Draft:Supermega

Supermega is a variety YouTube channel hosted by Matthew Watson and Ryan Magee. Created in 2016, Supermega's channel consists of let's plays, sketch comedy, vlogs, music videos and a weekly podcast.

Since it's conception, the channel has expanded to include guest appearances from their staff, as well as being joined with various guest hosts on their let's plays, drunk drawing series and podcast. As of 1 March 2022, Supermega has over 944 thousand subscribers and over 345 million total views. Supermega have also written a satirical comedy novel titled  'Supermega Saves the Troops.'

Let's Plays
Episodes usually consist of two or more hosts playing a video game, where the hosts give commentary, personal experience and opinions on said game. There are often verbal skits and practical jokes made either between the hosts or the hosts and audience. Occasionally there will be a cut away from the game footage to feature a small live action skit or vlog. Some let's play episodes are dedicated one-offs, others are instalments in a partial or complete playthroughs of the game.

Podcast
Known as the Supermegacast, episodes usually consist of free form conversation between two or more hosts for roughly one hour. Topics range from recent or past events the hosts have experienced, current events, discussion and reflection on creative endeavours, verbal skits and casual conversations, amongst other things. Due to the informal nature of the podcast, episodes featuring guests do not necessarily follow a structured interview, but a format that feels reminiscent of friends talking to each other in a casual setting.

Drunk Drawing
Episodes usually consist of two or more hosts drawing crude images of characters or persons from a set topic, while drinking a themed alcoholic beverage created by prominent Supermega staff member Jackson Tucker.

Mail Opening
Episodes usually consist of Watson and Magee opening fan mail on camera and reacting to what was sent. Often there are visual gags created based on the contents of particularly strange or otherwise notable fan mail.

Vlogs
Episodes usually consist of two or more hosts documenting their antics while on a journey, most often travel related, and adding their own distinct comedy through gags, skits and snappy editing.

Other kinds of videos featured on their channel are music videos, sketch comedy skits and other miscellaneous videos that do not adhere to a specific format.

History
During highschool in South Carolina, Magee created his first youtube channel named Elirymagee in 2011, where he would upload weekly sketch videos. While working on the school's newspaper, Magee met Daniel Kyre, with whom he quickly befriended. Together, they collaborated on sketches to upload to Magee's channel, and in an effort to ensure both their work was equally recognised, Magee and Kyre created the channel Cyndago in 2012.

Watson had created his first youtube channel named formatt24 in 2008, where he would post comedy sketch videos made with friends. After graduating high school, Watson studied at the University of South Carolina where he met Jackson Tucker. Tucker became a close friend of Watson's, and the two collaborated to make comedy sketches for the channel Kids w/ Problems in 2014. It was shortly after this that Watson had been becoming close with Kyre over Facebook. After visiting LA and becoming closer with Kyre and Magee, Kyre convinced friend and collaborator Markiplier to hire Watson as an editor. Watson eventually moved into the LA residence shared by Fishcbach, Magee and Kyre. Watson had stopped posting on Kids w/ Problems in early 2015 to focus his efforts into collaborations with Cyndago before moving to LA, where he became the third member in August of 2015.

In September of 2015, Cyndago disbanded due to the death of Kyre. After taking some time away to grieve, Watson resumed posting on Kids w/ Problems and was eventually joined by Magee. Due to the channel belonging to Watson, Magee didn't feel as connected to the channel despite wanting to continue working with Watson. In April of 2016, the two created Supermega. Waston and Magee continued editing for Fischbach to supplement their income while they began creating for Supermega, and quit the job in June of 2016. No public statement was made as to why, but after speculations from fans, Fischbach made a facebook post to explain the situation. "Around June of this year Matt and Ryan decided to quit working for me. The primary reason being that it was difficult to keep the work and the friendship separate. I wasn't prepared to be in that position and often times pushed them too hard. That's putting it nicely. To put it bluntly there were many times where I was just being an asshole."

- Fischback via official Mirliplier Facebook Watson and Magee had unfollowed Fischbach on twitter during their departure, but have since refollowed and make references and jokes regarding Fishbach and their time with him on good terms.

Following this, the duo were hired to edit for Game Grumps in August of 2016. While they worked under them, they edited videos for Game Grumps, Oneyplays and KittyKatGaming, appearing as guests on those channels on occasion. During their time working for Game Grumps, they began to see success for Supermega. The Game Grumps were supportive of their channel's growth, and allowed them to use the Game Grumps office to record let's plays. In July of 2018, Supermega hired Justin, known on youtube as Nothinbutlag, to edit best-of compilations and lets plays for Supermega. In May of 2019, Watson and Magee quit editing for Game Grumps to focus on the growth of Supermega. The two maintained friendly relations with the Game Grumps, who allowed them to continue to work out of the Game Grumps' office while they were setting themselves up.

Watson and Magee now run Supermega from the office they have nicknamed  'The Supermegaplex. ' Since their departure from the Game Grumps, they have received help from and hired people to assist with the production of content as the scope of Supermega expanded. Notable people include their editor Justin, former channel artist Kellie Kiakas, current channel artist Don, Jackson, Harrison and Carson Tucker (known as the Tucker Brothers), Tucker Prescott, and Leighton Stollard.

In late 2019, Supermega toured The United States and performed live comedy entertainment for fans. All shows were 18+ and consisted of comedic challenges and stories in a live blend of their vlogs and podcast style humour.

In May of 2021, Supermega became the first YouTube channel to sponsor a NASCAR vehicle. Driven by Tommy Joe Martins, the car was decorated with the Supermega logo and various graphics that display the channel's brand of humour.

In December of 2021, Supermega released their first published book titled  'Supermega Saves the Troops.' Physical copies were available in hardcover and paperback, and the audiobook reading was narrated by Geno Samuel.

On July 27, 2023, SuperMega fell under heavy controversy after friend Lex Updog and ex-employee Leighton Stollard accused Watson and Magee of ignoring allegations that a prior employee sexual assaulted Lex and for enforcing a toxic work environment. Following the accusations, Watson cancelled his ongoing music tour to prepare an official statement. Watson and Magee posted separate response videos to the allegations on July 31, 2023, with Watson apologizing to Lex and disputing many of Leighton's claims, and Magee apologizing for sexting fans and denying the accusations that he and Watson were making jokes regarding Daniel Kyre's suicide. On August 23, 2023, Watson and Magee uploaded a video stating that they would be taking some time off the Internet, putting the SuperMega channel on an indefinite hiatus.

On February 27, 2024, SuperMega posted a new music video for their song "I Love Working Out," announcing their return to YouTube on the same day.

Popularity and Influence
Magee and Kyre won Best Campus Picture in the Campus Movie Fest for their short film Afterlife in 2014

Watson and Tucker one the Jury Award and made it to finalist position in the Campus Movie Fest for their short film Familycom in 2015

Supermega's vlog episode titled 'Pokemon Go At Area 51' was uploaded in July of 2016, and received a second wave of attention during the surge of Area 51 memes in July of 2019.

In September of 2019, Magee, Tucker and Justin were featured in The Ellen DeGeneres Show during a comedy skit, where a writer of Ellen's approached Justin to start a conversation that followed the lyrics of Khaled's "Talk."

In March of 2020, Watson released the single  'Covid-19 Type Beat,' which received mainstream attention.

In May of 2020, Watson 'purchased' the star known as G Scorpii and named it "Ryan Magee," after his co-host in episode 191 of the Supermegacast. Due to the nature of the purchase, the star is not recognised as "Ryan Magee" and fans of Supermega have engaged in edit wars over the legitimacy of the star's name.

Supermega were the first YouTube channel to sponsor a NASCAR race in May of 2021.

In December of 2021, Supermega released their first book titled  'Supermega Saves The Troops.'

Formatt24
Watson's first YouTube channel was created on 6th January 2008. The channel consists of crude comedy content from when Watson was a young boy. During the channel's active years, it didn't receive much attention; however it has received retroactive attention from avid fans of Supermega. One video uploaded to the channel, titled 'RE: Grandma Part 1,' is notable amongst fans as a kind of inside joke.

Elirymagee
Magee's first youtube channel was created on 5th August 2011. The channel consisted of comedy sketch videos from when Magee was a young boy, however all the contents of the channel have since been privatised and are no longer available to the public.

Cyndago
Kyre and Magee started Cyndago on 17th December 2012. The channel consists of sketch comedy skits featuring the two. On 10th August 2015, Watson was announced as the third official channel member. In September of 2015, Kyre died and the channel was disbanded. The last video posted on the channel was a tribute to Kyre, uploaded on 12th October 2015.

Kids w/ Problems
Started on June 10th of 2008, Kids w/ Problems was initially intended for a web series started on formatt23. In August of 2014, the channel was restarted once Watson began collaborating with friends in high school. In early 2015, Watson transitioned to Cyndago, and after the channel's disbandment he returned to post on Kids w/ Problems.

Matt Watson
Made on 11th April 2015, Watson created a self titled youtube channel to promote personal projects unrelated to Supermega. In August of 2018, Watson began posing seemingly unrelated videos, but has since been posting comedy music videos and personal music such as his first EP titled 'OUCH!'

Markiplier
During 2015, Watson, Kyre and Magee collaborated with and edited for Markiplier. Following the passing of Kyre, Watson and Magee quit working for Markliplier in mid 2016 with no public statement as to why. Following fan speculation, Fischbach made a public statement regarding the situation in order to clear up what had happened and apologise. All involved are currently on good terms with another.

Game Grumps
During 2016, Watson and Magee were featured on the Game Grumps charity live stream titled "Retro Give Grumps!" In August of 2016, Watson and Magee announced via their podcast that they has begun work as editors for Game Grumps. During their employment with the Game Grumps, they were featured as guests across various episodes of Game Grumps and associated channels. In May of 2019, Watson and Magee announced they would be leaving Game Grumps and focusing on Supermega full time.

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong Dancing
Made in April of 2016, Watson and Magee made the channel during their channel play through of Donkey Kong Country. With only one video on the channel, it features a clip of Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong from Donkey Kong Country dancing to the song "I'm so Fresh you can Suck My Nuts."

Lazy Eye
Created in 2019, Watson along with Jackson, Harrison and Carson Tucker created the multimedia art production company titled Lazy Eye. The channel is used to produce and publish music videos for various musicians, such as Freddie Dredd, Emmet James and FrankJavCee among others. Watson has since departed Lazy Eye and the company is run by the Tucker Brothers.