American YouTuber
Matt Watson is an American YouTuber, comedian, musician, podcast host and music video director. He is best known as a co-host of the comedy-variety channel SuperMega (along with its weekly podcast SuperMegaCast) and a former editor for and member of the Let's Play-orientated web series Game Grumps.[3] Watson has collaborated with several other entertainers, such as Finn Wolfhard,[4] Markiplier, bbno$ and OneyNG. As of 31 July 2023[update], SuperMega has 957 thousand subscribers and over 410 million total video views.[2]
In 2020, Watson released his music debut with his EP, OUCH!.[5] His first full-length album, SEE YOU THERE, was released on November 7, 2022.
Early life and education
During his childhood, Watson had a strong interest in art. In middle school, Watson began filming comedy videos of himself and his friends to upload to the then emerging video website YouTube.[6] Throughout his teenage years, he would continue to produce his own content which primarily consisted of sketch comedy, music videos, and animations.[7]
Watson graduated high school from Charleston County School of The Arts in 2014.[8] He attended the University of South Carolina and pursued a degree in business before dropping out after his first year and moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in sketch comedy and video editing instead.[citation needed]
Career
Early years (2008–2015)
Watson began creating videos in 2008 on his channel Formatt24,[9] where he and his cousin Forest created various sketches. The channel ceased uploading in 2010. In August 2014, Watson began uploading sketches on a new channel called Kids w/ Problems,[10] which would lead him to collaborate with LA-based sketch comedy and music channel Cyndago.[11] After finishing his first year of college at The University of South Carolina, Watson moved to Los Angeles in July 2015 to pursue a career in sketch comedy, while also editing videos for the popular YouTuber Markiplier.[12][13] He lived with fellow comedians Ryan Magee and Daniel Kyre. Watson would later depart Kids w/ Problems and officially join Cyndago on August 10, 2015.[14] The group disbanded one month later following the sudden death of fellow Cyndago member Daniel Kyre.[15] Following these events, Watson returned to Kids w/ Problems with Magee as a permanent co-host.[16]
In 2016, Watson, as well as fellow editor Ryan Magee, stopped working for Fischbach. In a Facebook post, Fischbach stated that the primary reason was that it "was difficult to keep the work and the friendship separate".[17]
SuperMega and continued growth (2016–2023)
On April 12, 2016, Watson and Magee started their own variety comedy channel, SuperMega.[18] SuperMega consists of Let's Plays, sketch comedy, music videos, and a podcast.[19] The duo moved in together to an apartment in Glendale, California, where they spent their days developing the beginning of the channel. Shortly after the channel's conception, the duo started SuperMegaCast,[20] an hour long free-form comedy podcast where the two converse and joke together. In the summer of 2016, Watson and Magee joined Game Grumps, where they produced and edited videos for the channel, and occasionally appeared as guests. While working for Game Grumps, Watson and Magee continued to grow SuperMega during their free time, producing comedy videos and collaborating with many creators, such as Finn Wolfhard, OneyPlays, Ian Hecox, Jacksepticeye, Ninja Sex Party, and several others.
On May 3, 2019, the duo left Game Grumps to focus solely on SuperMega.[21] In July 2019, a 2016 video in which Watson and Magee play Pokémon Go at Area 51 went viral after memes surrounding the Storm Area 51 Facebook event became popular.[22] Watson and Magee continued to grow their brand, eventually moving into their own office space dubbed The SuperMegaPlex,[23] launching a merchandise operation, and growing their podcast. In 2017, SuperMega expanded the scope of their comedy career to include SuperMega LIVE!, an improv comedy show where they go up in front of a crowd to hang out, tell stories, and do challenges to entertain their fans. The duo performed shows across the United States and Canada, going on to perform in the 2019 Just for Laughs comedy festival.[24]
In 2018, Watson and Magee launched a SuperMega Patreon page,[25] which garnered over 5,000 patrons on launch day, making it one of the most successful launches in Patreon's history.[citation needed]
In 2021, Martins Motorsports announced a partnership with Watson and Magee's channel SuperMega, with the duo specifically serving as the primary sponsor of the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro. The No. 44 Camaro sported SuperMega colors and imagery during the Memorial Day racetrack activities.[26] Watson and Magee published and released a comedy book, SuperMega Saves The Troops, on December 7, 2021.[27]
On May 14, 2022, Watson had a boxing match in iDubbbz's Creator Clash charity event, losing his match against Nathan "Dad" Barnatt in 22 seconds by TKO.[28]
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.[29][30] 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.[31][32] 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.[33]
Music
Since 2014, Watson has released various tracks and music videos, mainly consisting of comedic style. While quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watson produced his first non-comedy EP, Ouch!, for which he did the instruments, vocals, mixing, and production.[34][35] On release, The EP's trending spot on Twitter competed for No. 1 with Big Sean's latest album, Detroit 2, due to SuperMega fans spamming the platform with support.[36] Since the release of Ouch!, Watson has released two singles, Bored, for which he directed and produced a music video with fellow director Tucker Prescott,[37] and Monopoly.[38][39] He continues to post tracks with either a comedic undertone, a serious nature, or sometimes both.[40] In a review by Nicholas Gaudet of Music Talkers, Gaudet praised Bored for its use of jazzy chords, synths, and low bass; as well as stating that it "feels much more confident in its identity" in comparison to Ouch!.[41] Gaudet would later praise Watson's Monopoly for its similar use of a lo-fi style and jazz chords.[38]
In an interview with EUPHORIA, Matt Watson listed My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins, Negative Gemini, Puzzle, and Tyler, the Creator's Flower Boy as influences on his music.[42]
Lazy Eye (2019–2020)
In 2019, Watson founded the art collective and production company, Lazy Eye.[43] Working with close friends and brother trio Carson, Jackson, and Harrison Tucker, the group produced music videos and clothing.[44] The first video, directed by Watson and Carson Tucker, was for Canadian rapper Freddie Dredd's single Cha Cha, which has gone on to receive over 23 million views.[45] The group produced more music videos for artists such as Slater from the Vada Vada label[46] and Wondha Mountain.[47] Watson continued to direct music videos with the Tucker brothers until late 2020 when he departed the group to focus on other projects. Carson and Harrison continue to produce under the Lazy Eye name.[citation needed]
_on_Cold_Ones_(cropped).png)
