• News Askew celebrates the release of the new book, “Degrassi Generations: The Official 411” by offering up the chance for five of our beloved readers to get their own FREE copy, courtesy Simon & Schuster. Kevin writes a wonderful introduction to the book, which takes you behind the scenes of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Degrassi High, Degrassi Junior High, and The Kids of Degrassi Street. Find out from the past and present actors and crew what it’s like to be a part of one of TV’s most successful teen series.

Winning is simple, really. Well maybe not AS simple as we could have made it, but hey, you gotta work for your supper a LITTLE bit, right? So, here’s what you gotta do. Using our ARCHIVE SEARCH box, answer this ONE SIMPLE QUESTION from the world of Degrassi. The answer is the DATE (Month, Day, and Year) when the following event took place:

Kevin’s FIRST episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation aired on CTV In Canada FOR THE FIRST TIME. Note: Not the US airdate!

Send your answer, in an email, with the subject line “DEGRASSI CONTEST”, to scoops@newsaskew.com. Include your name, first and last, and a valid e-mail address where we can get in touch with you. CONTEST ENDS 11:59:59 PM, OCTOBER 11TH, 2005, EST. You have from now until the end of Tuesday to get your entries to us.

Remember, the answer can be found in the News Askew archives — But you might have to dig a little to find it. We’ll be selecting 5 entries, at random, from entrants who get the answer correct. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON IS ALLOWED. DUPLICATE AND RISK DISQUALIFICATION. OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY. Multiple entries will get you thrown out of the contest. No, if you have 2 different e-mail addresses, you can’t enter from each one. Let’s keep it fair.

So good luck, and thanks again to Simon & Schuster for supplying us with the goods! Good luck, brave readers! And for those of you who don’t win, you can own your very own copy of “Degrassi Generations: The Official 411”, now on bookstands everywhere, or available direct from Simon & Schuster.

• It’s official! “My Name Is Earl”, as we must remind you, starring TWO Mallrats alumni (Lee and Suplee) has become the first Fall comedy series to get a full order of 22 episodes! This is fantastic news, as the show’s not losing steam, and continues to amuse, bringing back regular characters and keeping some minor plot development happening while sticking to a formula that works. We’re stoked that we’ve got many fun filled half hours on the way. Hollywood Reporter says:

• Kevin’s guest starring role gets a second go-round early in the new Fall season tonight, when he appears as, what else but a CLERK on the acclaimed “Veronica Mars” tonight on UPN. 9 PM. We’ve yet to catch up to the show but with the impending Season 1 DVD release, plan to do so shortly, as word has it that it’s one of the best on televsion right now. Be sure and tune in for what’s sure to be another fun appearance from our own Kevin Smith! And as always, check with News Askew for a clip and screenshots later this week.

• Will & Scott return with their newest edition of MP3-based podcast, Radio Askew. To enjoy the program, all you need is an MP3 player or a PC with MP3 capability (and seriously, if you’re reading this, you got one). This week’s show has interviews with Scott Mosier, Brian O’Halloran, Stash Manager/Board Moderator Christian and that loveable and crazy Pratfall Guy (Stunt Bump), all from the recent Mallrats event which we’re still lamenting having to miss. Last week, they broke the big Clerks 2 Wanda Sykes cameo — Don’t miss this week’s to see what surprises are in store.
• More kudos for the legendary Clerks from IGN today. In their recent article on 10 modern-day Black and White DVDs you must own, Clerks kicks off the list at #10. Check it out:

• An unrelated Askewniverse article, but a Clerks reference pops up in it. See if you can spot it. It’s not tough. Later folks!

• It’s funny, folks seem a little kinder when they know someone’s watching. Kevin’s talkback responses over at Aint It Cool have now spawned their own NEW thread, in which Kevin is also responding to a few queries (easy to find, too, as he writes in all black, in case you’re just skimming). Read on to hear what Kevin would do with a scene between Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba. And marvel at his attempts to create the longest AICN talkback thread. Ever.

Oh, and one final interesting tidbit (thanks Martin) that we missed from Kevin’s last string of replies…He’ll likely have Clerks 2 footage to show in Calgary! Look:

If that’s not a reason to go, we dunno what is.

• As promised, Kevin delivers a double dose of coolness today at the Clerks 2 video blog, with TWO new video entries in the video journal now known as “Train Wreck”. We’re first introduced to the new feature with a fun mockumentary of those old black and white new reels, and BRIEFLY get to meet some of the film’s crew. Very fun stuff.

The second installment, “Halfway To Randal”, features Kevin discussing his rehearsal process. In it, you can see Trevor, Jeff, Brian, and Jen all practicing lines…Try as we might, we couldn’t make out any dialogue from the film (though it does seem like we’ll see Dante and Randal having another conversation while driving somewhere). THAT we know. And, you’ll find out what two halves make a complete Randal, from the mouth of Jeff Anderson himself.

We’re loving this feature so far, and know it’s only going to get cooler as the weeks go on. Keep your eyes peeled here or to the Clerks 2 Blog for the latest and greatest of the “Train Wreck” video diary saga.

• Wanna see the first 3 episode of “My Name Is Earl” and get all caught up? NBC will re-air the first 3 this Saturday, October 8th, back to back. The fun starts at 8:30. This is on the actual NBC network, NOT Bravo. For more Lee fun, check out some of the outtakes from the show, posted at the official NBC website.
• We’re getting reports from many happy customers at Wizard World Boston, who picked up signed Kevin inaction figures, exclusive to Boston, and tons of other great signed merch as well. While Kevin and Jay both regret having to miss the con, know that it was for the good of Clerks 2 starting production on time! No word on if any Boston figs made it outta there, but if there’s a chance for you to nab one, we’ll let you know.

• And finally today, another stroke of brilliance from Dave Baar: Build your own Royal Mooby burger box! Once again, Dave provides the template and all the art for you to print and fold your very own unique piece of View Askew art. Fine, fine work indeed. What’s next?

• As he pointed out in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, the internet’s just become full of folks who like to use the safety of a computer to spread lots of comments that they’d be much too craven to speak in public. Kevin bravely went into the fray last night, to take on those sorts who had a variety of words to speak following the announcement of the Clerks 2 video diary on the Aint It Cool News site, the inspiration for the “Poop Shoot” talkbacks (and subsequent ass-kickings) you saw in “Jay & Bob”.

For Kevin’s thread at the View Askew board, neatly formatted (and easier to read, with some humorous pics), CLICK HERE.

For the original AICN talkback, CLICK HERE.

Here’s just a summary of some of Kevin’s comments from the thread, in random order:

As Kevin wisely states, it’s always healthy to keep perspective on his career, even though a lot of folks out there lately are “trolls” – Folks just looking to start negativity anywhere they go. Our opinion? They’ll all know who was right once they see Clerks 2. Back to the barrel(?), indeed.

• CastAskew, an online audio show/podcast chronicling the latest happenings in the world of View Askew, has posted its third episode. You can listen at the official site or search it out under “Kevin Smith” in your iTunes podcasts. This episode covers topics such as the Mallrats event, “Joey”, “My Name Is Earl”, Auctions Askew’s Katrina benefit, and more. It’s a 21 minute show and comes in around a 6 meg download. We strongly suggest you listen. Rob and Rachel put together a fun show.
• If you for some reason are missing the funniest new show on TV this year, Bravo is giving you a second chance — Check your local listings for scheduled replays of “My Name Is Earl”, in case you or your Tivo misses it at 9 PM on Tuesdays.
• View Askew alum George Carlin will be performing in the “Mother Land”, Red Bank, late in October. You can catch him at the Count Basie Theater (home of Kevin’s record-setting Q&A appearance) on October 30th.
• Oh, and as if we need ANOTHER REASON to see “Southland Tales”…Have a fine, fine weekend, friends!

• We’re bummed to hear this, or see this in print, anyway…But it definitely seems like the Fletch project will continue, but without Kevin’s involvement. With the potential to have Lee back in the fold, Kevin’s longtime Fletch worship, and his deft writing skills, we’re sure this flick would have been a true winner. This comes from “Fletch Won” co-producer David List via a thread on IMDB’s message board:

Kevin has confirmed that he’s off the project at the moment, and with “Clerks 2” and “Ranger Danger” on the horizon, heck, we’re totally cool with that.