• Well, there ya have it — Another year in the books, and you’re still here. And so are we. And we thank you for that. 2005 brought some interesting twists, turns, and announcements from View Askew, and even surprised us as much as you, fair readers.

2005 was a year that View Askew didn’t release any Kevin Smith flicks. With seven films under his belt now and just over 10 years in the biz, a year without a film doesn’t happen too often. Of course, 2006 will bring us a sequel, the first true View Askew sequel. Yes, back in 2004, Kevin surprised fans with an unexpected announcement — Clerks, the film that started it all, was going to have a sequel. And in 2005, that annoucnement became a reality. Crews in California AND New Jersey went to work behind and in front of the cameras. Before the year was out, perhaps in record time for any View Askew flick, a cut of Clerks 2 was assembled and screened for test audiences. Clerks 2 was also the first film officially greenlit into production by the newly formed Weinstein Company. More on that in a moment.

2005 also marked the largest fan event in View Askew history — Vulgarthon 2005. For the first time, a ‘thon was held on the west coast, allowing a new crop of fans to experience a film festival, Askew style. Rare flicks like Big Helium Dog hit the screen, along with the highlight of the show — An extended cut of Jersey Girl, never seen anywhere else, and possibly never again, at least until the hopeful extended DVD release (possibly for the film’s 10th anniversary). Chasing Amy’s cast reuinted at the event for an enjoyable Q&A session, which will be cut together for the Amy 10th Anniversary DVD (expected in 2007). The night capped off with Malcolm Ingram and Jen Schwalbach’s Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back documentary, never seen before, anywhere. The event easily sold out the huge, beautiful Arclight Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.

Kevin made quite a few live appearances in 2005 as well, including the historic, record-breaking Return to Red Bank Q&A, which we covered here at News Askew. This amazing sold out affair ran for an astounding 7 hour Q&A session (has anyone called Guiness on that one yet?).

View Askew may have been absent theatrically in 2005 (aisde from the “Reel Paradise” documentary that was produced and ran a small festival circuit), but the small screen tells a different story. Kevin’s brilliant run of appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno continued, along with amusing guest turns on the excellent Veronica Mars, and an extended, multi-episode arc on Canadian series Degrassi: The Next Generation (along with Jason Mewes). And who would have ever dreamed that our beloved Jason Lee would get the notice he deserved and headline his own sitcom in 2005? At this point last year, we’d never have guessed.

It wouldn’t be a year in Askew without some DVDs to stock your shelves as well, and this year was no exception — The highlight had to be the Mallrats 10th Anniverary disc, which featured a new Q&A (filmed at yet another Arclight event in Los Angeles in ‘05), and the most extended cut of Mallrats that you ever could see. Kevin and Scott spent hours with old footage to put together the definitive extended cut, another DVD milestone for us. Later in the year, the first three Degrassi episodes were collected and released, full of commentary, behind the scenes footage, and deleted segments.

In the cyberwold, View Askew’s forums continued to grow in popularity. Kevin’s posts there grew into a site of their own: “My Boring-Ass Life” became Kevin’s own blog site now housed at silentbobspeaks.com, after a brief run at News Askew when we started collecting his daily musings, realizing that they were too good to be missed. The diary site continues to exist, though goes on hiatus as necessary when Kevin’s got a busy schedule. Clerks2.com debuted with another first for us: A video diary of the film’s production, being assembled into weekly tidbits by brillaint filmmakers Zak Knutson and Joey Figueroa. And of course, we continued to provide you the latest up to the minute coverage of everything from the major to the minor right here at NewsAskew.com.

And hey, let’s not forget radio. Kevin came into his own in 2005 with several long form appearances on Los Angeles radio programs. He’s yet to ink any long-term deals for a regular radio stint, but stated on several occasions that he enjoys being the “second banana” and co-hosting when his schedule allows. We’re expecting to see more of the same next year.

Quality product continued to pour out of the Stash this year, with the promise of new inaction figures that top the already brilliant models out there, our first bobbleheads, and of course, a new book by Kevin titled “Silent Bob Speaks”, collecting his brilliant run with Arena magazine, available in the US for the first time anywhere. The critically-acclaimed book sold in record numbers, forcing immediate extra printings.

Finally for 2005, it happened early in the year, but it wouldn’t be a wrapup without mentioning the changing of the guard, per se, at Miramax. Founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein parted ways with their company, and Disney, to form The Weinstein Co, whose films will begin to proliferate in 2006. Kevin, Scott, and View Askew Productions have followed Bob and Harvey, and will continue to work and produce films under View Askew for release through the new company. Clerks 2 will kick it off next year.

And while some partnerships ended, others began. Headliners Ben Affleck and Matt Damon both tied the knot in 2005, and Affleck just welcomed his first child, Violent, into the world.

What’s to come? We’re of course expecting 2006 to be the year of Clerks 2. With a late summer release currently planned, a possible unrated version released to a small, targeted crop of screens, it’s the chance for another View Askew milestone — A mainstream, unrated film with a chance to make a decent splash if the right demographic is targeted. With the Weinstein Company just getting underway, we think it’s a great chance to do something different and make headlines. If an R-rated film’s in there somewhere (though definite major trims would be necessary), we still expect a smaller release, similar to the first Clerks well over 10 years ago.

With Clerks 2 being the big news of 2006, it certainly won’t be the only news. Malcolm Ingram’s acclaimed View Askew-prodcued documentary “Small Town, Gay Bar” will celebrate its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year (they’re shooting for Cannes with Clerks 2). Another VA alumn, Joey Lauren Adams, will premiere her own writing/directing debut effort at that same event.

“An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder” is in final editing phases, just pushed back to 2006 to better coincide with the theatrical debut of Clerks 2. The DVD set will again feature Kevin’s famous Q&A routines, this time from locations abroad. Early scenes that we’ve caught have been hilarious. There’s also been some rumblings of a rumored return of the Clerks Animated series to home video in 2006. With a small budget, and all the major players back on the table from the new flick, we’re thinking this is highly likely.

Kevin’s return to the world of comics will surely bring more to come in the new year — Spidey/Black Cat will finish its miniseries with some major surprises, and Daredevil/Bullseye: Target should also finish its own run. We’ve got some great new toys on the way as well – Those Chasing Amy inaction figures we’ve all been craving, possibly with their own diner playset, are due in June of 2006.

Let’s not forget “Catch and Release” — Kevin’s first lead role in a non View Askew production will hit theaters in 2006. Early trailers have his character spouting a heap of funny lines and expressions. Our guess is that he’ll be stealing quite a few scenes in that one.

And while Kevin, Scott, and the rest of the crew wrap up Clerks 2 in the editing room, we’re betting that talk of the next project won’t be far off. Don’t be surprised to hear an annoucement of the next View Askew production in 2006 from Kevin and Scott. Ranger Danger and the Danger Rangers looks like a strong bet, no roles have been cast, though Kevin has always said that there will be a major role for Jason Mewes in that picture.

While these are all things we know, the best part of this site is perhaps the UNKNOWN. 2006 is sure to bring more surprises and unexpected twists that make this job, and being a View Askew fan, an honor and a privilege. Halfway through the year, we’re going to take a look back at this news entry, and see what’s transpired that we DIDN’T expect. We’re guessing that there’s a lot of headlines we’ll be writing that we’d never even dreamed.

We’d like to take this time to thank you all for your support in 2005. You’re the best bunch of fans in the world: kind, cool, helpful, passionate, and dedicated. This site remains a part of the web largely from your support. As long as there are fans, News Askew is proud to be your daily source for everything that’s happening in this little corner of the entertainment biz that we all love. Happy New Year to you, and thanks for being a part of another thrilling year. We hope you’re looking forward to 2006 as much as we are. We promise, you’re gonna love it.