Line #197 WesternAnimation/ClerksTheAnimatedSeries


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6	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clerks_the_animated_series_1_4.png]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: Dante, Randal, Silent Bob and Jay. [[note]]Huh... thought Silent Bob was taller...[[/note]]]]
8
9	->''"Why are we walking like this?"''
10	-->-- '''Dante'''
11
12	''Clerks: The Animated Series'' is a loose adaptation of the film ''Film/{{Clerks}}'' by Creator/KevinSmith, running from May to June, 2000 on [[Creator/AmericanBroadcastingCompany ABC]], and Smith helped co-develop the show with partner Creator/ScottMosier and Creator/DavidMandel. Dante Hicks is the much put-upon clerk of a Quick Stop convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey. He is tormented by his friend, video clerk Randal Graves, as well as stoner hangers-out Jay and Silent Bob.
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14	Included [[DenserAndWackier more wackiness and fantasy]] than the film. [[LampshadeHanging This was lampshaded.]] [[LighterAndSofter Contained little swearing or sexual references.]] [[LampshadeHanging Also lampshaded.]] Added such things as an arch-nemesis, CorruptCorporateExecutive Mr. [[RepetitiveName Leonardo Leonardo]] and his Odd Job-like [[TheDragon assistant]], Plug. Had a TokenMinority, Lando, who showed up just to be black, saying a few words every now and then. [[LampshadeHanging All of that lampshaded as well.]] It also had a ClipShow, ''[[RefugeInAudacity in the second episode]]''. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded, at least the first part.]]
15
16	Marked the first time the character designs of Creator/StephenSilver were added to the animation direction of Creator/SteveLoter and Creator/ChrisBailey. Also had an impressive voice cast, most notably [[RoleReprise the four main actors in the original film]]: Creator/BrianOHalloran, Creator/JeffAnderson, Creator/JasonMewes, and Creator/KevinSmith reprising their roles.
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18	[[ShortRunners Only six episodes were produced]]. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Episodes four and two made it to air, in that order]]. ABC ordered the series to capitalize on the success of primetime adult animation like ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', but after ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'' became a hit, quickly dumped it because it didn't fit with their programming. Fortunately, it was released on DVD (and oddly VHS too, perhaps thanks to its short length[[note]]The six episodes come out to just over two hours.[[/note]]) and the show reran in full on Creator/ComedyCentral (the home of ''South Park'' and now a sister company to the show's production company Creator/{{Miramax}} by way of Creator/ParamountGlobal's minority stake in the company, which was owned by ABC parent Creator/{{Disney}} when the show first premiered) in 2002 and Creator/AdultSwim in 2008.
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20	Smith had planned a DirectToVideo film, entitled ''Sell Out'', about Dante and Randal making a film in the Quick Stop, but when Harvey and Bob Weinstein left Miramax in the hands of Disney, Smith refused to work with the Mouse House without the support of the Weinsteins. Miramax's later non-Disney owners briefly partnered with the Weinsteins, which brought a greater likelihood for the series to return in some form or another, but as of [[http://www.avclub.com/articles/clerks-the-animated-series-could-return-in-2013,71415/ 2013]], nothing happened -- and given Creator/HarveyWeinstein's criminal trials and fall from grace after 2017, seems somewhat unlikely. For what it's worth, the film's basic plot was recycled into what finally became ''Film/ClerksIII''.
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22	Interestingly, Smith has always referred to the show as ''Clerks: The Cartoon'' (which it was also called in a trailer shown at film festivals) or "the ''Clerks'' cartoon", but never ''Clerks: The Animated Series''. Go figure.
23	----
24	!!This show contains examples of:
25	* AdaptationDistillation: Clever and witty as an adaptation. Could be considered a show on its own and still be as good, especially since the original film was extremely well-done.
26	* AdaptationalDumbass: Randal is much less intelligent and far more impulsive here than in the films.
27	* AffablyEvil: Leonardo Leonardo.
28	-->Well played, Clerks.
29	* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: Subverted/parodied in episodes one through three.
30	** There was going to be one that addressed prejudice. The DVD commentary say it would be something like this:
31	--->'''Kid:''' Grandpa, what's prejudice?\
32	'''Grandpa:''' Where did you hear that?\
33	'''Kid:''' Kenny told me.\
34	'''Grandpa:''' Who's Kenny?\
35	'''Kid:''' My Jewish friend.\
36	'''Grandpa:''' That's prejudice. You think of him as your Jewish friend instead of just your friend.
37	* AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering: From the first episode:
38	-->'''Dante:''' Wait a second. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?\
39	'''Randal:''' Urinating in the frozen food section and watching it steam up? Oh yeah!
40	* ArtisticLicenseReligion: The consumption of cow's milk isn't taboo in Hinduism meaning the Hindu clerk in the Indian Quick Stop had no reason to freak out.
41	* AnticipatoryBreathSpray: When Jay says that Caitlin Bree is making out with guys whose names start with B, Silent Bob does this before running off.
42	* ArtShift: Which was... yes, [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] as being due to [[UsefulNotes/SouthKorea Korean]] animators extemporizing after losing the end of the script.
43	* AsHimself:
44	** Creator/JudgeReinhold plays himself in episode 4, although he is ''literally'' a judge.
45	** Charles Barkley in most episodes.
46	** Creator/GwynethPaltrow makes a brief cameo as herself in the second episode trying to rent a movie at the video store, but Randal kicks her out despite her membership.
47	* BananaInTheTailpipe: Judge Reinhold dreams of this in reference to the [[Film/BeverlyHillsCop trope namer]].
48	-->[after being woken up by his wife]\
49	'''Reinhold:''' Ugh. ''I had that dream again''.
50	* BestServedCold: Leonardo Leonardo vows to do this at the end of episode 1 after his evil plot has been foiled by Dante and Randal:
51	-->'''Leonardo:''' I vow that my vengeance won't be swift or entertaining! I will draw it out over a decade in such a subtle fashion, that you will have to wonder if the misery in your life was either manifest or the machinations of Leonardo Leonardo! Or... [[BuffySpeak a third thing]].
52	* BetterThanABareBulb: The show constantly lampshades how unlike the film the series is, culminating in the final episode when everything's going crazy and Dante and Randal just sit in the Quick Stop and reminisce about simpler times.
53	* BodySushi: Randal recounts being married to a Japanese business man, who had him do this.
54	* BottleEpisode: The final episode takes place entirely within the Quick Stop. As an animated series however: the actual savings are questionable.
55	* {{Bowdlerisation}}: Jay and Silent Bob are never shown or referred to as drug dealers here (though the first ep has them thinking Leonardo Tower and a random dog are bongs [the Quicker Stop being the "ugliest damn bong I've ever seen"], and in the fourth episode, when he slips at the Quick Stop, he tells Silent Bob that the "stuff" may have kicked in), though in the first episode they ''are'' shown selling illegal fireworks and dynamite to children. Both this, and the fact that the show contains very little (if any) cursing were heavily lampshaded during the series as well as in the DVDCommentary.
56	-->'''Mewes:''' Because it was TV, we couldn't curse. So, on behalf of that... ''(cue ClusterFBomb)''
57	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Done throughout the series, but the sixth episode strays into NoFourthWall.
58	* CallBack: Episode 5 references the "why are we walking like this?" scene from Episode 1 (fittingly, as it was also the one most referenced in the ClipShow).
59	* CarcassSleepingBag: In the second episode, the characters get locked in a freezer that Randal describes as "[[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Hoth]] [[ShoutOut cold]]". Jay wishes he had a [[LaserBlade lightsaber]] so that he could [[WhatTheHellHero slice up Silent Bob]] and climb inside to stay warm.
60	* TheChosenOne: Parodied with Randal, who as revealed in episode 5 is the one to spread male worthlessness in order to convince all women to become lesbians.
61	* ClipShow: Parodied by having a clip show as the ''second'' episode. Almost all of the clips are new footage, and even the clips of things that had actually already happened were technically new, since the first episode that had aired was the fourth one. One scene from the first episode is also remembered multiple times, and there's another flashback to a scene that happened only seconds before.
62	* ColdOpening: Every episode starts with a short scene, then the TitleSequence.
63	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Rational, responsible Dante wears cool colors (blue and dark green) while carefree, audacious Randal wears warm colors (red and orange).
64	* ComplexityAddiction: Leonardo's plans to overthrow the Quick Stop involve a deeper plot, exposed by Dante and Randal: "Phase Thirty-Nine, robot chickens!"
65	** Part of Leonardo's Quicker Stop [[EvilPlan master plan]] features a MindScrew:
66	--->'''Leonardo:''' Or perhaps you'd rather visit our international coffee bar complete with its own little book department which has its own super teeny tiny coffee bar inside. And a selection of tiny adult magazines.
67	* ContentWarnings: (Which become parodies in the third panel)
68	%%* CorruptCorporateExecutive
69	* CourtroomAntics:
70	** In the CourtroomEpisode, the trial is presided over by the honorable Creator/JudgeReinhold,[[note]] ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' would later do the same gag.[[/note]] and he lets Randal get away with his nonsense through open bias.
71	** Randal calls a series of "surprise witnesses" during Dante's trial. All of the witnesses are directors of movies Randal didn't like, and he demands refunds from each of them. After he's finished, the witnesses leave, without ever saying a single word that has to do with the actual proceedings. He also calls a girl to the witness stand just to get her phone number.
72	** The prosecuting lawyer in the courtroom episode has Dante questioned by a pair of giggling girls, and plays the tapes of a completely unrelated prank call made by Jay and Randal.
73	* CourtroomEpisode: Episode 4 revolved around Jay pursuing a FrivolousLawsuit against Dante for slipping on a puddle of spilled soda.
74	* DenserAndWackier: Take the characters from [[Film/{{Clerks}} an extremely low-key indie film]] and throw them into a world where literally anything can and does happen. HilarityEnsues.
75	* DisSimile: Caitlin's charity kissing booth which costs nothing, and isn't for charity. And has no booth. And it's not just kissing. And you don't have to be a guy. [[DontExplainTheJoke Dude, she's cheating on you.]]
76	* DistantFinale: Played in the second episode, as a spoof of ''Film/StandByMe''. Jay has become a writer, and Bob is now [[Film/AnimalHouse Senator Blutarsky]].
77	* DrearyHalfLiddedEyes: Randall is often drawn with half-lidded eyes to emphasize his (often misplaced) self-confidence.
78	* DutchAngle: Spoofs the ''Series/{{Batman\|1966}}'' use of this to simulate climbing a building.
79	* DVDBonusContent: The complete series included audio commentary on every episode, plus DVD-exclusive live action intros of Jay and Silent Bob introducing each episode while chilling at their "phat palatial estate".
80	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Parodied. The episode titles describe exactly what happens, and get progressively longer.
81	* FailedFutureForecast: A major RunningGag is that ''Series/TheSecretDiaryOfDesmondPfeiffer'' is a major hit, with its own fast food chain, plots that go all over the place (involving TimeTravel and such) and it's Dante's favorite show. The real ''Secret Diary'', thanks to its AudienceAlienatingPremise, [[ShortRunners didn't last more than four episodes]].
82	* {{Flanderization}}: Befitting a cartoon, the characters are presented as even wackier than in the film.
83	** Randal is portrayed as more of an idiot than he really is. On the commentaries, Smith acknowledges that Randal was also a lot more willing to "punch holes in Dante's boat" and essentially sell him out at the first opportunity. He and the other writers, though, feel this worked.
84	** Dante is even more of a ButtMonkey who hates his job and [[ReallyGetsAround whose girlfriend has slept with the entire town]].
85	** Jay and Bob engage in even wilder antics.
86	* {{Foreshadowing}}: More than likely a complete coincidence, but episode 4 mentions "donkey shows", which becomes a subplot point in ''Film/ClerksII''.
87	* FourTemperamentEnsemble:
88	** Dante — Melancholic
89	** Randal — Sanguine
90	** Jay — Choleric
91	** Bob — Phlegmatic
92	* FurnitureAssemblyGag: In the pilot episode, Leonardo struggles to assemble an IKEA desk, and ends up using his secret diary outlining his evil plan to prop it up on one side.
93	* GainaxEnding: More or less played straight in the final episode. Justified in episode 4, when the announcer said that the original ending was lost during its trip overseas to be animated by Koreans and the Korean animators created a new ending.
94	* GirlyRun: Jay has a "dainty walk".
95	* TheGhost: Caitlin is discussed quite a few times, but never actually appears. Even flashback sequences that feature her never show her face or have her speak.
96	* HappyBirthdayToYou: Averted; they sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" instead.
97	* HeliumSpeech: "It's only funny if you talk, stupid."
98	* HighFiveLeftHanging: Happens when Charles Barkley tries to high five the Force ghosts at the end of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
99	--> "Tha's cold, Obi-wan."
100	* HowDidYouKnowIDidnt: When Dante and Randal realize they forgot to blow up the Quicker Stop, suddenly it blows up and Jay and Silent Bob emerge from the wreckage.
101	-->'''Dante:''' How did you know about the plan?\
102	'''Jay:''' What plan?
103	* HypocriticalHumor: In the beginning of the final episode, after he sees the backlash against the show Dante announces that they're going to ditch the DenserAndWackier plots and keep the series more down to Earth in the style of the film. Cue a bunch of Creator/{{Disney}}-like animals all immediately popping up.
104	-->'''Cartoon Horse:''' We're keeping it real, folks!
105	* IWarnedYou: In episode 6, Randal left the video store closed because vampires will be coming. He warned his and Dante's boss about it, but "he never listens." He was right, but Randal doesn't even bother saying it.
106	* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Except for "The Last Episode Ever", each episode features progressively longer titles that are more suitable as plot descriptions than episode titles. This is episode 5's title, for example (which is also the longest one):
107	-->'''Dante and Randal and Jay and Silent Bob and a Bunch of New Characters and Lando Take Part in a Whole Bunch of Movie Parodies Including, But Not Exclusive To, Film/TheBadNewsBears, Film/TheLastStarfighter, Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom, Plus a High School Reunion'''
108	* InkSuitActor: All four main characters are designed to resemble their actors. Justified in that their appearances were already determined by the live-action film this is spun off from. Leonardo Leonardo ''would'' have been one for Creator/AlanRickman, hence his resemblance to [[Film/DieHard Hans Gruber]], which is why he declined.
109	* InsufferableImbecile: Jay; Randal was flanderized into this, being more of a bad friend to Dante and willing to sell him out at the first opportunity, while also being a big {{Cloudcuckoolander}}.
110	* {{Irony}}: The aforementioned ArtShift becomes this when you realize the rest of the show [[Creator/{{Saerom}} was also animated]] in South Korea.
111	* KneelBeforeZod: In episode 5:
112	-->'''Leonardo:''' This rabble of mid-level managers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and Nobel laureates will ''bow'' before the might of Leonardo Leonardo Leonardo!... Sorry, Leonardo Leonardo.
113	* LemonyNarrator: The narrator (Creator/KevinMichaelRichardson, who also voices Lando) reading the disclaimer before each episode falls into this trope. He would also occasionally narrate certain things within an episode. During the last episode, after reading the disclaimer, he remarks, "I don't care for this show, either."
114	* LighterAndSofter: Even when this wasn't exactly a show for children, it contains much less sexual humor and profanity than the films that precede it. Funny enough the shows DVD release still got an R rating.
115	* TheLittleShopThatWasntThereYesterday: The Quicker Stop and Leonardo Tower were introduced as this, mainly to show that everybody's fingers were "far from the pulses of their community".
116	-->'''Randal:''' (seeing the tent covering the Quicker Stop) ''That's'' new.\
117	'''Dante:''' (watching the tower's unveiling) I find it hard to believe no one noticed that either.
118	* LockedInAFreezer: This happens to Dante and Randal in episode 2. Consequently, they spend the entire episode reminiscing about "past adventures".
119	* MadeOfExplodium: In the first episode, a man crashes his car, which catches on fire. After he gets out of the car, he spontaneously combusts while running down the street. Not to mention the fire hydrant he crashes into BURSTS INTO FLAMES.
120	* MailOrderBride: Parodied when Randal orders a Japanese mail-order ''groom'' by mistake, who forces Randal to dress and act like the YamatoNadeshiko type.
121	* MediumAwareness:
122	-->'''Randal:''' Critics love it when former ''Film/DirtyDancing'' stars TV shows.\
123	'''Dante:''' This isn't a TV show.\
124	'''Randal:''' Now who's being naive?
125	* MessageInABottle: A failed attempt by Randal when he's trapped in the Pyramid.
126	* MonochromeCasting: A straight example, which is also parodied in the form of TokenMinority Lando.
127	* MysteriousInformant: X in Episode 4, voiced by Creator/JamesWoods. Parodied, as he apparently mistakenly sent the letter to Dante and Randal.
128	-->'''Randal:''' What does this have to do with Dante and the Quick Stop?\
129	'''X:''' Dante?! Quick Stop?! Well, you see... ''(runs off)''
130	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Similar to ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', the opening narration warns about this.
131	** This moment from episode 3 stands out.
132	--->Randal's thought bubble spells out "Monkey + Burrito + Leonardo Leonardo - Burrito, a blank headshot with Creator/DustinHoffman written under it".\
133	'''Narrator:''' Due to the recent lawsuit by Dustin Hoffman over the alleged unauthorized use of his likeness, the face of Dustin Hoffman in Randal's cartoon brain calculation will be played by... Creator/AlPacino!
134	** This is followed by Randal's intended use of Hoffman's name being dubbed over with Pacino.
135	* NothingExcitingEverHappensHere: Dante invokes this verbatim in the first episode...
136	* NoYou: Randal's CatchPhrase.
137	** In episode 2:
138	--->'''Brit:''' Pack of fags?\
139	'''Randal:''' ''You're'' a fag!\
140	'''Brit:''' It's a cigarette, mate.\
141	'''Randal:''' I'm not your mate, fag! ''(Randal pounces on the man)''
142	** Later:
143	--->'''Dante:''' Boy, it wasn't until years later that we found out what "fag" ''really'' meant. Right, mate?\
144	'''Randal:''' ''You're'' a fag!\
145	'''Dante:''' No, a fag's a cigarette, remember?\
146	'''Randal:''' ''[[ComicallyMissingThePoint You're]]'' [[ComicallyMissingThePoint a cigarette]]!
147	* ObligatorySwearing: Jay does this in the live-action episode intros for the DVD version.
148	* ParodyEpisode: Episode 3 parodies ''Film/{{Outbreak}}''. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Episode 5]] parodies ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' and ''Film/TheBadNewsBears''.
149	* RaceFetish: Randal mentions having a thing for Asian women in Episode 5. Mind you, when he says this, he has been given control over three geishas instructed to follow his every whim, which Randal uses to send them out to buy Asian porn.
150	* RecapEpisode: The very second episode parodied this. What compounded this even further was that, due to ExecutiveMeddling, the only other episode that had aired at that point was the ''fourth'' episode, meaning that the flashbacks to the first episode were lost on viewers at the time.
151	* RepetitiveName: Leonardo Leonardo, of course. In fact, his full name is Leonardo ''Leonardo'' Leonardo.
152	* RoboticReveal: Plug in Episode 3.
153	-->'''Plug:''' Sir, you must help him [Leonardo]. If any of my parts or circuits will help, I'll gladly donate them.\
154	'''Randal:''' "Circuits?" What are you-some kind of a robot?\
155	'''Plug:''' Of course not. Hahaha. It's just an expression! ''(Turns around and opens a panel on his person)'' New program: Kill the human Randal.\
156	'''Randal:''' [[ImStandingRightHere Hey!]]\
157	'''Plug:''' Hahaha. That's just an expression too! ''(to himself)'' A robot expression.
158	* RunningGag:
159	** "Why are we walking like this?"
160	** Randal's (day)dreams about Dante being "The biggest idiot ever."
161	** Charles Barkley getting dissed.
162	** "Are they/is he talking about us?"
163	** Randal's jokes about Dante being gay.
164	** In Episode 5: "You wanted to see me, Coach Dante?"
165	* SeinfeldianConversation: Attempted in Episode 6 while chaos reigns outside the store, Randall wonders why [[Film/ANewHope Princess Leia would be upset about Alderaan's destruction because it would make her queen]], and how do lightsabers stop when they stop.
166	* SelfDeprecation:
167	** Judge Reinhold in Episode 4:
168	--->'''Bailiff:''' All rise, the honorable Creator/JudgeReinhold presiding. ''(the gallery laughs)'' SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR JUDGE REINHOLD! I'm sorry, Judge.\
169	'''Reinhold:''' That's okay; it's more laughs than I got in ''Film/HeadOffice''.
170	** The narrator opening Episode 6:
171	---> I don't care for this show, either.
172	* ShoutOut: The usual View Askew collection of pop culture references.
173	* SilentBob: Guess who? (Very subverted: He talks during every "Science Says" segment except the last one.)
174	* SpecialGuest: Lampshaded every episode with Charles Barkley trying to horn in on Jay and Bob's PSA segment. And then, once those ran their course, Smith ''still'' found ways to shoehorn Barkley into every episode except for the last.
175	* SpoofAesop: The "educational" segments at the end tend to provide these.
176	* StrangeMindsThinkAlike
177	-->'''Randal:''' Look at [that monkey], he's shaking in fear.\
178	'''Dante:''' No, he's masturbating.\
179	'''Randal:''' But it's out of fear.
180	** Later:
181	--->'''Leonardo Leonardo''': Oh, dear... something scared that monkey.
182	** And later in Episode 5, both Randal and Leonardo go to their high school reunions with a story of each one suing the government over bad meat.
183	* StupidQuestionBait: When the chief of police is holding a press conference about a suspected outbreak while wearing an Officer Big Mac costume, the reporters are more interested in asking him questions related to UsefulNotes/McDonalds.
184	-->'''Steve-Dave:''' Will this administration ever bring the Hamburglar to justice?\
185	'''Big Mac:''' No... Yes. Look, does anybody have any questions about the virus that could kill us all?\
186	'''Reporter:''' Can the virus kill the Grimace?\
187	'''Big Mac:''' ''[[SeriousBusiness Nothing]]'' can kill the Grimace.
188	* TakeOurWordForIt: The last episode is chockful of this trope. Randal and Dante are deliberately trying to evoke the original film -- since fans of the film are complaining the series has strayed so far from it -- by confining themselves to the Quick Stop, despite ''ludicrously'' interesting things happening just outside.
189	* TakeThat:
190	** The DVD commentary is ''full'' of these, it gets especially bitter once the subject of Creator/SethMacFarlane and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' comes up. The fact that ''Family Guy'' was UnCancelled is a particularly sore spot.
191	*** In a hilariously ironic twist, Kevin Smith and Creator/SethMacFarlane would both end up guest starring on the same episode of “WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb”, “Nerds of a Feather”.
192	** Episode 3 has a fantastic one.
193	--->'''Dante:''' You're victims of an overactive imagination of a pop-culture junkie loudmouth [Randal].\
194	'''Major Baklava:''' Creator/QuentinTarantino?
195	** Later:
196	--->'''Dante:''' It was a hoax played by an idiot with too much free time on his hands.\
197	'''Bomber Pilot:''' Quentin Tarantino?
198	** An InUniverse version with the "Big American Party" ending of Episode 4. The Korean animators clearly had a lot to vent about their work environment and boss, who is a giant rat that whips them, gets bananas shoved up his ass, and gets beaten up by Creator/TomCruise.
199	* ThickLineAnimation: The show's art-style is this. It didn't help that character designer was Stephen Silver, who would eventually design characters with this art-style like ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' and ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''.
200	* TitlePlease: No episode title is visible on the screen, though it's probably for the best, given how ridiculously long most of them are.
201	* TookALevelInDumbass: Randal went from a lazy slacker with average intelligence who in the film gave the big profound TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Dante to an immature moron in the cartoon.
202	** Ironically, this is what Dante thinks Randal is in the film.
203	--->'''Randal:''' What did I do that was so wrong?\
204	'''Dante:''' What ''don't'' you do? You know, sometimes I think the only reason you come to work is to make my life miserable.\
205	'''Randal:''' Jesus, there you go again trying to pass the buck. I'm the source of all your misery.
206	* TookALevelInJerkass: Randal compared to the films. While still a jerk in the film and not above giving him some ribbing, [[VitriolicBestBuds it was clear he still cared about Dante]]. Here, he seems to be much more malicious towards him, including trying to get him sued by Jay for $1 million in Episode 4 or trying to get the government to burn him alive as soon as possible when he thinks there's a virus outbreak, even stating out loud that he's hoping he hasn't missed watching Dante get burned in Episode 3. The crew even notices this in the audio commentary.
207	* VocalDissonance:
208	** When Creator/PatrickSwayze appears in Episode 3, all is well until the voice of Creator/GilbertGottfried comes out.
209	** The lesbians in episode 5.
210	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Parodied at the end of episode 2 during the ShoutOut to ''Film/StandByMe''. The "Old Jay" bit was intended to be a spin-off.
211	* WholePlotReference: Episode 5. Dante's plot is ''Film/TheBadNewsBears'' while Randal's is a cross between ''Film/TheLastStarfighter'' and ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom''.
212	* WontTakeYesForAnAnswer: This exchange from Episode 5.
213	-->'''Leonardo:''' So, do you want to coach little league?\
214	'''Dante:''' Hmmm..."coach Dante"...(Leonardo grows impatient) Yeah!\
215	'''Leonardo:''' Fine. Will a million dollars change...You mean you ''accept?''
216	* WorkingThroughTheCold: Real-life example: During the recording for Episode 2, Mewes's voice was shot from smoking too many cigarettes. This is why his voice is so hoarse during the "Science Sez" segment.
217	* YamatoNadeshiko: Spoofed in Episode 2 when Randal recalls an incident in which he wedded a Japanese businessman who forced him to become one. He's even seen at one point wearing a kimono and chopsticks in a hairbun. The businessman is pleased with his housework, to which Randal replies in a graceful manner.

Context WesternAnimation / ClerksTheAnimatedSeries