Kevin Smith says ‘Car-movie’ story is not true

Kevin Smith, the director who was allegedly approached by Michael Jackson to make a movie where Jackson is suppose to turn into a car and have a little boy drive him, appeared on Countdown with Keith Olbermann (March 25). Smith says the story isn’t true. In fact, he says that he’s never even met Jackson. This rumor started in 1994, according to the official transcript of the show. Smith says he was approached by someone pitching this idea and using Michael Jackson’s name as a part of this idea. Smith also says he can only guess it had something to do with Jackson and he doesn’t even know for sure if Jackson knows about this story. Click ‘Read More’ to read the transcript of the show. [b]’Countdown with Keith Olbermann’ for March 25[/b] Read the complete transcript to Thursday’s showUpdated: 10:35 a.m. ET March 26, 2004Guests: Ben Pershing; Kevin Smith, MIchele Borba, Penn Jillette … OLBERMANN: Against that backdrop, almost everything else from the dockets of our celebrity justice system would seem absurd. But then to some degree, that has been true for all the time that your entertainment dollars have been in action. Day 129 of the Michael Jackson investigations and we have an unlikely development from an unlikely source providing unexpected insights, perhaps, in the April issue of “Playboy” magazine. The noted film director Kevin Smith was asked, quote: “What‘s the weirdest script you‘ve ever been asked to direct?” And his answer, as quoted by the magazine, “A movie called ‘Hot Rod,‘ in it, at Michael Jackson‘s suggestion, Michael Jackson would have played a man who turns into a car in order to have himself driven around by a boy.” Joining me now to elaborate on that is Kevin Smith, whose latest movie “Jersey Girl” opens in theaters tomorrow. Mr. Smith, good evening. KEVIN SMITH, DIRECTOR “JERSEY GIRL”: Hey, man, how are you? OLBERMANN: Bit bad. SMITH: But first should I clear up—good to hear—I should clear up that that comes from 1994. Back when my first movie, “Clerks” got sold and I did a tour of the studios and people pitch you scripts to do. They pitched me, I believe it was at Fox, this movie “Hot Rod,” in which Michael Jackson is a guy who hangs out with little kid and can morph into a car. [b]But for—as far as I know, Michael Jackson—they kept saying “Michael Jackson,” but I never met him. He was never—you know, the guy that pitched it.[/b] I guess he was attached, or one of the things he was attached to. OLBERMANN: When you heard it though, what 0 — did you go for the door immediately? Or did you say, well this has possibilities? Or what was your reaction? SMITH: My first reaction was, well, can the car be a hummer? OLBERMANN: Yeah. SMITH: A little joke. A little joke there, Keith. OLBERMANN: I appreciate it. SMITH: I don‘t know. My reaction—no problem—my reaction was just like: why on earth would you think that I would be right for this film after seeing “Clerks,” my first movie? A little black and white movie. To this? It didn‘t make sense. But, I didn‘t—you know, it never occurred to me. I think this was before the whole Michael Jackson boys thing kind of caught my attention. I mean, definitely years before this latest development. OLBERMANN: Do you—do you remember any of the particulars? I mean, were there any unfortunate metaphors or any plot line in here? Even that title “Hot Rod” seems a little disturbing in the context of what‘s happened in the last 10 years. [b]SMITH: “Hot Rod” seems a little suggestive, but for all I know, dude, it was a studio guy who said Michael Jackson and maybe Michael Jackson didn‘t even know it existed. I don‘t know, but the way he presented it, it was a Michael Jackson vehicle. OLBERMANN: Dose that happen? Do you mean to tell me that happens in Hollywood, people might lie while they‘re trying to convince you to go work for them? I‘ve never heard of that happening. SMITH: Oh, could you imagine? People lying in Hollywood? This is unheard of. OLBERMANN: I have to issue an official “gosh.” [/b] Last question. It would be unfair to have you out here without asking about the new film and, that you don‘t to have deal now with interviews about that Michael Jackson film that you did with the car and the kid, but “Jersey Girl” is coming out tomorrow with sort of the wake of the Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, “Bennifer” (PH) “Gigli” stuff. Have you—have you dodged a bullet with—dodged that bullet with this film? SMITH: I think so. I think enough time has passed between “Gigli” and now and their relationship kind of came to a close, so it feels like the movie is kind of being judged on its own merits, which is all I ever wanted. I—you know, I didn‘t care if critics loved it or hated it. I just didn‘t want the moving being judged against it back story, about what two people who were in the movie did off camera. OLBERMANN: Another thing that people who don‘t know Hollywood would just react to amazement with. Wow, they do that, too? Extraordinary. SMITH: Oh, yes. OLBERMANN: Director Kevin Smith, I appreciate your time, we‘re out of it, but thanks for sharing the Michael Jackson thing. That image, I think, is going to be with me for a long time, unfortunately. Thanks for your time and good luck with “Jersey Girl.” SMITH: Thanks, man. No prob. Source: [url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4608248/]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4608248/[/url]