Sadtimes

One of my old spacesuits is being auctioned off on eBay. I’m not sure why, but it makes me feel a little sad.
I’m sitting here, about to write a little entry about it, when my phone rings. It’s a friend of mine, asking me if I’m going to the Star Trek X screening.
“Yeah, on Wednesday,” I tell him.
“No, it’s tonight,” he tells me.
“Tonight? At Paramount?”
“No, it’s in Westwood, tonight,” he tells me, “I just talked with Marina about it.”
Oh no.
That feeling I have gotten so many times before, when I was the only cast member not asked up on stage at the 25th anniversary party, when I was the only cast member not recognized at the screening of “All Good Things…” begins to well up. I feel a little sick.
He wouldn’t do this to me, right? Not now, not after the conversations we had when I was working on the movie, not since the phone call informing me of the cut. This must be a mistake. Past is the past, right? We’re cool now. There is no way he’d exclude me from this.
But he did.
He did it to me again.
I want to cry.
I tell my friend that I have to go, and hang up the phone.
I sit there alone and cold in the kitchen. I can hear Ryan watching Sabrina The Teenage Witch in the living room.
I can’t believe this is happening to me. When Rick told me that my scenes were cut, he assured me that I’d still be invited to the premiere, and that he’d see me there. I was excited to see all my friends again, and share in those moments with them. Be a part of what will really be the final mission.
It turns out that the screening I was invited to will be at Paramount on Wednesday, and pretty much anyone who works at Paramount can attend. It’s not the premiere, and none of the cast are going. There’s really nothing special about it.
I seriously, desperately hope that this was just an oversight. I desperately hope that this is totally out of Rick’s hands, and that he’ll tell me that he’s sorry if it ever comes up. I desperately hope this isn’t personal. I want so badly to believe that it isn’t. It sucks to be overlooked, but it sucks less than if I’d been intentionally not invited.
It sure fits a pattern though, huh?
I just — I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how to feel anymore.
But I’ll go with hurt for now.
Really, really fucking hurt.

533 thoughts on “Sadtimes”

  1. I’m not boycotting anything Star Trek. I like the shows, the movies, the geekiness surrounding it. WW, get over yourself, I didn’t get an invite either. Not that I would go, even if they begged me. These things are usually boring anyway.

  7. Man, your career sucks ass dude. You must feel like shit all the time. If I had a career like yours I’d kill myself. To go from that to a washed up has been that gets reminded of how horribly bad your career has gone eveywhere…even Hooters. That must have hurt. You wanna know why your career blows so bad? Because you go to fucking conventions. You gotta stop that shit yo. Stop trying to act too. It only makes you sad when losers don’t even want you at premiers. Look at your life dude. You’re in love. Most people will never have what you have. Get a 9-5, stop acting because it just makes you feel like shit, and quit going to conventions man. You look like Mark Hamill when you do. Move on dude. Sorry if this seems harsh bud. Just being straight with you.
    Peace.

  8. As an ex-StartTrek fan who has been out of the loop for a while and kinda stumbled upon this website per accident going “Whoa, Wesley Crusher? Meep!” 😉 I have to say that I’m really quite pissed at Mr. Berman for doing this to you. I agree with what Frank said in his post (from December 11, 2002 07:54 PM). You’re a great guy, and I think I’ll just keep reading your blog, because you rock.

  9. Sorry, Wil. I was really looking forward to your scene (I’m still hoping to see it on the director’s cut, at least). And it stinks that they keep treating you this way. But if it makes you feel any better, they didn’t invite me, either!

  10. Hey Wil… I’m one of the quiet ones that visits this site and says nothing. But to encourage you, I don’t think anyone who is going to see Nemesis will *ever* believe Rick Berman to be in the right on this. There have been legions of fans protesting what he’s done since the great GR died, and this is probably the worst thing I could think of him doing. You’re worth more than this… keep that in mind, and remember that with this website, you have a more positive impact upon the lives of people around the world than Berman truly has… or ever truly will. Keep up the hard work on this site, and keep close with your family. Forget about corporate big-wigs who’ll screw ya ’cause they feel like it.

  11. I sympathize with the chagrin. That’s a shame. It’s not as if an invite would have cost anyone anything, and it’s the least you deserve after being cut out of the film.
    However, I’m really stunned that you use your blog this way. Weeping to your thousands of readers about the slights and tribulations of Hollywood politics. Sheez.
    You seem like a good guy. Why don’t you do something more worthwile with your time and your fame (read: your LIFE)? Here’s a big hint why you should: it’ll probably make you feel better.

  12. Hey Wil I just have two things two say. First I’m sorry you were overlooked oh the humanity! Second that funny colored jersey and that grey uniform of yours from Star Trek really drove me nuts, nuts I tell you nuts, completely and utterly nuts, mad, insane, bonkers! My god how those jerseys and that grey uniform drove me nuts. I rejoyced when you finally got that damn uniform. I was so glad, happier than can be.
    Take Care
    P.S Those jerseys drove me nuts.
    P.S again. You dare send really insulting e-mails or laugh at my pathetic website. You know what I’ll just erase the URL.

  13. Sorry will in my drunken rage I srewed up your comments page. I appologise for not reading the BIG BLACK TEXT forgive me but remember that i hate those jerseys anyway.

  15. I just wanted to say I’m sorry Wil. You didn’t deserve such shoddy treatment. There are many more opportunities ahead!

  16. Hey Wil, if it makes you feel any better, you are cordially invited to any type of finction I might decide to carry out in the future. Not that you would ever have the time or the ability to travel to Kentucky just to hang out with a 29 year old Geek that really wouldn’t be able to think of the slightest thing to do that would interest you…other than maybe going up to Dayton Ohio to visit the Air Force Museum…which isn’t so bad if you’re into planes…
    Bah! Sounds boring…but it’s the thought that counts right? Hang in there man. You have good friends, good family, and a hell of a lot of people out here cheering for you! 🙂

  19. Wil, I took a moment to drop you a line of reassurance on your situation, thinking that perhaps you weren’t getting many notes on the subject.
    SURPRISE !! HUNDREDS of folks are posting support ! You obviously have a great fan base (and it looks like a lot great friends). Still I find it rediculous and objectionable how you have been treated..I dont know the history (did you guys throw down or something ?), but noone deserves to be unceremoniously and obviously hurt personally this way. Richer or poor, this is Ricks problem to deal with, not yours ! Carry on.

  20. I here the movie bites.
    After all it is an odd numbered one.
    ST 1 – sucked
    ST 2 – Kahn -rocked
    ST 3 – Teenage Spock sex – sucked
    etc.
    Considered yourself lucky.

  22. Just wanted to throw my voice into the ring of people who feel awful and support you. Hopefully Berman has read Roger Ebert’s hilarious review of the movie.

  23. Let me say first of all that I’ve come to appreciate what you did on TNG. I remember the first time those episodes came on that I was a fan of your character and even looked forward to the episodes you were a guest star after you left. Then I jumped on the bandwagon and for a few years you became “the bastard who got to kiss Ashley Judd”. However, I’ve been watching the TNG DVDs, and I for the life of me can’t understand why ANYONE had a problem with you.
    I was looking forward to seeing you in Nemesis, and was disappointed that you had been cut. However, it seemed all still cool between you and Rick Berman. I really hope this latest ommission of his was simply a mistake, but either way, I know you can’t help but feel bad. Hopefully he will give you a call, but at least you can be content with the knowledge you bailed from Star Trek before it started to go down the crapper.

  24. Being a celebrity in your teen years, you may have missed out on the “Jenny-Slater-is-having-a-party-and-everyone-in-the-class-except-me-was-invited” experience that many of us nerds went through, and while it sucks to be going through it as an adult, it may be of some consolation to reflect that crap like this builds empathy and compassion and makes us better people, and that you have fallen in with people who have been through this misery and can rally around when wanted.
    Good luck to you.
    -Andy B

  25. Wil
    Getting snubbed sucks. But at least you did not have to prostitute yourself in support of this horrible movie.
    You see, I viewed the movie last night – and it is an abomination, I would much rather see ST V or any episode of the ST cartoon than have to sit through that piece of crap again. Tellarites would not be able to digest this movie, no matter how many stomachs they used. It smells so bad, they are passing out gas masks in the delta quadrant. The Tholian have invented the new Tholian Diaper, just to stop the flow of this movie into their space.
    Regards
    taanru

  26. It royally sucks to be lied to and underappreciated. But look at it this way: He (Berman) didn’t steal money out of your pocket (that I know of). He didn’t cause you to lose your home or your wheels. He didn’t cause you to contemplate suicide seriously. (He didn’t, right?) And he didn’t defame your character in any manner that would carry serious weight — i.e., a way that would prevent you from working in the future.
    I say this because all the above either did, or very nearly did, happen to me at the hands of a former boss. I know that doesn’t lessen the emotional hurt, but maybe it’ll add some tiny bit of perspective.

  27. I was going to go see the film opening weekend, but I think I’ll wait a couple weeks instead, out of respect to you and response for what happened to you. I know that $20 out of my wife and I won’t make a big dent on that precious “opening weekend” ticket sales number that they’re all waiting for, but I can pretend.
    I’m real sorry man.
    On something more upbeat, they have these programs that let you record your own audio commentary for DVDs in your DVD ROM drive on your computer. I would laugh my ass off if you took the time to record an audio track for Nemesis when it comes out on DVD and made it available to us.
    I’d pay for that download!!

  28. *hugs the poor abused Wil*
    Bastards. Total bastards. I would kick them for you if they were here. Hard. With my shit-kicking boots.
    First they give you the shaft, then they kill Data? They will PAY!!!
    *shakes her mighty fist*

  30. Well, I’ve decided that I’m not going to the movie until they have the decency to apologize to you, Wil. Not that my $20 will make a big dent (as my partner will stand with me :), but if enough monkeys don’t shell out the cash….

  33. Wil I never got into your character on TNG, but I really looked forward to seeing you in the movie. I was surprised when you didn’t speak a word in that two second clip on the screen. I stayed to see your name in the credits, but I did not see Whoopi’s at all. The movie was better than the last one, but not by much. Also, I see Rick didn’t have Majel in it, which makes no sense at all because of the wedding scene. I guess he doesn’t care for the wife of Trek’s creator. Hopefully we will see you in the special edition DVD that Paramount will hawk.

  34. For what it’s worth, I’ve heard nothing but bad things about this movie (opening tonight in Toronto). Maybe it worked out for the better that things turned out this way.
    Berman’s obviously ruining the franchise, and needs to get his head out of his ass.
    Keep your chin up Wil…

  35. Hey,
    back when I was a kid on the couch with my mom watching TNG I would always say to myself “wow, that Wesley Crusher is a cool, lucky guy.” So man, screw them, the movie was really disappointing, and for Berman to say that the movie was good just shows that he has no taste anyway. Good luck, and continue to show up in stuff, it’ll always be great to be able to say, “hey! that’s Wil Wheaton from TNG and his sweet site!”

  36. *tear*
    Ok I just got back for watching “Star Trek: Nemesis” and I was SOOOO looking forward to seeing Wes all grown up and such. I waited and waited and 🙁 no wes…. I was getting so excited that you were going to be in this movie that i even put it on my site! lol and then you werent even in it! HOW RUDE! I feel so bad that you just got cut like that! So as soo as i got home I started to find out why you got cut and i found your website. aww. I’m so sorry that you got left out and deserted like that. AND werent even invited to the opening show on Monday! I think something should be done about that. I am in total outrage! Well I think I’ve written enough about My opinon about u not being in the movie… Well I hope u star to feel better…
    Lianne
    P.s.>> I wanna see you with Blue Punk hair TOO!

  37. Why would you think you should be invited? People cringe everytime an episode comes on in rerun that involves you. At the opening today when they flashed a shot of you during the wedding, people booed, and this was in Canada. I heard from a friend who went to a showing in Cleveland that the screen was showered with popcorn and candy. An no that is not the same as showering you with acclaim. Quit, leave, stay out of the public eye forever and let us scour our memories clean from your stain, you talentless fuck.

  39. I saw the film today Wil. I was so bummed to not even see a small cameo of you in the film. I hoped Rick B. would see the err of his judgment.
    We’re with you.

  40. Don’t put off by what people say, like the asshole a few posts back (from 8:06PM). I’m sure you’ve grown some pretty thick skin by now, or you wouldn’t have played your April Fool’s joke last spring (which I thought was very clever, by the way).
    I was very interested when I saw you in the wedding scene when the movie opened. I mean, shite, whatever happened to Wes? I thought I was finally going to find out. Nope. There’s some closure that I’ll never get, now. Thanks, Rick.
    If it truly is going to be the last Trek with all of TNG pricipals involved, it would have been fair and just to have included your character, too. When there’s a party with all of the pricipal cast together for what might be the last time, you should be on that guest list. You started with that cast, you should have been allowed to end with them. There’s some closure you’ll never get now. Thanks, Rick.
    He’s a little man, with no vision and an ego that his meager talent cannot live up to. He never was, nor will he ever be Gene Roddenberry. He’s petty, and should be ashamed for his childish vendetta against you. Until somebody takes his empire away from him, very little will change. The franchise will continue to dwindle, and our children will not have Star Trek to love as we did when were kids.
    Take Care, Wil, and good luck in your future endeavors. I’d love to know what finally happens to Wesley Crusher, but for your own sake, stop letting him steal from you.

  41. So sorry to read about this but this guy is obviously enjoying fucking you over for whatever reason. I once got a job at a big TV company in the UK and one thing I realised really fast is that all those “names” can be arrogant, selfish back stabbing b*stards, and that really there’s nothing at all special about them. Being on TV on movies etc doesn’t change the person, but obviously you know this all too well already.
    Once thing that *always* gets to people like Mr Rick is success; use it to inspire you on to bigger and better things. Put ST behind you, really go for the roles again and MAKE IT HAPPEN. Become a Hollywood bigshot or whatever, shit you can make anything happen you must know that, a movie is a product at the end of the day.
    Read about Robbie Williams, I am sure his career over here was built on payback, you can see it in his eyes everytime he performs, people love him, but I *know* he loves it more than anything because he is showing those other people that sacked him that *he* was the talent.
    Failing that you could just do your own thing and appreciate your life as it is now, you have more than many would ever wish for (me included). I wish you the best with your writing and your future endeavours, but try not to put yourself in a situation where someone who obviously doesnt care about you can hurt you.
    Like someone else said, there really is a Karma and what goes around surely will come around. Trek, I feel, is running its course now and if Rick scores a few bummers you know what studios are like, it’ll just be bye-bye.
    Arrr, you know when u want to give someone a good shake!! YES IT FITS A PATTERN, the guy is a lamer. You have all of those words of support, people dig u man, the slashdot crew and everything- use it, build on it and remember if everything goes to shit u have great and solid foundations underneath all of that. And under all of *that* you are obviously a great guy and Mr Rick is a prick not to want u as a friend.
    Goodnight! And best of luck for the future.

  42. Hey that really sucks what they did to you.
    and yeah i hope they put the sceen they cut of you in the dvd.
    It allways botherd me that they never brought up what happined to Wes after he left with Travaler.
    but if it was because of you wanting to follow your dreams and some jerks trying to show off, or whatever their motives were then so be it.
    I think evryone should be able to follow their dreams.
    I do hope they include the sceen when the movies on Dvd, and I hope that those idiots start treating you better.

  43. Apparently Rick Berman’s brain is in his dick.
    In other news, Rick Berman has no dick.
    Rick Owes you big time. If they ever even have another TNG movie/cross over, don’t bother showing up. That was uncalled for, and especially rude – How hard is it to send out a fucking invitation? How many times must anyone with any trace of talent be overlooked?
    Fuck him. Fuck him long and hard.

  44. Not to throw a damper on this group hug, but a good buddy of mine made an indie that Wil STARRED in, and Wil declined to go to the premiere of that, saying he had an “acting class” to go to instead. Which sucks because he didn’t even support a film that he starred in and which was really good. Now he’s whining that he got shafted out of a premiere for a movie that he was cut out of anyway. I call it karma.

  45. First, I agree with Jason (December 13, 2002 01:22 PM) about the voice over for the DVD. That would be just too farking cool if you did that!
    Second, The movie flat out sucked…plain and simple, it sucked. Jeez I thought ST3 was bad!
    My advice to anyone that hasn’t seen it yet, don’t do it. Wait for it to hit the cheap $1.50 cinemas…
    That flick is an insult to the talent of Stewart, Frakes, and Spiner! Hell it’s an insult to all of their talent! Who wrote this story anyway, Berman?!
    I will admit though, I don’t want this to be the last Trek flick. Wil, I think YOU should write number eleven!!
    Frank
    -Proud Member: Partnership for a Berman-Free Society!-

  46. Not to throw a damper on this group hug, but a good buddy of mine made an indie that Wil STARRED in, and Wil declined to go to the premiere of that, saying he had an “acting class” to go to instead. Which sucks because he didn’t even support a film that he starred in and which was really good. Now he’s whining that he got shafted out of a premiere for a movie that he was cut out of anyway. I call it karma.

  47. It’s strange. I was just yesterday excluded from going to see Nemesis with a bunch of my Trekkie friends. Well, obviously what happened to you sucks a lot more. If you were still little ol’ Wesley I’d hug you and comfort you, but I can’t get over the fact that though you’re my age in TNG, you’re almost twice my age in real life…and married…and happy.
    Damnit.
    Well, can I still wear the posse thong?

  49. Firstly, I’d like to say to all those with a penchant for the word “whine”– kudos to Wil for putting it all out there rather than acting like a brain-dead actor with no soul (i.e. most of L.A., whether they’re in the biz or not). There’s enough inanity out there on the internet– if Wil’s intelligent reflections on his life, which he chooses to share with a bunch of strangers, upset you, perhaps http://www.benaffleck.com/ would be more to your liking?
    It *is* his goddamned blog, after all. I imagine he can “whine” all he likes.
    Secondly, Wil, I’d like for you to know that your little 10 second background cameo was the best thing about Nemesis, and I’m not just saying that as a fan. Berman has definitely hit an all-new low with this bit of stinkiness… for as long as it took them to put out another TNG film you think they could have been a little more careful with the editing and directing. Nemesis had none of the chemistry I felt between the actors throughout the series and other films, and I left feeling depressed and disappointed. The bright spot was seeing your name in the cast credits, right up there between Bad Guy #3 and The Voice of the Computer. And they can’t take THAT away from you. 😉

  50. God, Wil, that really sucks.
    I went to a showing tonight and you were onscreen at one point, and I whispered to everyone around me “Look! It’s Wesley, down at the end! Wil’s not cut out altogether!!” Before we went into our show, some people leaving from the previous one were talking about it as well.
    I hope things look up. I mean, you’re working on your book and all, and if Berman doesn’t want to see how important all this was to you and how important you are to *your fans*, then screw him. Really. You have your memories and your friendships and that’s what matters in the end, yes?

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