• Happy new year to everyone around the world, nice to be starting another one with you. Hope it’s the best year yet for ya. Things will get off to a big bang here at View Askew, with Vulgarthon coming up next week, Kevin’s continuing comic book gigs and appearances, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back’s home video and DVD release, and of course the filming of “Jersey Girl” this Spring. Thanks for sticking with us and coming back for another year, we’ll do our best to keep things interesting around here! Happy 2002.

• Well, we’ve turned over another big number up top there, EIGHT MILLION HITS. So, this page, since it’s started, has been loaded on a computer over eight million times. Amazing stuff, really. As always, this site continues to thrive all because of you, the readers, who stop by every day, send in scoops, post talkbacks, or just read what’s here. Thanks to each and every one of you for another huge milestone, and a hearty congrats to “Kevin L.” for hitting the magic number. We’re creeping ever closer to that big 10 million number, when we’re sure there’ll be much celebrating (and perhaps even some fabulous prizes up for grabs). Thank you all!

• Kevin stopped by before the New Years Eve festivities to answer some questions, and covered a LOT of ground. Here’s a summary of what we learned in this latest session:

• Jersey Girl will be the first View Askew “period piece”, as it takes place in the mid-to-late 80’s or early 90’s. No official casting has been made for the film, so far. Jamie Anderson will be the DP. The flick will likely not be released until sometime in 2003.
• [Green Arrow Hardcover]: I’m just finishing the intro for it now, so I’d say it’ll street in about two months or something. DC’s putting out a hardcover first, though. I don’t think they’re releasing a softcover version for at least a half year after that.
• [Bluntman & Chronic Hardcover]: I hear it’s due to hit the shelves next week. I mean, we were a little late on the script and art. But that’s stuff’s been in for at least two months now. The big delay has been with Quebecoir, for some reason. Ed: According to the Diamond comics release list that www.midtowncomics.com posted on their site, the Bluntman and Chronic GN looks like it WON’T be out next week. (Thanks to Dave).
• [Extras for Jersey Girl chosen through Internet Readers?]: “No doubt.”
• [College Tour DVD]: Not sure. I’d heard Feb/March, originally. When I learn more, I’ll let you know.
• [Fletch Won Plans]: I will, indeed, be simply adapting the novel.

And finally, while it’s a bit long to post here, Kevin’s also posted up a list of movies he dug in 2001, a lot of which is agreed upon in these parts (not completely, of course). You can check that out HERE.

• You can check out a review of Green Arrow #10 HERE at The Fourth Rail. This one scores an 8 out of 10.
• A new and quite positive review of Vincent Pereira’s “A Better Place” DVD appears HERE.
• A critic in Israel has listed Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back in his top 20 flicks of the year.
• And finally today, The “Buddy Christ” is featured on the new Pennywise video for “My God” for a few milliseconds. Check it out HERE.

• CDNow reports that Columbia’s upcoming two-DVD set of the Concert for New York City will indeed include the full short film that Kevin created in New York City! Previously seen only on VH-1, this will be your chance to add this item to your View Askew collection, and benefit a worthy cause as well:

The short, as you recall, aired with BLEEPs over colorful words. Those bleeps will remain intact, as it was always Kevin’s intention for them to be there in the final product. And frankly, it makes it even funnier.

• We missed this post a couple days back, and it’s certainly significant, as Kevin runs down what’s up next for him, and gives a reminder about that excellent Heroes Auction coming up next month. Check it out:

• Just in time for Vulgarthon, Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash is now open with an all new look! Things have been remodeled, rearranged, and some new Jay & Bob props – Including the famous Bluntmobile that we saw on the Bluntcave set – are now available for your viewing pleasure! The mobile features two Jay & Bob mannequins in the seats, each holding their respective Bluntsabers. Also spotted are the sign from the Diamond Exchange, and more. Stop by the Stash now or at Vulgarthon for your first look at these props since they were on the California set!

• Universal Records wants to give you a DVD Player, the Kevin Smith Library, the official soundtrack for Jay and Silent Bob, and Afroman’s The Good Times! Enter HERE, though check out this strange tidbit from the fine print of the contest’s rules:

Huh.

• UK Jay & Bob news: Here’s the second and 3rd week gross results for the film:

The film’s DVD is pre-ordering quite well in the UK, currently at the #3 spot for region 1 orders.

• Ben Affleck’s new flick, Changing Lanes, (with Sam Jackson) now has its official trailer online HERE. Be sure and check it out.
• Alanis Morissette’s new single — featuring some of her most vitriolic lyrics since “You Oughta Know” — has aired in Germany and is being made available on the website of her European record label. “Hands Clean” debuted Christmas Eve at www.jumpradio.de and is currently online in streaming format at WEA Records Germany. Thanks to Canoe’s Jam! Showbiz for the story.

• It’s been a while since we checked in with one of these, so we thought now might be a good time. As you can see, though, there’s still so much stuff happening even when Kevin ISN’T directly on a project that we still need to update the site almost daily. Keep in mind that we’ll stick with this process, as long as there’s stuff to report, we’ll be here almost every day. So don’t forget to check in.

Lord of the Rings…Was it GREAT? Good flick, sure, better than most this year, but it certainly wasn’t the jaw-dropping spectacle some folks had billed it up to be. Chances are that folks who absolutely LOVED it were fans of the books, or at least READ them. Having not read the series, only “The Hobbit”, the film was good from an outside point of view, but that feeling of confusion having not read the text did come up from time to time. Still, there’s no reason not to be there opening day for The Two Towers next year. Consider that money spent.

The new year is quickly approaching, and boy, was it ever a speedy yet eventful 2001. Seems like just yesterday, folks were worried about Y2K and what it would do to our computerized society. This year, there’s a lot more on folks’ minds, and many of us look at things a lot differently, and appreciate everything that we’ve got even more. Thanks again to everyone for sticking with us, your faithful readership and scoopage, and for being the coolest folks out on the web. Much appreciated, all of you.

That being said, let’s get on with today’s news, and look forward to a fun 2002. We’ll see a lot of you in a week or so at Vulgarthon 2K2.

• Will it finally happen? According to the Diamond Shipping list on their Website, the Bluntman & Chronic Trade Paperback is finally supposed to ship on January 4, 2001! Check out the info HERE. Having not heard a peep elsewhere, we’re skeptical, but wanted to let you know anyway.
• The Lord of the Rings, retold through the eyes of Kevin Smith? What might that be like? Check out some rewritten text HERE, with the cast:

• Chasing Amy made it toreelbuff.com‘s Top 100 of the 1990s list, sandwiched between Braveheart and Pi, coming in at, of all things, #37.
• Mallrats finally saw an Australian DVD release on December 24th. The disc only includes subtitles and a trailer as the special features. Makes us folks in the Region 1 DVD area feel even more fortunate, doesn’t it?
• And finally today, check out The Digital Bits for a chance to win an Almost Famous “Untitled” DVD signed by Jason Lee! Good luck!