During her Schmoedown career, “The Meme Queen” Jen Kempe competed in the singles, teams, and Innergeekdom divisions. Drafted by Samm Levine in the 2020 Schmoedown draft, she was a member of The Usual Suspects during Season 7: The New Era, a member of SWAG during Season 8: War, and a member of The Den during Season 9: Reboot. Here are her reflections on the show we all love, in her own words.
Looking back on the Schmoedown, what is the most memorable moment that you were personally involved in?
At the end of the day, I am a Schmoedown fan first and a competitor second. So it’s not surprising that my most memorable moment is not actually about my own personal achievement, but that of my opponent. Let’s flashback to my very first singles match ever during the fall of 2020 Schmoedown Throwdown. To say I was anxious going into it would be a massive understatement (and not just because I was far too emotionally invested in the outcome of the Wildberries retirement match that would immediately follow my own). I am a painfully shy, forever socially awkward nerd and suddenly I’m making the jump to the big leagues live on air against the incomparable VIDEODREW?! Could I be any more stressed?!
Now I was a major fan of VIDEODREW in her Teams matches leading up to her Singles debut. She was already locked in as a master of character work and one-liners, but I also knew she was training hard, hitting the books and developing strategies behind the scenes. What I didn’t know was that she had also placed a wager with her dedicated followers that if she scored a perfect round 1 in our match it would generate donations towards Kevin Smets’ cancer treatment. Well, she didn’t just go perfect in round 1, she played a PERFECT GAME! When she made the announcement in the post-match interview that her performance gained around $1500 for her friend and faction mate, my heart nearly burst. I got a front-row seat to see one of my favorite competitors prove herself as a force to be reckoned with. But more importantly, I witnessed firsthand the kindness and generosity that the Schmoedown fandom, or more accurately Schmoedown family, that comes shining through our silly little show. I can honestly say a loss never tasted so sweet.
What is the most memorable moment that you were not involved in?
There are so many incredible moments to choose from, but I have to tip my hat to the one and only Outlaw, John Rocha. Whether you love him or love to hate him, Rocha WAS the Schmoedown. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single Mount Rushmore fan ranking without him taking one of the four slots… and for good reason! From the very beginning, no one has poured their heart and soul into the game the way that Rocha has. So when it was announced that the Outlaw would be taking one last ride at Spectacular VI before heading off into the sunset, I knew I had to be in the room. Nothing beats the magic of a live event. Anything can happen. It’s electric. And even though his old rival-turned-partner, Dan Murrell, had the higher score that day, Rocha walked away the true winner. When John began his post-interview there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. For years Rocha fought for every last point and every last argument, truly one of the first real characters in the show. But suddenly he was at a loss for words. And that vulnerability hit home just how important the Schmoedown has been for so many people. Let’s face it, it takes a certain type of person to become obsessed with movie trivia. We’re nerds. Geeks. Whatever you want to call it. But the Schmoedown became a safe haven for people to come celebrate and share their passion for movies with other like-minded weirdos. It’s a beautiful crazy thing.
Which of your matches would you say is the best you played?
I always say that my main goal is to play the best possible game I can regardless of what my opponent does. The Schmoedown is a game of both skill and luck, and luck was never my strong suit. I made an early career of nail-biter losses. And though I was proud of the points I put up each match, that long elusive win did grow annoying after some time. So it’s safe to say the best match I played was my first win against Felix Morritt, because you literally can’t get any better than a perfect game! But more importantly it was a match where I felt comfortable in my own skin. I struggle with anxiety of how I am going to be perceived both in and out of the Schmoedown. But with the support of my SWAG squad and Winston’s management, I gained confidence in myself and was proud to go out there and get a win for my faction. I loved seeing Felix come in so late in the season with such a strong character as a rookie and felt privileged to play against him. Plus whenever you get to listen to Mark Ellis and Ken Napzok swapping barbs together at the desk, it’s gonna be a good day.
Which match that didn’t involve you would you say is the best you ever saw?
If you know me, you know I am a diehard Rachel Cushing fan. She is the best of us. Time and time again across three different divisions she proved she was a force to be reckoned with. But if I have to choose only one match, it has to be the 2019 Innergeekdom Championship against Mike “The Killer” Kalinowski. These two were at the height of their prowess in both their knowledge and overall presence in the game. Rachel had entered the Schmoedown as a quiet, unassuming player. With each match though her confidence grew, and she quickly became a fan favorite for the clear skill and reserved strength she brought to the table. The Killer meanwhile had turned to the dark side, becoming one of the more successful villains of the league. All this culminated in a battle of good versus evil for the much-desired belt. Cushing came out strong with a large early lead, but Kalinowski staged a massive comeback during the betting and speed rounds to set up a Sudden Death. After one very important vowel difference, Rachel Cushing finally earned the belt we all knew she deserved, becoming the second double-belted champion. I still get stressed just thinking about it. All hail The Crusher!
How would you describe the Schmoedown’s impact on you?
Little did I know that clicking on a random YouTube video would radically change my life. I have been a part of the Schmoedown since its inception and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. From fan, to meme maker, to question writer, to competitor, I have enjoyed watching the game grow through its many phases. It has introduced me to so many incredible, talented people and given me the sense of community and friendship that was severely lacking in my life. I found a place where I could let my freak flag fly without any judgment. I witnessed all these amazing, intelligent women showcase just what they can do when given the opportunity to thrive. And it has made me so much more confident in embracing who I am as a person. And most importantly without the Schmoedown, I never would have met the love of my life.
What will you miss most about the Schmoedown?
The community is the lifeblood of the Schmoedown. I can honestly say I would have gone completely insane during the height of COVID quarantine if it weren’t for SWAG’s training sessions. It was a much-needed reprieve from the doom and gloom of reality to just riff about movies for a few hours a week with amazing individuals. It will always blow my mind how something so trivial could join people together from across the globe that would otherwise never have interacted. I will always cherish the memories of live events and the joy on everyone’s faces as they finally get to meet for the first time after years of chatting online. It was never about the questions, it was the community.
Jen Kempe can be found on Twitter @JKMemeQueen.
