Last week, Entertainment Weekly called my manager, and said that they were going to write announce Just A Geek in this week’s issue. I told my manager that I was concerned, because Entertainment Weekly has always written really cruel and misleading stories about me and my website, but the reporter assured him that this would just be a nice blurb announcing the release of my book.
Since the mainstream media have completely ignored me and Just A Geek, I was pretty excited that an influential magazine like Entertainment Weekly was going to give me a little ink.
That “nice blurb?” I just saw it on page 83:
“Whiner of the Week”
In his blog-cum-memoir Just a Geek, the former Star Trek, TNG cast member, now 32, fills 260 pages endlessly lamenting, “I used to be an actor when I was a kid.”
It’s pretty clear that the person hack who wrote this awful, mean-spirited, and misleading blurb didn’t read the entire book, because I DON’T spend 260 pages “lamenting I used to be an actor when I was a kid.” I spend the first chapter talking about those feelings, because it’s an important foundation for the rest of the story. A responsible journalist would know that.
It’s one thing to criticize the way I write, or opine that I spend too much time on one thing, and not enough time on another. That’s totally valid opinion . . . but to completely misrepresent me and the content of my book this way is despicable.
Someone at that magazine must have a vendetta against me, because Entertainment Weekly has tried very hard to portray me in a consistently negative light. When they reviewed WWdN about two years ago, they selectively quoted me out of context, and made me look really bad, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that they’re at it again, but it still hurts.
Maybe Michael Moore wrote the blurb, he’s
very talented at quoting people out of context
in order to make them look bad. He’s got
experience in the vendetta area as well.
Late to the party on this one, but nonetheless I’ll post so as to up the comment count!
I first saw EW back in the late ’80s when copies showed up at the radio station where I worked. I flipped through for a few weeks, and soon noticed that anytime they reviewed something I’d liked, they hated it…and vice versa. So I’ve never read it since, even at the dentist’s office, much less given them my hard-earned money. (Not that I care much for the other “celebrity/entertainment” stuff either.)
I see that I still disagree with their “reviews.”
Letter Posting:
Entertainment Weekly,
Like many others, I was offended by your recent misrepresentation of Wil Wheaton’s book Just a Geek. The reporter was obviously irresponsible and uninformed. I doubt they even read the book. It’s impossible to maintain a good relationship with artists and readers if you can’t be counted on to be unbiased or at the very least informed on the topic. I am cancelling my subscription to Entertainment Weekly, solely based on the way you cruelly handled the content of Wil’s writing.
Sincerely,
R. Perkins
Hi there.
I am sure you are getting plenty of these letters telling you that the Whiner of the Week was written by a moron. I will state that I don’t believe the person is. I do believe this so-called journalist could have at least read the damn book before throwing a vicious little jab at a writer. The writing was about life. A single chapter was dedicated to that acting, and when you write a bit of biography, you usually include your childhood. Considering his past, it would be impossible to neglect his former career.
Instead of reading this book and seeing it for what it is, a moving work relating to life and how being a geek has its own set of problems, the writer of that little dig, decided to behave like an ass and mock Mr. Weaton. Perhaps the fact that when “the reporter assured him that this would just be a nice blurb announcing the release” the reporter was somehow unaware that “Whiner of the Week” and “In his blog-cum-memoir Just a Geek, the former Star Trek, TNG cast member, now 32, fills 260 pages endlessly lamenting, “I used to be an actor when I was a kid.” Is not a nice blurb. Exactly how would anyone see this as a “nice blurb”?
I will be suggesting to all those I know that read your magazine that if this is their opinion on a really good book, maybe all your opinions are trash. And I am also going to point this out around subscription renewel time. Several dozen times.
I encourage you to print a retraction and a correction. That was sloppy and utterly incorrect. The book is much better and deserves to be read and seen for what it is.
—
“They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist…”
-General John Sedgwick (1813-1864), last words.
—————-
I almost put in a jab in it. “Perhaps the “journalist” was a bit jealous that he can’t even whine about being able to claim to have been a has-been? The journalist is obviously a will-never since he can’t manage to read a script past the first 5 pages.
almost.. but I wanted it to be more to the point and less of a rant.
Hey Wil,
I totally support your view that people have a right to their opinions but without properly reading your book and then making some dumb ass comment was just ignorance on their part.
I’m going to write them an e mail and tell them to give their heads a shake.
Ok I’m in. My hat in the ring:
I am writing to inform you that I have just purchased your magazine from a newstand for the last time because it is clear you do not employ writers who do their jobs.
This little tidbit on page 83:
“Whiner of the Week”
In his blog-cum-memoir Just a Geek, the former Star Trek, TNG cast member, now 32, fills 260 pages endlessly lamenting, “I used to be an actor when I was a kid.”
Well that
Hey Wil,
I just received JAG on friday (look up to about post #110), and I wanted to let you know that I finished it last night. It was, of course, everything I had expected and hoped for…and more. You are an excellent writer, and had me captivated for every minute I was not involved in my grandmother’s 90th birthday this weekend.
I can’t wait for you to find more stories to tell. I’ll be here to read them.
Scott
Well, it makes sense if you think about it. I don’t know anyone whose greatest aspiration is to write short blurbs for such an esteemed publication. So you have to figure they are either very frustrated or very shallow… and probably both.
Now they can’t lash out at Big Stars to satisfy their petty psuedo-power trip, so hey, they’ll lash out at someone they think can’t get them in trouble.
Much like the 3rd grader hall monitor who has to just stand their and take abuse all day long from every 3rd grader to 6th grader. So he then writes up a 2nd grader for some imagined offense to make himself feel better.
Lurker here for a few months now… good stuff Wil. You even have me geocaching.
Good luck,
Vance
Hey Wil,
I just finished Just a Geek on Saturday and really enjoyed it. Having said that, I just called to cancel my subscription to EW. (Stupid school fundraisers.)
I know this sucks and all, but no press is bad press.
Wil, I gave up on Entertainment Weekly years ago after I got suckered into a free subscription. The people doing the mini-reviews seem to be total hacks who have nothing better to do than trash EVERYTHING they review. I’m a harsh critic at times, but GEEZ!
I think the sheer number of blog responders here tell the real story. I can only imagine how many people started to post something then stopped as I almost did when they saw how many responses there were. Don’t hold back, gang!
Having read all of the comments, some I agree with and some I don’t. One or two people mentioned that they don’t think Wil should be using this to boost publisity. I really don’t think that was his intention.
Think about it gang, when something happens that ticks you off what do you do? Tell your friends, rant to your friends. Wil has done just that. Although many of us have not met him in person, most of us consider him a friend in one way or another. When my friends are attacked, insulted or hurt, I do what I can to help.
So, that being said, below is the letter I sent to EW. Hang in there Wil, you have touched more lives in a meaningful way than EW will ever have a chance to.
_________________
Dear Editor-
I remember that it was about a year ago that a friend of mine told me to check out this website called wilwheaton.net. I thought she was nuts. I confess to being one of those people who pretty much thought that Wesley deserved his title of “the one we love to hate.” But I found that in moments I was engrossed in this wonderful, honest, amusing, and often uplifting journey through this incredibly normal person’s life.
I find it inexcusable that a magazine would publish an “article” that clearly does not represent more than the first chapter of a book. I find it even more inexcusable that your magazine would not even try to get beyond the stereotypes that you clearly portray here.
I fully understand that a book review is based on opinion, but what was written was not an opinion of the writing or even the content, it was an opinion of Wil Wheaton based on his character in StarTrek. The book is not about a child actor whining about what he has lost, it is about Wil Wheaton, the person sharing not only what he lost but what he gained. Perhaps you should take the time to read the book or his website and rediscover a bit of your own humanity and open your eyes beyond the narrow-minded viewpoint published in your magazine.
Alli
Here’s the e-mail I just sent to EW:
“Thank you for printing the announcement of Wil Wheaton’s book, Just a Geek. It helped me confirm that Entertainment Weekly is fully dedicated to sensationalism and shallow journalism, as opposed to real research and – God forbid – reading. Had the person who wrote the announcement actually read the book, s/he would have realized that it is a journey, a soul-searching look inside the mind and heart of a human being. It is about moving past juvenile limitations, not reinforcing them, as your one line review indicates.”
Forget about them, Wil. They give no more respect to you than Rolling Stone gave to Rush for their first dozen albums. And we all know how wrong that was!
Be well,
Stace
Look at how many people bought the book because of that blurb, and how many more people bought the book because of this blog entry.
I’d say that the marketing “ploy” worked.
The dupe dupes again.
Entertainment Weekly, bah! I went to see Van Helsing based solely on their gushing over it. What the hell was I thinking?!
Sorry dude, but you’ve got to take the bad with the good. You’re gonna win some and your gonna lose some. You’re gonna get more good reviews in the future and just as surely you’re gonna get more bad ones.
Enjoy what you can in the good and learn what you can from the bad.
ANOTHER message of support….
I have to wonder about the kind of people who would subscribe to such a negative publication. If the book was as the reporter described, then how is it newsworthy to complain about it?
I think the blurp speaks less for the mag and its staff than you and your book. Consider it free publicity. Because, had I not known of WWDN or your book, and had been unfortunate enough to be reading EW, finding that you had written a book, no matter what someone said about it, would move me to find out more about it.
Nice guys are easy targets, and I’m sure you were chosen for that reason. It’s sucks, but know that the numbers speak louder than the name on any mag. The people who count have already spoken, and as people keep buying your books, they continue to speak.
The insecure small prick that wrote that obviously doesn’t have the #%*@$ to slander anyone who might have more resources to bite back. It makes me angry.
*Psychologically* (dont freek out) I feel as though I own you as apart of my growing up experience, and so when someone hurts you or wrongs you, I take it personally. Right or wrong, it’s just how I feel. And I know others feel the same.
You can tell EW that there is at least one person who wont be buying their mag.
Best Wishes!
– Don
Student of Political Science and Pre-Law at the University of Colorado at Denver
I’ve got a few comments of my own. First off, I bought Just a Geek because I was a TNG fan as a kid. Despite the fact that the writing for the Wesley Crusher character was horrid, I still connected with the character due to my age. That was all Wil as far as I’m concerned.
Secondly, it doesn’t suprise me that a wonderful and objective media outlet such as Entertainment Weekly would make such comments about Wil. That group of cock bites can just fuck right off.
Finally, I read Just A Geek cover to cover. I couldn’t put it down. It was real. And there was much more there than I even expected. If some hack at Entertainment Weekly couldn’t finish the book in time for his review to be turned in, he could have at least skimmed some of the other chapters. But it’s obvious if all you take away from that book is that Wil laments his leaving TNG, you didn’t read very many pages.
The world if full of cock holes. Obviously Entertainment Weekly has its fair share of them.
Wil, keep up the good work. Very few authors keep my attention for an entire book. They include Neil Gaiman, Michael Crichton, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and you.
I’m a subscriber of EW – generally enjoy reading the magazine. I saw the blurb when I got my copy, and well, being a reader of your website (haven’t had a chance to buy the book yet) I was diappointed in EW, and the way they potrayed you. It has made me more critical of EW – and other snarky comments I’ve read in the past, etc. Probably a bunch of BS all the way around, some hack trying to be funny or make themselves feel more important. Keep doing what you’re doing – many find great enjoyment in it, can relate, respect, etc. All the best.
Way to mention your career in the FIST chapter only.
I didn’t think you wrote a pr0nographic book!
RE: *Fist Chapter* type
Yup. I saw that crack coming down main street.
Right on time and just as expected.
Some are saying that you’re proving yourself a whiner by writing what you wrote in your blog.
These people have not been reading all of your work… they have no idea…
I wrote a letter to EW using the email address posted in these comments. I hope it gets to them. I sure as hell have no plans to register for their site and get stuck buying issues of the mag!
http://www.mylifeasalizard.blogspot.com
Best of luck in everything you do,
Chuck
I was reading these comments and I had the tv on. I turned and there’s Family Guy head of the family Peter being told he has to repay the Godfather. He is on the toilet and sees he is outta toilet paper. He looks over and sees Entertainment Weekly. His response? “That’s one problem solved”.
Case closed.
I didn’t read that magazine, and have never commented here before but that’s ridiculous and I happily sent a letter to the editor…pathetic.
Wil,
EW, are just a bunch of hacks anyway, and most of the people i know don’t actually take anything that is written in there is serious. I find their constant tearing apart of television shows, movies, art and literature to be appaling and ridiculous. They aren’t journalists, they are critics. They don’t understand craft, art or the artist, but it is their negativity that they sell. It’s a tabloid with a pretty glossy cover. Don’t take it too hard man.
What’s even more pathetic then EW is the people like the balls of steel-brain of mush guy needing to weigh in on their sites. What makes it laughable is seeing the the half-witted 3 comments of unintelligible agreement. “I haven’t read the book but I agree he’s a whiner”. Nice.
Anyway, it’s obvious the support here should make it clear what opinions are worth being grateful for, and what opinions don’t need to be given a second thought.
I don’t care if it’s labeled “honesty”, “whining”, or whatever, keep up the good fight, Wil.
Wil,
Do you really think someone at the magazine has an actual vendetta against you? I think that’s being a little paranoid. Maybe the writer of that little piece just (gasp!) didn’t like your book. I’m not trying to be inflammatory, but I don’t believe that it is out of the realm of possibility. Different strokes and all that.
However, if you do believe it was personal, then maybe, like any good leftist, you should ask yourself: Why do they hate you so much? A better approach though would be to stop letting them rent space in your head for free, and forget about them. People in the world can be shitty, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay them any mind.
I learned as a young kid to let it roll right off my back. If you can’t do that, you’ll wind up letting others determine your self worth, and then you’ll need a whole website full of fans to help you feel good about yourself again. Just a thought…
Monkey activated.
EW feedback sent.
Monkey deactived
[sadly AOL and Time Warner are much much more difficult to contact… 🙁 ]
Next time, stick with your intuition Wil. You were right on the money when you worried that they’d slam you again. But then….if you hadn’t been optimistic enough to let them bash you…you wouldn’t have received so much positive feedback, ended so many EW subscriptions, generated so many new JAG sales, and brought the evil AOLTW giant to its knees….
Muhahahahahaha….
I’d like to see what kinda response comes out of EW from all this…
I actually enjoy reading my EW magazine and I am a subscriber, but when I saw that in this week’s issue, I was really disappointed. I don’t think the book deserved being trashed like that. I wrote a letter to the editor just now expressing my feelings. Don’t let it bring you down, though. There are plenty of people out there who do like your book. And remember what they say – “there’s no such thing as bad publicity!” LOL!
Wankers! I’ll be sending an email to the editors.
I actually have that first article they did on you on their back page from when my sister used to subscribe to their magazine. Until I read this and was reminded of how crappy they are to you I was going to subscribe….but yeah now it isn’t gonan happen. I’ll be reading that in the doctor’s office if at all..
…right, because EW knows what it’s talking about…
Entertainment Weekly is to book and movie reviews what Fox is to news: only the gullible, the stupid, and the extremely ignorant take anything they have to say with any less than a pound of salt.
If they’ve got it in for WWdN, it’s because they’re afraid people will visit your site and see what good writing’s SUPPOSED to look like.
Hang in there.
…and any chance you’re going to come out east on your book tour? The college geek population of DC would love to hear you read live. Plus, I hear this crazy rumor that the Smithsonian will let you and your family in for free :D.
Entertainment Weekly is a rag. I stopped reading it long ago. (Premiere is way better.) I just read your book; I loved it.
Hey Wil-
My hubby and I both really enjoy your website- and we are in the 30-45 age group that make damn good money. We both enjoyed watching TNG as well-and thought you were an asset to the show. My perspective on this is that any publicity is good publicity. So mainstream ignored your book- but EW hyped you. So his review stank- we never ever believe reviews- in fact, we usually buy whatever they insist is rubbish, because, really-what kind of loser gets a job reviewing others artistic work at a scum magazines? The point is though- thousands of people who didn’t know you had a book out saw his review- and I assure you, most of them would want to make their own minds up. Hell, I am going to get your book now because I am really curious. Reviewers usually knock actors who write because they are steamin jealous that you guys can do both. Screw him and screw EW- I don’t even buy that piece of shit magazine- but his blurb just got you another sell. We read you not because you “used to be a child actor” but because you write really, really well.