"Clerks" A Dissertation on the American Justice System by People Who Have Never Been Inside a Courtroom, Let Alone Know Anything About the Law, But Have Seen Way Too Many Legal Thrillers (2000)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Directors:

Steve Loter
Chris Bailey

Writers:

Kevin Smith (characters)
David Mandel (developer) ...

TV Series:

"Clerks" (2000)

Original Air Date:

31 May 2000 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

Comedy | Animation

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Long Title | Jay And Silent Bob | Video Store | James Bond Spoof | Hockey

Cast

Jeff Anderson	...	Randal Graves (voice)
Jason Mewes	...	Jay (voice)
Brian O'Halloran	...	Dante Hicks (voice)
Kevin Smith	...	Silent Bob (voice)
Judge Reinhold	...	Honorable Judge Reinhold (voice)
Kenny Mayne	...	Himself (voice)
Dan Patrick	...	Himself (voice)
Charles Barkley	...	Himself (voice)
Grant Hill	...	Himself (voice)
Reggie Miller	...	Himself (voice)
Michael Buffer	...	Himself (voice)
Tara Strong	...	Giggling Girl (voice) (as Tara Charendoff)
Bryan Cranston	...	Various (voice)
Diana Devlin	...	(voice)
Paul Dini	...	George Lucas (voice)

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the episode, Randal throws away his soda can, which lands on the floor. In the next scene, Randal still has the can in his hand.

Quotes:

Judge Reinhold: Has the jury reached a verdict?
Reggie Miller: In the case of Jay vs. Dante Hicks, we find in favor of...
[cut to black]
Korean Animators: Big American Party. Everybody disco dancing.

Movie Connections:

References Gremlins (1984)

Second best episode in a consistently brilliant series

Even though this episode is fourth in the series, it was the first to appear on ABC in 2000. And, as Kevin Smith himself says on the audio commentary, it probably best represents the style of the show. It's got a rapid-fire, wicked sense of humor about it, the animation is good (but seldom great), and the voice-work is second to none.

With vocal appearances by Judge Reinhold, Dan Patrick, and several NBA stars, this episode chronicles the lawsuit wherein Jay tries to sue Dante and the Quick Stop for $10 million, all because he fell in a puddle of soda left on the floor by Randal.

The pop culture references fly by so quickly that you may not catch them all in a single sitting. There's Fast Times at Ridgemont High, JFK, Beverly Hills Cop, a great rip on The Phantom Menace, and that's just to name a few.

This may not be the series' best episode in it's six show run (the best is episode two, the flashback episode), but it's great for what it is, and shows what the show could've been had it stayed on the air for a full season or two.