• The Clerks animated series, which is Kevin’s favorite project at the moment (aside from Dogma, of course), is slated to debut on ABC this January. He confirmed that Brian and Jeff would indeed be doing the voices of the title characters, along with MANY special guest voices, including most of Dogma’s cast (Affleck wants to be a Canadian character), and a recurring role (Leonardo Leonardo) hopefully voiced by Alan Rickman. A bit of the third episode’s storyline was revealed, and MAN does this sound HILARIOUS! We won’t spill the beans, but, anyone see “Outbreak”?
• Jay yelling “It’s ALL BULLSHIT!!!!” from the balcony of the theater after Kevin finished telling a story about his falling asleep during the filming of a scene in Dogma.
• The Dogma soundtrack is residing with Capitol Records at the moment, with the chance of including a brand new track from The Beastie Boys, and of course lots more. Howard Shore’s score will most definitely be released on another CD, as well. We hear the score is outstanding.
• Kevin hinted that an idea that he had in his head about a Mallrats sequel during the filming of the first one would be turned into a comic book rather than an actual second film. Most of you who have seen Kevin speak know the story, and how well it’ll translate on the comic pages.
• The Green Arrow books may or may not happen, depending on Jimmy & Joe‘s availability to draw the thing.
• He’s working on a script for the Mage movie sometime in the future.
• The Dogma trailer being shown to a highly appreciative audience, who demanded a “REWIND!!!!” when cheering drowned out some of the closing lines of the 2+ minute piece.

A nice reception was held afterwards, where Kevin sat, signed, and chatted away until everyone was left satisfied. We chilled on a couch until business was done, then had a few minutes to talk with Kevin about the past couple day’s events, much of which is summarized in the stories below. Got a summary, favorite moment, or some pictures from tonight’s appearance? Shoot it our way for our upcoming Rider Wrapup page.

Regardless, I’ve got so much to type in that I feel I could write a book, including our feelings on the missing story, the protesting, and all the other news blurbs out there. There’s a TON of text ahead as we unload, so sit back, grab a cold beverage, and enjoy. This update contains more editorializing than ever before, so your comments are most certainly welcome…

Well, that about does it for today! Phew! It was indeed an exciting one. For those of you who are visiting for the first time today, be sure to read the update below, as well. Adios. See some of you at Rider tomorrow.

Protestors To Dog “Dogma”? [New York Post]

The Toronto Star also has a blurb today summarizing the same ‘ol stuff, as well as the Pittsburgh Post…And then there’sour favorite piece of the day, ‘cuz it linked to a story here at News Askew (though we didn’t score a mention by name, dammit)…It’s from TNT Roughcut, and actually makes some excellent points:

My final homage to trouble is about Disney’s trouble with Miramax’s Dogma.Jeffrey Wells at Mr. Showbiz has been on this story since last summer. Histake, in short, is that Michael Eisner will not let Miramax release the filmand that Miramax has been trying to sell it. No other media wrote much aboutit last summer (though it created quite the brouhaha on Kevin Smith’s ViewAskew bulletin board), but I guess it’s a hotter topic now. Especially withKevin Smith announcing that the film was screened this Tuesday forconsideration by the Cannes Film festival. Assuming this is true, it’s hardto believe that if Eisner, The King of All Things Mickey, really wants thisfilm to go away. Why? Because letting Miramax send it to Cannes would be theworst idea possible. It might make the film more valuable, but it would alsorip the lid off of any “quiet” sale of the film to another company. No onewants to get ripped as a censor like Universal and October did last yearwhen they sold off Happiness. And where did Happiness get hot? Cannes.

Anyway, I went of on a rant within a rant. My point was that Wells’ storygot picked up by at least two outlets, The Drudge Report and the New YorkPost’s gossip sheet, Page Six . The Post credited Mr.Showbiz, but not Wells, who was on the story before he even started his Mr.Showbiz column. (For the record, Mr. Showbiz started their ShowbizConfidential column about seven months after I started The Hot Button hereat roughcut.com and Jeff took it over about six months after that.) On theother hand, the Internet-only Drudge Report didn’t acknowledge anyone but”published reports” and bizarrely titled the report, “Alanis Morissette FilmDebut in Jeopardy” Huh? Gee, Matt, not very honest move there, pal.Especially when you realize that he links to both Page Six and Wells’column. (No, he doesn’t link to me. Tell him he should by e-mailing Matt atdrudge@drudgereport.com.) In any case, Kevin Smith has responded openly toWells and Premiere magazine, which has jumped on the story’s bandwagon. Toread it, click here <../april99/> and look under”Kevin On Premiere…”). For those of you who keep writing to tell me thefilm has a fall release date, Kevin indicates otherwise in this story, soread on.

That’s the end of my rant. I feel better. And the beginning of Kevin’s, Iguess.

And we guess it makes this week’s poll topic kinda moot. Still, vote as you see fit! 😉

Now, today’s BIG NEWS!!!!

On the DVD front, we recently announced May 18th as the release of the Clerks Special Edition DVD based on Blockbuster Video’s computers. We should have known better! This is likely a pre-order deadline, since signs now point to a more realistic release of June 29th. Again, this DVD will feature everything the Miramax laserdisc had, including deleted scenes, commentary, and lots more. Again, we weep over the lack of 16:9 enhancement in Miramax titles. We think that, with the hefty price tag, it wouldn’t hurt to go the extra mile.

FINALLY, the Universal DVD site has finally added the Mallrats:SE DVD to their release slate! The date? July 13th. We can’t wait. We reiterate: TEST PRESSING, Universal! Hook us up!

Disney’s Eisner Set to Defame Christians — Again

Michael Eisner and his Disney Corp., parent company to Miramax Films, seems to have an obsession with defaming Jesus Christ.

At least that’s the way it looks by the advance word on the next Miramax movie release, “Dogma.”

The controversial “Dogma” is already making some Miramax executives nervous. So much so that “Dogma” star Ben Affleck, who appears in the film with Chris Rock and Matt Damon, has been begging Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein to make sure the project makes it into movie theaters.

Disney and Miramax enjoy antagonizing Christians with blasphemy, having produced 1995’s “Priest” and last year’s TV sitcom “Nothing Sacred” on Disney-owned ABC.

“Nothing Sacred” caused a fireball of protest from Catholic groups.

Now comes “Dogma,” the latest Miramax production, in which Disney’s movie studio stepchild apparently outdoes itself.

Monday’s New York Post Page Six reports that “Among [‘Dogma’s’] elements are a trash-talking 13th apostle, the notion that Joseph and Mary had sex, a female descendant of Jesus who works in an abortion clinic, a Skee-ball-obsessed God and an updated Christ who no longer hangs from the cross but instead offers a thumbs-up salute.”

William Donohue, president of the New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, tells Inside Cover that he tried to contact Disney chief Eisner about “Dogma” last year but got no response.

Now Donohue warns that if the movie is as bad as early reports indicate, he’ll take on “Dogma” the way he did Disney’s “Nothing Sacred.”

“We had a lot of problems with that show and worked successfully to kill it. We got 37 corporate advertisers to withdraw their sponsorship of the program,” Donohue told Inside Cover.

The Catholic League chief explained that he’s trying to be tolerant of Disney’s artistic license — as with the role of one of “Dogma’s” stars, Alanis Morrisette. She plays God.

“We have no objection to God being played by a female,” Donohue told Inside Cover.

“But this is a woman who has come straight from doing a nude music video where the lyrics are about oral sex.” The Catholic rights spokesman added, “And Miramax has some of the apostles doubling as drug dealers.”

“There’s obviously an agenda at work here,” says Donohue.

We wonder what they might have protested about if Emma Thompson took the role? The fact that she was British? Absurd!Oh, but that’s not even the end of today’s free publicity…The Catholic League ITSELF printed a story today on the subject.Read CAREFULLY, there are some MINOR DOGMA SPOILERS in the text:

DISNEY/MIRAMAX POISED TO ANGER CATHOLICS AGAIN

In today’s New York Post, there is an article on the upcoming movie, “Dogma,” that says the film’s distributor, Miramax, and its parent company, Disney, are “wringing their hands” over the fate of this Kevin Smith-produced film. Their wariness is a reflection of the expected response that the movie will receive from the Catholic League. In 1995, the Catholic League was the first organization in the nation to call for a boycott of Disney; this was a result of the Miramax-distributed movie, “Priest.”

According to Premiere magazine, Miramax is so worried that it is even considering selling “Dogma” to another distributor. The movie stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and other Hollywood stars. The plot is an irreverent look at Catholicism, one that maintains that Mary and Joseph had sexual relations; Mary gives birth to a daughter who works in an abortion clinic. God (played by Alanis Morissette) and the apostles (a foul-mouthed 13th is introduced) are also subjected to director Smith’s brand of humor.

The Catholic League’s position was stated by its president, William Donohue:

“If Michael Eisner is worried how the Catholic League will react, he ought to be. Last July, I wrote to Mr. Eisner requesting a meeting with him over the movie, ‘Dogma.’ I explicitly said, ‘Perhaps it is not too late for something to be done about this.’ He never responded.

“In December, Playboy commented on ‘Dogma’ by saying, ‘If members of the Catholic League don’t picket this one, they’re comatose.’ And in today’s New York Post, we have Independent Film Channel host John Pierson stating, ‘The Catholic League probably will have a problem.’

“If the movie is anything like it is shaping up to be, Mr. Eisner will surely regret not having engaged the Catholic League in dialogue. And if some other producer is dumb enough to pick it up, we’ll deal with them.”

Wow, it’s tiring reading all that stuff, isn’t it? Personally, we sorta think it’d be in better interest of the Catholic Church to be concentrating on feeding the hungry or something, rather than worrying baout movies that they haven’t even SEEN yet (or plan to see at all, probably). Won’t be the first time, won’t be the last time, we suppose. Regardless, we’ll cover all of Dogma’s free publicity (a.k.a. controversy) as it pops up in the press. At least, the stuff that’s not a repeat of what we’ve heard before. Stay tuned.

ALANIS MORISSETTE FILM DEBUT IN JEOPARDY

Mental-rocker Alanis Morissette’s big film debut is mired in controversy, according to published reports.

Morissette plays the role of GOD in the upcoming film DOGMA alongside Oscar brats Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.

The movie is reported to be even more controversial than the 1988 film THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, and MIRAMAX [parent company DISNEY], the distributor, is taking heat over the way the film satirizes the Catholic Church.

DISNEY may sell the recently completed movie to another distributor, or request edits to tone down the controversial messages.

DOGMA, directed by Kevin Smith, features a trash-talking 13th apostle, the belief that Joseph and Mary had sex, and a female descendent of Jesus who works in an abortion clinic.

In the film, God is obsessed with the game skee-ball and there’s an updated Christ who no longer hangs from the cross but instead, offers a thumbs-up salute.

Albright should bomb Hollywood.

By the way, TV Guide Online also has a small bit about the film today, but it’s only a paragraph (and contains a few minorspoilers) so we’re leaving that one out of print here. Needless to say, it seems ALL the news sites are picking this oneup with more to come, we’re sure. Amazing.