Smosh Mouth Podcast: So Random! Reunion Special

In Season 1, Episode 29 of the Smosh Mouth podcast, titled "#29 - So Random! Reunion Special," host Shane Topp reunites with former castmates Matthew Scott Montgomery and Allisyn Ashley Arm, alongside longtime friend Damien Haas. Released on September 4, 2019, this episode serves as a nostalgic and humorous deep dive into their shared experiences on Disney's beloved sketch comedy show, "So Random!". The conversation covers everything from memorable sketches and behind-the-scenes antics to personal growth and post-show endeavors.

1. Welcoming the Cast and Setting the Scene

Shane Topp kickstarts the reunion by introducing the special episode and his former castmates:

"Hey, Shane Topp here and I'm gonna be hosting this very special episode of the smoshcast. It is a Disney so random reunion with my former castmates Matthew Scott Montgomery, Alison Ashley Arm, and of course Damien Haas. It is pure chaos. Enjoy."
— Shane Topp [00:32]

The atmosphere is immediately set for a candid and chaotic conversation, reflecting their shared history and camaraderie.

2. Reflecting on "So Random!" and Its Evolution

The trio delves into the show's journey, especially the transition from "Sunny with a Chance" to "So Random!" after Demi Lovato's departure.

Shane explains:

"So Random was a Disney show. It was sunny with a chance. And then third season, the main actress, Demi Lovato, left. Then they did a fourth season, and they turned it into a sketch show."
— Shane Topp [02:45]

Matthew adds context about the uncertainties that followed Lovato's exit:

"We just did two seasons, and we were all locked down. We actually got picked up for season three, and then it got announced that she was leaving, and we were all like, do we have jobs?"
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [03:04]

3. Memorable Sketches and Creative Challenges

The conversation shifts to specific sketches that stood out during their tenure.

Damien reminisces about the elaborate costumes:

"Can we talk about the use of money on the show instead of just putting a pig nose on someone and letting them do sketch comedy? It was a $10,000 mascot costume, anthropomorphic pig that we..."
— Damien Haas [00:50]

Allisyn shares her struggles with makeup mishaps:

"Lorraine was doing my makeup, poking all up in my eye and my eyes started to get red. I show up to work the next day and they're like, uh, you have pink eye. And they sent me home from like the dance routine part and I was devastated."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [01:11]

Matthew reflects on sketches that didn’t quite land:

"I think the only one that I was like, this is definitely offensive was the guacamole one. Like, when the mom complained about that one, I was like, okay, I understand guacamole."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [04:56]

4. Behind-the-Scenes Antics and Set Dynamics

The cast discusses the often chaotic and unpredictable nature of producing a live sketch show.

Shane recalls uncomfortable microphone placements:

"Shane, is that a comfortable place for the mic for you or would you prefer it elsewhere? Maybe we'll turn it a little bit more so I'm great."
— Shane Topp [01:37]

Damien talks about constant script changes:

"All the writers were still from the sitcom days, and they did a marvelous job. I'm just saying, like, when you have that many writers, there were so many."
— Damien Haas [60:24]

Allisyn shares a particularly challenging moment:

"I pulled a stunt. I was like, I was such a diva that day because I was like, this is not acting. I' and I need a script and I do not wanna do this. And I like stormed off of set and Sterling came to get me."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [09:02]

5. The Makeup Artist Fiasco

A significant portion of their discussion centers around their experiences with the makeup artist, Kevin Lorraine, who inadvertently caused physical discomfort.

Allisyn recounts her ordeal:

"Do you guys remember when Kevin Lorraine gave me pink eye and I had to leave the set? Oh. Oh, you guys. So it was the Halloween special, which is my favorite time of year."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [18:51]

Matthew adds his perspective:

"I remember I would bring my own makeup, and I would go redo my makeup in the bathroom."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [19:51]

6. The Cost of Creativity: Expensive Prosthetics and Sets

The cast critiques the show's budget allocations, highlighting how funds were sometimes mismanaged or overly spent on non-essential elements.

Matthew laments:

"The whole Strawberry Shortcake set that they built. For that expensive, like, 10 second gag where it was like, what if aliens attacked Strawberry Shortcake? And now here's the intro. Wait, why did this take up half of the soundstage?"
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [21:22]

Damien echoes similar frustrations:

"We all had our turn with, like, crazy prosthetics."
— Damien Haas [21:19]

7. Building Friendships and Team Dynamics

Despite the challenges, the cast emphasizes the strong friendships and supportive environment they fostered.

Matthew expresses gratitude:

"I felt like actually I was making friends and hanging out. Everybody had been nice to me season one and two. But then actually I felt like, oh, I have friends. We can hang out afterwards."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [23:32]

Damien adds:

"The age difference didn't matter when it so normally would. You were very friendly and always invited us to stuff."
— Damien Haas [24:04]

8. Life After "So Random!"

The discussion transitions to their individual paths post-show, highlighting personal growth and new projects.

Allisyn talks about her passion for theater:

"I started writing these annual Halloween plays called Spook Night, which kind of turned into some other things."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [54:15]

Matthew shares his journey into art:

"I did a lot of painting on the set, and I actually did that as wrap gifts. I would do these really crazy stick figures, and then I would splatter red paint all of them."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [51:33]

Damien discusses his acting career:

"So room 566 is my most recent project, and it's a project that I wrote and my fiancé directed. And we are using that to pitch a feature."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [56:13]

9. Financial Realities and Residuals

A candid conversation about the financial aspects of working on a Disney show unfolds, dispelling myths about instant wealth.

Matthew shares his frustrations:

"I've literally gotten one cent checked. I've gotten one extra check. I'm like, the postage costs more than this."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [69:39]

Damien highlights the misconception:

"There are different pay grades. And for something like Disney and Nickelodeon, it can be a great opportunity for... but they're definitely like bottom of the barrel in terms of pay for the most part."
— Damien Haas [69:05]

10. Hilarious Anecdotes and Unforgettable Moments

The cast lightens the mood with funny stories and memorable mishaps from their time on set.

Shane recalls almost colliding with Selena Gomez:

"I nearly ran into her when she guest starred."
— Shane Topp [66:05]

Allisyn shares her humorous encounter:

"I saw her in a play a couple weeks ago, and she was great."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [32:52]

Damien adds a laugh about residual checks:

"There is a bar in Los Angeles called Residuals. And I think if you bring in here, they've heard about residual checks, they'll give you a drink for free or something like that."
— Damien Haas [71:05]

11. Continuing Bonds and Future Projects

Despite the show's end, the cast emphasizes their enduring friendships and ongoing collaborations.

Matthew discusses future projects:

"Watch the Footage Productions... See what we're up to. You can see Matthew Scott as our lovely demon in our upcoming project."
— Matthew Scott Montgomery [76:10]

Allisyn highlights her active role in theater:

"I live on Instagram. Basically, my Instagram is matthewscottmontgomery. There's a really intensely stupid web series I'm doing called West Hollywood that really makes me laugh."
— Allisyn Ashley Arm [76:18]

Damien reflects on their bond:

"We all did. I am pretty shocked at how well we've all kept in touch for the most part."
— Damien Haas [72:08]

Conclusion

The "#29 - So Random! Reunion Special" episode of Smosh Mouth serves as a heartfelt and entertaining reunion, capturing the essence of camaraderie, creativity, and resilience among former cast members of "So Random!". Through laughter and candid reflections, Shane, Matthew, Allisyn, and Damien honor their shared past while celebrating their individual journeys beyond Disney Channel.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Damien Haas [00:50]: "Can we talk about the use of money on the show instead of just putting a pig nose on someone and letting them do sketch comedy? It was a $10,000 mascot costume, anthropomorphic pig that we..."

• Allisyn Ashley Arm [01:11]: "Lorraine was doing my makeup, poking all up in my eye and my eyes started to get red. I show up to work the next day and they're like, uh, you have pink eye. And they sent me home from like the dance routine part and I was devastated."

• Matthew Scott Montgomery [04:56]: "I think the only one that I was like, this is definitely offensive was the guacamole one. Like, when the mom complained about that one, I was like, okay, I understand guacamole."

• Allisyn Ashley Arm [19:03]: "I was doing a sketch, and Kevin Lorraine was doing my makeup. I show up to work the next day with pink eye, and they sent me home from the dance routine."

• Shane Topp [21:19]: "We all had our turn with, like, crazy prosthetics."

• Matthew Scott Montgomery [69:39]: "I've literally gotten one cent checked. I've gotten one extra check. I'm like, the postage costs more than this."

• Shane Topp [66:05]: "I nearly ran into her when she guest starred."

• Damien Haas [71:05]: "There is a bar in Los Angeles called Residuals. And I think if you bring in here, they've heard about residual checks, they'll give you a drink for free or something like that."

This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the Smosh Mouth reunion episode, ensuring that both longtime fans and newcomers can appreciate the depth and humor of their shared experiences on "So Random!".