When does the MADTV sketch air? This Sat? *NT*

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: : Sorry I couldn't do this sooner, but the DSL has been acting up the last two days. : : I'm gonna try to hit all the questions you guys have been asking. Forgive me if I forget a : : few. : : WHY THE WAIT ON THE NEWS? : : That came from above. I was asked to hold off announcing it 'til it was safely in Variety's : : hands. I wanted to post it midnight on Tuesday, but ya’ll know what happened there. : : HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? : : We were in the editing room on "Jersey Girl" a few months back, swapping out a song, and : : Jon Gordon (friend and Miramax exec) was on the phone, talking about something comic- : : book sounding. When he got off, I asked him what he was talking about, and he said "Green : : Hornet." I said "You guys have 'Green Hornet'? Who's directing?" He said "Nobody yet. You : : wanna do it?" I said "Harvey would never give me that movie." He said "You got a take on : : it?" I said "I've had a take on it that's been sitting on the hard drive of every computer I've : : had since '95, when I was asked to come up with a take on it while working on 'Rats' at : : Universal." So I told him about it, he said "I love that. Lemme run it past Harvey." Jon runs : : it past Harvey, and Harvey says "I'm into it. Tell him to write up an outline." So I started an : : outline... 'til the feet started to get cold. "This is too big," I fretted. "I'm not an action : : director. I’m gonna pooch it if I try.” So I wrote Jon an email, informing him that I was : : bowing out. He asked if I’d written any of the outline, and I told him I had two pages. He : : insisted I send them in. I did, and he gave them to Harvey, who read the pages, called me, : : and said “This is too good. I’m not letting you back out of this. It’s time you grew up and : : pushed yourself by trying something different than all the talky flicks. You can do this. : : We’ll surround you with an amazing support team. You’re right to be scared – but it’s a : : good fear. It’s the kinda fear that’s gonna make you try harder.” : : After that, how could I say no? : : IS MOSIER PRODUCING? : : Sadly, no. After giving it serious thought, he felt he wasn’t ready to go back to work this : : year. He wants to take ’04 off and travel, learn to paint, master Maya (the animation : : program), and generally rest (i.e. – not produce). Scott’s feeling was that after ten years, he : : wanted a long vacation. And since he’s my friend first, producer second, I had to support : : him in his decision. : : It’s gonna be tough going into this without Scott, but I’ve gotta respect my boy’s wishes. : : He’ll still read the drafts and give me notes and cut suggestions as always, but that’ll be : : about it on “Hornet.” I’ll miss him something fierce. : : WHAT’S THIS MEAN FOR “FLETCH WON” and “RANGER DANGER”? : : Everything just gets pushed back a year. If it’s any consolation, Harvey’s insisting we go : : right into “Fletch” after “Hornet” wraps. : : HAVE WE STARTED CASTING “HORNET” YET? : : Yes. Some offers went out to actors this week. I’m meeting with the guy we all want for : : Britt Reid Monday night. If actors start accepting offers, I’ll let you know. : : DO YOU WANT TO HIRE MASTER WOO-PING? : : Christ, yes. We’re working on this now. : : WHAT CAR’S GONNA BE THE NEW BLACK BEAUTY? : : Working on this too. There are a few manufacturers we’re talking to already (for me, : : though, the dream car is the Cadillac 16). : : IS THIS A SELL-OUT MOVE? : : Me making a comic book movie? That’s about the least selling-out move I could make, as : : far as I’m concerned. But that’s just me. : : ARE ANY V.A. REGULARS GONNA BE IN IT? : : I’m writing a part for Mewes, I know that. Beyond that, expect to see some other familiar : : faces pop up as well. : : HOW TRUE ARE YOU STAYING TO THE CHARACTERS AND BACKSTORY? : : Very, very true. The story spans a few decades, though. : : SO WILL YOU MENTION THE LONG RANGER CONNECTION THEN? : : Can’t. The Lone Ranger is owned by someone else. Legally, we can’t refer to him without : : optioning that character as well. : : HAVE YOU STARTED WRITING THE SCRIPT? : : Yes. I’m fifty pages in. : : ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH “SPIDEY/BLACK CAT” AND “TARGET” BEFORE YOU GET DEEPLY : : INTO “HORNET”? : : As I posted the other day, yes. I’m so insanely remiss on those fronts. My bad. : : WHAT’S THE BUDGET? : : Too early to tell. But early guesses put it around seventy million. : : IS THERE A RELEASE DATE SET? : : Not a specific date, but we’re due in theaters August ’05. : : WILL IT BE SERIOUS OR SPOOFY? : : It’s serious. Granted, there will be some humor in it, but we’re still playing it straight on : : this one. : : HAS THE “JERSEY GIRL” RELEASE DATE BEEN CHANGED? : : Yes. We moved ahead one week. We now open on the 26th. Harvey decided he wanted to : : open the flick closer to Easter, so as to take advantage of the Easter break, during which : : time our weekday grosses would be stronger, as folks are off from school. Also, the : : additional week buys us some more press hits and promotional time. Yes, it means waiting : : one more week, but what was I gonna do – argue with the guy? He just handed me “Green : : Hornet” for Christ’s sake. : : And, of course, the most important question… : : DID SMALLS KNOW ABOUT THE “HORNET” DEAL IN ADVANCE? : : He did. : : Don’t forget: a new “Roadside Attraction” airs Friday night, on “The Tonight Show”. : : And thanks for all the congratulatory notices and well-wishes. Means a lot to me. I : : honestly couldn’t have gotten this gig without you guys, as you’re the people that allow me : : to continue working, thanks to your constant support (spiritual and financial) of all the stuff : : we do at View Askew. Believe me, it’s always factored into the greenlights I get from : : Miramax. They know View Askew has an audience… and a loyal one at that. Bless your : : hearts, dicks, and vag’s for that continued interest in my bullshit. : : Gotta go to bed now. I’m taping a sketch for “MadTV” tomorrow, and I’ve still got a shit- : : load of dialogue to remember.

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