• The IMDB runs a story and summarizes Kevin’s recent comments on the theories running abound that Gigli’s box office will effect Jersey Girl. Here’s the story:

• We’ve speculated on this for months, assuming that the most logical weekend would be the Valentine’s Day one in February
  for Jersey Girl’s nationwide theatrical release. Now, the Hollywood Reporter has apparently made that official (unless they used us as
  their source material). The next View Askew production, Jersey Girl, will be playing in a theater near you on Friday, February 13, 2004!

• Ming’s got the latest Tonight Show clip up in Quicktime format at the View Askew site. Check out another hilarious segment as Kevin greets Jay and introduces a clip where he chats it up with all the hot chicks and goofy guys at this year’s San Diego ComiCon.
• A small but easily spotted Clerks reference appears in online comic “Network Ops” this week.

• Douglas Fir, whose View Askew collection even makes US jealous, was kind enough to scan in some high-res shots of the backing cards of Walt and Steve-Dave. Check them out above.
• The Guardian Saturday Guide had a preview of the upcoming UK release of the Green Arrow: Quiver graphic novel. It’s not online, so here’s a transcription:

The article is credited to Richard Vine and the graphic novel is published by Titan Books at the UK price of £14.99.

• And finally today, Ferry himself, Robert Englund, drops Kevin’s name when chatting about his next project, “The Last Horror Picture show”:

Maybe ‘ol Freddy hasn’t seen Kev since he started on the Atkins, though! But hey, it’s an acknowledgement all the same. Thanks to Fangoria for the piece. Freddy vs. Jason, by the way, looks like some good campy fun, though the horror flick to see this summer is Lions Gate’s “Cabin Fever”, which should see a limited release soon. Watch for it. Can’t WAIT to finally see that one.

• News Askew would like to wish Kevin a very happy 33rd birthday tomorrow (Saturday). Kevin, thanks for another great year of entertainment and excitement. Hope you’ll have a good day with friends and family. We’re sure many more tributes will follow on the web, but the first one we’ve spotted appears over at IOComics. Here’s hoping for many more years of flicks, comics, and more from you, Kevin. Happy Birthday!

• We’re going to have to put a stop on this scoop just because it’s getting a bit repetitive, but what’s basically happening is that Jersey Girl is getting quite a few mentions across the country in reviews for “Gigli”. “Chasing Amy” is even getting name-dropped in a couple (The Columbus Dispatch compared the movie to Chasing Amy at least twice.) So, if you’re so inclined, check out reviews from CNN, and the Los Angeles Times. That should about cover it, like we said, it’s pretty much the same sentiment, so we’re not going to run links to every Gigli review across the country.
  Gigli is becoming one of those films that it seems the press loves to hate, but it’ll be interesting to see if all the publicity actually helps the film at the box office.
  Oh, and humorously enough, “Bennifer” is the Star of the Week over at the Moviefone site.

• For the second time this week, Page Six picks up a story about Kevin. This time, in reference to that “DVDBears” newsbite we ran earlier this week:

• Countingdown.com spotted this interesting tidbit from the latest issue of Wizard:

• Brian O’Halloran hosts as softball team The Integra Regenerates battle The New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom in their 4th almost Annual Charity Softball Game. All proceeds go to The Brain Injury Association of New Jersey. The event takes place at Plainsboro Community Park on Wednesday, August 20th at 6:00pm. Surf HERE for more information.
• There’s not much there yet, but you can check out Jason Lee’s new “Stero Skateboarding” company website HERE.
• Catch a small Jay & Bob sighting in this edition of online comic CTRL-ALT-DEL.
• Might we see Sean William Scott in a future View Askew flick? This comes from a recent junket:

You folks all have a GREAT weekend now!!!! Thanks for popping by.

• Alright, first off, the news many have been waiting for: Yes, there WERE a handful of Steve Dave & Walt figures left from San Diego. There is now a very LIMITED amount of these guys left from the Stash. And when they’re gone, that’s IT folks. Gone! So order your sets NOW before you regret missing out.

Speaking of missing out, here’s an example: The black and white Dante figures are now GONE! No more! History! Hope you got yours. Let that be a lesson to ya: Get this stuff while ya can. Now the only dilemma is whether to rip Dante out of his package or leave him in that little collectible bubble card. Decisions, decisions…

And speaking of the black and whites, don’t forget, the Chicago-exclusive Jay & Bobs debut at the show, $10 each! We expect these to go fast yet again, so if you’re in the area or have pals attending, we suggest you find the means to get a set. With all these figures standing around the desk here, hopefully there’s gonna be an inactive convenience store or video store or mall playset to put these guys in front of…

• Kevin’s panel at the Chicago Con is on Saturday, August 9th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. A room number hasn’t been asiggned as of yet, nor are we sure if you’ll need to get in a ticket line beforehand. As this is Kevin’s ONLY appearance at the con, we suggest you arrive when the doors open that day and be prepared. Also, whether you have a ticket or not, arrive EARLY at the room to secure yourself a good spot in line and a great seat. This year, Kevin’s panels and appearances have been packing the house and the most popular events at the Cons, so consider yourself warned. Just be there early, and have a great time — Don’t forget to pick yourself up an exclusive set of B&W Jay & Bob inaction fiures, as well!

• Just as a reminder to those who might have missed this news or just plain forgot, 11:59:59 on July 31st is the deadline for contest entries in our “Squirtgun: Fade To Bright” contest, where we’re giving away 10 prize packs courtesty of the band and News Askew, featuring the new album, a Kevin Smith-signed copy of the Mallrats soundtrack, and lots more. The band was kind enough to send us a few copies of the new album to check out, and it’s really good stuff. If you’re into punk music, and dug their “Social” track off the Mallrats disc, this one won’t disappoint. So hey, if you don’t win, get yourself a copy of the CD at your local record store. Remember, you can only enter once, multiple entries mean we throw them ALL out. Good luck!

VIEW THE SQUIRTGUN “FADE TO BRIGHT” CONTEST INFO HERE!

• On the gossip side of things, nationally famous New York gossip column “Page Six” picked up on a story Kev’s been telling at his gigs lately and summarized it thusly today in their online edition:

The story runs HERE along with a pic of Kevin and Jen.

• And to cap off our San Diego coverage, here’s a final 2 shots of Kev at the Q&A podium.
• The Onion takes some major stabs at Ben/Jen and Gigli today, and even mentions Jersey Girl at the end of this parody . It’s brutal, but you gotta admit, that comment card is damn funny.
• Check out Chad Blakely’s comic “Stalking Kevin Smith” in its entirety at his Pathetic Aesthetic Comics website. The site features scans of the book’s pages, info on how to get a copy, a photo of the author with Kev, along with Kev’s signature and thoughts on the front of his copy of the book. Check out pages 4 and 16, even out own little spot on the web made it into the book! Give it a read, we think you’ll enjoy it.
• And finally today, not to end on a sour note, but this is what we hate about movie critics. This AP critic didn’t like “Gigli”, and now is already predicting Jersey Girl will be a bad film as well. Film critics, take note, this is NOT the way to show any sort of objectivity:

It’s acceptable for someone to not like Gigli or Affleck and Lopez, sure, but to already seem to have decided on Jersey Girl without even seeing a frame? Read the full review HERE.