I'm 12 years old, and what is Smeat?
Disambiguation
Smeat is a fictitious product used as a prop when a certain potted meat product is needed, but you can't (or don't want to) use the name brand. It comes from The Earl Hayes Press (you may know them from such props as "The Recurring Prop Newspaper" and just about every other fake product ever). Smeat has also been a Skylab experiment, a webcomic subject, a YTMND based on the webcomic, a song, a band, a Sun Columnist/airport hero, and even a street in England. I care not for these things, just the potted meat. And the street.
What you came here for:
Below are the sightings I know of. If you know of others, or have better screencaps of existing sightings, send e-lectronic correspondence to rcm at the dot-net of Smeat. I will be your friend. Except for Millennium, it's been readers like you who have alerted me to these sightings.
Join us!
You can be a fan of "like" Smeat on Facebook, if you're into that kind of thing. And don't forget to buy lots of shirts!
The Walking Dead: "Cherokee Rose" (TV, 2011)
1280x720 / 85K
Season 2, episode 4. For the second time ever, Facebook is useful for something. I totally did not catch this when I watched it the first time. I guess I really need to pay closer attention to all the non-zombie scenes in this show.
Days of Our Lives: "The one from January 17" (TV, 2011)
720x405 / 105K
720x405 / 92K
720x405 / 87K
Season 46, episode 4. One of my many Smeatectives let me know of this one, via the Facebook page. Another one where it's mentioned by name. You can also (barely) see that it has a new style of label, along with the round can.
Supernatural: "Changing Channels" (TV, 2009)
1280x720 / 216K
1280x720 / 224K
Season 5, episode 8. The Smeat is still getting around! I discovered this while checking the wikipedia page on Spam (back when it used to have a Smeat subsection). I accidentally started liking this show.
Burn Notice: "Wanted Man" (TV, 2007)
1280x720 / 116K
Season 1, episode 8. Another one sent in by a faithful reader, since I don't have a TV. Thanks, stranger!
A Smeat can in my possession (IRL, 2007)
1000x800 / 283K
1000x800 / 273K
1820x540 / 144K
It has been my life's quest to get a real live prop can of Smeat. On March 30, 2007, that quest came to an end when the Waterworld prop I won off ebay was delivered unto me. Mega props to my pal Angel, for pointing out the auction to me (since I gave up looking on ebay a long time ago).
Threshold: "Alienville" (TV, 2006)
852x480 / 56K
Season 1, episode 13. Someone emailed me this one from the final episode. Thanks, reader! I like that it shows up on the shelf with its name-brand brethren.
Dawn of the Dead (Movie, 2004)
1920x812 / 212K
This is it. I thought there'd be more, and I thought what little there was would actually be in focus, but I guess not. Do note, however, that the can is round this time. Also, the original Dawn of the Dead had a scene with original Spam.
Buddy Boy (Movie, 2000)
720x390 / 64K
720x390 / 40K
720x390 / 24K
Why doesn't Smeat ever show up in GOOD movies? Also, why doesn't it ever show up in well lit movies? Before 9/27/05 you could only get this DVD in Japan.
Beverly Hills 90210: "The End of the World as We Know It" (TV, 1999)
706x540 / 181K
706x540 / 163K
706x540 / 171K
706x540 / 162K
706x540 / 148K
Season 9, episode 23. In a "ripped from the headlines" sub-plot, Steve gets the Y2K bug and stocks up on Smeat (part panic, part to exploit the post-apocalyptic masses). Thanks to eternal patience, I was finally able to get screencaps. Also of note: this was only the second time I know of where Smeat was acknowledged by name (the other being "Children of the Corn V").
Beck: "Sexx Laws" (Music Video, 1999)
640x480 / 92K
640x480 / 80K
All manner of wackiness transpires in the house of Beck. Cut to the pantry, where even the groceries (including some cans of Smeat) are getting down. In late 2009, Beck put all the Midnite Vultures videos up on Vimeo, so I finally have a good capture. Thanx, Beck!
Children of the Corn V (Movie, 1998)
888x460 / 52K
888x460 / 64K
The (soon to be dead) teens seek shelter in an abandoned house. Hungry, they search the cabinets for food. "Mmmmmmm, Smeat!" (This is a stubby can variation.)
Millennium: "The Thin White Line" (TV, 1997)
640x480 / 44K
640x480 / 68K
Season 1, episode 14. The first time I saw Smeat! Frank Black is looking for a killer in an abandoned warehouse. He comes across a pile of garbage and picks up and examines a can of Smeat. He is disgusted.
Waterworld (Movie, 1995)
1920x1040 / 360K
1920x1040 / 323K
1920x1040 / 354K
1920x1040 / 350K
1920x1040 / 323K
1920x1040 / 330K
1920x1040 / 369K
OVER 9000 sightings! 1: The Deacon's ship is filled with filled with crates of vodka and Smeat. 2: Another storage area. 3: Behind the head of
