So where do you come in? Well, the winner is being decided via an online vote. To vote, head to http://www.milb.com. Then, look to the bottom right for the voting form. You want to vote for OPTION 1! It looks like the logo we’ve tossed above.

Take a second and cast your vote - We’d love to see Ming win this one. He’s already doing great, and hardly needs our help anyway since the logo’s our favorite anyway — But hey, let’s make it a landslide! Show your support and help Ming out with a vote for his logo today.

Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009

Location: The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Mortensen Hall, 166 Capitol Avenue. Hartford CT 06106


Phone: 860.987.6000

Prices are $42.50 & $36.50

Watch News Askew in August for the ticket sale announcement. Hartford is one of the more rare stops of recent memory, so we’re betting on a quick sell-out for this gig. You’ll want to buy in early to ensure you’ve got seats taken care of. Tell your friends!

We’re such massive fans of the work of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg, words cannot express how cool this upcoming event at Secret Stash West inside Lazer Blaser is — But we’ll try. “Spaced” was the first creative effort of stars and creators Jessica Hynes, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright — Wright and Pegg went on to create quite possibly the best horror comedy ever, and easily one of the best of this decade so far, “Shaun of the Dead” in 2004. In 2007, the duo returned for cop buddy comedy “Hot Fuzz”, once again twisting a new genre on its ear in a unique way. We recently LOVED the “Don’t” trailer that bridged the two “Grindhouse” flicks, which the guys also hand a hand in.

However, we owe it all to “Spaced”, which ran in the UK back in 1999 and 2001 for an all-too-short 14 episodes (the British know how to keep fans wanting more). The show was fanboy love personified in its characters, all memorable, making for a one-of-a-kind show that nothing has come close to touching since (an American remake was briefly thought of, but without the blessing of Wright, Pegg, or Hynes, put down). The show is one of our all-time favorites, and now, thankfully, coming to American DVD (previously only available on UK imports). “Spaced: The Complete Series” collects every single episode along with a boatload of extras, including commentary from our own Kevin Smith.

Sold yet? You gotta have the DVD, sure, but we’ll do ya one better - On Wedesnday, July 23rd, from 12:30 til 2:30, all 3 stars/creators, Hynes, Pegg, and Wright, will join Kevin live, in person, at Secret Stash West and Laser Blazer, the greatest DVD/Video and Comic Book shop in all the land. They’ll all be signing copies of the new DVD for the bargain price of $49.98 - $10 off retail! That gets you the DVD and all 4 signatures! It’s extremely rare that this group will sit together in a room for an event like this again, so we’re telling you know — Get to Laser Blazer, tell your boss you need the day off, whatever it takes. Don’t miss this event, and line up early! If you’re coming to town for ComiCon, this happens RIGHT BEFORE IT. Perfect timing.

Oh and by the way, want anything else signed? You can have up to 3 items signed, but that’s it — Gotta keep the line moving — So bring them along if ya like. But you MUST purchase the “Spaced” DVD to get into the event. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY! We’re telling ya now. Full details on the disc:

Spaced DVD retail price $59.98. Laser Blazer in-store price $49.98.


DVD features include:


* Exclusive feature length documentary.
* “Spaced Jam” music video by Osymyso.
* Commentary with stars Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Nick Frost, Mark Heap, Julia Deakin, Katy Carmichael, director Edgar Wright, producer Nira Park, Plus guests Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Matt Stone, Diablo Cody, Bill Hader, and Patton Oswalt!
* Footage from the UK Spaced marathon’s Q & A session
* Homage-O-Meter that tracks every pop culture reference!
* Out-takes, raw footage, deleted scenes, and more!


Spaced revolves around two idle twentysomething flatmates - immature skateboarding would-be comic artist Tim (Simon Pegg), and moody, responsibility-shy Daisy (Jessica Stevenson), and their self-induced lack of success in employment, relationships and life in general. Together with their oddball assortment of friends and neighbors, Marsha, Brian, Mike and Twist, they exist in a world perched precariously on the edge of normality.


* Spaced DVD must be purchased at Laser Blazer to participate in the signing.
* The line may be capped at any time. PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY!!
* No more than three items signed per customer.

For more details on “Spaced”, see “Spaced Invasion” or the IMDB.

Laser Blazer/Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash are located at 10587 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90064. Call (310) 475-4788 for details. There’s a limited amount of parking behind the store — Otherwise, you’re on your own. This is one of the coolest events we’ve ever seen, folks — You never know who might show up to meet these fantastic folks. Be there!

“Heath Ledger didn’t so much give a performance as he disappeared completely into the role,” filmmaker and lifelong comics fan Kevin Smith said on his MySpace blog after seeing “The Dark Knight.” “I know I’m not the first to suggest this, but he’ll likely get at least an Oscar nod (if not the win) for best supporting actor.”

Can July 18th come any sooner? Our prediction - Movie of the summer. We can’t wait.

Thursday - 7/24
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Kevin will be moderating the Spike TV Scream panel discussion called ‘Scream’ Like a Girl: Spike Salutes the Women of Sci-Fi (check con schedule for location).


Friday - 7/25
5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. - Kevin’s taking part in Entertainment Weekly’s panel - “The Visionaries: Filmmakers” panel in Hall H
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Kevin’s Main Q&A panel in Hall H (ED. NOTE - “Zack & Miri” Footage is likely!)


Saturday - 7/26
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. - Kevin will be participating in the Battlestar Galactica panel (check con schedule for location)

We can’t see why you’d want to miss any of these events, all fantastic topics — We’re once again incredibly envious of the Galactica gig, what a blast and what a fantastic job Kev did at the last one. Plus, the Friday night event in Hall H will likely be the hottest ticket of the entire con - Line up early, and make sure that you can get it. The hall ALWAYS fills to capacity when Kev’s in town. All times are subject to change, so if anything moves around, we’ll let ya know.

The story goes like this…

Jim Jacks (one of the producers on “Mallrats”) was friends with Richard Anderson - the man who not only portrayed Oscar Goldman on the show, but also controlled the rights to “Six Million Dollar Man”. One day over lunch (during post on “Mallrats”), they asked me if I’d be interested in writing a feature version of the show. I’d been a big fan as a kid (had a bunch of the dolls), so I said “Sure.” They whisked me up to Nina Jacobson’s office in the Black Tower, where I kinda pitched it (though there was nothing to pitch beyond “It’s an origin story…”), and boom - I was hired to write the script.

In the year it took me to turn in a script, Universal had undergone two regime changes: Nina left for Disney, and was replaced by another guy - who was then also replaced by a third guy, to whom I submitted my first draft.

That guy didn’t like the script. At all. His exact quote was “This reads like a comic book.” He meant it as a dis, but I felt rather complimented by the sentiment, and shortly thereafter, wrote my first issue of “Daredevil”.

I haven’t read that script in ten years, but I remember digging the dialogue and some of the ideas I brought to it (bionics were initially developed by the Nazis during their inhuman medical experimentations on concentration camp prisoners). The villain was the prototype Bionic Man - a guy who was more metal than flesh. I recall the climax being something like a robotic/cyborg attack on Washington. It was all pretty over-the-top, circa 1996. Now? It’d be no more dopey than “The Transformers” movie.

Last I heard, they were developing a comedic version of “The Six Million Dollar Man”.

“Six Million Dollar Man” - a writing gig only. Was never intended as the director.

“Green Hornet” - was contracted to write and direct, but wrote it then opted not to make it, as it was too expensive and I wasn’t ready to take on something that big just then.

“Fletch Won” - wrote it and intended to direct, but for nearly five years, Miramax wouldn’t let me cast Jason Lee in the lead as the young Irwin Fletcher. At that point, I lost my passion for it.

“Ranger Danger and the Danger Rangers” - still out there.

The only difference between me and other filmmakers is my candor. When asked questions (whether here on the board or in interviews), I talk about a lot of things I’d like to do (or would’ve liked to have done at one point). A side effect of maintaining an open discourse with the audience is that sometimes, you talk about movies that never manifest. Every filmmaker’s got ‘em; but since many of them don’t engage with the audience as frequently and seriously as I do, you just never hear about their whimsies like you do with mine.

Cross off another one of those long-brewing mysteries, folks — Though there’s still a few more questions out there about other projects, past and future. For now, we’re crossing our fingers for production news on “Red State” and “Ranger Danger”, as well as that top-secret super special 10th film he’s got brewing.

“I’ve always been a sucker for “daddy stories” and I think Affleck delivered a solid performance of a single dad trying his best to raise his daughter. It is Kevin Smith’s most sincere movie to date. George Carlin played Affleck’s dad and did a great job in the performance, weighing sincerity with exasperation at the actions of his son throughout the movie. He was great in the film, as should be expected. “

SModcast 55: Naked Butz -


In which our heroes get corny, analyze the father of American obesity, and get a shot of maturity.

• A few more words about George Carlin, and a link to the Newsweek story.

• Incredibly high praise for “The Dark Knight” and “Wall-E”. Both must-see in the theater.

• Another fantastic test screening of “Zack & Miri Make a Porno”, this time in New Mexico: “We tested again in Albuquerque, New Mexico last week (where I did, in fact, make a left turn I knew I shouldn’t have made), and scored almost exactly the same as we did in the Kansas City test screening the month before - which is to say really, really well. A poster and a theatrical trailer should be making their way to theaters soon.”

• Four panels in San Diego confirmed for next month at the con, including one which should debut a clip or two from the new film (in other words, line up REALLY early).

• Crazy 4 Cult II - The coolest art show in the land, coming back on August 22nd. Kevin and Scott will host the event, featuring movie-inspired art for sale.

• On the east coast - Another poker tourny on Saturday July 12th, and of course the big appearance in Red Bank on November 7th. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW BEFORE IT SELLS OUT.

• Smodcast - Back tonight/tomorrow. We’ll have the linkage.

• Finally - If you have not yet ordered our favorite ever piece of Askew swag, get your Monroeville Zombies hockey jersey today. Now in stock!

You’ll of course want to view the entire blog over at Myspace or the official blog.

Seth Rogen (Really) Makes a Porno


Kevin Smith’s upcoming comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno, with Elizabeth Banks and Seth Rogen, may actually be a porno. No, seriously. The MPAA is trying to slap it with an NC-17 rating, meaning you’d have a tough time seeing it down at the megaplex.

So what’s in this thing that makes it so, like, porny? We asked Seth, and here’s what he said…

“It’s like a romantic comedy,” Rogen told us this week, at the press day for The Pineapple Express, which opens in August. “It’s a romantic relationship movie—with a lot of porn and balls.”

Wait, whose balls? “My balls are not in it,” he clarified.

Still, Smith is fighting for an R rating, as he did when Clerks first got slapped with an NC-17—simply for dirty language. “You can disembowel someone in a youth hostel in Romania, but you can’t show people having sex,” Rogen said. “I think it’s weird.”

If Zack and Miri does get an NC-17, Rogen thinks his hit flicks Knocked Up and Superbad should have, too.

“This is not anything outside of what we’ve done before,” he told us. “The word porno is in the title, and that kind of freaks people out.”

Well, that and the balls, maybe.

Doesn’t look like any new quotes, just more from the MTV Interview. We haven’t heard any definite confirmation from Kevin other than a hint that this may indeed be happening. The MPAA rating process remains one of the most secretive and elusive in ths biz, so we imagine we’ll hear the results of this once the dust has settled. We’ll keep watch for ya.