One more day, kids. One more day of L.A. shooting, and then it’s back to Jersey on Wednesday to finish the beast off with who it all started, appropriately enough: Brian and Jeff.

Last week was a hoot. Carrie Fisher on Tuesday (great cameo; weird, great lady), and Tracey Morgan on Thursday (who delivered, hysterically, like mad). Friday was a quartet of folks you’ll all recognize (can’t say much more than that), and yesterday we did some clean-up work with bits and pieces we hadn’t gotten around to yet.

But Wednesday was pretty historical for us, as it saw the return of a distinguished, high-profile alumnus to the Askewniverse. Yes, children, six years later (almost to the day) we were once again knee-deep in Doherty (Shannon, that is). And it was wonderful.

There was also another pretty funny cameo that day, but saying anything more about him would give away too much. Suffice to say, he’s a good egg.

Still keep an eye out for that ‘Entertainment Tonight’ piece (maybe this week?), as well as ‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘E!’ pieces. And if I can convince the powers-that-be, there may be a ‘net-only teaser trailer in your future.

Also, for those of you who are into comics, ‘Green Arrow’ #2 hits stores this week. If you’ve orderd ‘GA’ #1’s from the Stash (or anything else for that matter), bear with us: I haven’t had time to sign a lot of stuff lately. But rest assured – while I’m home, I’ll be scribbling on every piece of merchandise I can get my swelled hands on so that Big Bry can turn it around ASAP to you folks, and I can keep taking your hard-earned rupies, marks, pounds, etc. (sp? on the monetary units).

Five more days in front and behind the camera, and I hang up the green and black coat for good. Wow.

Last week looked hellish on paper, but actually turned into one of the best and most fun weeks on the show thus far.

We shot Ben as Holden on all of Tuesday, with about twenty four set-ups. As always, it was a delight having the Fifteen Million Dollar Boy back before the ultra-fast-picture-taking machine. And as exhausted as he was (indeed, he had come from NYC where he was shooting ‘Changing Lanes’ with Sam Jackson, then did pick-ups on ‘Pearl Harbor’, followed by three days on ‘The Sum of All Fears’ – all before showing up for our little dick and fart joke picture), he still managed to turn in a wonderful and funny performance. God, I love that man.

On Wednesday, we shot Ben and Matt together. Very, very funny stuff, that. Kudos, too, go out to Master Damon, as he found a window in his ‘Oceans 11′ schedule to roll up on us and turn in a pretty hysterical cameo.

Thursday saw us finishing up some odds and ends from their scene that didn’t involve Ben and Matt, and Friday and Saturday kicked off the seemingly interminable ‘BluntCave’ sequence – a real gem of a scene, due largely to two factors…

Mark and Hammil.

Wait’ll you see this stuff. You won’t believe I directed it, it looks so fucking good.

Today, it was more ‘BluntCave’ action, that also saw the end of Mark’s stuff. Good Lord, was he fun to have around. He’s a real sweetheart of a guy who doesn’t play up the fact that he’s a living, American icon. He’ll be missed.

Will and the girls are back as well, and Wednesday, it’s all-Lee action.

I swear – this may very well be our finest hour in a weird way.

In other news, I was informed by the good folks at DC Comics that they’ve sold out of their entire first printing run of 101,000 copies of ‘Green Arrow’ – before it even hit the stands. Initial orders from comic book stores had us ranking as the sixth best seller of the month, with 83,000 copies pre-sold, and DC overprinted, hoping the additional 18,000 would eventually sell. But comics retailers (God bless ‘em) kept re-ordering to the point that DC is already sold out of the first printing, and heading back to press for another large run of the book. So congrats to DC, Bob Schreck, Phil Hester, Ande Parks, Sean Konot, Guy Major, Matt Wagner… and me, I guess.

The book goes on sale Wednesday. Pick it up and let me know what you think.

SNOOTCHIE BOOTCHIE NEWS
On Location: ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’

The term “movie set” is just a little bit of a misnomer. “Movie sets” would be a lot more accurate.

Sure, the bulk of Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is happening on a studio in appropriately named Studio City, California, but it ain’t like that’s the only place the magic happens. Sets all around L.A. have come into play, including a hotel, a movie theater, and even a school in nearby Canoga Park. As production (L.A. production, at least — the crew will wrap things up in Red Bank, New Jersey) has passed the halfway point, most of the remaining scenes will be at the main studio, including some featuring….

Mark Hamill. That’s a-right. The beloved thespian made famous by the timeless flick “Corvette Summer” and his ongoing role as the voice of the Joker in the “Batman Adventures” cartoons will be taking part.

And a certain comic-booky celeb has made an appearance, too. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada just padded his résumé with a “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” appearance. “It was fun — a real blast,” Quesada says. “I’ve got a cool part, a couple lines, and it’s a very romantic scene.”

Well, Quesada says it’s romantic. Kevin Smith says something similar…but still different. “He turned in what could be termed a very ‘hard’ performance,” Smith says. “You’re going to see Joe Q as only [his wife] Nanci Q has seen him before.”

And Smith is pretty sure he’s found an acting diamond in the rough. “People remember the first time they really got to see Nicholson ply his trade on the big screen in the Roger Corman, non-musical version of ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’” Smith says. “Joe’s appearance in ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ will be as mythical and memorable as that. As the Marvel head honcho, many people have said Joe’s the luckiest man alive, because he’s paid to be the lunatic that runs the asylum. But when the movie comes out, the fanboys will proclaim Joe the luckiest man alive for an entirely different, and far more valid reason.”

Quesada is under strict orders from Smith not to disclose just what his role is. But any sordid rumors to the contrary, he did remain clothed. In fact, he was fitted for a special and specific costume.

But even though he liked Joe’s performance, Kev will be angling elsewhere for the future. “I’ve now cast two high-profile and talented Marvel muckity-mucks in View Askew flicks — Joe in ‘Strike Back’ and Stan Lee in ‘Mallrats,’” Smith says. “Next up, I’ll be casting from the DC talent pool.”

So now that he’s had his one shot at the big time, does Quesada think he’ll be getting groupies? “In addition to the ones I already have?” he laughs. “Hey, a guy with my charisma on screen for the first time — you never know.”

Take my word for it — Mrs. Quesada need not worry.

Filming on the fourth and final installment of Kevin Smith’s New Jersey series, Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, is well underway now, and we spoke to the film’s stunt-coordinator Gary Jensen about what’s in store.

“We have a big comedy scene where they’re spoofing a lot of movies,” Jensen told Empire Online. “Jay and Silent Bob go to Hollywood and we’re spoofing E.T., we’re spoofing Star Wars, and a whole bunch of others.” With a mammoth cast including turns from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, David Duchovny, Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth and er… Judd Nelson, the film is shaping up to be the most ambitious project of the series and will be dishing out a heavy dose of satire to a number of iconic screen moments.

[SPOILER] “We’re doing a big lightsaber fight, it’s kinda fun. Jay and Silent Bob versus Mark Hamill. [END SPOILER] It’s very funny.”

Here’s your chance to have your question possibly answered by you’re favorite View Askew actor or character, and I’ll choose a handful of about 10-20 really good ones. Now by “good ones” I mean those related to the individual, their craft or character they inhabit in the View Askewniverse. No, I will not ask Ben about Gwyneth, nor will I address any gossip or rumors towards an individual. This is about their work, experiences, and feelings of being a part of this series that Kevin has created. Be respectful. I will also not field questions relating to any spoiler material about “JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK”, remember this is still a spoiler-free column.

So AICN. Catch ya later.