Here are five things I want you to know:
- My friends, Kumail and Emily, wrote and produced a movie called The Big Sick. It’s about how they met and fell in love, and it’s wonderful. It’s a great date movie. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming without being saccharine, and it’s a true story! It’s a little indie movie, but it’s holding its own against big summer blockbusters, which is awesome. I want everyone to see it because it’s a great film (it should absolutely be considered during the award-o-rama season), but also because the way the studios work, it’ll only stay in theaters if it continues to outperform expectations. So please go see it, and tell your friends about it. (Those of you who are old enough to remember the early MeFi days will know where I got my linking style.)
- Yesterday morning, Anne woke me up twenty minutes before my alarm did, because she needed me to hear the noise our air conditioner was making. It couldn’t have waited until I was ready to wake up, when I was starting to come out of my deep sleep cycle, because it was making a noise similar to putting a handful of ball bearings and some broken glass into a blender. It turns out that the motor blew out during the hottest three days of the year so far, because I am a fucking idiot who forgot to change the ten dollar air filter (in my defense, we did the math on the calendar and realized that Anne was in emergency surgery when I should have been changing it, so I may have gotten the reminder from my task list a whole second before I dismissed it forever). It was so hot in our house, things in our pantry were melting. I’m grateful that we had eighteen hundred dollars in a sock just for such an occasion, and by the time the sun had done its worst, it was repaired. So consider this your reminder to go look at your air filter and change it, if necessary.
- I played games for the first time in months yesterday. My group was dealt a TPK when the last two members moved away in January, and I haven’t had anyone to play with. At first, I was happy to take the break, because gaming has been my job for the last four years. But as time went by, I became acutely aware of how significant gaming is to my life, my joy, and my reason for being. Tabletop is complicated for me, (and, honestly, Board Game Subreddit: maybe it just isn’t the right snow for you and you don’t need to rage at me about every single episode we do) and while I’m grateful as hell for everything it’s done to promote the hobby, the way Legendary has handled the fourth season and the relentless shitting on it and me by random internet strangers has taken its toll. I’d been so consumed by the things that made the show a bummer this season, and I’d been unable to play games for the sake of playing games for so long, I completely lost sight of how much I love gaming, how proud I am of our show, and the good it has done not just for my life, but for the thousands of other people who have shared their stories with me. So when we played Lords of Waterdeep and Splendor yesterday, it was like coming out of a fog of sadness for the first time in at least half a year.
- I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Marley recently, and just this morning I came across a record I didn’t know about: Dreams of Freedom (Ambient Translation of Bob Marley in Dub). If you enjoyed the ambient tracks or the dub reggae I played on Radio Free Burrito, you have got to check out this record. It’s beautiful.
- Speaking of RFB, I had an episode about 3/4 finished two weeks ago, but I really just hated it so I sent it to the land of wind and ghosts. I know that I’m overdue to release a new show, but I didn’t appreciate just how challenging it is to do a weekly podcast that isn’t about current events, or features interviews. I feel like I have to go to this mental box to find stuff to talk about, and recently it’s been empty and sad (HEY JUST LIKE ME HA HA THAT IS A JOKE AND NOT REAL AT ALL EVERYTHING IS FINE I AM FINE HA HA HA). So rather than force something that I think is shitty garbage that sucks, I’ve just been waiting until I have something worthwhile to make.
So that’s five things I want you to know on this lovely Sunday that’s way too fucking hot. What do you want me to know?
EDIT OH SHIT I FORGOT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS ALSO BUT SIX THINGS I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS WEIRD TITLE SO I’M NOT CHANGING IT: I am honored to be a guest on this week’s Lovett or Leave It podcast.
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I’m glad that Anne is out of the woods, and that your air con is also back up to snuff. I can’t for the life of me figure why I’m clicheing at you.
Hey Wil,
I know this isn’t related to this post but I wanted you to know I FINALLY got to watch your episode of Whose Line and I, therefore, wanted to let you know that I thought you did really well. I am involved with a Improv group where I am and have been for years and singing improv is still my Kryptonite. Well done!
Hi Wil, it’s pretty much all been said but I’ll throw in my 2 cents as well. Because of you I have a dangerously overstuffed shelf of board games. Literally because of you and Tabletop. It’s a great show and I hope you can untangle the behind the scenes politics to make it fun and a pleasure to make for you. The way this season has been released and your comments regarding last season has made me wonder if you might just pull the plug on it but I sincerely hope not. You’re doing great work there sir. It’s also the reason I own the Tabletop mug which following postage and import fees to the UK, makes it just about the most expensive mug on Earth! But I had to have it because again, I love the show. 😊
Not much can be said about ‘the internet’. Sadly it’s the minority that are the vocal ones and seek out to make everyone misery for their own pleasure. The onslaught you and other people of a ‘verified’ level must be tiring but remember that they are the minority. People that appreciate the things you do click a silent ‘Like’ or thumbs up. That’s a full on ‘this was great, thank you for making it’ to me and has more meaning than some douche that vomits a few sentences of hate to see if he can out do the last commenter. Wheaton’s Law should be the internet’s golden rule – Don’t be a dick!
So in summary, please find the happy in Tabletop again, don’t let the corporates or the internet scum ruin it for you. Know you have a solid Wheaton fanbase behind you that looks forward to your show, podcast, writings, etc.
And yes I really want to see The Big Sick when it opens here. 😊
Peace out sir. 🤘😎✌️🖖
Wil, if it wasn’t for you, I’d still be playing Monopoly and Scrabble, which are fine games I guess, but still.
If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have built a fun way to connect to my niece, for whom, every Christmas as a gift for the last few years, I’ve bought one of the games featured on Tabletop. (I’m actually kind of jealous of her game collection at this point.)
If it wasn’t for you, my group of friends wouldn’t have had anything to do as we grew out of the Saturday night bar scene.
Honestly, to hell with the haters and gatekeepers. Some hobbies seem to attract that type more than others, and that type seems to be attracted to the internet more than others. I love reddit for its niche communities, but if one of those communities is full of aholes, there are plenty of other places to visit.
Hey Wil,
I’ll just say what everyone else has been saying…screw all those negative people. Don’t let them take one second of your thoughts and time. Instead just keep doing what you are doing…being creative and entertaining lots of people in the process.
Thanks Wil. I’m a new follower on your blog, and someone told me you were writing one. I saw Stand By Me when I was a kid, and I really liked it. It’s nice to get to know you in a whole new way.
The five things I want you to know are in relation to a 7 Day Retreat I’m doing to quiet my mind. Each day so far, I give myself a gift to help me – they have been qualities. I just finished day 5,& here they are:
Gratitude, Surrender, Listening, Joy, Unconditional love
And today’s day 6:
Humility
It’ll be an interesting day. Each day, I get to work my gift. 😊
Blessings
Debbie
ps – I’ve been doing a video each day too. In case they’d be helpful to you, here’s my YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVfarhPMx9Wwz0YkjuYxD7w
Hi Wil,
I just wanted to say I really enjoy watching your show from Australia, every fortnight without fail. I know it has been drag this season, but seriously the results are as good as ever and I hope that you really proud of what you and your team have produced. You should be. Thanks again.
FWIW, I still watch Tabletop, even if waiting for it to be finally publicly available sucked. I even got a free Alpha membership and timed it so I could watch Fury of Dracula and Mysterium but didn’t pay up because I don’t see why I should throw money at a show that has a major production company behind it. I know you understand because you are just as frustrated about the situation as many of us are. The other factor this long lead time caused is that I don’t use tabletop as a guide of what I should buy anymore as by the time an episode comes out a game will have been out for two years. Thankfully there are quite a few review and how to play channels these days to take that role so I’m watching yours with the idea of “I wonder how badly Wil will roll the dice on that one”. :).
Speaking of how to play channels, you should totally invite Rodney Smith from Watch it Played, if you’re doing another season.
Your episode of WLIIA was different, but I loved it. Especially Helping Hands, because you DID things, and it wasn’t just Ryan (and Colin) carrying the scene, with little bits of input from the guest. Ryan even said he liked having you there because for once he didn’t have to eat all the food by himself! (I wondered if they pulled/postponed your episode last season b/c of the gun thing…?) I’ve done improv (and straight theater), and I admire anyone who can get up and do it. The guys on the show obviously enjoyed playing with you. Screw the haters, they have no idea what they’re talking about.
And here’s some context for you: I’m a book addict. When I’m reading a good book, that is ALL I WANT TO DO. Don’t want to eat, sleep, work, and especially don’t want to watch TV. I’m currently reading a book that I’ve been wanting to read for over a year. I took the day off work to read it. But Tuesday night, I took a break from the book to watch two shows with my husband: 1) your episode of Whose Line (FINALLY!) and b) @Midnight (back from hiatus!).
See also: comment thread on WLIIA FB page here, with tons of mentions of how great you were in Helping Hands. 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/cwwhoseline/videos/824091674425868/
I want you to know how much I appreciate Tabletop and the work you (and the crew) put into it. Tabletop brought me into board games in a big way; it allowed me to connect with my father, it allowed me to discover new friends when I moved to London, and has brought me a lot of happiness over the last few years. So thank you for that.
Also your involvement in D&D shenanigans and Ashes of Valkana has me playing D&D now, making great new friends and for that I’d like to thank you as well.
You’re a good one, Wil Wheaton. All the best wishes in the world to you, Anne and the numerous pets in your life!
Wil,
I love Tabletop and what you’ve done on it! And Ashes of Valkana! I’m so sorry that some people feel the need to sh** on you for it. You seem like a really good guy and I wish you all the best!
Tabletop is great man and I really love to watch the show. It lets me experience the fun of gaming with friends when I’m not able to fit my own games into the chaotic mess that is usually life. I know I don’t have to tell you this but the internet is fun of crappy people who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives but to tear others down. It is really a shame that this is what consumes so much of the internet. You’ve got a great show that loads of people like to watch and I have no doubt I will continue to watch it as long as it is made.
The number 1 thing that I want you to know is that we JUST saw you on Whose Line Is It? and you were AMAZING!!! We’ve watched every episode of this show and seen it live a couple of times too when they’ve been on tour in our neck of the woods, but it’s been a long time since we laughed as hard as we did with you! You were about the gamest contestant ever on helping hands! So thank you SO much for that!
1a. #1 reminded me of how much I want to see more of you on my tv screen – mainly because I watch more tv and as much as I love the movies, I like getting to see my favorite actors every week….
I want you to know..that I too struggle with the thoughts and feelings of I’m not good at this, this project sucks, I’m doing a shit job, I’m not worth it, etc, etc…almost daily. Whether it’s a miniature I’m painting/building that just doesn’t want to turn out the way I imagined, the new building maintenance job I’ve taken with no prior experience, a story I can’t find motivation to finish writing, a fight my totally awesome partner and I have gotten into or any other of a thousand triggers. The things I’ve found that help get through the moment are to pause, take a breath, and remind myself that EVERYONE who tries to do anything worthwhile has these feelings. The most important step is to PUSH THROUGH. Put down the Xacto knife, brush, keyboard, wrench, what-have-you; but, only for a moment! Keep working, keep creating and it will get better…most of our greatest successes come on the heels of seemingly dismal failure.
Much love, Wil! Hang in there, buddy!
Everyone else has already said it but, I LOVE TABLETOP!!!! I force all my friends to watch it, I force my wife to watch it and then after I breakdown their “I’m too cool for boardgames” walls- we play games!! It is so wonderful to be able to get my friends hooked on tabletop gaming. Thank you for Tabletop, I hope there is more to come, but if there isn’t- that’s ok too. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll probably watch that too. 🙂
To wilw: Big, perfect, supportive hug
To the hed weasels: Bugger Off (grabbing them by their shiny barby tails and flinging their sorry asses into the nth dimension)
We are here. Sending care your way….
This is a thing
http://fivedayoldseafood.com/
Hey Wil,
Just wanted to say thanks for TableTop. Despite whatever politics you have to deal with behind the scenes, I love the show and it is the sole reason I’ve become such a hardcore gamer (despite the fact that I can’t find anyone to play Munchkin with…haha). Don’t let the assholes on the Internet get you down. You’re doing good work here, and we appreciate it.
Anyway, I’m not sure if you’re going to be at Gen Con this year, but I hope to see you there.
Wil, you aren’t the only one to forget about changing an air filter. Here’s a true story that happened many years ago to THIS idiot. I had been a manager at one of the old Starlog Comic And Science Fiction Universe stores. The store had this HUGE fucking air conditioner. Well, the long and short of it, I had forgotten all about maintaining the thing, mainly because on most of the shifts I was by myself and did not have the opportunity to get the washable filters cleaned. One night when one of my coworker friends was working with me at the store, there was this snapping sound – I had no clue what had just happened. I was about to find out, and it wasn’t going to be pretty. My coworker friend wrote me a note to remind me to call it in to the corporate office the next morning, and it went something like this: “It is one hundred million degrees in here. God Help Us! – Dave” The short of it, a gear band in the AC had snapped, because the unit was overclocked (and, well, the thing with the filters). So after a call to corporate, a repairman came and replaced the filters and the snapped band. Another coworker friend of mine was so overjoyed that it was working again that he literally ran into the room where the AC was so he could get cooled off. So, I learned a big lesson that day: ALWAYS have a clean air filter in an AC, regardless of circumstances.
Hey, Wil.
I am just now finding out you had a blog through the Boardgame Geek website. I have never watched any other mediums you’ve been a part of and, frankly, knew your name but didn’t know what you were from. That said, I loved Tabletop. That show, single handedly, brought me into a whole new world of board games. I saw some people playing Betrayal in 2014 (i think) and immediately looked it up. One thing led to another and I landed on Tabletop. I bought the game the next day after watching that video. I am limited to mainly party style games (Sushi Go, Sheriff of Nottingham, The Resistance, etc.) because of my playgroup, but have games like Dead of Winter sitting on the shelf…knowing I will get to play them one day…I hope, haha.
Anyway, I see you write about depression and that’s a bummer. (Pun? Intended?) I just wanted to let you know that I identify with you. You’ve inspired me to inspire others to gather around the table, unplug, and play hours of games. It’s awesome. I hope to see more content like that from you someday (I have even thought about producing my own content as well). I didn’t intend for this to be as long as it was, but just thought I would combat the negativity that has been thrown toward you.