Last night, we all took a trip down memory lane, to the glory days of Universal Studios, when Conan The Barbarian was so cool, they gave him his own stage show, housed in a cool-looking castle.
Back then, they actually shot movies at the Universal lot, and, if you were lucky, you could take the tram tour and actually see as much film work as you’d find on an average Vancouver street these days. I remember not being able to ride the tram down one of the magical backlot streets, because they were filming this movie with the kid from Family Ties, where they drove this cool car, and some stuff happened. It was a long time ago, so I don’t completely remember.
Anyway, back in those glorious days, before runaway production ruined so many lives and dashed so many dreams, taking the backlot tram tour would actually put you, the lucky tourist, in the movies!
You could ride across this collapsing bridge, and go through an actual avalanche, from the Six Million Dollar Man. You could ride through the actual Red Sea, parted by the commanding voice of our tour guide, with the help of his trusty driver.
Jaws, the real Jaws, would actually jump out of the water at the tram, with only the skills of the aforementioned driver to save tramloads of “Maui 1980”-shirted tourists from certain doom.
Of course, facing the dangers of the movies was exciting and all, but that was nothing, after you’d driven into an actual Cylon Spaceship, and faced down the wrath of the Imperious Leader, with a little help from this guy named “Apollo”, from the real Battlestar Galactica. It was the first real “event” of the tram tour, and it was my absolute favorite part. Even better than the Psycho house, or 1313 Mockingbird Lane.
Once, when I was doing that whole “Teen Idol” thing, I was invited to Universal to host Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards. It was there that I met, and developed the hugest crush ever on, the one and only Debbie Gibson. (Who, in a bizarre twist of six degrees of separation, is good friends with one of the actors who I just worked with in ‘Neverland’. She told him to tell me “Hello”. Rock.)
Anyway, while we were at Universal, shooting segments for the awards show, they took us into the actual Cylon Spaceship, and let us experience it, “behind the scenes”. I got to put on the Apollo helmet, pick up the balsa wood gun, and lip synch, “In the name of the federation, I demand the release of the humans!”
It was beyond cool, even though I was like 15 or 16, and should really have been too cool for the whole thing, especially since I was hoping that Debbie Gibson would get lost in my eyes, and not be able to shake my love.
But, alas, the romance was not to be, and, although I did my best Apollo, they wouldn’t let me put on the whole costume and do it for real tourists.
The closest I ever got to being on Battlestar Galactica was running around the Enterprise, which wasn’t as good a consolation prize as you’d think.
A few years later, I read in the paper that the Battlestar Galactica attraction was gone, replaced by, get this, an escalator, that would transport tourists to the bottom of the hill, where they could wait in line for lame attractions like “ET’s Adventure” and something stupid from An American Tale. Billed, at the time, as the “world’s biggest escalator”, it failed to impress me the same way that balsa wood gun and FX smoke-filled room did.
Although I hadn’t ridden the backstage tour in years, I knew immediately that I would miss it forever.
I never went on studio tours again like the ones I did when I was 16.
Jesus, does anyone?
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Only been there a handful of times, but I just loved that place. Oh and a former professor I had who taught figure drawing, anatomy and Illustration, who left in 98 to teach at Disney Animation was at Hallmark today giving a lecture….GO JACK LEW!!! soon to get his first screen credit in “Lilo and Stitch” out this summer
Any other Disney requests?
Wil Wheaton was in Star Trek? Was he the guy who sat next to Mr. Sulu?
Wow, I mean, you think you know people…
Dude, your “clever” little fake-name thing is SO dorky.
Get over your fat ass.
In all fairness, the majority of that stuff you mentioned is still part of the tour. Except for the Battlestar Galactica. And the avalanche is now The Mummy’s Tomb. And sure, they still film out there on the lot. The Scorpion King, starring The Rock, has been shooting out there for like a year! Isn’t everyone excited?
… Hello?
… Anyone?
… yeah.
Oh, and Providence.
Ooh, although I did see Jerry O’Connell one day standing outside a soundstage. He waved and smiled even though he was on a cell phone. Does that count as a connection, six-degrees of Kevin Bacon style?
Okay. Boring Universal girl going back to lurking now. Hasta!
Cherish, how about a little something from the Country Bear Jamboree? 🙂
Mmm, Jerry O’Connell.
Mama don’t whip little Buford.
Mama don’t pound on his head.
Mama don’t whip little Buford.
I think you should shoot him instead.
Bang!
HEHEHEHEHEHE
Oh…this was about studio tours, wasn’t it? I went on a studio tour about 3 years ago in North Carolina. All I remember is that they filmed Dawson’s Creek there, and we got to wander through the school where there were all sorts of amusing things tacked to the wall that were just small enough print that the camera couldn’t pick them up. Invitations to the school S&M orgy next Saturday, Warnings to beware of the Zombies of Satan — fun stuff like that. Makes me wish I watched Dawson’s Creek. 🙂
Oh, and there was this beautiful fake tree that apparently Sandra Bullock used to climb out of the mental hospital in some movie.
It was fun, but not being a Dawson’s Creek watcher, it probably could have been better. Hrm. Don’t even remember the name of the studio now…
I visited Universal Studios Thur Sept 15, 2001 so there were very few people there.
Well the American Tail thing is gone. Down by the ET ride is Jurassic Park water plunge ride and a fire demo from the movie Back Draft. The whole thing was worth the trip.
Now if you go to the Sony Pictures Studio tour, you can see a couple seconds of Wil Wheaton during the intro movie. (The Train scene from “Stand By Me”)
Maybe it’s because I’m older and more cynical, but theme parks these days have lost their original charm and innocence for me also. I’ve taken two trips to Universal California-1977 and 1996. I’ll never forget seeing the Six Million Dollar man tunnel when I was 7. It was soooo cool to be in the same predicament that Steve Austin was.
Fast forward to 1996, and instead of some magic place, it seemes like a small collection of a handful of rides and LOTS of stores. Even the tour seemed so old (and when I asked for Babs, people looked at me strange). I think we spent maybe half a day total there.
Theme parks these days are just not the same. Even Disneyland and Disney World…no make that particularly Disneyland and Disney World don’t seem like they’re trying very hard anymore. I mean walk down Main Street USA and what do you see? Not the Main Street Walt Disney wanted, but the uber-Disney Store that Michael Eisner wants.
Cedar Point, Six Flags, Busch Gardens…yeah they’re okay too, but they’re just a big collection of rides without the theming of a Disney or Universal. All of them just want to make a bigger ride for their marketing and advertising scheme while they pray no one gets seriously hurt by the g forces that they now subject us to.
And yet, I still go. I still ride the rides. And I still look forward to the day when I can take my daughter to Disney for the first time so that I can see the excitement in her eyes when she meets Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
I guess that makes me sort of a hypocrite, but who cares if my daughter’s having fun, right?
You know,
It’s not very nice to pretend that you’re Mr. Wheaton (SIR!).
Don’t make Him Loose the Moose on your Canadian arse.
I went to Universal in CA once. The stunt attraction at the time was Miami Vice (To give you a time range). I love theme/amusement parks and had a great time. Battlestar Galactica must’ve already been gone, or I just don’t remember it. King Kong grabbed the tram, Jaws, Psycho house and I think the Clock building from the first Back to the Future.
Here in Cincinnati, oHIo we’ve had some movies filmed. Nothing recently, locations must go in and out of fashion with the industry.
That’s a nice mountme hat you’ve got there!
Mount me?
Not til I’ve had a few beers!
You know, I just re-read my post after putting it up there…I didn’t mean to make it so much of a downer. Yeah, I’ve got some issues with parks these days and can go on forever but wow.
Sorry, guys.
Hey, I got front seat on the Millenium Force!
And by the way…
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Just a dream away….
Yeah, Uncle Willy’d really say that.
You’re lamer than a new Kevin Costner flick.
Front seat on the Millenium Force… lucky. d:
The last time I was up at Cedar Point was when the Millenium Force was laying in pieces in the parking lot behind the Gemini.
*sighs*
I miss the roller coasters. ):
::Sigh:: I went to Universal Hollywood last Christmas for the first time in about 10 years. The tram tour wasn’t nearly as good as I recalled it being. It made me sad.
As for Six Degrees of Deborah (as she likes it) Gibson. My cousin married a boy from New York who’s best friend (best man in wedding) has been dating Deborah on and off again for over a year now. They all go out on the town together when she’s not touring.
Is it sad that I remember watching that Nick Kid’s Choice Awards just to see Debbie Gibson and Wil?
What’s with the “I bet they’re canadian” line? Aren’t we the most polite, push-over people in the world? I always thought so. Even at the Olympics, we get robbed of a medal, ROBBED, and we’re still saying “oh well, that’s how it is.” Puh-lease! Don’t look any farther than your own backyard for the fake wils in this thread… but only if your backyard points south, because if it points north, then I guess it was a canadian… crap.
Hey Wil,
If you’re really that into bestiality, why bother trying to get rid of those rats? You can just train them to suck your fat one.
I can’t believe that there have been 70 comments in the time it took me to get home from work, and eat dinner.
We gotta have more of these 80s nostalgia-fests.
On another note, have you ever thrown a party, and invited a bunch of cool people, but some asshole shows up, thinks he’s being cool, but is really just showing his immaturity and lack of self esteem?
It’s kinda like that.
New version has IP logging.
🙂
Lets see….Season 1
Encounter at Farpoint
The Naked Now
Code of Honor
The Last Outpost
Where No One Has Gone Before
Lonely Among Us
Justice
The Battle
Hide and Q
Haven
The Big Good Bye
Datalore
Angel One
11001001
Too Short a Season
When the Bough Breaks
Home Soil
Coming of Age
Heart of Glory
The Arsenal of Freedom
Symbiosis
Skin of Evil
We`ll always have Paris
Conspiracy
The Neutral Zone
O, were you speaking figuratively? I know I know..I have way to much time on my hands.
announcement:
i have found my people!
i’ve never have been able to act like myself.
where was this site when i was on in h.s.?
damn all, it’s after midnight here, i wish i was in cali… anywhere is better than michigan.
Jason is a golden god.
I agree totally ayngil. It’s taken me over ten years to fully come to terms with my geekdom. Isn’t adulthood liberating sometimes?
“On another note, have you ever thrown a party, and invited a bunch of cool people, but some asshole shows up, thinks he’s being cool, but is really just showing his immaturity and lack of self esteem?”
Yo…are you asking me to leave?
Jerk-ola.
Heh, I was in the Yahoo! Internet Life (yil) Buzz yesterday…were you?
Okay, I’ll leave now.
My self-esteem tanking.
The place is left to the Fowlers to protect and serve.
Lord help them if they use Leafblowers.
What’s next? You’ll force me to do your taxes?
Jon (from Detroit)-
No, you are sadly correct in your judgement of Disney. Michael Eisner has been both its savior and its excutioner. He built it into a great corporation and then cut corners on quality in recent years. I’m a former Disney Cast member and it breaks my heart to see the way the company is treating the “Cast” now.
I leave with one verse of a parody of “Be Our Guest”. I don’t know who wrote it. Maybe I’ll post the rest to the Soapbox:
Be our Guest,
Be our Guest!
Put your paycheck to the test!
When it comes to making profits Michael Eisner
is the best!
Dollars here, Dollars there!
Yen and Francs are everywhere!
With each film, it’s not surprising, comes a TON
of merchandising!
God, I do love it so when you reference “Stand By Me”. I’m such a loser. 🙂
Hey Roughy, ever get diagnosed with chronic solipsism? 🙂
Woo-hoo! Wil thinks I’m cool!! *doing a geeky happy dance* …
sol
Oh, btw, just to narrow it down, it’s not a VD.
See, that’s the beauty of it Roughy, you get to be the only member, kind of like a Billy No Mates. 🙂 You know, like throwing a party and inviting a lot of cool people, but having NOBODY show up.
That sounds like UnrealisticExpectations.com…
So, yeah, I’ve got it!
Oh, shit, Russ.
LOL. 🙂
Nice.
Wanna join, Wil?
Now accepting applications.
Hmmm….
Well, maybe you should start your own.
Now all we need is Spudnuts to start making some silly comments, and the day is complete.
Mwuahahahahaha
So Wil, just out of curiosity, how did you actually do on Millionaire?
She’s no debbie gibson, but 80’s mall queen tiffany will be appearing in one of the finer men’s publications next month.
That kid from family ties? Come on Wil, that was Back to the Future, one of the greatest movies of all time.
And is it stealing when you quote from one of your own movies?
I never left comments like I left on Wil’s blog.
Jesus, does anyone?
Or was it Weakest Link? Cut me some slack, almost my entire tv diet consists of three holiday helpings of A Christmas Story.
No, Oracle, just you.
Wil,
I went on that tour back in the spring of 1980, after finishing Naval basic training, down in San Diego.
Wow…thanks for the trip down memory lane! I remember the Cylon “exhibit” and the parting of the Red Sea and Jaws and all of that…
You mean to tell me, they no longer have any of that stuff?!?! (Mainly the Red Sea parting…)
I guess that’s too “yesterday” for the higher-ups with Universal Studios.
Mark
okay, is it just me, or have we forgotten that Mr. Wil has done other things besides “Stand By Me” and “Star Trek”.
p.s.
hey wil, maybe you should put a chatroom in here while you are at it.
okay, is it just me, or have we forgotten that Mr. Wil has done other things besides “Stand By Me” and “Star Trek”.
p.s.
hey wil, maybe you should put a chatroom in here while you are at it.
Y’know ayngil, I don’t think Wil would really want us quoting the bad dialogue from the Curse. Actually, I’m not sure that any of us could, come to think of it. Now, that’s a gauntlet to be thrown!
Mark –
It’s like when Disney got rid of “Swiss Family Robinson”. I’m still mad at them for that.
Bastards.
I cannot wait for “Python II” or whatever that silly-ass snake movie Wil was in.
I hear that Jenny McCarthy’s gonna be in it.
No one else would do the snake.
Now Roughy, if you think back to Britney Spear’s memorable introduction to her “Slave 4U” song at whatever awards show that was, you might reassess that last statement…
Riiiiiiight.
Like I watch for Britney.
If she’s on, I won’t flip, but I don’t go outta my way looking for her…
Ever since I may or may not have done some Flash for an alleged BS official site…well, I got a little sick of the music, so it really doesn’t do it for me.
But, I am, after all, a hetero male.
No, Oracle, just you.
Posted by Chris at February 12, 2002 09:37 PM
This made me laugh the hardest I’ve laughed in days.
Great Jorb.
Those last 4 paragraphs are why Wil is the coolest bastard ever. So nice to see someone who can step back a little and have some fun, especially with his own work.
Yours in Cake,
sims