• We’ve been getting a lot of scoops regarding the silent character named “Bob” in the new Tom Cruise samurai flick. Apparently he was on a talk show on the Oxygen network (Ellen?) and introduced a clip from the film, stating:

So is Cruise perhaps a closet View Askew fan? Interesting…

• Scott over at PVP Online has posted his Christmas story from his upcoming TPB and there’s a pretty big Mallrats reference in it. The story starts HERE , but you’ll find the Brodie line on page 12.
• And it wouldn’t be an update lately without some Affleck news, right? He’s in the Paycheck making-of located at the Apple trailer site, and talks about Gigli, Jersey Girl and Paycheck in a new interview. Here’s a clip from that (minor spoilers):

And he also brings up the movie briefly in this New York Daily News article:

Enjoy the weekend! Go out and get that last-minute Christimas shopping done. Yeah, we’re talking to YOU!

• Diamond Distributors has confirmed that the next wave in Clerks Inaction Figures, “Dogma”, is on track for an April 2004 ship date. This pack looks to be the coolest and most anticipated yet, with newly colorful versions of Jay & Bob, Loki & Bartelby, and of course, that massive Golgothan. This is a MUST-HAVE pack (but then again, aren’t they all)?

The In-animating of the View Askewniverse gets a little of that old time religion with the new Clerks InAction Figures Series 3: Dogma! View Askew and Graphitti Designs present this latest round of fan faves from the fourth chapter in the five-movie-long New Jersey Trilogy. Based on designs by animator Stephen Silver, sculptor Jon Matthews brings these characters to life with incredible style and attitude and feature no articulation whatsoever! Bartleby spreads his wings! Loki loses his! Silent Bob goes all Tiger Woods! Jay finally gets his hands on an Uzi! And NoMan the Golgothan stinks the place up! Each 12-pack case includes: three Jay, three Silent Bob, two Bartleby, two Loki, and two Golgothan figures. Scheduled for shipping April 2004.

• Alright, alright. We hear ya. You want more shots from the Playboy shoot with Jennifer Smith. Sure! We’re happy to oblige. Alright, so they’re not nude shots (you pervs) but if you want a look at Kevin on the scene, helping to set things up and striking a pose or two himself, click the thumbnails above for a backstage look at the shoot. Enjoy.

• CORRECTION: We mention in the last update that a Roadside Attractions segment will tape on January 23rd. We were incorrect. The segment for Kevin introducing that segment tapes on the 23rd of December with Jay Leno. The actual Arizona footage has already been shot. Mewes plays his correspondent intern in this segment, which will air on December 26th, on The Tonight Show as usual.
• Due to a scheduling conflict, Kevin and Jay will be unable to appear at Megacon in Orlando, Florida this Spring.
• TV Guide Online reports that Affleck has stated that Project Greenlight IS headed to Bravo. We’ve heard of no official contract for Greenlight 3 to go ahead at this point, nor that Bravo has definitely signed, though Ben MAY have let some news slip there. We’ll keep watch.
• And in other Affleck news: Reuters reports that the actor will continue his outstanding charity work by spending the holidays with the troops in the Persian Gulf as part of the USO program. Good on ya, Ben.
• This upcoming Friday (19th), and Saturday (20th) Clerks will be playing on the big screen at the Valley Art Theater in Tempe, Arizona. The movie plays at 11 PM on both nights. Valley Art was one of the few theaters that showed the Project Greenlight movie “Stolen Summer” a couple of years ago. It’s a nice single screen theater that has been around since the 40’s, but was given a major renovation a few years back. If you’re in the area, take advantage of the rare chance to see Clerks projected on the big screen.
• The View Askew website gets a mention in the newest issue of Moviemaker magazine. In an article about directors with webisites, Kevin’s gets a mention. It reads: “If Kevin Smith’s work and quirky sense of humor interest you, then visit www.viewaskew.com, where you can pose questions to the director (with a warning that he only answers questions based on content and intelligence), find current news and information about his projects and buy merchandise related to the Clerks director.” Adios for now, folks!

• Kevin once again thrilled the audience Sunday night at the Arclight with a screening of Chasing Amy, followed by a 2 hour Q&A, followed by some photo ops and autograph signing. Spotters there had Kevin staying until after 12:30 to make sure everyone got a chance to shake hands, get an autograph, or take a photo. Here’s some of the more interesting tidbits that were heard during the Q&A session (we’ll get to the BIG stuff first):

• There will be a Secret Stash on the West Coast probably within the next 6 months. He’s been scouting locations and has pretty much decided on Westwood.
• There will be a new Roadside Attractions on Dec. 26th, this time with Mewes. They’re taping on the 23rd in Arizona.
• He’ll be starting ‘Fletch Won’ probably in March. The first draft is already done. He still wants Lee in his heart.
• The Marvel books will be out some time in 2004, though he joked that people will say that they are terrible, even if they’re Dark Knight good, just because of the wait.
• Kevin said he was so excited to be pitchman for Panasonic that he asked them not to pay him (but they did) and that he will be hocking their products on tv ten years from now. He also talked about how the original two ads he directed with E-Man came under fire from a little people group, but it turns out that the person leading the charge wasn’t even a little person.
• Kevin mentioned he was offered to write Daredevil but turned it down. After Superman, he doesn’t want to deal with the multiple studio demands.
• The 10th Anniversary Clerks DVD is supposed to have an access option to an animated version of “The Lost Scene” comic during the infamous unseen funeral scene in the film. All the MTV shorts will be included, as well as the Tonight’s Show “Flying Car”. We’ll see it October 2004.
• MTV was interested in reviving the Clerks Animated Series but Harvey Weinstein advised Kevin to wait until the animated feature film is released before he signs a contract. Situation is…that this was two years ago.
• When asked if he would rather be a pickle or a banana and why – Kevin replied with banana after giving it a pause or two. An audience member then yelled out, “Because it has more appeal”.

Jason Mewes was sitting the audience through out the screening of Chasing Amy. He had to leave early but went on stage with Kevin for a standing ovation. As always, if you are anywhere near one of Kevin’s appearances, GET THERE. We can’t recommend them enough. Even if you’ve watched the DVD 20 times, nothing compares to be there live, and Kev’s adding new material all the time. Next, you can see Kevin at the Nuart in January 2004 (watch our upcoming events scroller as always for the info). We’ll keep you posted on your upcoming chances to catch Kev live, just stay tuned right here.

• Looks like Affleck’s got a great honor for the biggest NASCAR race in 2004:

Read all about it HERE.

• Catch Jeff Anderson in a cameo role (as a convenience store clerk, no less) in a newly released rental called “Stealing Time”, with Peter Facinelli and Ethan Embry. Anderson’s clerk gets held up with a cap gun, later to find out and attack the patrons with a bat. The film is listed over in the IMDB as “Rennie’s Landing”. Anderson is credited.
• And finally today, if you’d like to do a bit of a primer before seeing Jersey Girl this Spring, you may want to listen to the upcoming live broadcast of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” tomorrow night on BBC3 radio. This great production won raves in Chicago last year and is the favorite of a character or two in “Jersey Girl” from what we recall. You can listen live via RealPlayer at this link tomorrow around 5:25 PM EST. Happy listening! Catch ya next time, and thanks for stopping by today.

• Howard Stern’s radio show was offering $10,000 to the first listener that could get a hard-to-reach celebrity on the phone for a 5 minute interview. The choices were a list of never-before or hard to find guests, one of whom was Ben Affleck. On Friday, Ben Affleck surprised Howard and the crew with a 25 minute call to the show, donating the $10,000 not to a friend, but to charity. Not only that, but Ben asked if he could come back for a full television segment in person on the show.
  Frankly, being big Stern fans, we always wondered why Affleck never came on sooner, as his sense of humor is a great fit for the show. Affleck took Howard’s tough questions about Jen, gambling, and anything he could think of to shake things up in stride. Affleck revealed he’s been a fan of the show and also took the opportunity to plug Paycheck a few times (hey, why not?). Howard complimented Affleck for calling in and it certainly seems like Ben’s got the most popular morning radio show in his corner now. Congrats to Ben on a great interview with one of the toughest out there. Click HERE to listen to the clip in its entirety, or if you can’t listen to mp3’s at the office, here’s a recap from the great Howard Stern site marksfriggin.com! Enjoy.

• Jason Mewes was spotted on MTV’s “Obsourne Family Christmas Special”, airing all this weekend, singing “The 12 Days of Christmas”. It looks like the segment may have been filmed at the Return of the King premiere. The show will be re-airing all over the place on MTV, so check your listings or just turn the channel, you’re likely to catch it.
• A pair of DJ’s known as Beaner & Ken are naming a list of the 5 funniest movies of all-time. They have named the top 4 and are letting the people decide the 5th. You can choose between Clerks, Ghostbusters, Blazing Saddles, and Animal House. Let’s help Clerks get to the top of the list! You can vote HERE.
• The first issue of “Bail”, a new skate culture-related magazine, features Jason Lee on the cover (and a new interview inside). Grab a copy through their official site.
• And finally today, there’s a small Clerks mention in the December 8th issue of Sports Illustrated:

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and you northeasters, get ready to dig out from our SECOND storm of the season already. Stupid snow.

• MTV Moviefile dug up a very small quote that Kevin gave regarding Daredevil 2 at the LOTR premiere…It doesn’t really say much, and you can tell they caught him on the run, but we wanted to share it with ya all the same:

Ben Affleck says he’s only interested in making a “Daredevil” sequel if his buddy Kevin Smith directs it. So what does the “Dogma” director think about the prospect of adapting his “Daredevil” comics stories for the big screen? “I had heard [there was interest], then I was talking to them about writing it, but I wrote it once [as comics already], you know?” Smith said at last week’s premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

• Co-writer David Mandel’s new flick “Eurotrip” got a very good review today over at AICN. Definitely sounds like a fun one to check out if you’re into the raunchy comedies (and hey, who isn’t?). Mandel wrote for the hilarious Clerks animated series, remember, so you know you’ll dig it.
• And hey, speaking of the Clerks cartoon, what better way to show a watch that can output actual VIDEO than showing it display Clerks cartoon footage? Nice. Happy Holidays!