. . . just like me.

Posted on By Wil

Ryan and Nolan played basketball in the driveway. I had my PowerBook on the breakfast table, and I caught bits of their conversation through the open window as I worked.

". . . a freshman?" Ryan said.

"Yeah," Nolan said.

"What’s her –" A car drove up the street, and drowned Ryan out.

Her? My parental spideysense switched on, but I tried to stay focused on my work.

"That’s cool." I thought. "I shouldn’t be listening to their conversation, anyway."

For the next several minutes, I couldn’t hear anything but the bounce of the ball, and then "Brick!" from Nolan as the ball bounced off the backboard, and landed beneath the kitchen window. Ryan walked over to pick it up.

" . . . is so freakin’ hot," Nolan said.

"Yeah," Ryan said as he picked up the ball, "but she’s not your type. She’s a geek, just like me."

I looked out the window. Did he see me? No. He tossed the ball back to Nolan.

"Your ball," he said.

I closed my Powerbook and watched them play in the fading afternoon sunlight. I saw that Ryan was wearing a Mozilla T-shirt.

. . . just like me.

commentary tracks of the damned looks at Nemesis

Posted on By Wil

Star Trek: Nemesis is featured in this week’s Commentary Tracks of the Damned in The Onion AV Club.

What went wrong: Nothing, though Baird’s offhanded and repeated dismissal of pre-established Star Trek canon—characters, design, relationships, backstory, previous Trek
films—strongly implies a fatal contempt for the series. He brightens
noticeably when describing the parts of the film he got to design from
scratch, or redesign to override previous series installments.

Comments on the cast: Virtually none. Baird devotes a bare
word or two of praise to actors Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner, but
mostly seems to regard them as props amid his more interesting sets and
computerized cameras. Judging from an awkward reference to "Patrick and
Brent and… Worf," he doesn’t even necessarily remember their names.

Inevitable dash of pretension: Baird’s entire commentary is
self-important and affected; his gravelly murmurs make him sound like a
beat-poet wannabe at his first open-mic. Suddenly the film’s
ludicrously weighty tone makes more sense.

I wish someone could explain why the final film in the TNG canon was given over to a man who had such obvious contempt for the legacy and mythos of Star Trek. What a waste.

reminder – the WWdN: Up4Poker invitational is tomorrow

Posted on By Wil

Just a reminder that The Friday Game at PokerStars is all set up, and taking registrations. We had 152 players last week, and I can’t wait to see if we match or exceed that number this week.I’ve had a great time in the first two games (even though I haven’t gotten anywhere near the money) and I’m excited to see what the third week brings. I can honestly say that I’ve been looking forward to the game all week.

Last week, I live blogged the action at CardSquad, and I plan to do it again, to keep the "TV table" meme alive.

Here are the details. Please share them as you see fit:

What: WWdN: Up4Poker Invitational
Where: PokerStars.
When: Friday, October 28th. 9:00 PM EST
Password: monkey
Tournament number: 14090593
Buy-in: $10+1

As always, if you bust me out, you get naming rights for next week’s game . . . but I’m feeling lucky this week, so watch out for my raises. Hope to see lots of you there!

Now that’s what I call your last chance to see me at ACME

Posted on By Wil

For the last month, I’ve been doing a show at the ACME Comedy Theatre with Shane Nickerson. It’s called Now That’s What I Call ACME Volume One and it’s a "best of" show.

I’ve got two writing credits in the show, for a poker-related sketch called William’s Tell and a a sketch I co-wrote called Living and Dying In DWP, (which CMack and I wanted to call The Tibetan Sketch of Living and Dying, before we were overruled.)

I’m also in the funniest series of sketches I’ve ever been in, called "Tribute." I love these sketches so much, I will perform them for the rest of my life, if Anne (who wrote them) will let me.

There are four performances left, counting this Saturday night.

Details:

What: Now That’s What I Call ACME, Volume One
Where: ACME Comedy Theatre
When: Saturdays until November 19th.
Time: 8PM
Tickets: $15. (Reserve online)

This is the last chance you’ll have to see me at ACME for a looooong time. I was sick with mono when the last writing session happened, so I won’t get a chance to be in any of the shows before mid-2006.