• Kevin checks in via the MySpace blog with his thoughts on the big show on Saturday that we’ve been promoting here. Need we again tell you what a cool way to spend a Saturday night this is gonna be? You always get your money’s worth when you see Kevin live, and with two comic icons onstage for the show, it’s a rare opportunity that you just should not miss. Tix still available at an amazingly cheap $20, and all benefitting the Hero Initiative as well. A good show, a good cause. Here’s Kevin:

• As promised, JoBlo finishes up their “10 Reasons We Love Kevin Smith” segment, with items such as his interaction with the fans, his great storytelling ability, and the Askewniverse itself hitting the chart. Click on over to check out the full story.
• Our audio capture wizard Will Wilkins comes in again with Kevin’s 18 minute call to Opie & Anthony earlier this week, in promotion of DVD Tuesday. The clip is MP3 ready, and even has artwork embedded so it’s ipod friendly. Thanks to WW for the hook-up! Enjoy the call.
• A few more DVD tidbits for the interested: The bonus disc that’s available through FYE and Suncoast, does contain 5 Train Wrecks (as well as the uncensored VH-1 special and music video contest winner). We do hear that 2 of the Wrecks are repeats from the main disc: “Day One” and “Cannes 2006” are included on the top 10 on Clerks II. ALSO – We hear there are indeed widescreen copies of Clerks II at Circuit City with the comic book inside. Just dig around the shelves and look for a square green and purple sticker on the shrink-wrap, indicating the bonus book is inside.
• Kevin’s recently revealed ultimate iPod playlist is reviewed on AOL’s online music show, “The DL”. Check around the 1:20 mark for HIGH praise for Kevin’s playlist from the show’s host.

• We ran some hints on Easter Eggs located on the new Clerks II DVD in our review earlier this month. But in case you were too lazy to track them down yourself, here’s a list of what’s been discovered so far. Of course, if you’ve got more to add, let us know:

• Dynamic Forces recently announced that Kevin is on the guest slate for the New York Comic Con on February 23, 2007:

No further scheduling info at this time — If the date sticks, we expect Kevin to do the usual Friday signing, and Saturday Q&A. We’ll keep you posted.

• We just got word that there’s amazingly still tix available left for that amazing opportunity to catch Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, and Joe Quesada for a LIVE Q&A panel in Los Angeles (UCLA) THIS SATURDAY, December 2nd at 7:00 PM. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch three of the biggest stars EVER in the comics industry in one room, one night only. Tickets are a total steal at just $20 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. This is set to be a landmark event, and the only time we can EVER remember Kevin, Joe, and Stan being in the smae room, let alone on one single stage for one event. A HUGE opportunity for fans of Kevin or of the comic industry in general. Don’t miss this one. What a fantastic way to spend a Saturday in December.

Hear more from the guests of honor, Stan Lee and Joe Quesada, in this article promoting the event as well. I heard Howard Stern promote this today on his program as well, which should have tickets flying out the door — If you wanna go, and you should not miss this…BUY NOW.

• Subscribers to Kevin’s blogs or boards read this stuff over the weekend, but we still wanted to log this up at News Askew — It’s just been a busy few days here with the DVD releases and all, and we wanted to ensure we had full coverage on that. ANYWAY…Kevin brought to our attention, via his blog, a post from Orlando Sentinel film critic Roger Moore, which essentially stereotyped View Askew fans as a bunch of Gex-X losers. The quote:

Kevin’s reply to this attack, complete with tons of eveidence to back it up, is in the blog.

The saga then continued on when Moore replied, and Kevin did likewise, via THIS blog entry.

We urge to to read it all — We know that if you’re here you must be a fan, so we know whose side you’re on, but that’s not even the point — The internet has given journalists of all shapes and sizes a voice to be heard, and, while they certainly have their right to like or dislike anything that they want, making broad generalizations about a fanbase is just plain stupid. I can speak for ourselves, and for the droves of fans that we have met over the close to ten years of running this website — We’re not only an intelligent and successful bunch, but a resourceful, peaceful, loyal, kind fanbase…The likes of which I’ve really never seen for any author auteur out there. And I think a lot of that comes from the way Kevin treats his fans, as well as in the way his work shows intelligence and insight that some critics will just never understand. It’s a shame that some folks resort to attacks like that without having anything to back up their point. It’s one thing to have an opinion, it’s another to just mudsling at random with no factual basis.

So, that’s what we’ve got to say about the whole thing. We remain happy that guys like Kevin exist to keep the press in check from time to time. It’s nice to know these folks can’t always get away with it, in an age where it’s so simple to have your voice heard.

• We had a report come in today that one customer purchased the Best Buy Mooby box only to find the FULL SCREEN version of Clerks II in the box, not the widescreen. The disc was stamped as widescreen, but didn’t play that way. Be sure and check your discs! Anyone else have this problem? Ours are still sealed for collectability, so we’ve yet to break that shrink wrap.
• More DVD promotion today on G4 TV’s “Attack of the Show”. As part of their “DVDuesday” segment, Chris Gore reviews new releases. This episode, he gave the big “buy it” tag to Clerks II, Evening Harder, AND Now You Know! It’s a trifecta. G4 appears on Comcast digital cable. Check your local listings for a repeat this weekend.
• This short article came across the wire today — Some quotes from Kevin on YouTube and the impact technology like it will have on discoverng new filmmaking talent:

• Here’s an exclusive new article that you won’t find elsewhere — From the UK’s “Exposed” magazine, scans from a brand new interview conducted with Kevin on a variety of topics. Click the scans for quotes on Clerks II, Myspace, Road House, street dates, the horror flick and a possible guest spot on “My Name Is Earl” this year!
• Jason Lee makes it to number 4 on the list of “TV’s Top Mustachioed Men”:

• VH1’s Best Week website seems to have misinterprted what Kevin said regarding his iPod playlist earlier this week — From our interpretation, he’s not miffed about it, rather, just wanted it to go out unedited, instead of having to shorten his thoughts on it.
• We’re hearing some reports of shortages or missing shelf copies of Evening Harder and Now You Know, especially at some Best Buy locations. Rest assured, street dates did not slip, so check around, or order your signed copies directly from us to enure prompt shipment of your discs!

• We’re pleased to report the highly anticipated arrival of THREE View Askew related titles on DVD today. First up, the latest in Kevin’s Askewniverse series, Clerks II, which many (including Kevin) say is the likely end to the View Askewniverse as we know it. You’ll certainly want to complete your collection with this one, and read our review of the disc set as well.

Next up — Kevin goes international with 2 Q&A sessions from Canada and the U.K. in “Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder”. Another two disc set chronicles Kevin’s hilarious Q&As and anecdotes, as Kevin entertains packed houses like no one else can. Look for tons of laughs and unexpectected surprises in these no-holds-barred sessions. Now everywhere on DVD (finally caught up with you Australia!).

And finally, Jeff Anderson’s directorial debut, “Now You Know” — Not originally produced by View Askew, but now presented by Kevin Smith as it earns a place in Askew myth in its own right, due to discovering Trevor Fehrman who steals many a scene in “Clerks II”.

As we speak, fans everywhere are converging on Stash Westwood for a big signing of DVDs today with Smith, Mewes, Anderson and Fehrman. If you’re in line, we hope you’re having a blast, and look forward to your tales and photos.

For the rest of us, here’s hoping you’ve got your pre-orders in with the Stash, as it’s still the only spot to get personally signed copies of all these discs to put under your tree. In the meantime, here’s some other info on today’s releases and what special goodies you can find at various outlets:

• Suncoast Pictures are carrying the Clerks II DVD packed with the bonus DVD. The disc contains a music video contest winner, the VH-1 Special and 5 BONUS Train Wrecks.
• Many Best Buy stores are in short suppy of the Mooby’s Meal Box set. If you want one, we suggest you run and grab one as soon as you can!
• The free comic in the Circuit City version, we’re being told, is only coming packed with the Full Screen version of the film, NOT the widescreen. Be careful.

• JoBlo‘s always been great to View Askew, and celebrates our big DVD today with a wonderful piece rightfully titled “10 Reasons We Love Kevin Smith”. Sure, if you’re here we already know you’re a fan, but in case you forgot about all the coolness Kevin brings us on a daily basis, here’s some reminders (hit the JB site for photos that go with the text, yes, even including that Playboy one we see you guys searching the archives for all the dang time!):

The final 5, we’re told, are on the way!

• Kevin’s reporting in his blog that he’ll do Craig Ferguson TOMORROW night (Wednesday), not Friday as we previously reported. The CBS website still reports Kevin as a Friday guest, so we’re not sure at this point. If we get clarification we’ll post it right up here for you.
• Alliance Atlantis, the Canadian company who distrubutes Clerks II, are running a contest which gives you the chance to WIN a trip to New Jersey and Tour the stash as well as some filming sites from Clerks and Clerks II (we’re guessing the block of stores). They’re also giving away Clerks II DVDs to runners up. The contest is open to residents of Canada ONLY (excluding residents of Quebec, for some crazy reason). You can fill out the simple entry blank HERE! Good luck.
• Popular USA Today pop culture blogger, Whitney Matheson, has done a post on Kevin’s webisode series “Sucks Less”. She not only enjoys it, but could potentially provide a lot of new viewers since most of her readers tend to check out her suggestions at least once:

Thanks, Whitney!

• Finally today, Kevin made a surprise appearance on Opie & Anthony this morning, chatting about such topics as Ebert and Roper, the use of the “N” word, and the fact that he sleeps in shorts and a t-shirt. We’re working on the audio, and hope to have it available here for you soon. More news later! Thanks for stopping by News Askew today.