An Open Letter to Matt Kennedy Gould
Dear Matt,
I never thought you were stupid. I never thought you were a “schmo” (for lack of a better word). In fact, I thought you were an amazing guy… a guy that I honestly wish there were more of in the world today.
I recently read a little blurb in Entertainment Weekly (I believe) where you told what you thought of “The Joe Schmo Show” and what you did afterwards… going to California and “blowing” your money on stuff and feeling bad about yourself… I just want to say that’s fine with me. In fact, it only shows more of your wonderful nature. Your sincerity. Not just with life, but with yourself.
I know that I may be saying a bunch of non-sense… and why you would care what I have to say I don’t know… but I want you to know that there are hundreds of thousands of people that agree with me on this. I’m just sure of it!
I really enjoyed the show… I’ve shown it to my wife (after we were married) and friends, and anyone that I can get to watch it I tell to watch it. The reason is simple… YOU! It’s not the fact they “tricked” you. Heck, who wouldn’t have been tricked? It’s the fact that you were so genuine… so friendly… so amazingly honest and humble and happy. You obviously have a solid moral center, and I thank God that they chose you for the show, and I pray that your life, wife and kids, and all you do are blessed. You were a blessing to me.
Couldn’t agree more. I watched the show by suggestion recently and it made me laugh and cry. You are an extremely likeable guy and seeing you doing the right thing every time really revitalized my hope for mankind.
Thank you. I needed it.
My girlfriend and I got into this show when we first started dating. It brings back a lot of memories seeing this post. Matt was a pretty good guy. Wish they would do more seasons of this.
Well, he wasn’t exactly humble. He said things about how good looking he was and various other little things that showed he had some delusions about his looks and talent. Although he kind of had a swelled head, he was a fairly likable doofus and I wanted him to have a good life after the show.
What happened to giving the money to his mom so they could make the cash grow? Is he still friends with any of the cast or do they think he is a piece of garbage now? Is he still working for Spike TV? What is going on, Matt Kennedy Gould?
I absolutely agree with Noel. Matt’s reactions and sincerity made the show memorable. I don’t think he had a swelled head about trying to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Opportunity knocked – what was he supposed to do? Not try? It’s easy for the jaded press to blather on about 15 minutes of fame, but there are plenty of D-list celebrities that have parlayed a decent living on reality shows. Matt pursued that as well.
I also agree Matt wasn’t dumb at all. He was a decent guy with honest reactions. I hope Matt pursues a life and a career that makes him happy.
Harrison in Austin
I loved that show. I also loved the fact that Kristin Wiig from SNL was on that show.
I agree with Noel.
LONG LIVE MATT KENNEDY GOULD!!!
I’m not the type of guy to get into reality t.v. But it’s so funny I came across this letter! this was the best show in reality history. Matt was just an ordinary dude, just like a lot of us out there. I know I would have been fooled. I was just telling my sister-in-law about it and how she has to watch it some how. Funny as hell! I like how the jerk of the house got with the Doctor chick and totally turned her out! Or how the blonde liked the host and they were having some sort of off camera relationship. The best were Matt’s reactions to all of that kind of stuff. That show will never be duplicated. Matt Kennedy Gould RULES!!!!!!!
Tuesday nights were “Schmo” night. There’s been so many really good reality shows but there’s never been one that could compete with The Joe Schmo Show. Matt was great and the cast was amazing. Who could ever forget The Hutch? I still watch Master Debater on dvd and it’s still hysterical. So what’s happened to the rest of the cast?
Long live the Joe Schmo Show!!
Matt Kennedy Gould is the best. I just purchased and received the 3 Disc set and couldn’t wait to watch it again. It seems like yesterday in my mind but I guess this was back on 2003. I remember being disappointed that the entire cast didn’t actually sit down with Matt after this happened. It would have been really great to see the ones that kept in touch with Matt a year or two later, or even now for that matter. Matt deserves something very special in this life and I agree, we will be hard pressed to find another reality show as good as this one and we will never find another Matt! Too bad his embarassment kept him from moving forward. Plenty of others have plowed through alot worse and risen. Matt has the best character. I can’t help feeling there needs to be a 2nd chapter to the Matt Kennedy Gould story, A&E where are they now sort of thing or something. Everyone loved you on that show Matt! Spike thought they could duplicate the success with part 2 and it tanked. You made the show and there are plenty of fans waiting for you to come back into our lives somehow. Thank you Matt for being a superior human being. Your inspiration has stuck with me all these years. Thanks!
The fact is that every time I’ve heard anyone talking about this show the comment you hear most is what an amazing guy Matt is. It’s honestly incredible what honor he had while still being a fun guy.
It was also ultra clear everyone involved with the show felt the same way.
The fact that he was “tricked” is absolutely nothing. Virtually anyone would have been, and it doesn’t matter at all anyway. It’s a non issue.
Seven years after the show, recollections came up in the law office I’m part of and 100% of the people stated how amazed they were by Matt’s character. He made the show! There is absolutely no doubt about it.
I wholeheartedly agree with all the great things said about the show and especially Matt. I never saw the show on Spike but had heard about it because of Kristen Wiig and purchased the DVD’s. I got hooked instantly. Watched the entire show over a weekend. I lmao and also cried on many occasions. Especially the end, when they reveal the secret and Matt speaks about how he doesn’t always believe in himself but others see his potential and have tried to support him. Boy, that tore me up. What a moment. It was so pure & very emotional.
For me, The Joe Schmo show was the best reality show ever and quite possibly the most entertaining tv show ever. All due to Matt. What a truly exceptional guy. He was the true star of the show.
I initially got the DVD’s to see Kristen Wiig in her early days before SNL, but it turned out that I discovered a bigger star, Matt Kennedy Gould.
Matt deserve every great thing in life. What a unique & special individual.
I love the comments on here everyone! Thanks so much! Maybe Matt himself will eventually see it! :D
I’m watching Joe Schmo for the first time, and I genuinely wanted to write something to him myself. If anything, the show is a testament to the type of person he is..a good guy. Wish I could tell him in person and give the guy a hug!
I found myself wondering where Matt Kennedy Gould would show up next on TV. I wasn’t looking for season 2 of the Joe Schmo Show. I agree with the people who said that you were the one who made the show. I found season one of DVD and grabbed it up without hesitation. I would have watched another show with you Matt. Look at Scott Baio, he had a great show about trying to decide if he should settle down. I heard a lot of shows like that are somewhat scripted, but I think you could have done something like that. I mean, look how long ago the Schmo show was aired and people are still talking about it. You taught me that integrity is something you carry with you, but still leave with others long after you’ve left.
I’m watching The Joe Schmo Show right now, the very end of it. I can’t stop getting emotional… Matt Kennedy Gould is just one hell of a guy with an enormous heart.
Peace.
Agreed!
My husband and I watched this when it was on and could not wait every week to see it. Matt is a one of a kind guy who is so genuine and nice and that is exactly what made the show (along with his wide-eyed looks of disbelief – haha). I just bought the DVD and my teenage kids and I are watching it again and they have also fallen in love with Matt. My 21 year old son says that he would love to be friends with someone like Matt. I was sad to read that he felt like an idiot afterwards – not a single person who watched that show ever thought of Matt as an idiot. Great guy who deserves a terrific life! Matt, I hope you read all these wonderful comments about you and realize how many people think you are fantastic!
I just want to agree with everything said in the original letter. I feel like there’s no shame whatsoever in being “tricked”–There was a hollywood budget and literally hundreds of people that were all dedicated to the lie. Also, real reality shows are in my opinion very fake and seem super set up most of the time, making it all the harder to make the distinction.
Matt Kennedy Gould is by far my favorite person not just in reality television but on any television show ever. As much as I like the concept of the show, I kind of hate that it had a negative impact on such a cool, cool, guy.
I wish I could be as honest and genuine of a guy. Like others had said I can’t help but get emotional watching the show because it’s so rare to see someone so down to earth. I wish Matt the best life. I hope that he found himself a great girl, a loyal dog and a nice house.