In the meantime, we’re going to research a new scoop form method since the one we were using just decided to quit on us for no particular reason. If you sent a scoop via the form and never heard back from us, please drop us an e-mail direct so we can take a look at it. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank all of you for your continued support. A few new stories coming your way shortly as we prepare for the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend…

Of course, there’s also more of the marquee stars as well, as we’ve got record numbers from this one, more than we’ve ever seen from a premiere before, as a matter of fact.

As always, our extreme thanks to Mr. Ortega for donating these high quality shots with us, and for taking the time to pass them on. Enjoy!

And just in case ya missed it, here’s Matt Damon giving his very candid thoughts on ex-VP candidate Sarah Palin.

Thanks!

Aint It Cool News posts a very positive review of the book this week as part of the “Pull List” feature, read on for some choice passages.

“…Kevin brings his trademark humor to a story of murder, drugs, and intrigue. The best part of this book hands-down is Onomatopoeia, a superb villain who first debuted during Kevin’s GREEN ARROW run. It’s perfect that he brings him back for this story, but it also brings up a gripe I have with DC. This guy is phenomenal – why do you not put him in more books!?!? Out of the four baddies who appear in the first issue, the others being Joker, Zsasz, and Deadshot, Onomatopoeia steals the show once again.”

“…I have to commend Walt Flannagan and his artwork. Traditionally he’s been the guy that sells comics at the Secret Stash in Red Bank or Walt the Fanboy in Smith’s movies, but the guy actually has some very serious talent.”

“…BATMAN: CACOPHONY #1 was an amazing return of Kevin Smith to DC Comics. Smith handles Batman like a true pro and masterfully runs us through the issue. Flanagan is a much welcome addition to the comic book world and the two are truly a dynamic duo together (bad pun well intended). This is a comic I can’t wait to get my hands on, so hopefully the rest of the series will come out on time.”

Books 2 and 3 are written and drawn, so expect to see them in your hands in the next couple of months. Then it’s just a matter to see what comic project Kevin will take on next – Hopefully once again with Flanagan’s awesome art to go with it.

So far, no new SModcast yet this week, but Kevin did assure us that the podcast will continue on a regular basis. Going through a flick’s release is a major drain, and we’re guessing Kevin, Scott, and their family and friends are all enjoying some much-needed rest after putting “Zack and Miri” in theaters.

Speaking of which, I caught the flick again out in Las Vegas this past weekend, at the awesome Brenden theater in the Palms casino, and it plays great on a second watch — The gags are just as laugh-out-loud funny and it really allows you to catch some of those rare moments of both humor and drama that you might have missed the first time around — A few of the touching, more dramatic scenes with Rogen and Banks feature some real fine chemisty, and emotion that you just don’t typically see in a raunchy comedy. And man, is it ever raunchy! We recall Kevin’s joy in seeing “Clerks II” make it through with its R intact along with the donkey scene, this one easily outdoes that, and has to be one of the most visually and verbally raunchy R’s in quite some time, possibly ever. We love the fact it made it thru the ratings board, and can’t wait to see what’s in store on the DVD.

“Zack & Miri Make a Porno” is in theaters, and as new stuff rolls out every week, it may get harder to find, so we highly recommend catching it on the big screen again. And keep in mind, all your ticket stubs are good for a nice discount at Laser Blazer, so it’s like getting an extra gift along with a fun few hours at the movies. And hey, for those of you who walked out as soon as the credits kicked in (and shame on you if ya did), there’s even more reason to go back — You missed an awesome mid-credits scene.

We hope you’ll catch the flick one more time, and continue to admire Kevin and View Askew for delivering the movies they want to make, pleasing the fans and breaking new ground every time they pick up their tools and go to work. Let’s hope it’s not long before “Red State” becomes a more tangible reality. We’ll of course keep ya posted.

News Askew is proud to be the exclusive home of these interviews, and we once again thank our pal Graves and all his subjects (past and future) for their contributions.

16. ELIZABETH BANKS

Over a few weeks this fall, Elizabeth Banks babysat Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott in Role Models; evinced Laura Bush’s quiet devotion to her hubby in Oliver Stone’s W.; and tackled her first title role, as an amateur porn star, in Zack and Miri Make a Porno — all with enviable ease. After years of thankless roles as The Girlfriend (to Ryan Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg, even a robot Eddie Murphy), the 34-year-old actress is finally Having Her Moment, even if she can’t quite make the poster for Zack and Miri. ”It’s a f—ing drawing of a girl,” Banks says with a full-bodied laugh. ”I can’t even get myself on the f—ing poster. What moment am I having?” We have a feeling, with her wide range and genuine charm, she’s going to be having plenty more chances to be front and center.

Clerks

Kevin Smith isn’t really a director you’d associate with sequels, and thus eyebrows were raised when he announced he was revisiting his debut film, Clerks, to find out what had happened to Randal and Dante since we met them last. Leaving a 12 year gap between the films, this gave Smith the space to build some genuine evolution into his characters, and he gladly took the chance to do so. And while the worldwide box office take of $26m may not raise eyebrows, set against the sizeable business it’s done on DVD and the low production budget, it’s proven to be a very profitable enterprise. More than that, though, Clerks II was a terrific sequel, and one that makes the rumours of a third movie later down the line very interesting indeed…

Dear Miami University Performing Arts Series Patron,

Thank you for purchasing tickets to our presentation of Kevin Smith November 22. Unfortunately, Mr. Smith has just had to cancel his performance at Millett Hall due to a schedule conflict with the overseas release of his new movie. Regrettably, he is unable to re-schedule his show at Miami University because of future movie commitments. I’m sure you are as disappointed with this as we are.

Given the cancellation, here are your options:

* Exchange your tickets for another Performing Arts Series event. See list at the end of this email and check out our website for more details. If you choose an event with a lower ticket price, the difference will be forfeited. Simply bring or mail your Kevin Smith tickets to:

Miami University Box Office
Phillip R. Shriver Center
Oxford, OH 45056

Exchanges will be honored through December 23, 2008. If mailing tickets for exchange, please complete and include the attached form.