SCI FI Channel 5/12/2002 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Filmmaker and Star Wars fan Kevin Smith (Dogma) will host a SCI FI Channel original special on the saga in anticipation of the May 16 release of Star Wars: Episode II–Attack of the Clones. In the one-hour special, Smith will present a collection of fan-made, Star Wars-themed spoofs and documentaries, each competing to win a Star Wars Fan Film Award. Categories will include the Young Jedi Award (films made by directors under 18), animation, Audience Award (selected by online viewers) and a special George Lucas Selects Award, which will be announced by the Star Wars creator himself. The special will also feature clips from Episode II.

I just returned from a great weekend of filmgoing at the Taos Talking Picture Festival (www.ttpix.org) and was lucky enough to be in the audience for the world premier of Joey Lauren Adam’s new movie “Grand Champion.” This film is apparently so new there isn’t even a listing yet for it in the IMDB. In the film, Joey plays a single mom who is trying to raise two children with no income on a farm in Snyder, Tx. The story follows her son Buddy as he and his sister raise a calf named Hokey to be a Grand Champion steer. When Buddy wins the Grand Championship he auctions off Hokey to raise money to support the family. Buddy soon finds out his steer is going to be barbecued and kidnaps him back from the new owner, played by Bruce Willis. Joey Lauren Adams performance rang very true and heartfelt as a mother, a role I was surprised to see her play. She was on hand for a Q and A with the director Barry Tubb but! she looked very uncomfortable standing at the front of the room so she was very quiet. Julia Roberts was in attendance in support since her niece Emma Roberts plays the role of Joey’s daughter in the film. I believe Julia’s presence may have overshadowed hers a bit but it was great to get the chance to see her in person and this was a fun family flick.

Anyone going to the University of Kentucky show tonight? I think I might.

Beautiful country, this. Actually, the immediate area of Lexington that I’m in is right up my alley: strip malls, movie theaters, and decent hotels. Granted, one can see that almost anywhere in America, but that’s what I’m all about: geographical generic sameness. It makes me feel safe.

So let’s see, what’s been going on? Last week, I popped by the “Daredevil” set again, this time solely as a looky-loo, and what I saw, I loved. The DD costume is pretty fucking bad-ass. T’was awesome to see it, particularly in the setting (Josie’s Bar, for those of you into the comics). I cannot wait to see this flick – with or without my scene. One of my favorite actors playing one of my favorite characters. Color me a geeky fan-boy.

Speaking of being a geeky fan-boy, the Sci-Fi Channel asked me to host another “Star Wars” Fan-Film special. Those of you who lurked or posted pre-”Jay and Silent Bob” might remember the first Sci-Fi “Star Wars” special I hosted from the Secret Stash, about two years ago. Well this time, we taped the thing at “Star Wars” uber-enthusiast/chronicler/collector Stephen Sansweet’s museum out near Skywalker Ranch. You wouldn’t believe this place – literally every piece of “Star Wars” merchandising is accounted for, as well as artwork, props from the movies, promotional tie-ins, and costumes. It was mind-bending to stroll down memory lane with all the toys and fringe licensed products (the Dixie Cups I had for years in our kitchen cabinet, because I wouldn’t let anybody use them; the Yoda tin bank with combination lock that, in my high school years, would be home to the first joint I was ever given). Not sure when the show’s going to air, but I’ll give you a head’s-up when they tell me the dates.

Saw the commercials we shot a few weeks ago, all edited and whatnot. Very cool.

But I guess the big news is that Miramax gave “Jersey Girl” the green light – which really only means they’ve started cash-flowing the flick. It’s a small and not very surprising point, but cool nonetheless. We are now official.

Hope to see some of you tonight, and others of you Wednesday night, in Cincinnati.

And as soon as I can, I’ll hip you all to some “Jersey Girl” casting stuff. Some interesting and cool stuff is afoot.

Marvel Comics this morning announced that, “For the first time ever”, a guest will appear on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno to promote a comic book.

Marvel reports that filmmaker/comic writer Kevin Smith will appear on NBC’s late night staple on June 24th, and he’ll be there specifically to promote his upcoming Marvel mini-series, Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. Marvel says this will be the first time in the show’s “legendary run” that a panel guest will appear not to plug a movie or a TV show, but will instead “go on camera with the express purpose of promoting a comic book.”

“I’m as proud of my work in comics as I am of anything I’ve done on film, so I thought ‘Why not call up the folks at The Tonight Show’and see if I could talk about Spider-Man/Black Cat on the show as a guest?” explained Smith. “Thankfully, Jay (Leno) and co. were really up for it and found me a slot on the show two days before the book hits the stands. What better way to call more attention to comics than by waving one around on late night’s most-watched talk show? It’s going to be a real kick to run a clip of Terry and Rachel Dodson’s awesome artwork for the approximately six million folks who watch Leno each night. And the fact that it’s a historical first as well makes it kind of fun.”

“This is just one more step in our attempt to take the world of comics to the masses, and Kevin is the perfect ambassador,” stated Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “Kevin has been a regular on The Tonight Show’ these last few months, with his ‘Roadside Attraction’ bits and the ‘Clerks’ short, The Flying Car,’ and Jay is a big Spidey fan. So when Kevin called me and said that he wanted to book himself on the show just to promote Spider-Man/Black Cat, my head nearly exploded! This is a giant step for our industry and I hope retailers take note and plan accordingly for the traffic that this event will drive to their stores!”

“Wow… and all I was hoping for was a promo poster,” added Spider-Man editor, Axel Alonso. “Kevin’s done so much to keep comics on the pop culture radar, and this is just another feather in his cap. I couldn’t be happier.”

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do is a four-issue miniseries that according to Marvel, “puts the web-slinger on a collision course with his old flame, the red-hot Black Cat!” It also serves as the launching pad for the new Black Cat ongoing series that will also be penned by Smith. Illustrated by the team of Terry and Rachel Dodson, Spider-Man/Black Cat will debut on June 26th, and Marvel wants retailers to know issue #1 can be ordered from Diamond Comics Distributors until June 6th.

I’m sure that many others are going to report this as well, but at tonight’s UK talk Kevin invited everyone to go see Changing Lanes with him tomorrow afternoon. He even offered to pay for everyone’s ticket! He also said that if we manage to buy out the entire theater, we can yell back at Affleck on the screen.

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I attended the appearance last night and let’s just say it was the greatest thing!! Kevin is the man. I just hope he knows not all of us here in Kentucky are as dopey and redneck as some of the people he had to deal with. Thanks Kevin. Wish I could go to Cincinnati but I can’t.

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Just got back from the flick. Everyone got in (I think there were about 165 people at the theater when Kevin showed up)! Before the film, Kevin got up in front of the crowd and explained how he tried to pay for everyone’s ticket with his credit card, which they wouldn’t take, so they had to accept a check “which is in the mail as we speak.” He also stayed around long enough afterward so that everyone could shake his hand and/or have their picture taken. The local TV news got ahold of the scoop, so someone out there will probably be able to capture it and send it to you guys (I don’t have a video capture card). A photographer from the local newspaper was there as well.

Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silwnt Bob Strike Back,” with this description: “But proudly how long they can not be, and original this film does not have a share.”

8:00 • I Am Furious (Yellow) (DABF13)
Stan Lee guest voices as himself as Bart creates an Internet comic strip starring Homer.

“Yet the performer most worth noting is Adams, who would be an unlikely choice to play a philosophy professor, except that she seems to understand every word she says. Adams sparkles with quick-mindedness and verbal agility. This is a worthy and underused talent.”

Stan Lee, who defined comic books as a popular art form for millions of readers, offers an exclusive glimpse into his career when he joins director Kevin Smith for STAN LEE’S MUTANTS, MONSTERS & MARVELS, premiering May 14 only on DVD and videocassette from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Lee, the creator of Spider-Man and The X-Men, and Smith, popular director of “Clerks and Dogma,” guide viewers on a journey through Lee’s history in this exclusive home-entertainment release, produced by Creative Light Entertainment. It’s a one-of-a-kind oral history – a lively conversation between two mutual admirers.

STAN LEE’S MUTANTS, MONSTERS & MARVELS explores the history of comic books during what is now called the “Silver Age,” a time when Stan Lee – as a writer, editorial directorand, later, publisher of Marvel Comics – co-created an astonishing number of the most legendary characters in comics.

With SPIDER-MAN set for a theatrical release by Columbia Pictures on May 3, an “X-Men” sequel in production, and both “Daredevil” (with Ben Affleck) and “The Incredible Hulk” (directed by Ang Lee) slated for release in 2003, Lee’s work has never been more popular or more faithfully adapted.

In STAN LEE’S MUTANTS, MONSTERS & MARVELS, Smith acts as a wise and witty surrogate for the legion of fans who have followed Lee’s career since his beginnings as a 17-year-old writer at Timely Comics, the predecessor to Marvel. With remarkable detail and good humor, Lee divulges his storied past in two separate features on the DVD: “Creating Spider-Man” and “Here Come the Heroes.”

In “Creating Spider-Man,” Lee gives a definitive set of answers to Smith’s questions about Spider-Man, who may be Lee’s most famous creation. With complete candor, Lee discusses the creator-credit controversy between him and artist Steve Ditko; Peter Parker’s role as a new kind of hero – a kid with real problems to whom readers could relate; Spidey’s arch-villains and true loves; and Columbia Pictures’ hotly anticipated SPIDER-MAN movie.

In the program’s second feature, “Here Come the Heroes,” Lee traces his own personal history and the beginnings of his 60-plus years in the business.

The DVD version of STAN LEE’S MUTANTS, MONSTERS & MARVELS is loaded with extras. In addition to cast and crew biographies and a behind-the-scenes featurette, the disc includes an exclusive interview with Lee’s wife, Joan; rare home movies from Lee’s personal archives; details about the never-released “Fantastic Four” movie; an original poem, “God Woke,” read by Lee; and many surprises for avid DVD fans. Also included is a one-of-a-kind tour of Lee’s magnificent Hollywood home, in which Lee points out some of the Spider-Man memorabilia he has accumulated through the years.

STAN LEE’S MUTANTS, MONSTERS & MARVELS represents a labor of love for its director and executive producer, Scott Zakarin, CEO of Creative Light Entertainment. “Stan Lee’s stories influenced an entire generation of filmmakers, including me,” Zakarin says. “Stan has a way of making the most complex characters and conflicts accessible to all audiences. I consider it an honor and a privilege to present the insights and personality of this incredible talent to fans.”

Smith agrees that it is time to give Lee his due. “Especially now, in what looks like it’s shaping up to be the year of Spider-Man, it’s great that we kind of take a moment to pay homage to the guy without whom there is no Spider-Man,” Smith says.

Creative Light Entertainment is an independent, vertically integrated film, television, new media and distribution company. Creative Light Entertaiment (www.crlight.com) acquires, creates and incubates new entertainment brands with broad or niche consumer appeal. Past successful straight-to-DVD/video projects distributed by Creative Light Video include “The Sid Caesar Collection,” a lovingly restored series of classic episodes from Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour,” as well as “Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime,” an intimate, exclusive conversation between Star Trek stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Creative Light was founded by Scott Zakarin, Rich Tackenberg and Peter Jaysen who all served as executive producers on STAN LEE’S MUTANTS MONSTERS & MARVELS.

Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures’ global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries worldwide. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

DVD ADDED-VALUE ELEMENTS

* Widescreen Presentation
* Cast Biographies
* Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
* Bonus Interview With Stan Lee’s Wife, Joan
* Bonus Story: The Never-Released “Fantastic Four” Movie
* Stan Lee Recites His Original Poem, “God Woke”
* Rare Stan Lee Home Movie Footage
MPAA Rating: Not Rated / Original Release: 2002
Price: $19.96 VHS Two-Cassette Set / $24.95 DVD
Color / Closed Captioned / 95 minutes
VHS #09611 / UPC Code: 0-43396-09611-0
DVD #09612/ UPC Code: 0-43396-09612-7

Street Date: May 14, 2002

For Smith, the opportunity to discuss comics and movies with a living legend like Lee proved too good to pass up.

“I had done an interview with Stan a couple of years ago for Rolling Stone, and it was fantastic, but most of it did not make it into the story because of limited space,” Smith said. “It was great to be able to do it again, learn new things and have it all be made available for people to see.”