Imagine a skateboarding magazine in the 90s operating with absolutely no rules, no censorship, fueled by a chaotic mix of creative genius and whatever substances they could find. That was Big Brother magazine, and this is the story of Stephen Randolph, a former intern who witnessed the madness firsthand. He recounts stories of fighting Chuck Liddell, navigating Larry Flint’s legal team, and the daily chaos of a workplace where nudity and drug use were just part of the routine.
Randolph’s experience as a Big Brother intern was, in his own words, the most fun he’s ever had, though he admits it was also a dark time due to the prevalent drug use. As an unpaid intern, his “payment” came in the form of a free-for-all porn room on the second floor. He recalls filling his bag with hundreds of dollars worth of pornography every day, which was then used as currency for everything from tattoos to more illicit substances. His room was overflowing with adult content, leading to a memorable confrontation with his mother.
He landed the internship after becoming obsessed with Big Brother’s video Boob in 1997 and older issues of the magazine from 1994-1995. Determined to be part of the madness, he started contacting Larry Flint Publications, the parent company, and left messages for Chris Nieratko, expressing his desire to intern, falsely claiming he was a UCLA student. He did this for a month or two without any response. Frustrated by the lack of reply, Randolph decided to take matters into his own hands, and he started filming outrageous stunts to get their attention.
To catch their attention, Randolph and his friend, dressed in full ninja attire, went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After some failed attempts to be destructive, they decided to target a random rollerblader. His friend ambushed the unsuspecting woman, creating complete chaos. Randolph, recording the entire incident, fled the scene. He then called Larry Flint Publications again, claiming to have footage of the attack. To his surprise, Chris Nieratko called back within ten minutes.
Working with the Big Brother staff, including Carnie and Nieratko, was terrifying for Randolph. He was significantly younger than them and intimidated by their personalities. Each day was unpredictable. One day he’d be tasked with fighting Chuck Liddell; another day he was transcribing hours of interviews.
Randolph recalls Nieratko as a particular tormentor, always making him do menial tasks. However, he acknowledges Nieratko as a good person at heart, despite the constant pranks and abuse. The office was a stark contrast to the other magazines in the Larry Flint Publications building. While everyone else adhered to a strict business dress code, Big Brother staff, including Randolph, were the rebels, sporting ripped t-shirts and sandals. This lack of conformity created a sense of empowerment and made them the center of attention, especially in the elevators where they were known to cause trouble with super soakers filled with urine.
Randolph often hung out with Earl Parker. During their time at Big Brother, they would use heroin, with Earl barely acknowledging it, instead continuing to watch porn. Randolph still sees Parker today, who seems oblivious to his impact on skateboarding history, and remains fixated on watching porn. Parker now creates pornographic books from magazines and sells them.
Randolph’s responsibilities also included mailing out merchandise, photos, and even nude photos. A misdirected shipment of a photographer’s slides led to a lawsuit. He was thrown into a legal situation, meeting Larry Flint’s lawyers at a round table, an experience he found daunting. Randolph also engaged in rebellious activities, such as riding a razor scooter through the halls while wearing a thong, often high on drugs.
Substance use was rampant at Big Brother, with most of the staff constantly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Despite this, they were all able to maintain a strong work ethic. Randolph noted Dave Carnie’s ability to balance heavy drug use with periods of sobriety, a pattern he personally struggled to replicate. Interestingly, Big Brother fostered a love of learning in Randolph. Dave Carnie would make him look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary, and he spent hours transcribing audio, reading content, and writing stories.
Big Brother, despite its chaos and controversy, was a unique place that profoundly impacted Randolph, shaping his love for learning and his perspective on life. He remembers it as a special time.
The experience shaped him in unexpected ways. His time at Big Brother is a testament to the unique culture of the magazine and the influence it had on the skateboarding world.
Check out more of the Jenkem Interviews.
Words: Ian Michna
Original Illustration: Lauren Kolesinskas
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