I taped a bunch of segments for an awesome VH-1 show today. I won’t name it, because I don’t know if they’ve announced it yet and I’m trying to avoid The Goon Squad, but it’s going to be really funny. I had so much fun, and I may even get to go back and tape some more stuff next week.
Rock.
Anne and I took Sketch over to his vet today for his Moment of Truth check-up. Long story made very short: his lungs are clear, his heart is on the large side, but not looking too scary right now, and everything else about him is very, very positive. The only thing left is his blood work, which comes back from the lab tomorrow. If his kidney levels are okay, then I can officially relax just a little bit.
Felix seems happier and more relaxed today than he has in over a week. I hope the combination of love and medicine is helping him feel better. Thank you to everyone who left comments in and sent e-mails my previous post . . . I almost didn’t publish it, because I felt so — well, you know if you read it. But now I’m really glad I did.
Star Trek dot Com mentioned my appearance at this weekend’s Grand Slam convention:
Wil Wheaton may be the best-kept Star Trek secret at conventions. Often eliciting intense conflicting opinions about his role as Wesley Crusher on The Next Generation, Wheaton is now a successful writer who’s made peace with his sometimes difficult past. What’s more, he’s a funny, engaging speaker who should probably appear at speaking engagements on college and high school campuses.
Wheaton said that, as a child, he hated attending conventions that felt repetitive. Therefore, he tries to offer something new each time that he appears in public. This time around, he read several selections from his Internet blog to be compiled into a new book that will be published by the end of this year (2005). These selections refer to his happy-but-sometimes-challenging family life with a wife and two step-sons. Wheaton’s fresh, witty delivery generated several hearty laughs.
The convention was kind of a drag for me this year. It was almost 2/3 smaller than it’s ever been (I think Creation and most of the fans are saving themselves for the Vegas show in August, which has grown into something truly incredible and supermegacool), and the energy just felt “off” to me for some reason. But my reading on Sunday afternoon was great. I read to a mostly-empty theatre, but the audience that came out was just amazing! I took a BIG chance: rather than read a set of material from Geek and Barefoot which I know very well, I read some newer stories that I’ve never put up in front of an audience before. The audience was very cool, and I felt like they were “with me” from the very beginning right up until my time ran out. I hardly sold any books, though, so if you’re looking for an autographed Just A Geek or Dancing Barefoot, watch this space next week. I’ve got some extras here, and I’ll be offering signed books for a couple of days, just as soon as I can get the ordering all set up.
Several WWdN readers e-mailed that Television Without Pity said some very kind things about me on last week’s CSI:
And now, a word about Walter. If I didn’t know that was Wil Wheaton, I wouldn’t have guessed. He’s convincing enough as a homeless guy to fit in with any of the regulars that used to hang out in Multimedia Gulch. I had avoided reading his weblog entries about shooting this show, because I didn’t want them to influence how I received his performance, but now that I’ve seen him, I am all about sending you here and here. He provides a pretty lively look at how the CSI sausage is made.
As if that wasn’t cool enough, I also there’s also this:
Know what else sucks? If you’re Wil Wheaton and you’re acting the hell out of your crazy-homeless-guy role, and you’re on screen for all of five minutes, maybe. We love Wil Wheaton! We want at least ten minutes. And why is Wil Wheaton acting like a crazy guy? Because he, too, is a red herring suspect in the fatal beating of a young boy. The actual killer is the boy’s adolescent brother, proving yet again that if the children are our future, the Earth will be one giant, smoking crater by 2015. But in the here and now, this is the case that makes Nicky a man, as he grows a pair and tells Cavaliere to shove his tool-like behavior.
I seriously love Television Without Pity, but I expected a full-on cockpunch from them (because that’s their job, you know, and they do it very well. Not cockpunching me, I mean, but cockpunching in general. The TWoP staff are serious black belt masters of the cockpunch.) It was supercool that they seemed to like my craziness.
MSNBC is going to have me on tomorrow (Friday the 18th) at Noon EST to talk about blogging. I hope the story is more “blogging is an incredibly empowering medium” and not “hey! look! celebrities!” Tune in if you can, and let me know what you think. I’ll be wearing The Shirt. Update: Boy, could they have tried just a little harder to completely miss the point of blogging? Lame.
This Saturday is our second to last ACME Love Machine show, so if you’ve been waiting until the end to see us cough up some funny, this is your golden moment. Carpe ACME, and such.
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Nice to see sketch seems to be doing better. You’ve become one of my regular “visits” on the net lately, ever since a mutual friend pointed out that you were into a lot of the things I am (geek-wise).
Do bask in the praise you receive. You deserve it. You really DID do an excellent job in that role – worthy of a double take.
A while back I added you to my blogroll, BTW. Hope you don’t mind.
So glad to hear about Sketch and Felix! And I was sorry to have missed you over the weekend. I was supposed, to have a photo taken with you, but, alas, the best plans and all that.. LOL
It’s wonderful to hear that things are going well for you in your multiple careers. I’m just wondering, when we can expect a new book? I’ve read Walking Barefoot and Just A Geek multiple times, and have passed them on to my friends and family who have found them entertaining and touching.
I can’t wait to see you on MSNBC tomorrow, and VH1 sometime in the near future!
Brightest Blessings to you and yours!
its good to hear that both of your cats are doing better. im looking forward to seeing you on msnbc tommorrow. hope felix gets even better. and you did a great job as walter.
You definately should do the college circuit – namely Stetson University (www.stetson.edu), where I happen to attend. 😉
Heh, one of my professors even assigned a text book that mentioned your blog in it my freshmen year. I think it’s a sign.
Oh yay Love Machine is still going! My sister is visiting me this weekend and I told her all about the show when I saw it waaay back… and now if she’s willing I can drag her to see it when she comes. 🙂
lisa
My first post, so please forgive me. I’ve been reading your site for months now and wanted to give my support to Sketch, Felix and Anne. I’m glad to read about the improvements in Sketch and Felix!
Its good to read that things are going well for you. You did a great job on CSI. I just picked up your book, “Just A Geek” and already looking forward to the next book. When? Our thoughts are with your family (furry friends included). Looking forward to seeing you on MSNBC tomorrow.
“Thank you to everyone who left comments in and sent e-mails my previous post . . . I almost didn’t publish it, because I felt so
Glad to hear about the improvement in the cat situation. The only thing I hate more than being sick myself is having sick pets. I will definitely catch you on MSNBC tomorrow (today), as it’s my sole “personal day” off of work, and seeing as how today is both my birthday AND my bachelor party day (getting hitched 2 weeks from Saturday), I think I’m entitled to not go to work but still get paid. Word.
Your portrayal of Walter was fabulous, Wil. Any idea if CSI will be including the character in future episodes?
Congrats to the positive news about Sketch and Felix, as well. I’m glad your furry children are doing so well!
I picked up a copy of Just a Geek and I can’t put it down.. Dancing Barefoot is next on my list.
Glad the Kitty Crisis seems to have abated, for a while at least. You and Anne are excellent Cat Parents.
I’ll try to catch you on MSNBC tomorrow, but no promises. Had 2 wisdom teeth cut out today, have to work tomorrow, may possibly slip into coma before you’re on…but I’ll do my best.
yeah guess what ? you kick ass wil! but then again thats been odvious for years.apparently more people are finally getting smart and realizing it! took the critics long enough!
***************************
For those of you who havn’t seen it already:
http://chantellejoy.brianblades.com/videos/
You can get the clips of Wil on CSI!
Great job Wil, you’re on a roll!
And glad to hear that the kitties are doing better!!!
**********************************
hey Wil,
I am really glad that the kitties are doing better… I am continuing the positive energy. Also, it was really cool seeing you at both What’s My Line and ACME Love Machine this past week! The only reason that I didn’t go to your Grand Slam reading was because a) 3 times in one week seemed a bit obsessive 😉 and b) you recommended that I catch you while you’re doing local appearances… so… when are these appearances? Do you have any coming up?
Anyways, congrats on everything, man… CSI, the books, life looking up, etc… You have a great family and they have a great you! (and Ryan is a really cool kid!) 🙂
Take care,
Terry
Hey.. glad to hear your cat is coming around with the medication.. a little good news is always good. I’ve been following your blog on LJ btw.. for a while now I guess.
Anyway, also wanted to say that I enjoyed the CSI eppie. I wasn’t aware that you would be in it and I ended up watching it twice, the second time with my hubby as i didn’t recognize you in the show at all and then I realized.. listening carefully it was you playing Walter.. great job! Totally unrecognizable and I loved the ‘tick’ that you had to your character.. heh.. “my sweater” =)
Anywhoo rather than comment in a place where you’d never see it.. I decided to register..
Good luck with Felix.. may the good news just keep on coming! =) (btw, because of the radio show you posted about many months ago, I went ahead and purchased “Dancing Barefoot” from Amazon.com and highly enjoyed it.. you’re a great writer.. =)
pamela =)
a virtual stranger.
First off, good luck to both the moggies!
Secondly, belated congrats on getting the CSI gig – though (unfortunately) I’m now ‘spoiled’ for the episode as it hasn’t aired here yet – I know you’re in the US and it has appeared over there, but since you blogged that you were going to be on the show, I’ve been frantically avoiding sites that might give the game away…
Oh well – now I know what happens, I can concentrate on the acting instead of the plot 🙂
Au Res.,
Paul
Wil, just scanned the episode of CSI. You play a great homeless charactor! Wouldn’t want to type cast, but maybe psycho is your calling? :^P
Anyhow, great jitters, cool sweater line, and prayers from my wife and I for your kitties.
Love and mojo keep on a-flowin’ your way for Felix, Sketch, and the entire Wheaton clan.
5 hours to go til Wil on MSNBC. Kinda sucks that it’s MSNBC, really. A lot of us aren’t too fond of Micro$haft in the first place, but to have a news source with their name on it? Sounds a bit slanted. Either way, yeah, I certainly hope it’s not “Hey, look, celebrities” and actually focuses more on blogging as opposed to “Hey, Wil Wheaton, the guy from Stand By Me and Star Trek:TNG, blogs!” That would just further prove the societal sickness known as “celebrity worship” is alive and well.
Things seem to be looking up for you Wil. And all it took was 5 min of TV airtime. LOL. Just think what 10 mins would do!
Just keep blocking them cockpunches! 😛
First time reader. Congrats on the CSI gig.
You’ve got a voice of your own, and I look forward to reading more.
This is orrrsome 🙂 … I’m glad the cats seem to be doing better, we were all pulling for them. I loved that Television Without Pity blurb btw. I liked the idea (at startrek.com) about you speaking at college engagements… just be sure to come to the east coast, mmmkay? We luv ya here too.
OK, can I just say how freakin’ jealous I am that you’ve gotten a blurb in a TWoP review? Not that I’m going to get one soon, have to live another 30 years and write a screenplay so I can play myself on TV.
well are you going to the vegas convention? your name isnt on the creation web site! i saw you there last year and bought a copy of JAG. i wanted to buy barefoot this year.
Hi Wil and kitties and the rest of the family 🙂
we here on my end are very happy to hear that the kitties are at least feeling a little better. It’s amazing how attached you can get to something that doesn’t even ‘talk’ to you…well…they TALK to you but you know what I mean. Actually, maybe that’s *why* we get so attached, we don’t know about the times when they just want to say ‘What the hell is wrong with you??’ aheh 😉
I’ll definitely be interested in getting my grubby little hands on at least one of your books and I’m looking forward to the new one as well. Maybe it will get me off the computer for a little while 🙂
I think it’s very…what’s the word…cute? no…endearing? closer…that you still get so surprised when people give you a good review. I mean you *are* very talented you know -wags finger-
Anywho, take care of yourself and your fam 🙂
Great to hear that the little ones are feelin’ better! You aren’t listed for Vegas yet, tell me you are going to be there! My girlfriend is seriously jonesing to finally go to a trek con (something to do with THE PICARD) but I just want to get a chance to hear you speak and giggle at the costumes.
-Jase
So glad to hear that Sketch and Felix are both doing better! I hope the blood work results are good news as well! Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers here! *hugs* to all!
High schools have campuses? This land of California is strange and confusing to me.
Wil,
I am so glad and relieved to hear that your kitties are doing better! That has to be a load off your mind (at least for the moment). I am so pissed at myself for not reading sooner! I am an East Coaster, and its already 9:20 a.m. and I am at work! So I can’t even tape the MSNBC!! That sucks!!! I did ask my hubby to try and get home and tape it for me, so there’s still hope. Can’t wait to find out about an autographed book! I want one!! Can’t wait to hear more about the VH1 thing! Man, all of a sudden, its Wil Wheaton everywhere! Keep it up!
Sandra
Wil,
I’m glad to hear the news about your cats.
Also, I was just now able to read your previous post (the one you almost didn’t share), and it sounded to me like you were uncomfortable writing it because you’re having what you called “metaphysical” experiences, and you weren’t comfortable with them.
I wish I had something to say that’d make you more comfortable with ’em. I wish that I could just say “It’s okay to anthropomorphize your cats for the sake of feeling less silly when talking to them – the ancient Egyptians did it all the time, for cryin’ out loud” and have you believe me just like that. Or “it really is okay to once in a while think that maybe there is something else out there beyond our perceptions, something that other folks have wigged out over and named God, and entertaining those thoughts doesn’t make you a kool-aid swilling religious fanatic”.
Unfortunately, I think it’d be much easier for me to do that if you were uncomfortable about anybody else besides yourself. So I guess all I can do is say it (since I already did) and leave it up to you to decide whether it’s worth believing or not.
Well, and offer hugs, if Anne is amenable. I am such a hug-slut. =)
Hey Wil, that’s terrific that the kitties are doing better. I hope they both make full recoveries.
I am totally going to be checking for a chance to get autographed copies of both books. I hadn’t even heard about either one until I chanced on a mention of your blog a month or so ago (from a slashdot post). I was a fan back when you were doing ST:TNG, but I lost track of your career after that. I always wondered why they didn’t bring you in on Voyager. It really rocked to see you on CSI last week!
Anyway, I’m veering off topic. I’m about a quarter of the way through JaG, and I love it. I haven’t picked up DB yet, and I would love to get autographed copies of both. I very much doubt that I’ll get a chance to go to an actual book signing (esp. since I’m nowhere near the west coast or a major city), so this is a great opp for me. Thanks!
Hey Wil! Walter was fabuloso! Also I have join in, I *love* the idea of the college circuit. Definitely would love to see you out here in Dallas again. Between UT-Dallas and UT-Arlington, we’ve got plenty of geeks. 🙂
I’m sitting in a newsroom at NBC in Burbank.
GUEST COMPUTER is written across a scrap of white paper that is taped to the top of this machine’s monitor.
Behind me, six or seven people are working at different computers on various stories. A bank of monitors hangs over one side of the room, silently displaying every bit of NBC programming that is currently on the air.
It’s not Network, but it’s still pretty cool!
I just found out that I’m not going on the air until 9:41 PST, so I think I’ll sit here and read Fark while I wait.
hey wil check out the url. Your CSI ep came in #1 fyi: CSI was #2 last week. So I dont know if you were edgy or whatever, but you sure kicked ass on CSI! Obviously the millions of global Wil Wheaton fans tuned in and got to see out dear uncle willie in all his homeless glory…
I am a first time poster, and I just created my own blog (because Wil’s is so cool). I am bummed I’ll miss you on MSNBC since I’m at work, but will look forward to you writing about it to catch me up!
Glad to hear there’s some hope. I’m curious to know how the boys are doing with all of this.
–AJ @ EggRadio
It’s so good to read a positive entry about the sick kitties. I hope they both continue to improve and live for many more years to come.
And what great comments! I was seriously disappointed in your screentime. I wanted more, more, more! But I got a kick out of telling my sister who that was under the crazy hair! Except now she accuses me of having a Wil Wheaton obsession, but whatever…
MSNBC: That other guy TOTALLY co-opted your question! What a loser!
Also, it’s nice to see an actor, of all people, downplay the celebrity aspect of the blog community. I think it helps to validate those bloggers that are great writers with interesting things to say while withdrawing attention from black holes like Paris Hilton.
Wil
I was watching a thing about Child Actors the other day and thought that it might be what you were talking about. They didn’t show you which was a relief because it was pretty negative.
The first time I visited WWdN was when I had heard about Jonathan Brandis and when I did a search, you came up. You wrote a brilliant blog about Jonathan and how you could relate to some of what he must have felt. It could have been you if you had turned right instead of left…
I was so impressed with the writting I am a regular here. I’ll be loking forward to seeing a VH-1 on you.
I’m glad you got some good press from Television Without Pity. I hope that guy who wrote the thing at Entertainment Weekly eats lots of crow.
I’m not a regular watcher of CSI but I did see the episode you were in. You are a versital actor. Really, you always were. I have seen many movies you were in before TNG.
I just realized that here on the west coast, It is the noon hour EST. So I just turned on msnbc and you just came on. It’s at commercial right now. I thought it was funny that the other guy David answered your question. He looks nervous. You are more relaxed. Oops it’s back on…
I see you were wearing “The shirt”. It was great. Good Job. Too bad it had to end quick. It was weird to see the same web page on my computer and on TV at the same time.
Val
Yeah, I agree with what was said above. It was nice to see you be interviewed and promoting other weblogs that arent necessarily celebrity weblogs…..
No sooner did I read the line about your appearance on MSNBC, I ran to the tv and changed the channel thinking it was 1145 I for sure missed it but lo and behold – the master of tv timing tuned in just as they started the intros. It was awesome seeing you on tv since I missed when you were on CSI, (I was feeding our 1mo old and my husband yells out from the living room, “Hey is Wil Wheaton on CSI now?! That would be cool!”) I love the blog and have to say that you were one of a couple people who got me wanting to have my own. Thanks for the laughs and different points of view!
Hey, just caught you on MSNBC. Ditto what Dave says above. The interview seemed to be the same thing that everyone does on blogs, just a basic introductory to those unassociated with them. Don’t get me wrong, this was in no way your fault. It just seemed another example of a “news” channel trying to play up celebrity for ratings. UGH! Oh, and that other guy looked like he had recently had some serious work done on his face
So I’ve got the day off because our tv station is currently in pledge drive (means everybody works wacky hours). I read your blog this morning & decided to watch your MSNBC appearance since I was home. I felt so sorry for you! I could tell from the promo that they were totally going to take the “celebrity” angle. Then that gossip guy was all over that angle, too. All of this was also extremely incongruous considering the very heavy-hitting stories they led with. Being in the tv biz I was impressed with the general format & thrust of the show, I definitely think they could have had more to say about blogging than “Ooh, Paris Hilton should have a blog!”
All of this is leading up to my saying how impressed I was with you, Wil. (Ok, first name basis may be rather bold, but still…) You did a fabulous job sticking to the points you really wanted to get across & you made them despite the direction the show’s producers obviously wanted to go. You came across best of everyone in the interview & brought the level back up to an intelligent discourse. At one point I think Ron Reagan even tried to swing your way but they just didn’t have time considering how much coverage they had of the (definitely huge) breaking news of the day.
Anyway, thanks for mentioning it on your blog so I’d know to watch. Great diversion on my day off — now back to cleaning & maybe updating my own blog! — Katy
Just watched the MSNBC bit. I got the vibe that they were going for the “hey! look! celebrities!” instead of really wanting to talk about bloggong, but that’s just my opinion.
Barry
Hey,
I saw the Blog commentary on MSNBC this afternoon. What’s the deal with “The Shirt”?
Kinda funny how one of the hosts butted in to say “on Britney Spears’ Blog, you can tell it’s her that’s writing.” What, she’s not intelligent and can communicate effectively?
I am a fan of TNG shows as well as the books printed afterward. Wil, do you ever read them?
Take care and I will be checking out the site regularly..
What’s up with Stephen Baldwin getting a bigger part than you on *your* CSI episode? When I saw his name on the opening credits, I thought “gee, guest celebrity episode”. I wonder if the producers are heading that direction.
Dang, they treated you like a celeb, and here they’d been so good with Jeff Jarvis and Roger Simon. :sigh: I guess when you’re famous they forget you have a brain.
Oh, in honor of the Monty Python musical may I suggest a game of “Confuse a Cat” with the mogsters?
since i’m home sick today, i managed to catch your MSNBC appearance. you did a great job of steering away from the mindless celebs-blog-as-self-promotion nonsense, and spoke about bloggers as real people sharing stories and daily thoughts, unrelated to their celeb status. you spoke so intelligently as to make that other guy look like a fool (“oooh, paris hilton should have a blog” – UGH.) it’s always a pleasure to see you onscreen. thanks for brightening my sick day. :-)Jess
First I forgot in my post earlier: I’m so glad to hear your kitties are feeling better. They’ve been (& still are) in our thoughts the last few weeks. =) Second, I tivo’d the MSNBC segment right after I read your blog. I just watched it and, wow, they were pushing the celebrity angle! You looked and sounded so articulate. Even faced over and over again with the insipid suggestion that the blogs of famous people were simply another cog of the PR machine. Oh, btw, I *loved* the way you turned the reference from “celebrity” to “person with a high profile job.” As always the consumate professional.
I caught the MSNBC segment, too. You did so much better than Mr. I Got A Media Job.
I read Neil Gaiman because of you. Shane’s site rocks, too.
Paris Hilton? WTF was that little dude talking about?
Loved The Shirt
Hi Wil,
I can’t imagine you read all the comments everyone leaves on your blog, but if you happen to read this one…are you planning any San Diego appearances this year?
If you already visited us down here and I am just stupid and didn’t read that anywhere, my apologies.
Thank you
So the MSNBC spot was somewhat less than life-altering? Well, at least now I don’t feel quite so bad for missing it. I tried to catch it at work, but Stuff Happened.
I am sorry it wasn’t what you had hoped, though. It must really bite to make time to do these kinds of things, only to end up feeling like you didn’t accomplish what you wanted to. At least you’re getting some airtime…reminding those who don’t know that yes, you’re still around and still doing interesting things.