• Well, it seems like a lot of folks are streaming into movie theaters this summer, at least the past few weeks. A HUGE opening for Rush Hour 2, breaking more records as that’s the second flick after Planet of the Apes to open back to back with a $60+ million opening. Wow. Granted, both flicks were PG-13, and had a broader audience due to that, but if these same crowds are hitting multiplexes in a couple weeks, Jay & Bob could be in for a HUGE weekend.

Thanks to Jim for an intriguing new poll topic we’ve just added in. Be sure and cast your vote there.

Entertainment Tonight mentioned the flick and the premiere again tonight, giving even more nationwide press for the flick, and we’re sure there’s a LOT more where that came from.

Speaking of which, let’s see what’s new in the world today…

• Howard Stern has been promoting Kevin’s upcoming appearance on his daily morning radio show, and discussed it in more detail again today. Last we heard, Kevin was scheduled to go in on the day of the film’s release, Wednesday, August 22nd. Kevin will play “Win Fred’s Money”, a takeoff on “Win Ben Stein’s Money” where Kevin will attempt to answer 7 rapid-fire questions in under 60 seconds. Then, Fred Norris, Stern’s longtime friend and sound guy, will take a stab at the same 7. Fred’s proven to be tough competition in the past, but Kevin’s got a lot of knowledge as well, so it should be a fun battle. Kev takes away 10 grand with him if he’s victorious — Could come in useful for making a certain donation that was promised, eh? Too perfect. We’ll keep ya posted on that appearance, which will likely be a moderately short interview along with the game, but ya never know with Stern. Still, it’s great press for the flick to a key demographic.

By the way, Stern continues to play Afroman’s “Because I Got High” and today gave away tix to the artist’s NYC show. He never seems to mention the soundtrack though, so hopefully Kevin can set the record straight on all that stuff.

• As reported earlier this week, Kevin appeared on “Public Interest With Kojo Nnamdi” on NPR (National Public Radio) this afternoon. We’ve got a scooper’s summary of the appearance below, and also a link to the whole darn thing if you’d like to give it a listen:

• BIG NEWS? Kevin’s stated that his next film will be the “Chasing Amy-like drama” he has been mentioning in interviews and the Wizard special edition, which Kev revealed will be about fatherhood. Following THAT film will come Fletch Won, and in the future there will be the full length Clerks animated feature.
• (MINOR J&SBSB SPOILER) Jay Mewes: Kev revealed that the Jay charecter falls in love in the new flick and learns “to stop using that b word in refrence to women”, but Kev claims that “saying that he’s grown in this movie isn’t really saying much”. Later in the show Kev also said that he dosen’t belive that Mewes is type-cast as Jay, and that he has “blossomed” as an actor.
• Kev restated what happened in refrence to GLADD.
• Carlin got payed scale for the past two films, and Kevin stated, “I couldn’t make a movie without the guy now”.
• Smith’s future films; Kev will not begin a new universe, he wants to be able to move from movie to movie, not using the previous films to refer back to like he did with the Askewniverse.
• Magnolia: Smith cleared up that he does not hate Magnolia, he said that it was an “open wound” of a movie, like Chasing Amy, and that he(Smith) did not believe that an emotionally driven film like Magnolia or amy should not be a big budget film, like Magnolia was.
• Film school: smith expressed his disintrest in film school, he told the same story that was found in the Wizard special edition.
• The Internet: Smith talked about how he used the internet as a tool to get real reviews from people who payed to se the film. News Askew got a good mention (thanks Kev!).
• Fame: Smith talked about getting recognized in person, saying that he can go to the mall and only about 5 people come up to him, usually saying “You’re Silent Bob, hey what’s Kevin Smith like as a director?” or “You know who you look like? Kevin Smith” to which Smith said he replies “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
• 37: One caller called in and said that he had seen all the films 37 times, when asked by the host if he was surprised, Kevin stated that 37 related to something in each of films and that he found it to have been a funny statement. The host then asked what 37 referred to; Kevin stated that it was something he couldn’t talk about on NPR.
• Indie: Kev doesn’t consider himself an Independent filmmaker, but rather a cult filmmaker. He also did some Q&A. Most questions were movie related, but the most memorable moment was when a caller asked Smith’s advice for budding filmmakers. Kev’s response: “Get out of filmaking, its overcrowded and I don’t need the competition.” After having a laugh, he then gave a serious answer.

You can listen to it all right HERE.

• Mysterio’s HUGE new interview with Jason Lee is now online over at AICN, with new pics, stories, and more. There’s a ton of fan questions answered by Lee in this one yet again. Here’s a sampling:

You can check out the entire interview HERE.

• According to the Sunday Philly inquirer, “Writer-director Kevin Smith says he will will include a brief comment during the end credits of his new film, ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,’ “indicating that use of the film’s antigay slurs in real life is not acceptable.”
• A brand new piece on Kevin and the movie appears HERE. The story comes to us courtesy of regional magazine NEWS4U. There’s a lot of old info, but some great new quotes and tidbits as well. Recommended reading.

• On August 28th, Kevin and Jason will be on the cover on High Times magazine. You can check out the cover above and get more information HERE.

• Some astute View Askew fans who caught Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes remake have discovered a scary similarity to that film’s ending and a frame in Jay & Silent Bob issue #3. Kevin mentioned this on the WWWBoard recently. We’ve got a capture of said frame, but be careful, if you don’t want the (lackluster) ending of POTA spoiled, don’t click the pic! Kev has said he seriously considered legal action, that’s just how similar it is.
• Movie-list.com is having a giveaway where the winner will get either a Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back Soundtrack or the new Afroman CD. Get your entires in HERE.
• A rare Swedish mention for View Askew: Sweden’s two largest evening papers (Expressen and Aftonbladet) mentioned that the Swedish hihop artist Tomas Rushiak will be featured on the J&SBSB soundtrack with his hit “Hiphopper”.