short-lived TV series found success in this format. The DVD commentary features cast and crew who frequently cite their disagreements with the network over the show's development. The entire series was eventually aired on Comedy Central, with the unaired episodes airing for the first time on television on December 14, 2002. In 2006, digital freeview channel ITV 4 in the UK, began broadcasting episodes late on Monday nights. Starting November 14, 2008, Adult Swim aired the series on Friday nights.

Several scenes filmed for, but cut from, the film Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (but included on the film's DVD release) contain metafictional moments when Randal makes references to the animated series, as well as its cancellation. On his DVD commentary for the film, Smith said the intent was to make the quick cancellation of the series a running gag.
Clerks: The Animated Series was produced by Miramax and View Askew Productions in association with Touchstone Television.
Proposed but never made

According to the DVD commentary, these were some ideas that were being considered for episodes of the show if it were to continue:
Clerks: Sell Out
For several years following the series' cancellation, Smith announced plans to make an animated direct-to-video film. The basic plot involved Dante and Randal making a movie about their lives at the Quick Stop, a reference to the production of the original film. In an interview Kevin Smith expanded on the delays surrounding the film. Apparently, when Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax, owned at the time by Disney, the split was not completely amicable. The rights to the Clerks television show were still owned by the Disney Corporation, who as a result were reluctant to work with The Weinstein Company, throwing the future of Clerks: Sell Out into question. At the 2007 Cornell Q&A Kevin said due to the Miramax/Weinstein argument "you will see a Jay and Silent Bob cartoon before Clerks: Sell Out."
However, when Miramax was bought in 2011, Kevin Smith revealed on Twitter that Miramax had contacted him for new projects, and they discussed the possibility of bringing back the series.
Reception
Clerks: The Animated Series was named the 98th best animated series by IGN, comparing it to Firefly due to its partial, out of sequence airing. They specifically praised the second episode for its parody of the old television staple of clip shows, by showing clips of the previous episode as well as clips from the episode itself.
Home release
The show was released on DVD in a two-disc collector's edition set called "Clerks Uncensored." The "Uncensored" of the title refers to the restoration of a segment that was cut from the ABC broadcast of the second episode, as well as uncensored episode introductions by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, portraying their Jay and Silent Bob characters. The DVD was also given an R-rating by the Motion Picture Association of America for some sexual humor.