Jason Mewes on Playing a High School Janitor in 'Todd and the Book of Pure Evil'

Jason Mewes just can't get enough of Canadian TV. After guest-starring with his BFF Kevin Smith on 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' Mewes returns to the small screen as Jimmy the janitor on the new comedy/horror hybrid 'Todd and the Book of Pure Evil.' The show follows a group of teens at Crowley High as they try to save the school from the impact of a powerful book of evil that grants the wishes of desperate students (with massive consequences, of course).

Mewes is best known for his role as the long-haired Jay in Smith classics like 'Clerks,' 'Mallrats' and 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.' He and Smith are keeping their alter egos alive with 'Jay and Silent Bob Get Old,' a weekly podcast recorded at the "SModcastle," the world's first podcast theater, on Santa Monica Boulevard in L.A.

TV Squad caught up with Mewes to chat about filming in Canada, what fans ask him to sing in the streets, and why he may or may not want to guest star on one of his favorite shows, 'CSI: Miami.'

How did you get involved with 'Todd and the Book of Pure Evil'?
I got involved through a friend of mine, Jim Jackman [one of the show's producers]. I met him when I shot 'Degrassi.' He and Kevin and I stayed in touch and stayed friends. He had mentioned he was trying to get this show together. I read all the scripts and thought it was great. They said they'd love to have me for this part. It was awesome, I was really stoked.

What was it about Jimmy in particular that made you want to take on the role?
At first, I just liked the show in general. When they told me they wanted me to play Jimmy, I thought he had some similar characteristics to myself. When I was in high school I listened to heavy metal, and he's a metalhead. I'm not anymore, but he's all about marijuana. It's cool that he sort of stands out in each episode by giving some advice. He's sort of like the crypt-keeper.

You have said that if you had the Book of Pure Evil in high school, you'd use it for a love potion. What would you use it for now?
Now I would say I'd wish to be able to have people do whatever I ask. I'd make a potion and give it to a couple of my friends so they'd have to do whatever I ask. So I could just sit and watch TV while they went out and got stuff and I'd never have to get off my couch. Sounds good, no? They could bathe me and feed me grapes. Or another one: I hate flying. So I'd probably want to make some sort of teleportation device, like some 'Star Trek' stuff. So when I had to go to Canada to go see the premiere or go shoot, I could just blink or go in this machine that's in my closet and end up in Toronto.

What was it like shooting in Winnipeg?
It was fun. I didn't go out much. If I wasn't shooting I'd stay in my hotel room. I'm pretty lame. I'm very anti-social. I don't really go out much anymore. I'm married so I don't go out to harass women anymore, and I don't drink or do drugs or anything. So I honestly sit in my hotel and mess around on my computer and play video games and build models and really geeky stuff.



Do you get recognized by fans a lot?
I don't anymore. When I had my long hair and I'd go out in cold areas and wear my toque, then yeah I'd say I'd get recognized pretty often. Now not as much... I'd say maybe once every other day.

What do people say to you?
A lot of people ask, "Are you that guy? Are you Silent Jay?" When people ask me to say stuff, the type of stuff I get is, "Can you sing the F--- Song, can you give me a Dutch rudder?" or they'll just say "Snoochie boochies." The other big one is "Bo bo kitty f---." Guys say, "Can you call my wife and say 'Bo bo kitty f---?'"

Do you ever do it?
It depends where I'm at. Sometimes I've been asked these questions while I'm at the urinal or about to get into a cab. If I'm in a situation like that I'll apologize because I don't want to come off as an ass, but I mean people will ask me in weird situations, like I'll have a mouthful of food at a restaurant and they'll ask me to say hi to their wife. It's just awkward. But I'd say yeah, eight or nine times out of ten I'll do it for them. I don't really sing the F--- Song because I don't really know the words so much anymore. Sometimes I like to ask why don't you sing it for me? That's better. Then they'll sing it and it's really entertaining. It's nice. It's sweet.

Were you ever afraid of getting typecast as a Jay type of character?
I wouldn't say I was afraid. It is frustrating sometimes. I would say that a lot of the offers I get are playing the stoner/geeky/funny/obnoxious guy. I've been lucky, though, people have given me opportunities. I just did this movie called 'The Last Godfather' where I play a totally different character. Harvey Keitel is in it and it's set in the 1950s. I'm one of the crime family's right-hand man. I'm hoping when that comes out it will show my range.

Do you want to do more dramatic roles?
I'd like to play the crazy, interesting, out-there kind of guy. I like to use 'American Psycho' or Hannibal Lecter as examples.

Is there anyone who you haven't worked with who you're dying to work with?
I wouldn't say there's any one specific person. I'm sort of torn, to be honest. There are some TV shows that I really, really like that I'd love to be on, but at the same time I have friends who have been on shows that they love but the actual real people are not very nice and it sort of ruined it for them.

They'd go back and watch the show and be like "Oh, that guy's a dick." It's weird because I really like 'CSI Miami' and I think I'd like to be on the show as a three-episode arc type of thing, but at the same time I wouldn't want to go on and the characters be assholes and it ruins it for me. But there are tons of shows I'd love to be on because I love the show. I'm a big fan of 'Warehouse 13' and 'Merlin' and 'Legend of the Seeker' and all of that shi – er, stuff. And I'm into all of the crime shows.

Is there anything else about 'Todd' you'd like to mention?
It's a good show and I hope that people enjoy it. I had a blast on it. And I love Canada.

'Todd and the Book of Pure Evil' premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 9PM ET on Space.