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Downlowd: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News

Downlowd: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News

By Joe Scott

Downlow.d is a deep dive audio documentary series that explores the morally complicated, occasionally inspiring and often forgotten oral histories of the internet.
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PREVIEW: Episode Seven: The Anti-Social Network Part II

Downlowd: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool NewsJun 02, 2022

00:00
10:30
BONUS: The He-Man Effect with Brian 'Box' Brown + Updates

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:


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

Jul 10, 202301:22:29
Bonus Episode: Exit Interview with Alan Cerny

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/

Sep 02, 202201:41:09
BONUS: The Final Comments Section of Season One

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.

Aug 18, 202201:27:54
BONUS EPISODE: Postscript From Xanadu at Skull Island

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.


Aug 04, 202202:33:35
Episode Nine: "The Air We Breathe"
Jul 13, 202201:40:07
Episode Eight: "Hay Bales (Parts I & II)"
Jun 23, 202201:39:48
Episode Seven: "The Anti-Social Network (Part Two)"
Jun 10, 202201:27:05
PREVIEW: Episode Seven: The Anti-Social Network Part II

PREVIEW: Episode Seven: The Anti-Social Network Part II

Get ready to take your shots! Downlow.d will launch the beginning of the final trilogy of episodes in The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News starting Thursday, June 9th! Here's a preview of Episode Seven. See you next week!

Click here to visit our website:

https://www.downlowdpod.com/

Jun 02, 202210:30
BONUS INTERVIEW: Outlaw Vern
May 16, 202201:43:21
BONUS INTERVIEW: Don Dupree, director of Siskel & Ebert

BONUS INTERVIEW: Don Dupree, director of Siskel & Ebert

What was it like to be on set for Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and witness the fights between the legendary film critics that didn't make it to the airwaves? In this special archive interview, Joe Scott shares the full conversation he had with TV director Don Dupree, who made more than 200 episodes of Siskel & Ebert. Topics include getting Harry Knowles ready for TV, the lack of a comprehensive archive of old Siskel and Ebert episodes, as well as one of the most underrated comedies of the 90s. We also give shoutouts to everyone who supported the Comics For Kids fundraiser, which ended successfully on May 6th.

May 09, 202246:35
BONUS INTERVIEW: David Poland

BONUS INTERVIEW: David Poland

NOTE: Consider donating $2 (or more) to our Comics For Kids community fundraiser. Click here to help!

Film critic and journalist David Poland has a lot of WAR STORIES. But that’s what happens when you’ve worked in his industry for as many years and in as many outlets as he has. We talk about ‘throwing Jeffrey Wells out of a moving car,’ old arguments with Drew McWeeny and Ain’t It Cool News, and the importance of recording the erasable history of online journalism.

Subscribe to David Poland’s Movie City News on Substack by clicking here:
https://davidpoland.substack.com/

And again, consider buying comic books for kids by clicking here:
https://gofund.me/73c01eea

Apr 19, 202201:41:11
BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 5)

BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 5)

On the last Bonus Comments Section edition of Downlow.d until May, Joe Scott interviews writer Abraham Riesman (https://abrahamriesman.com/) to talk about his book "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee." Together, they discuss the movie Stan Lee produced with Harry Knowles, professional wrestling, the Geek Industrial Complex, and the importance of being king of the Scholastic Book Fair. Plus Joe and Kristina Bell also present another mailbag featuring questions, comments, and feedback from both listeners as well as the media.

P.S. Downlow.d: The Rise And Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News  will return with a BRAND NEW narrative episode on April 28th.
Click here to purchase a copy of Abraham Riesman's book "True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee."

Mar 31, 202201:20:40
Episode Six: "The Anti-Social Network (Part One)"

Episode Six: "The Anti-Social Network (Part One)"

THE MID SEASON FINALE. In this special two-part episode, SXSW celebrates the 15th Anniversary of Ain't It Cool News in 2011 -- a time when its legacy was shadowed by many unpleasant truths. Also, Drew McWeeny sacrifices his filmmaking dreams for AICN while Harry Knowles does the opposite.

Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

With Ben Jones as the voice of Harry Knowles, Sarah Griffith as Catherine Shoard, Yemonja Stanley as Bonnie Cressler, A.J. Schrader as Eli Roth, and Jake Steward as the voice of Drew's Anger,

The Rise of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News will return with a brand new episode on Thursday, April 28th.

Mar 21, 202201:19:25
BONUS EPISODE: "Turning Red" with Erica Milsom & Ruth Maramis

BONUS EPISODE: "Turning Red" with Erica Milsom & Ruth Maramis

On this special episode of Downlow.d, Joe Scott dives into the online discourse surrounding the Pixar film Turning Red. First up, film critic Ruth Maramis (https://flixchatter.net/) discusses her review of the film as well as her all time favorite Pixar films. Then Joe Scott interviews Erica Milsom, the director of the brand new documentary "Embrace The Panda: The Making of Turning Red."

And as we stated, Chapter 6 will be rescheduled to drop Monday, March 21. Sorry for the delay, folks!

Mar 18, 202201:14:31
BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 4)

BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 4)

Downlow.d host and creator Joe Scott talks with special guest Adam Graham, film critic for The Detroit News about the current state of the industry after the great purge that started in the late '00s. They also become part of THE PROBLEM by discussing Matt Reeves' "The Batman." Plus executive producer Kristina Bell shares a fresh batch of listener questions, comments, and feedback!

And as an added bonus, we present Ben Jones' full reading of THAT REVIEW.

Mar 10, 202201:17:50
Episode Five: "The Ghost of Neill Cumpston"

Episode Five: "The Ghost of Neill Cumpston"

A new cinema culture emerges when professional newspaper and print film critics lose their jobs en masse, only to be replaced by the online 'children' of Harry Knowles. We also delve into the peculiar backstory and legacy of 'Neill Cumpston,' a spectral figure that looms large over modern film discourse.

Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

With Ben Jones as the voice of Harry Knowles and Jake Steward as the voice of Patton Oswalt.

Mar 03, 202201:20:44
BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 3)
Feb 24, 202201:40:13
Episode Four: "Thumbs Up"

Episode Four: "Thumbs Up"

At the height of their power and influence, Harry Knowles and the AICN crew pal around with Roger Ebert, duck a trio of Comicon controversies, and save one of Hollywood's biggest stars from the straight-to-DVD dustbin of history.

Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

With Ben Jones as the voice of Harry Knowles and Greg Sestero as the voice of David Twohy.

Feb 17, 202201:04:05
BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 2)

BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 2)

Downlow.d series creator Joe Scott and executive producer Kristina Bell take a break from the narrative story to discuss episode three of "The Rise of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News." They also share a deleted scene and answer a few listener questions, comments, and even complaints. And after spending parts of episodes two and three exploring AICN's rivalry with the National Research Group, someone from the other side of the battle talks with Joe Scott in order to share their perspective.  PLUS there is a preview of Episode Three.

Got questions? Need to contact the team? Do so at our website at www.downlowdpod.com.

REFERENCES:
From Austin's Basement to Hollywood's Back Door: The Rise of Ain't It Cool News and Convergence Culture by Kimberly Owczarski

Harry Knowles' original review of Godzilla 1998

Feb 10, 202201:11:33
Episode Three: "Almost Famous"

Episode Three: "Almost Famous"

Just as Ain't It Cool News is beginning to surge in popularity, Hollywood learns that the best way to beat Harry Knowles is to seduce him. We also meet the real life version of William Miller who started writing for the site when he was a teenager, while Drew McWeeny continues his war against test screenings.

Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

Feb 03, 202259:15
BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 1)

BONUS: Comments Section (Vol. 1)

Downlow.d series creator Joe Scott and executive producer Kristina Bell take a break from the narrative story to discuss episodes One and Two of "The Rise of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News." They also share deleted scenes and answer a few listener questions. Joe Scott then interviews Garth Franklin, the lone survivor of the pioneers of internet movie geek culture to celebrate 25 years of his website www.DarkHorizons.com. PLUS there is a preview of Episode Three.

Got questions? Need to contact the team? Do so at our website at www.downlowdpod.com.

Jan 27, 202201:12:11
Episode Two: "There Will Be Nerds"

Episode Two: "There Will Be Nerds"

During the gold rush days of the internet, a rabble of nerds went online to forge friendships, arguments, and for some, a chance at fortune and glory. But to become the biggest name of the internet movie geek revolution, Harry Knowles had to transform himself into the man who killed "Batman & Robin."

Plus we share the origin story of one of the internet's most revered movie critics -- and no, we aren't talking about Harry Knowles.

Episode Credits:
Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

Jan 20, 202201:08:19
Episode One: "Citizen Knowles and the Lord of the Geeks"

Episode One: "Citizen Knowles and the Lord of the Geeks"

Episode One: "Citizen Knowles and the Lord of the Geeks" - In 2001, there was a rumor that a webmaster by the name of Harry Knowles would host the secret U.S. premiere of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring." This is the story of how it went down as well as the origin of the man who made it happen.

Episode Credits:
Written, Edited, and Narrated by Joe Scott

Executive Produced by Kristina Bell

Sound Engineered by Eddie Garcia

With Production Assistance by Ries Allyn

And Online Production by Janessa Smith

Jan 13, 202201:04:19
PREVIEW - Downlow.d Season One

PREVIEW - Downlow.d Season One

A short preview of the very first season of Downlow.d, a narrative podcast series that explores the forgotten oral histories of the internet. Our first season, "The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News," will start in January. Subscribe today!

Jan 06, 202210:10
Official Trailer

Official Trailer

In 1996, a semi-paralyzed man named Harry Knowles launched Aint-It-Cool-News, a massively popular website that, for better and for worse, pushed for changes in cinema culture that we see to this very day. The first season of Downlow.d, titled "The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles,” will chronicle the meteoric rise of proto-online influencer Harry Knowles as told by key collaborators (aka, 'spies'), colleagues, journalists and filmmakers before both Knowles and his website were engulfed in controversies. Coming soon wherever you find great audio stories. Subscribe today!

Dec 13, 202103:09