‘Tonight Show’ mines for laughs in Branson
Filmmaker Kevin Smith puts the small town on the map in Leno’s “Roadside Attractions.”
By Sony Hocklander – News-Leader
Branson — Publicists in this vacation destination have worked for years to turn the national media’s attention their way.
But Kevin Smith?
The famous irreverent filmmaker and his crew took a road trip there in April, one day after he spoke at Southwest Missouri State University.
Word is Smith and crew filmed various Branson sites for the latest installment of his “Roadside Attractions” feature, which airs tonight on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
Sites caught on film include the Incredible Acrobats of China; Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum; the lush, elaborate bathrooms at the Shoji Tabuchi Theater; and Showboat Branson Belle — namely its comedian Todd Oliver and his talking dog Irving.
Smith has developed a cult following since his low-budget comedy “Clerks” was released a decade ago. His newest movie — “Jersey Girl” starring Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler — is scheduled for a November release.
His segment on Branson could be a hoot — if it makes the cut with Jay Leno. Smith and company filmed several Missouri locations, producers told Silver Dollar City publicist Lisa Rau, and Leno gives final approval the day of the show.
“It sounds like we might be only a little itty bit,” Rau says. “And Jay still has to approve it. It may not even air.”
For some, that might elicit a secret sigh of relief. After all, Smith (also known as Silent Bob for the character he plays in five of his films), is known to, ahem, push the envelope of taste.
“What’s important to remember is, if you are a ‘Tonight Show’ viewer, you will definitely take this in stride,” Rau says. “If you tune in to see a feature on Branson, you might be surprised.”
Others say the national publicity — even in the context of Smith’s brand of comedy — is good for Branson.
“I love it,” says Anna Koelling, marketing director for the Incredible Acrobats of China. “You’ve got to think about the audience that watches the ‘Tonight Show.’ That’s the demographics we’re trying to get. We’re trying to get the boomers who don’t necessarily ride the buses, and who might come here to see the crazy things that go on here. We need that information out there.”
Koelling even sent promotional material to the “Tonight Show” in hopes the Acrobats would be included — despite what she expected from Smith.
“I love Kevin Smith’s work,” the former teacher says with a laugh, “but he’s the kind of kid I would have hated to have in my class.”
Smith and his film crew spent more than two hours with the acrobats, and they were kind, complimentary and easy to work with, she says.
She’s not worried about the end result. Well, not much.
“He was a little irreverent,” she says laughing. “He was funny. He said some things that completely went over our translator’s head. And she answered seriously. There was some double-entendre, and we expected that.
“But I don’t think he’s going to treat us badly. The acrobats are amazing talent and (the crew) were very impressed.”
Gary Daily, general manager for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, isn’t fazed about his potential 15 seconds of fame. And he feels good about Branson being part of the clip.
“I think it’s great publicity for Branson and great publicity for our museum,” he says.
Because the museum is a franchise, Smith had to get approval from the national office, and he knew exactly what he wanted to see: The World’s Largest Ball of Twine.
Daily thinks the crew filmed a brief introduction in front of the museum before spending all of 20 minutes inside. Nothing Daily witnessed was distasteful.
“It was strictly an interview with me,” says Daily, who wouldn’t reveal the questions asked in front of the room-size string ball. “I didn’t take it to be serious. If they show the clip, you will see why.”
At the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, the crew reportedly focused on the gilded bathrooms, which are so elaborate they’re featured on postcards. Who knows? After tonight, all of America may stream in to Branson just for a glimpse.
If Oliver and his talking dog at the Showboat Branson Belle make the cut, it will be the pair’s second turn at “Tonight Show” fame. They appeared in a segment that aired in February, which Leno reportedly enjoyed.
Not surprising, says Rau: “He’s a great dog. It’s a great act.”
Observing the film procedure was interesting, she says. For one thing, the manpower they used — about eight crew members — was amazing for such a small project.
“They came in a van and it was like Kevin was a star. And there was a lot of ‘Hey, you’re my man, you’re my man’ Hollywood cool talk. But they were nice.”
Rau isn’t worried personally about the segment with Oliver and Irving should it air, but she’s a little concerned about others’ reactions.
“There were a couple of off-color comments on the talking dog,” she says.
It was Smith’s brand of humor, she cautions, not theirs, and while it wasn’t anything major, it was a little edgier than what she expected.
“We went in with our eyes open and then, boy, started to squint while it was happening. I may need a job next week,” she jokes.
Still, Rau looks at it this way: “It’s a powerful network that has never before expressed interest in traveling here.”
Besides, Smith and crew seemed genuinely surprised and pleased by what Branson had to offer.
“They kept saying, ‘It’s amazing. Driving around here, we can’t believe it. That new roller coaster. All the theaters. And all this activity. Wow. I didn’t know all this was here,’” she relays.
Koelling has a few concerns about what Smith might say in final editing, but dismisses the notion that anyone in Branson should get too offended.
“If you cannot laugh at yourself, if you can’t see the humor of the situation, you need to lighten up,” she says.
“I love living in Branson and I think it’s bar-none the best place that I’ve lived. … This is the most welcoming community,” she says.
“But it’s also a small town and small towns are funny. You can’t take yourself too seriously.”
Shoji Tabuchi Theatre’s women’s restroom (above) and men’s restroom (left) were both stops for Kevin Smith’s “Tonight Show” segment “Roadside Attractions.”