• We’d like to take a moment to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! From all of us here at News Askew, View Askew, and Graphitti Designs, have a wonderful holiday, and thanks for another great year. Above you’ll see this year’s cover artwork for the annual View Askew Christmas card, with some brand new Chris Bailey artwork, featuring Jay & Bob bringing their idea of gifts to greet the baby Jesus. We’re not gonna tell you what’s inside the card (so if you know keep it to yourself!). If you’d like, feel free to use the talkbacks to write your own caption! We’ll be back with the answer in a few days.
  Merry Christmas to all!

• It’s been confirmed, tonight, CBS television will debut the Jersey Girl trailer in its entirety as part of the “Entertainment Tonight” program. So set up those VCRs, Tivos, and whatever else you have, as many of you will have the chance to see your first footage from the film. Check your local listings for airtimes, but definitely catch this tonight, as the trailer likely won’t re-air on TV anytime soon. We’ll have online versions available at the site for you as soon as possible, but your best look will be on your television screen TONIGHT. Enjoy!

• Alright, so now that the Gigli-bashing is starting to get old, it’s time to move onto the deservedly GOOD press for Jersey Girl! Movieline magazine has listed the film as #12 in their article entitled “33 Musts in 2004”. Click above for a scan, or read the blurb here:

• The Jersey Girl poster has already begun to show up in local theaters — So, if you’re in there to check out Return of the King or something this weekend, take a look at it — One viewer noticed the slick new View Askew Productions logo on the sheet — Which no longer uses Vulgar the clown but Jay & Bob in the center of the circle! Could this be the official new logo of View Askew? Check out the enlargement above.

• The official Miramax Jersey Girl website has revealed the final poster art for the film, due in theaters on Friday, March 19, 2004. The official tagline: “He wanted it all…but he got more than he bargained for. A new comedy by Kevin Smith.” The one sheet features Ben and Raquel, and it’s nice to see that Kevin’s name is featured in the promotion as well. Here’s the synopsis for the film (some spoilers ahead):

Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is at the top of his game. A Smooth, Manhattan music publicist, Ollie has just married the love of his life (Jennifer Lopez) and has a child on the way. It’s a perfect lie that is tragically upended when he suddenly finds himself a single father unqualified for his new role.
Before long Ollie’s big city lifestyle clashes head on with fatherhood. After losing his job, he’s forced to move back in with his father (George Carlin) in the New Jersey suburb where he was raised. With the help of a beautiful young friend (Liv Tyler) who opens him up to love again, and the daughter (Raquel Castro) who gives him the courage to keep going, he begins to realize that sometimes, you have to forget about what you thought you were and just accept who you are.
A dramatic comedy from writer/director, Kevin Smith, JERSEY GIRL reveals the honest, heartfelt and often amusing story about the man who wanted it all but got more than he bargained for.

• 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.