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February 12, 2002
By your command
Last night, we all took a trip down memory lane, to the glory days of Universal Studios, when Conan The Barbarian was so cool, they gave him his own stage show, housed in a cool-looking castle.
Back then, they actually shot movies at the Universal lot, and, if you were lucky, you could take the tram tour and actually see as much film work as you'd find on an average Vancouver street these days. I remember not being able to ride the tram down one of the magical backlot streets, because they were filming this movie with the kid from Family Ties, where they drove this cool car, and some stuff happened. It was a long time ago, so I don't completely remember.
Anyway, back in those glorious days, before runaway production ruined so many lives and dashed so many dreams, taking the backlot tram tour would actually put you, the lucky tourist, in the movies!
You could ride across this collapsing bridge, and go through an actual avalanche, from the Six Million Dollar Man. You could ride through the actual Red Sea, parted by the commanding voice of our tour guide, with the help of his trusty driver.
Jaws, the real Jaws, would actually jump out of the water at the tram, with only the skills of the aforementioned driver to save tramloads of "Maui 1980"-shirted tourists from certain doom.
Of course, facing the dangers of the movies was exciting and all, but that was nothing, after you'd driven into an actual Cylon Spaceship, and faced down the wrath of the Imperious Leader, with a little help from this guy named "Apollo", from the real Battlestar Galactica. It was the first real "event" of the tram tour, and it was my absolute favorite part. Even better than the Psycho house, or 1313 Mockingbird Lane.
Once, when I was doing that whole "Teen Idol" thing, I was invited to Universal to host Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards. It was there that I met, and developed the hugest crush ever on, the one and only Debbie Gibson. (Who, in a bizarre twist of six degrees of separation, is good friends with one of the actors who I just worked with in 'Neverland'. She told him to tell me "Hello". Rock.)
Anyway, while we were at Universal, shooting segments for the awards show, they took us into the actual Cylon Spaceship, and let us experience it, "behind the scenes". I got to put on the Apollo helmet, pick up the balsa wood gun, and lip synch, "In the name of the federation, I demand the release of the humans!"
It was beyond cool, even though I was like 15 or 16, and should really have been too cool for the whole thing, especially since I was hoping that Debbie Gibson would get lost in my eyes, and not be able to shake my love.
But, alas, the romance was not to be, and, although I did my best Apollo, they wouldn't let me put on the whole costume and do it for real tourists.
The closest I ever got to being on Battlestar Galactica was running around the Enterprise, which wasn't as good a consolation prize as you'd think.
A few years later, I read in the paper that the Battlestar Galactica attraction was gone, replaced by, get this, an escalator, that would transport tourists to the bottom of the hill, where they could wait in line for lame attractions like "ET's Adventure" and something stupid from An American Tale. Billed, at the time, as the "world's biggest escalator", it failed to impress me the same way that balsa wood gun and FX smoke-filled room did.
Although I hadn't ridden the backstage tour in years, I knew immediately that I would miss it forever.
I never went on studio tours again like the ones I did when I was 16.
Jesus, does anyone?
DEWD!!!!! TOTALLY!
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:16 PMwoohoo 1st comment. since my mom was a total hippie she never let me go to places like universal. when we took vacations we couldn't do anything she declared "too commercial" be glad you had the experience for the rest of us.
amellia
Hey I went on that tour, did the red sea/jaws thing, saw the Psycho house, did the Battlestar thing it was cool. Wasn't there some sort of submarine thing too?
Posted by: FormulaZero at February 12, 2002 07:18 PMzzzZZzzzzZZzzzPrepare to assault the GalacticazzzZZzzzzZZzzz
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:18 PMI don't usually post, but I've got to hand it to you Wil. I loved the ending. Every time you end a post like that I have to laugh and reminisce. Cheers mate!
Posted by: matt at February 12, 2002 07:21 PMWil... I know because it was mundane to you it seems less cool, but the stuff you got to do on TNG is far, far cooler than sitting in a Battlestar ship.
Posted by: Xkot at February 12, 2002 07:22 PM~sigh~ I always wanted to go to Universal Studios, but we always ended up going to Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm instead. That scene from The A-Team where Face walks past the Cylon and sort of does a "Do I know you..." double take put Universal Studios in my face (no pun intended) every week. I knew that if only I could go there, I'd get to be in some movie or TV show and be "discovered." lol!
Instead, it was Space Mountain, the Matterhorn, and Pirates.
Ahhh, nostalgia...now, who can sing me the full version of the "Tiki Room" song? :-)
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 07:24 PMDo NOT knock Battlestar Galactica
wooooohoooo 7th post!
roflmao
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:25 PMbeedy beedy beedy
oh the Twiki!!!
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:31 PMOle, ole! It's showtime!
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room.
Welcome to our tropical hideaway,
You lucky people, you.
If we weren't in the show starting right away,
We'd be in the audience, too.
All together!
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room.
I sing so beautiful, I should sing solo.
Si! So low we can't hear you!
My voice may not be so marvelous, but my profile is out of this world!
Ya-ho! But the trouble is, it's not far enough out of this world! Isn't that right, Smith? Oh, I see! Schmidt has no hair!
Mi amigos, stop the clucking. You sound like a bunch of old hens. There's a lot of birds waiting to go on. For instance...
The boys in the band are called kamikaze.
Because of their claws?
No! Because they're macaws.
And our fine feathered friend is a jolly toucan,
And two can talk better than one toucan can.
The bird of paradise is an elegant bird.
It likes to be seen and it loves to be heard.
Most little birdies will fly away,
But the tiki room birds are here every day.
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room.
Our show is delightful, we hope you'll agree.
We hope that it fills you with pleasure and glee.
Because if we don't make you feel like that,
We're gonna wind up on a lady's hat.
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room.
Our magnificent production is yet to come,
So strum the guitar and beat the drum.
We've been a hit and we know you adore us,
So come and join us in another chorus.
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room.
A little louder...
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room,
All the birds sing words and the flowers croon,
In the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room
Cherish, did you just listen to the mp3 of the song, and then type it up?
Because that was my plan, and you, you bastard, you stole the idea.
Go animatronics!
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 07:36 PMno, I remembered the whole thing by heart, the Tiki room was a HUGE favorite....I think I remember a couple of the other songs they'd do but I'd have to think about it, and only by request....
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:37 PMI'd just like to say, no offense to Wil's wife, but he and Debbie Gibson would have made a great couple. Really. They would've bonded like Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin or something.
Wonder what Debbie's doing these days? I haven't heard much since she was in Les Miz. (I would so have loved to see her do Eponine...)
Posted by: Alfvaen at February 12, 2002 07:38 PMJeebus...
Scroll, scroll, scroll...hope that Wil tracks IP addresses ("bestiality") and then wonder why he never told me the Battlestar Galactica story when I busted his balls for starring along side with Lorne Greene...
Damn, Hoss would be proud.
You should get a leaf blower.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 07:46 PMHey Wil,
Only been on one studio tour, Disney MGM in Orlando, right after it opened. It sucked. The Magic Kingdom has lost it's charm. Cedar Point is way more fun.
No, and stop calling me Jesus.
Posted by: christopher hearns at February 12, 2002 07:48 PMlol on the beastiality comment Wil. Poor Ferris.
I never got to go on the cool vacations like Disney and Universal. To this day I still have not been to either one.
Posted by: underdog at February 12, 2002 07:48 PMRoughy the all mighty.....plunks down a cheese offering to the Roughy god.....
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:48 PMbestiality, eh? I would have thought someone who posted under false names would prefer felching.
Posted by: Gigi at February 12, 2002 07:49 PMEnjoyed the post Wil, including the potshot at Vancouver. I realize the "Hollywood North" thing must be annoying to all you California-based industry tpes, but it rocks for me. Hehe. I love watching movies and recognizing streets, buildings and neighbourhoods where I've been. Too bad that most of the tv series shot here suck bigtime. (Andromeda, gag. Mysterious Ways, ick. Stargate, blah.)
Since X-Files left I've been bereft... not once did I get to hang with David Duchovny (who will always be Dennis/Denise to me) or Gillian Anderson. I did see Dean Haglund in Theatresports a lot - including "Star Trick: The Next Improvisation". (He played a long blonde haired Worf rip-off). But he's a local guy, so big deal. Your character was named Weasley, I'm sorry to say. :-)
The only thing that bites is Vancouver rarely gets to play itself... it's always Seattle or Washington or something.
Funniest location goof: "Rumble in the Bronx", where Jackie Chan is fighting a New York street gang in the shadow of Grouse Mountain. Whoa, I didn't know New York had a local ski area. Hee.
But Universal Studios... yeah, cool place. :-)
Posted by: Mandy at February 12, 2002 07:51 PMHey Wil! Nice reference to "Stand By Me" ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 07:52 PMWil, remember when we starred in that little "B" movie that no one saw:
"The Leafblower Strikes Back"
And Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert let us kick Bruce Campbell's ass?
And Fred Fowler...
As the Beaver.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 07:56 PMcheesy!
heh
(wonders what the hell is wrong with herself tonight)
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 07:59 PMdoesn't felching count as bestiality? I mean, they're wee beasties, but they're beasties, nonetheless.
- signed edgar, or something
we really need spudnuts back
All I remember of universal is I hated those escalators. If you want a more boring ride in all the world try that one.
As for Debbie Gibson. I still love her. She is now Deborah and came out with an album last year and has done numerous Broadway stuff. She is still around and I think she looks better now and she isn't all about, "Look at my boobs, look at my butt" She is still squeaky clean. Yay for her.
Posted by: Mike at February 12, 2002 08:08 PM*smacks jbay upside da head with a dictionary
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 08:08 PMjbay said: "we really need spudnuts back."
Yeah, I guess all that "I got nowhere else to go" stuff was just a bunch of tree huggin' hippie crap.
Posted by: Rob Matsushita at February 12, 2002 08:13 PMIsn't "by your command" one of the Paladin's lines from War Craft II? Have you been doing a little orc vs. Human battling Wil?
Posted by: Purple Nurple at February 12, 2002 08:13 PMWTF?
No one liked my leafblower/Fred Fowler dig?
I suppose.
Screw it.
I guess I have to post shit.
Like this.
To be appreciated.
And to have my humor understood.
Oh, neglect.
Bunch of shit.
Poetry perhaps?
Alas! Nay!
At least "Say Anything..." comes out on DVD soon so I can go tuck myself back into Cusack-land.
He returns emails.
And pr0n.
Oh, and cheese.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 08:18 PMSeeing what my name is, you know I had to love the last post on your site. :) Too bad they had to spell the car's name wrong in the series! And Galactica was waaay cool.
Posted by: Kit at February 12, 2002 08:18 PMWhoa, Richard Dreyfuss dejavu...
Posted by: Jenna at February 12, 2002 08:18 PMWOW, I remember all that. That poor fisherman.. minding his own business. I wonder if those damned calloused tram operators ever notified his next of kin? Can you imagine getting nailed 20x a day?
It's like a bad takeoff on groundhog's day.
I always wondered where they found room to put that stupid escalator.
Now I know... And knowing is half the battle...
YO JOE!
Gads, I should have *KNOWN* someone would know the Tiki Room song! Way to go, Cherish!!! Now, how about a duet of the Pirates of the Caribbean?
'Cause I'm certainly not even going to bring up "It's a Small World..."
Wh..wha...NO! NO!!! NOW IT'S GOING THROUGH MY HEAD!
"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hope and a world of fears.
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all...."
ForGod'sSakeSomebodyStopMEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 08:22 PMSam Raimi!
Rob Tapert!
Bruce Campbell!
Confessions of a B-Movie Actor!
The Chin!
I was so sad when the video store was out of Army of Darkness. I nearly cried.
But then I watched Spinal Tap, and all was right with the world.
Well, you know. You'll just be sitting there, minding your own business, and they'll come marching in, and crawl up your leg, and start biting the inside of your ass, and you'll be all like, 'Hey! Get out of my ass, you stupid rainbows!'
Ohhhh, rain-BOWS!
*giggle*
Posted by: Mandy at February 12, 2002 08:24 PMI think it goes a little something like
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Maraud and embezzle, and even high-jack,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We kindle and char, inflame and ignite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We burn up the city, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho
Wil; snag some IPs and let me at 'em.
Bet they're Canadian. ;-)
Filter! Filter!
And I don't mean that picture song!
Identity thief!
But, I canceled that credit card!
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 08:25 PMSpeaking of Cusack - wasn't he in Grosse Point Blank? Bloody good movie that!
Purple Nurple: "Isn't "by your command" one of the Paladin's lines from War Craft II? Have you been doing a little orc vs. Human battling Wil?"
DUDE, no way, if they do, it's a RIP. Cylons man, they were hardcore.
Posted by: AMStrange at February 12, 2002 08:27 PMThat's ok Roughy, I have that cancelled credit card, and it still works!
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 08:28 PMHey, was anyone else here terrified of "Evil Dead" when they were too young to know it was supposed to be funny?
Oh wait... that was just me.
What do you expect? I was only seven for Bob's sake. Demonic possession is a little heavy for a second grader. :-)
Bruce Campbell rocks though.
Posted by: Mandy at February 12, 2002 08:28 PMKJB...betchoo'd love my Bruce Campbell Soundboard.
And my bootleg pre-issue "If Chins Could Kill" and my pics of the Chin-man and ... heh.
I'm a dork.
I don't quite have a shrine, but I'm avidly collecting the Brisco County series!
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 08:28 PMlife? what life. My life is my son and my computer. Oh and work too. But that doesn't count.
Posted by: underdog at February 12, 2002 08:29 PMCherish, you have either worked at Disneyland/World, been there WAY too many times, or, like me, got the soundtrack album years ago. lol!
We also had the Wizard of Oz soundtrack and some Bill Cosby records. My parents came to hate the sound of "One time, when I was a child, I had a sore throat." Oh yes. They hates it. Somehow, my brother and I survived anyway...
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 08:33 PMRoughy, you're right.
I'm already coveting those items...
Gimme, bitch!
Be nice Roughy! You might bruise my Canadian feelings :( ... bad enough we lost a gold medal today, now you're blaming us for id theft .. *sniffle*sniffle*whine*whine* ...
K, ... I'm better now ... bite my Royal Canadian Hiney, Rough-boy
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 08:36 PMmmmm..apollo...my first crush..
Posted by: cathy at February 12, 2002 08:36 PM(just kidding, btw)
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 08:37 PMDon't worry, Dani...it's only a few, select Canadians that I refer to.
I'll spare you the URL.
But watch out for them.
They wield Leaf Blowers and dress like Fred Fowler.
"First you want to kill me. Now you want to kiss me. Blow."
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 08:39 PMOnly been there a handful of times, but I just loved that place. Oh and a former professor I had who taught figure drawing, anatomy and Illustration, who left in 98 to teach at Disney Animation was at Hallmark today giving a lecture....GO JACK LEW!!! soon to get his first screen credit in "Lilo and Stitch" out this summer
Any other Disney requests?
Posted by: Cherish at February 12, 2002 08:40 PMWil Wheaton was in Star Trek? Was he the guy who sat next to Mr. Sulu?
Wow, I mean, you think you know people...
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 08:40 PMDude, your "clever" little fake-name thing is SO dorky.
Get over your fat ass.
In all fairness, the majority of that stuff you mentioned is still part of the tour. Except for the Battlestar Galactica. And the avalanche is now The Mummy's Tomb. And sure, they still film out there on the lot. The Scorpion King, starring The Rock, has been shooting out there for like a year! Isn't everyone excited?
... Hello?
... Anyone?
... yeah.
Oh, and Providence.
Ooh, although I did see Jerry O'Connell one day standing outside a soundstage. He waved and smiled even though he was on a cell phone. Does that count as a connection, six-degrees of Kevin Bacon style?
Okay. Boring Universal girl going back to lurking now. Hasta!
Cherish, how about a little something from the Country Bear Jamboree? :-)
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 08:42 PMMmm, Jerry O'Connell.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 08:44 PMMama don't whip little Buford.
Mama don't pound on his head.
Mama don't whip little Buford.
I think you should shoot him instead.
Bang!
HEHEHEHEHEHE
Oh...this was about studio tours, wasn't it? I went on a studio tour about 3 years ago in North Carolina. All I remember is that they filmed Dawson's Creek there, and we got to wander through the school where there were all sorts of amusing things tacked to the wall that were just small enough print that the camera couldn't pick them up. Invitations to the school S&M orgy next Saturday, Warnings to beware of the Zombies of Satan -- fun stuff like that. Makes me wish I watched Dawson's Creek. :-)
Oh, and there was this beautiful fake tree that apparently Sandra Bullock used to climb out of the mental hospital in some movie.
It was fun, but not being a Dawson's Creek watcher, it probably could have been better. Hrm. Don't even remember the name of the studio now...
Posted by: MrsVeteran at February 12, 2002 08:47 PMI visited Universal Studios Thur Sept 15, 2001 so there were very few people there.
Well the American Tail thing is gone. Down by the ET ride is Jurassic Park water plunge ride and a fire demo from the movie Back Draft. The whole thing was worth the trip.
Now if you go to the Sony Pictures Studio tour, you can see a couple seconds of Wil Wheaton during the intro movie. (The Train scene from "Stand By Me")
Maybe it's because I'm older and more cynical, but theme parks these days have lost their original charm and innocence for me also. I've taken two trips to Universal California-1977 and 1996. I'll never forget seeing the Six Million Dollar man tunnel when I was 7. It was soooo cool to be in the same predicament that Steve Austin was.
Fast forward to 1996, and instead of some magic place, it seemes like a small collection of a handful of rides and LOTS of stores. Even the tour seemed so old (and when I asked for Babs, people looked at me strange). I think we spent maybe half a day total there.
Theme parks these days are just not the same. Even Disneyland and Disney World...no make that particularly Disneyland and Disney World don't seem like they're trying very hard anymore. I mean walk down Main Street USA and what do you see? Not the Main Street Walt Disney wanted, but the uber-Disney Store that Michael Eisner wants.
Cedar Point, Six Flags, Busch Gardens...yeah they're okay too, but they're just a big collection of rides without the theming of a Disney or Universal. All of them just want to make a bigger ride for their marketing and advertising scheme while they pray no one gets seriously hurt by the g forces that they now subject us to.
And yet, I still go. I still ride the rides. And I still look forward to the day when I can take my daughter to Disney for the first time so that I can see the excitement in her eyes when she meets Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
I guess that makes me sort of a hypocrite, but who cares if my daughter's having fun, right?
Posted by: Jon (from Detroit, not the other Jon and not Jsc!) at February 12, 2002 08:50 PMYou know,
It's not very nice to pretend that you're Mr. Wheaton (SIR!).
Don't make Him Loose the Moose on your Canadian arse.
Posted by: The Moose at February 12, 2002 08:56 PMI went to Universal in CA once. The stunt attraction at the time was Miami Vice (To give you a time range). I love theme/amusement parks and had a great time. Battlestar Galactica must've already been gone, or I just don't remember it. King Kong grabbed the tram, Jaws, Psycho house and I think the Clock building from the first Back to the Future.
Here in Cincinnati, oHIo we've had some movies filmed. Nothing recently, locations must go in and out of fashion with the industry.
That's a nice mountme hat you've got there!
Mount me?
Not til I've had a few beers!
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 08:57 PMYou know, I just re-read my post after putting it up there...I didn't mean to make it so much of a downer. Yeah, I've got some issues with parks these days and can go on forever but wow.
Sorry, guys.
Hey, I got front seat on the Millenium Force!
And by the way...
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There's a great big beautiful tomorrow
Just a dream away....
Yeah, Uncle Willy'd really say that.
You're lamer than a new Kevin Costner flick.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 09:06 PMFront seat on the Millenium Force... lucky. d:
The last time I was up at Cedar Point was when the Millenium Force was laying in pieces in the parking lot behind the Gemini.
*sighs*
I miss the roller coasters. ):
Posted by: kendoka at February 12, 2002 09:08 PM::Sigh:: I went to Universal Hollywood last Christmas for the first time in about 10 years. The tram tour wasn't nearly as good as I recalled it being. It made me sad.
As for Six Degrees of Deborah (as she likes it) Gibson. My cousin married a boy from New York who's best friend (best man in wedding) has been dating Deborah on and off again for over a year now. They all go out on the town together when she's not touring.
Is it sad that I remember watching that Nick Kid's Choice Awards just to see Debbie Gibson and Wil?
Posted by: Kimberly3 at February 12, 2002 09:08 PM
What's with the "I bet they're canadian" line? Aren't we the most polite, push-over people in the world? I always thought so. Even at the Olympics, we get robbed of a medal, ROBBED, and we're still saying "oh well, that's how it is." Puh-lease! Don't look any farther than your own backyard for the fake wils in this thread... but only if your backyard points south, because if it points north, then I guess it was a canadian... crap.
Posted by: Maple Syrup at February 12, 2002 09:13 PMHey Wil,
If you're really that into bestiality, why bother trying to get rid of those rats? You can just train them to suck your fat one.
I can't believe that there have been 70 comments in the time it took me to get home from work, and eat dinner.
We gotta have more of these 80s nostalgia-fests.
On another note, have you ever thrown a party, and invited a bunch of cool people, but some asshole shows up, thinks he's being cool, but is really just showing his immaturity and lack of self esteem?
It's kinda like that.
New version has IP logging.
:)
Posted by: wil at February 12, 2002 09:14 PMLets see....Season 1
Encounter at Farpoint
The Naked Now
Code of Honor
The Last Outpost
Where No One Has Gone Before
Lonely Among Us
Justice
The Battle
Hide and Q
Haven
The Big Good Bye
Datalore
Angel One
11001001
Too Short a Season
When the Bough Breaks
Home Soil
Coming of Age
Heart of Glory
The Arsenal of Freedom
Symbiosis
Skin of Evil
We`ll always have Paris
Conspiracy
The Neutral Zone
O, were you speaking figuratively? I know I know..I have way to much time on my hands.
Posted by: Jason at February 12, 2002 09:15 PMannouncement:
i have found my people!
i've never have been able to act like myself.
where was this site when i was on in h.s.?
damn all, it's after midnight here, i wish i was in cali... anywhere is better than michigan.
Posted by: ayngil at February 12, 2002 09:16 PMJason is a golden god.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 09:16 PMI agree totally ayngil. It's taken me over ten years to fully come to terms with my geekdom. Isn't adulthood liberating sometimes?
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:19 PM"On another note, have you ever thrown a party, and invited a bunch of cool people, but some asshole shows up, thinks he's being cool, but is really just showing his immaturity and lack of self esteem?"
Yo...are you asking me to leave?
Jerk-ola.
Heh, I was in the Yahoo! Internet Life (yil) Buzz yesterday...were you?
Okay, I'll leave now.
My self-esteem tanking.
The place is left to the Fowlers to protect and serve.
Lord help them if they use Leafblowers.
What's next? You'll force me to do your taxes?
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:20 PMJon (from Detroit)-
No, you are sadly correct in your judgement of Disney. Michael Eisner has been both its savior and its excutioner. He built it into a great corporation and then cut corners on quality in recent years. I'm a former Disney Cast member and it breaks my heart to see the way the company is treating the "Cast" now.
I leave with one verse of a parody of "Be Our Guest". I don't know who wrote it. Maybe I'll post the rest to the Soapbox:
Be our Guest,
Be our Guest!
Put your paycheck to the test!
When it comes to making profits Michael Eisner
is the best!
Dollars here, Dollars there!
Yen and Francs are everywhere!
With each film, it's not surprising, comes a TON
of merchandising!
God, I do love it so when you reference "Stand By Me". I'm such a loser. :)
Posted by: becki at February 12, 2002 09:23 PMHey Roughy, ever get diagnosed with chronic solipsism? :)
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:23 PMWoo-hoo! Wil thinks I'm cool!! *doing a geeky happy dance* ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 09:24 PMsol·ip·sism Pronunciation Key (slp-szm, slp-)
n. Philosophy
1. The theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.
2. The theory or view that the self is the only reality.
I'm in!
Where do I sign-up?
Or, as Shat would say:
I'm in!
Where
do I
sign-up
?
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:26 PMOh, btw, just to narrow it down, it's not a VD.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:27 PMSee, that's the beauty of it Roughy, you get to be the only member, kind of like a Billy No Mates. :) You know, like throwing a party and inviting a lot of cool people, but having NOBODY show up.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:29 PMThat sounds like UnrealisticExpectations.com...
So, yeah, I've got it!
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:30 PMOh, shit, Russ.
LOL. :)
Nice.
Posted by: wil at February 12, 2002 09:30 PMWanna join, Wil?
Now accepting applications.
Hmmm....
Well, maybe you should start your own.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:33 PMNow all we need is Spudnuts to start making some silly comments, and the day is complete.
Mwuahahahahaha
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 09:33 PMSo Wil, just out of curiosity, how did you actually do on Millionaire?
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:34 PMShe's no debbie gibson, but 80's mall queen tiffany will be appearing in one of the finer men's publications next month.
That kid from family ties? Come on Wil, that was Back to the Future, one of the greatest movies of all time.
And is it stealing when you quote from one of your own movies?
I never left comments like I left on Wil's blog.
Jesus, does anyone?
Or was it Weakest Link? Cut me some slack, almost my entire tv diet consists of three holiday helpings of A Christmas Story.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:36 PMNo, Oracle, just you.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:37 PMWil,
I went on that tour back in the spring of 1980, after finishing Naval basic training, down in San Diego.
Wow...thanks for the trip down memory lane! I remember the Cylon "exhibit" and the parting of the Red Sea and Jaws and all of that...
You mean to tell me, they no longer have any of that stuff?!?! (Mainly the Red Sea parting...)
I guess that's too "yesterday" for the higher-ups with Universal Studios.
Mark
okay, is it just me, or have we forgotten that Mr. Wil has done other things besides "Stand By Me" and "Star Trek".
p.s.
hey wil, maybe you should put a chatroom in here while you are at it.
okay, is it just me, or have we forgotten that Mr. Wil has done other things besides "Stand By Me" and "Star Trek".
p.s.
hey wil, maybe you should put a chatroom in here while you are at it.
Y'know ayngil, I don't think Wil would really want us quoting the bad dialogue from the Curse. Actually, I'm not sure that any of us could, come to think of it. Now, that's a gauntlet to be thrown!
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:42 PMMark -
It's like when Disney got rid of "Swiss Family Robinson". I'm still mad at them for that.
Bastards.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 09:42 PMI cannot wait for "Python II" or whatever that silly-ass snake movie Wil was in.
I hear that Jenny McCarthy's gonna be in it.
No one else would do the snake.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:46 PMNow Roughy, if you think back to Britney Spear's memorable introduction to her "Slave 4U" song at whatever awards show that was, you might reassess that last statement...
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:49 PMRiiiiiiight.
Like I watch for Britney.
If she's on, I won't flip, but I don't go outta my way looking for her...
Ever since I may or may not have done some Flash for an alleged BS official site...well, I got a little sick of the music, so it really doesn't do it for me.
But, I am, after all, a hetero male.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:53 PMNo, Oracle, just you.
Posted by Chris at February 12, 2002 09:37 PM
This made me laugh the hardest I've laughed in days.
Great Jorb.
Posted by: wil at February 12, 2002 09:54 PMThose last 4 paragraphs are why Wil is the coolest bastard ever. So nice to see someone who can step back a little and have some fun, especially with his own work.
Yours in Cake,
sims
Hey Roughy, thanks for clearing that last one up. I was still laboring under the impression that you were some form of orange fish that used spawning as a valid form of sexual expression.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:56 PMIsn't that a Koi?
Anyway, I'm a cat.
Don't you follow?
Cat's like cheese.
You'll see.
The cheese has it's own rules.
The cheese, however, doesn't quote the cheese.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 09:57 PMGlad to be of service Mr. Wheaton, sir. I will now rest easy knowing I'll never be able to do a better Jorb in my life. :)
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 09:58 PMHey Greetings from the second incarnation of Universal Studios (that's Vancouver, B.C.!)
I remember taking the tour when I went (twice)and I also saw the filming of Back To The Future Part 2.
KITT was a boiling, 70's carpet smelling car which I asked innane Canadian questions...like how fast do you go in KM(kilometers)?
"It was there that I met, and developed the hugest crush ever on, the one and only Debbie Gibson. (Who, in a bizarre twist of six degrees of separation, is good friends with one of the actors who I just worked with in 'Neverland'. She told him to tell me "Hello". Rock.)"
I thought she was calling you "Rock".
I was waiting for the Wil's Eyebrow, too.
Are you taking a role in "The Scorpion King"?
Hey, it could have been worse...I coulda thought she meant Hudson.
That'd not rock.
Go for the eyebrow.
The cheese stands alone ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:01 PMOh, but does the Chad quote the cheese? The servant waits, while the master bates.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:02 PMYep, the cheese has a case of solipsism.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:02 PMHey Roughy, Rock Hudson got alot of action in his day, too.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:03 PMProbably not from The Chad, though.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 10:06 PMThe recount would depend upon what you're into Roughy. Y'see there's the choice between Hanging Chads and Pregnant Chads.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:07 PMand don't forget dimpled chads
I'm a Democrat. I will not let you forget dimpled chads.
just you try
Posted by: jbay at February 12, 2002 10:08 PMwouldn't know, honestly the only movie of wil's that i've seen is "Stand By Me". i just felt like being a bitch. i am buying "The Curse" though, my luck i'll like it.
"Toy Soldiers"
Posted by: ayngil at February 12, 2002 10:09 PMOr you can just make sure your Chads are well hung ... works for me ;)
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:10 PMI am Debbie Gibson's sister. Well, that's what I told the kiddies in the big slides at Chuck E. Cheese. So if Wil had married Debbie Gibson, he could have been my brother-in-law!
and ... Jerry O'Connell? Did I see the name Jerry O'Connell? Augghhh! *swoon* I LUV him!
Posted by: tammy at February 12, 2002 10:10 PMHey, I went to school with one of those dimpled Chads. Nice to look at, but I wouldn't put alot of stock in them :):):)
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:12 PMIsn't he hot?
Hard to believe he was the fat kid in Stand By Me.
That's how I remember him to people. They get it right away. Funny now that works.
::As Drew Barrymore is leaving::
"Was it... The Chad?"
"No! The Chad was wonderful!"
Ahh, but The Dude abides.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:14 PMThank you KJB!!
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:14 PMJerry O'Connell ... yes, major droolage happening ... but just imagine ... a Jerry and Charlie O'Connell sandwich with you in the middle ... *sigh* ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:15 PMBoy did your story bring back some memories of those special summer days when Papa Dean, your grandfather, would take me and Uncle Rory to work with him...on the back lot at Universal Studios. No tour, no tram. Only bicycles (not unlike the one featured in ET) big basket and all,borrowed from the prop department. Come to think of it, we must have created the original Tour. Riding through the sets of Wagon Train, The Munsters, Leave it to Beaver, and, of course, my favorites, the original Psycho house and the Phantom of the Opera stage. Lots of summer fun, that is until we were banned. Seems we ruined a shot while riding through a desert backdrop on a sound stage. So, that's it, my own trip down memory lane. Love, Mom
Posted by: Mom, your Mom, really at February 12, 2002 10:15 PMDani,
Would you also care for Kevin Bacon in the sandwich? Or are we going Kosher?
It's not Shabbat ... I think I can go no kosher ... but if I get smited by Yahweh ... I'm gonna be mighty miffed ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:20 PMHi Wil's Mom! ... I got to talk to you before Wil's show in Vegas ... you and Rick were really nice :) ... and very patient with all us fans ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:21 PMNow Dani, would that be smited by Yahweh or smitten with Yahweh? Is that over the top? I can never tell!
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:22 PMWaayyy over the top ...
Bacon and Cheese miffen .. ROTFLMAO!!! ... now I'm getting hungry!
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:25 PMRoughy,
Can you please step on the same foot at the same time?!?!? My Chads are falling off!!
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:25 PMYou have more than one Chad, Chris? Yipe!
And you're welcome.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 10:31 PMPerdon, Perdon, Perdon monsier, you are cheesing on my shoe.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:31 PMSomeone *had* to mention Toy Soldiers, didn't they?
It has merit, though, being the only film to date where one can see Sean Astin's naked rump. (He was a studly little bugger then! Gah!)
Posted by: MsAllegro at February 12, 2002 10:33 PMActually KJB, in the new context of the Chad utilized above, a pair is more appropriate than just one. That would be lopsided.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:33 PMJust got a snack ... *nibbles on some cheese* ...
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:34 PMI knew there was a reason I mentally blocked out a lot of that movie.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 10:34 PMAnd nobody wants lopsided Chads ... am I correct?
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:35 PMOh. I have been chastised, then, Chris.
Or would it be... chadtised?
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 10:35 PMI feel so sexy when you nibble...
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:35 PMKJB, only if you've been recently crying or have recently ingested an incomplete serving of peanut butter, some of which has lodged itself on the roof of your mouth.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:37 PMmmm ... peanut butter ... be right back!
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:38 PMHey Roughy, she said she was nibbling on the cheese, not on the ham.
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:39 PMThat'd be a resounding "no", then.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 10:40 PMStop by for a bit longer than a week.
Then you'll understand the cheese.
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:40 PMLOL Chris ... Amen, man, Amen!
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 10:41 PMOooh, touchy, touchy. That would be limburgher, (sp?) I suppose. The smelly kind?
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:42 PMFirst off-- that was a good one Kimberly3 with the whole "Be our guest"
Second of all how's this for (nostalga/pathetic) you fill in the blank.....
I had such a huge crush on Wil back in the day,I kept a scrapbook or any pictures and interviews I could get my hands on-and well I have a photo in bl/wt from bop mag of you Wil and Debbie. The action caption read they became friends and exchanged info...... I was so jealous!!!!
Anyhow I havn't been back to the studios since about 3 years ago and before then, I was about 4 yrs old. "I'm 28 you do the math"
Nope, it'd be limburger.
The misspelly kind.
G'nite.
http://www.cheese.com/Description.asp?Name=Limburger
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:44 PMFrom Andie G. :
"I have a photo in bl/wt from bop mag of you Wil and Debbie."
Where'd you get a picture of me Wil and Debbie?
Posted by: Roughy at February 12, 2002 10:46 PMDamn those silent H's. And damn you Dani, now I'm nibbling on some cheese. And good night Roughy, Saltine dreams!
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:48 PMHey Roughy, that solipsism is acting up again. You should get an antiegotic from your doctor :)
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:49 PMOh shoot, I shouldn't be nibbling on this cheese so close to bed-time. It'll give me nightmares... Like maybe making countless references to History of the World Pt 1 and having NOBODY get any of them.....
Posted by: Chris at February 12, 2002 10:54 PMIt's been eons since I've seen that movie ... I barely remember it ... so I'd probably not get any of the references ... now, if you made references to Princess Bride, then I'd get them!
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 11:00 PMWell, since nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition...
you are the Brute Squad.
Betcha didn't know that.
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 11:07 PMOne is Monty Python .. the other is Princess Bride
Posted by: Dani at February 12, 2002 11:12 PMYup.
i just couldn't figure out how to end that.
Damn my eyes!
Posted by: KJB at February 12, 2002 11:15 PMWil,
Thanks for the trips down memory lane these past days. The last time I was at Universal Studios was probably in about 1982...and it was a disappointment then...kind of consescending and patronising.
One pleasant experience related to Battle Star Galactica...the aunt of one of my college friends was old friends with Dennis Muren's mother. We were able to visit ILM when it was still in Van Nuys (not too long after Star Wars was released) and watch Dennis shooting what was to be some stock footage of Cylon models. It was always amusing to spot that stock footage in the series and to see how often they used it.
This is the first time I've posted anything. Thanks for all your efforts...great web site!
Posted by: Rob at February 12, 2002 11:32 PMI love these comments! I wasted two painful, grim summers as a tram guide at Universal Studios Hollywood, and I hated nearly every moment of it. If y'all think the tour is boring to sit through now, imagine doing it 5 or 6 times a day, 5 days a week, in the heat of summer when the tourists are grumpy and sweaty, and want to know where the hell the movies and celebrities are. Needless to say, it wasn't pleasant. I've since moved on, and have recovered my senses nicely. I still get a happy when I realize I don' t work there anymore, and it was 3 years ago!
Posted by: Bec at February 12, 2002 11:54 PMY'see, that's where you went wrong. Disney's Jungle Swamp Ride had the primo script. Oy.
:)
Posted by: KJB at February 13, 2002 12:04 AMStudio tours! When I was about five or six, by uncle took me to BBC TV Centre in London where he worked. We got to see - from the studio floor - live editions of (only UK readers will get this) Blue Peter and Z Cars!
It rocked.
Posted by: Patrick Bateman at February 13, 2002 01:37 AMOh yeah, those were the days...
I remember the long line to get your picture taken with KITT in 1984, and I decided to spend the time waiting in line for a ride instead.
KITT was still there two years ago, but it was in a sorry state. Don't remember if it's still there. Do you remember the A-team stunt show? That was a big thing back then.
But now they have the DeLorean there in front of the BTTF ride, which is cool too. But you're right Wil, there's too much souvenir selling going on these days, at least I don't remember it being that bad in 1984.
-Oliver
Posted by: Oliver at February 13, 2002 02:42 AMHey I heard there is going to be a new Battlestar film.
Gotta keep an eye out for that
Posted by: Blogage at February 13, 2002 03:16 AMDamn, post #163?!
My guess is that no one will read this post, seeing as how your eyes would shrivel up from the lack of blinking caused by reading the previous 162 posts, but I'm gonna comment anyway...
Word.
I remember them shitz like it was just last night...
I recently re-visited Universal and was VERY dissapointed with the tour. It SUX compared to when I was a youngin'. Now the ride is populated with old ass movie posters and a LAME model of U571. Who gives a shit?! Bring back good 'ol Battlestar, and the KITT car!! Remember the A-Team van you could pick up?!
Remember when stickers were money?
Posted by: SLiDERpiMP at February 13, 2002 03:19 AMThe World's Biggest Escalator? That sounds about as exciting as the World's Biggest Ball of Twine. Heh.
I went on the Universal tour thingie in '86-'87. Somewhere in there. I screamed like a girl when the bridge nearly broke. And the water.. I developed a phobia of toilets from that. No joke.
Ahh, the memories...
Posted by: Luna at February 13, 2002 04:19 AMThat boy needs therapy.
Posted by: Donnie at February 13, 2002 05:29 AMI wonder if wil's mom gets email when she posts here. If I were wil's mom I would make up some fake email address so that I wouldn't get email from Wil Wheaton fans. I can just somehow imagine some of these people writing things like, "Dear Wil's Mom, Do you have any embarrassing photos of Baby Wil? Did you nurse him? Oh, by the way, would you happen to look like Gates McFadden? Send pictures soon!"
I am no one important, but I never leave my real email address here. I hates spam.
Posted by: T at February 13, 2002 05:57 AMBefore I moved to Texas about a year ago, I lived just down the street from Universal. I had a season pass so I could get various friends from across the country who'd wander into LA in cheaper (free parking, entry discount). And, yes, the ET ride is the lamest thing ever. They've got a really big live action Waterworld (it's better than the movie) show. Lots of fire and water and jet skis and water. Did I mention the water? The flatbread at Wolfgang Pucks is really good though. Oh yeah, they've added a bazillion resturants (real resturants) and a set of very good movie theatres (including an IMAX) on a concourse just outside the park. It's sort of a mall canyon without the top. Lots of food, music and herds of tourists or teens (depending whether its a weekend). [Lament for the loss of the Sherman Oaks Galleria]
And, lest I forget, a candy shop where they sell individual M&M colors by the pound across from a hot sauces shop.
Hey, I just went to Universal Studios Hollywood two weeks ago and it rocked. And I rode the World's Biggest Escalator... which is not all that exciting. The coolest thing was the tour in the tram over the studio and it was a nice reminder reading your notes. Made my girlfriend jealous as hell as she didn't get to go (gna!) :).
Posted by: Killraven at February 13, 2002 06:53 AMI went to UEStudios.com and they didn't have a single ride.
What a buncha crap.
Posted by: Roughy at February 13, 2002 06:55 AMWow, Wil... getting a lot of those wavey line sequences (flashbacks) lately, aren't you?
Posted by: chica at February 13, 2002 06:56 AMSo am I the only one who did the Star Trek show? I was on the bridge, very cool, got it on video! ...Oh and there were all these 'teen stars' there that day, like the girl from My Two Dads... And speaking of Back To The Future... I was there for the filming of that too... and in later years went back and got to be in that little scene with the car and Doc Brown... Don't tell me all that's gone too... soo sad :(
Damn, I could go on forever...Debbie and Wil...I think I have that picture too...
Loved Universal tours! I think I even have a picture of the cylon somewhere.
Posted by: Ness at February 13, 2002 07:07 AMBoy Wil, THAT posting brought back memories. I remember seeing all that stuff. Jaws, the Battlestar Galactica thing, the 'red sea' and much more. (I seem to remember feeling creeped out when I saw the house from Psycho sitting all alone on a hill...was that Universal as well?)
All in all, I have fond memories of that trip. But that was before KITT, so I never got to see that. (But I drive an '80's TransAm that has a few...er...modifications...so I'm happy AND geeky...grin)
Posted by: CanadianKnight at February 13, 2002 07:08 AMAm I the only person who PUKED on almost every ride I went on as a child, and was traumatized and ostracized by my peers as a result?
Not all of us have had the cheery experiences with rides as our friend Wil has.
speaking of battlestar gallactica....
richard hatch was at dragon con in atlanta this last august and, after giving the pep rally for the possible-almost-maybe upcoming battlestar movie (which was been in the making for about 5 years now.....and really only has a trailer), hinted that he was still single (this amidst a crowd for klingon-head-gear-wearing groupies) and gave everyone his room number (specifically the lay-dees). i thought it was groovy. :-)
Posted by: reb at February 13, 2002 07:27 AMChristopher Feyrer: Yeah, same story... except I don't get sick -- it's more like a panic attack.
Ah well. That's one reason why I'd rather go to Universal Studios than just about any other theme park... I'm certainly not going to go for the rides...
That's Deborah Gibson, the multi-talented, singer/songwriter, theater, and semi-nude magazine layout girl. Tiffany (if you remember back far enough), is the playboy centerfold.
Posted by: ze-mag at February 13, 2002 08:25 AMChris, I totally got your History of the World reference. As I read it, it was Madeline Kahn's voice that said it too.
Nobody does comedy anymore like Mel Brooks.
IT'S GOOD TO BE DA KING.....
"You men, go northward, you go southward. I'm gonna walk around here in a circle."
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 08:52 AMWhewh... Thank, noworries. That was painful. And not a tube of Preparation H in sight!
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 09:01 AMTREASURE BATH!!!!!
I'm a standup philospher!
You're a bullshitter?
Have you bullshitted this week? Have you tried to bullshit this week?
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 09:08 AMI coelesce the vapors of human experience into a viable and comprehensible form.
Oh, you're a bullshit artist!
Mmmmm.....
Did you bullshit last week?
No.
Did you try to bullshit last week?
Yes.
Comicus, comicus!
No, no, he's with me. He's my agent, Swiftus Maximus.
Thank you. It's been awhile since I've seen it.
Your Majesty, you look like the pissboy.
And you look like a bucket of shit!
Hear me! Oh, Hear me! All pay heed! The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen ...Oy! ten, ten commandments for all to obey!
How can anyone not LOVE Mel?
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 09:25 AMOld school Universal Studios was the king of rock/there weren't none higher/sucker theme parks shoulda called it sire....
anyways....
Not to be a player hater or anything. But I just wanted to remind people out there of 1 thing. As a Vancouverite, I am very happy to have several friends here in the 'film' industry. And whilst I KNOW SUCH INFERENCE WAS NOT MADE, it's not really Vancouver, or Canada's fault that so many productions have come up here. Canada's (really!!!) low dollar (now about 60cents to a US dollar) is why US productions come here. That's all. Our talent admits (not out loud ) that they simply do not have all the same abilities or quality of their US counterparts. It is simply a matter of bottom line.
Now as to WHY Canada has such a lousy dollar...well I wouldn't care to speculate *cough*softwood lumber*cough*.... j/k.
p.s. One of my friends was going to be doing art direction on the new Brian Singer Battlestar Galactica til they pulled the plug on the whole thing.
Peace.
Posted by: Neinkamper at February 13, 2002 09:28 AMOh and the Preparation H reference - all I have to say is this...
I was sitting flickin chickens
And I'm lookin thru the pickins
And suddenly these girls lay down my balls
I didn't even know dem
And they grabbed me by da scrotum
And dey started playin ping pong wit my balls
Oy da agony
Ooh de shame
To make my private public wit a game!
Auta da fey, what's an auto da fey?
It's what you oughtn't to do, but you do anyway!
Knight jumps queen, rook jumps queen, king jumps queen..
GANG BANG!
It's good to be da king...
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 09:47 AMWil, the tours aren't like that anymore?
Last one I went on was in '93 and they were still like that. What a bummer if they're not anymore. :( That was so much fun!
Posted by: Becky at February 13, 2002 09:50 AMI haven't been lucky enough to be take any of the tours. We never came to CA for vacation when I was younger (I grew up in Wisconsin, where vacation means headin up nort' and stayin in a cottage on da lake). We went to Disney World when I was 12, but that was BEFORE Universal there, when all it was was Disney & Epcot - even before they added the nightclubs and Pleasure Island or whatever it's called. Bleeve you me, I wanted to come out here and do the tour.
I guess I was deprived as a child.....
Vickie
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 09:56 AMPlumbing: It's the newest thing to hit Rome! Pipe the shit out of your house!
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 10:00 AMLMAO!!!!
The Roman Senate. The best Senate money can buy.
Did he just call me a big fat pig? I think he did, sir. Kill him!
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 10:04 AMBut what about that new sect the Christians? They are so poor......
How poor are they?
Thank you! They are so poor that they have only one god! But we Romans are rich, we've got alot of gods. The only thing we don't have a god for is premature ejaculation... But I hear that's coming quickly!
bu-dum BAM!
Posted by: Neinkamper at February 13, 2002 10:11 AMI've been on those tram tours a bunch of times. So many of the same old jokes are still getting trotted out, and a few have been dropped, which all the more gives it a feel of being in the Rocky Horror Picture Show, On Wheels. I almost felt sad when they didn't crack the joke where they point out the little dirt road that leads up to the house they used for Psycho, referring to it as the "psycho path." Ba dum ching!
I just went to Universal Studios in January, and while the tram tour now includes a little swing by Whoville (from Carrey's Grinch), there's some bits that are missing, that make me sad.
One is definitely the Battlestar Galactica scene/sound stage. Although Wil may be right that that building was where the huge escalator is now, I was thinking that maybe that building is now being used for an earthquake simulation, where the tram pulls in, it looks like a subway station, and then the earthquake starts, collapsing the second level, flooding the turnstiles and getting a few tourists wet.
Does anyone remember the sound stages you actually had to disembark from the trams to participate in? You'd file along these uncomfortable benches in two or three rooms, and you'd get instructional live demos on sound editing and special effects. They'd bring people up from the audience to do some of them - I remember going up there, circa '96, and smooshing plungers into mud to make the sound of some monster walking around or picking his nose, or something.
I think I started going to Universal right after Back to the Future, and so it was terribly exciting to see the town square, and the clock on the building, the diner on the corner, the gas station next to it ...
The Miami Vice attraction has been replaced by a (surprisingly) kick-ass Waterworld attraction - lots of 'sploshuns and swinging on ropes and things. Conan's attraction, sadly, has been replaced by a Terminator 2 attraction which absolutely blew me away, it was so good.
Of course, I thought the same thing about the Back to the Future ride when it first opened, and now I'm not so easily impressed but it. But still. The 3D stuff is amazing for Terminator, trust me.
Wow, so many memories.
I still think, even with all the shops and changes and even the lame ET ride (which is made up for by the Jurassic water ride), it's still a good time. Hey, I even saw Jay Leno there last time!
Boy, when you die at the Palace, you really DIE at the Palace.
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 10:13 AMMoses, this is the Lord, thy God, commanding you to obey my law. Do you hear me?
Yes! I hear you, I hear you. A deaf man could hear you.
What?
Nothing. Forget it.
If you don't put out, he don't get out. It's hump or death.
Humperdink?
Count de Money, Count de Money!
Its DE MONET.....
Let's end this meeting on a high note.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Where you from Chris?
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 10:52 AMJohn Colicos. Evil incarnate. I bet he had a whole garage full of leaf blowers.
Posted by: Fred Fowler at February 13, 2002 10:59 AMNJ, land of milk, honey, traffic circles, and cancer. You?
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 11:04 AMAhh, the Garbage, I mean Garden State.
Sunny San Diego, CA
But, originally from the Land of Cheese, Wisconsin.
I bow to you, Oh All Knowing One of Mel Brooks Lines. The Schwartz is strong in you....
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 11:08 AMSpeaking of cool attractions, I liked the ST experience in Vegas pretty well. Not the ride itself, but the "experience" part. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
And yeh. Universal Tram Tour bites the farm these days. I went a few years ago and it's not much of an experience any more.
Posted by: Courtney at February 13, 2002 11:11 AMSan Diego, huh? One of my best friends is thinking of moving out there. Said it was gorgeous. NJ actually is not as bad as its rep. Plus, I'll be moving to CT in a few months, land of bitchin' pizza.
May the Schwartz be with you.
I'm a Mog. Half-man, half-dog. I'm my own best friend..
I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.
Posted by: Courtney at February 13, 2002 11:12 AMYes, it is gorgeous here. All the same weather as LA. But, no (or very little) smog and none of the pretention of LA.
Bitchin Pizza in CT? Hmmm, WI has damn good pizza too - it must be the cheese. I've been on an Amtrak thru CT, but I've never been to NJ. NYC, but not NJ.....
HAIL SKROOB!
This ship is so big, if I walk, the movie will be over!
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 11:20 AMCourtney, you reminded me of something. My roommate Melissa and I went on a trip to London last year (I had lived in England the year before) and visited "The Star Trek Experience" in I believe it was the London Air and Space museum (or something to that effect). She is a geeky engineer, so had no problem with it. Well, we went into the exhibit, and let me tell you. I had not been as disappointed since the time my brother, mother and I drove all the way up to Prince Edward Island (my idea) because the travel guide said what a wonderful vacation destination it was, had a wonderful theme park, etc etc. It was red mud. The theme park was an innertube and a park bench. We stayed 2 hours then drove back to Quebec.
Anyway, the Star Trek experience was so dopey. None of the console stuff worked, it looked like it belonged in the Please Touch museum. The coolest thing was sitting in front of a trick mirror and seeing what you would look like as a Ferengi.
Ok, rant done. The IMAX Simpsons show was the coolest thing about the whole damned museum.
wil --
great story. you are dead on about how much universal studios sucks nowadays. the whole charm of the original universal studios was in being able to touch and feel and experience the SAME EXACT props and sets that were used by the actors in the making of their famous films and TV shows. as you said, the real shark from jaws. the real psycho house. the real battlestar galactica cylon warriors. i remember watching them shoot an episode of knight rider with 3 or 4 copies of the KITT car. i nearly wet myself. i also toured an exterior set they were using to shoot "back to the future 2." that was like the high point of my year. (btw i was a teenager... you and i are the same age.)
now it is all half-assed rides and simulations and stuff that "recreates" those hollywood moments but doesn't actually use any of the REAL STUFF! take planet hollywood for example. i've been to the ones in d.c., phoenix, and maui and they all have identical replicas of the terminator 2 robot model used in the movie. i say replicas because obviously they only used one for the actual shooting of the film and it cannot exist in three geographic locations at the same time. now, wasn't the whole selling point of planet hollywood that you could see real props from real movies??
i think the most ridiculous thing of all is universal studios florida, where they rebuilt the psycho house and the jaws ride and all that, and obviously none of it has ANYTHING to do with the original stuff that was in the movies... other than the fact that the rights are all owned by the same parent holding company.
ironically, wil, i met you at universal studios florida, where you and nicole eggert were hosting/producing the nickelodeon kids choice awards, circa 1989. corey feldman did a really bad song and dance on stage and i remember seeing danica mckellar and jason hervey and some other miscellaneous teen heartthrobs. anyway, before the show, you had some kind of jaws shark action toy in your hand and since you had to go on stage, you asked me to hold it for you. being a TNG fan i was happy to oblige and gave it back at the end of the day.
Unless you give me the security code, I'll give your daughter back.... HER OLD NOSE!
NO!!!!! Where did you get that?
Seize this, honkus!
OOOooh! Never say that to the cops!
Do you know the penalty for striking a Roman citizen?
Oooh, me me!
Yes?
....
They shove a living snake up your ass!
Hooohooh! No, but very creative..
Ya know, I lived in Vegas and never made it to the Star Trek experience.
Next time I go (my old roommates still live there) to Vegas, I'm going. No bout a doubt it.
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 11:28 AMPrepare ship for light speed!
No, no, no, light speed is too slow.
Light speed too slow?
Yes, we're gonna have to go right to....ludicrous speed!
Huh?? Huh??
Ludicrous speed? Sir, we've never gone that fast before. I don't know if the ship can take it!
What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? Chicken?
They've gone to plaid!!
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 11:33 AMOn this ship you will refer to me as Idiot, not You Captain.
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 11:36 AMSir! I've lost the bleeps.... the sweeps... and the creeps....
That's not all he's lost.
You stupid, ignorant, son of a bitch, dumb bastard! Jesus Christ! I've met some dumb bastards in my time, but you outdo them all!
I ran all the way home, doo wah doo wah ooh
Just to say I'm sorry, sorry ooh
What am i sayin.........
Sorry, Stand By Me was on Bravo's 5-Star Cinema last night (Chopper, Sic Kid) and I have had that in my head all day. I just needed to get it out. THanks!
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 12:01 PMKimberly3: Is it sad that I remember watching that Nick Kid's Choice Awards just to see Debbie Gibson and Wil?
I don't think so, because I remember doing the same thing!!!
Posted by: Kristen at February 13, 2002 12:06 PMI'm quite amused, as the picture of you that I hung in my locker when I was 11 or 12 was from the issue of Bop/Teen Bop that featured your hosting of the Kid's Choice awards.
And no, I'm not afraid to admit that. ;)
Posted by: Ellen at February 13, 2002 12:42 PMRunaway production may have ruined a few California lives, but for us here in Vancouver it's great! I am currently sitting in my office on the 27th floor of Harbour Centre and can see four different productions occuring on the streets below. Dark Angel, The Core, Glory Days and one I can't identify. T3 and X-MEN2 start filming next week.
Posted by: Jeremy at February 13, 2002 01:27 PMAlright, Jeremy.
Now I'm jealous.
Posted by: noworriesmon at February 13, 2002 01:31 PMWil,
thanks for the chuckle at the end of today's post!
The Cylon attack was the coolest thing, EVER! I went to Universal studio's when I was in third grade, or maybe fourth... and it was just as you described. Jaws, spinning avalanche, and the Red Sea parting. But to be attacked by Cylon's!! Wooohooo! Now, I am sad... Oh Frack!
Posted by: Fishonabike at February 13, 2002 02:05 PMBoy, that brings back a rush of memories. I remember the small stuff -- the "Town Hall Square" tat was used for everything from "Inherit the Wind", to "Harper Valley PTA", to "Back to the Future". I remember seeing two identical doors next to each other on the side of a western saloon -- except one was slightly smaller. I guess they'd put the hero in the small door (so he'd look more 'manly') and put the women in the larger on (to look more demure). I remember hearing that rows and rows of "General Lee" cars in a parking lot. They were shells; evidently they went through alot of'em when they filmed "Dukes of Hazard". I remember laughing when the tram operator told us that virtually every palm tree we saw near a lagoon was fake -- they were long dead. They had them in big pots so that they could move'em around and arrange them more easily. The leaves were spray-painted. When they fell off, they simply nailed'em back on. When we got off the tram, I recall taking a wrong turn and walking into a giant "cat" statue (I was told it was used in "Cat People", but never saw it).
When I was there, they still had these goofy oversized props from some Lilly Tomlin movie ("Incredible Shrinking Woman"). A giant revolver, a giant pencil, etc. I still have a picture of me inside a giant gerbil cage. Oh, and I saw Andy Kaufmann filming some forgettable movie. At least I think it was him (he was in full robotic makeup).
Great fun!
I went on the U tour in the mid-eighties. All that was at the gate was the car from Back to the Future (and it looked all beat to s***). The tour took us through lots that were a virtual ghost town that day, and as the Psycho house stood overlooking us on a hill (appearing for all the world like a decrepit tenement) Bruce (that goddamn shark from Jaws) groaned mechanically, rose halfway out of water the color of beef broth, and then wheezed to a stop, mouth agape.
Last year my wife and I went to Paramount. The tour was excellent, and as Voyager had just finished filming it's FINAL episode the day before, we had the delight of seeing Borg regeneration units sitting out back near a dumpster like so much gaudy trash. Cool.
yea chopper sick kids was so stupid y did they take everything out? and they called that kid lard instead of lardass.
Posted by: MeL at February 13, 2002 04:21 PMJess wanted me 2 post this....
Wil,
Please answer me back telling me why you won't unblock
me from your site, I told you that I'm soo really
really sorry that I did something wrong on your
comments page, soapbox, and stuff. I asked this guy
that also goes to your site, the one that always used
to yell at me, and I asked if he was able to get on
your site, and he said yes, and I told him that I
couldn't get on, and he told me that it wasn't Wil's
style to block people. And I agreed, because your so
cool and sweet, especially in Stand By Me. I'm really
really really sorry! Please, please forgive me, and
unblock me from your site because I can't get back on
it anymore because it says forbidden. I won't be bad
anymore I promise, I swear, Please please unblock me
so I can get back on your site? please your my
favorite actor and i'm soo upset please?..
love jess
Wow....total Stand by Me flashback.
Gonna have to watch the movie again.
Thanks Wil...that really made my day.
~Kaylin
I remember going to Universal Studios and catching the backstage movie ride. It was sooooooooooo faaarking cool! And just for a moment... I TOO, Jon Madon, wanted to crew a big motion picture/action film starring Bruce Willis (don't know why him specificly, I was 8 or 9). Then I decided to be an actor...
...and haven't set foot on stage since. I might do it, sooner or later.
-Jon
Posted by: Jon (not JSc, honest) at February 13, 2002 04:35 PMI realize that by the time I get to reading an updated postings, it's already the next day, as I don't have Internet access at my work.
KJB...they've removed the "Swiss Family Robinson" treehouse!?!!? Wow...shows you how old this ol' fart is... :o )
Chris and noworriesmon...LOL!...you two cracked me up with all the lines from Mel Brooks' movies..I caught references to "History of the World, Part 1" and "Spaceballs". Very funny stuff...what about some lines from one of my all-time favorites of Mel's..."Blazing Saddles"??
Hey, Wil...GREAT website, dude...you are quite the "famous" guy online...it's all good. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for all the memories from other people too...
Looking forward to more...
Take care,
Posted by: Mark at February 13, 2002 05:00 PMYeah, Mark, they changed it to like, The Tarzan Jungle House or something. Makes me want to vomit.
Le sigh.
Chris, sorry that your ST Experience bought the farm. As a matter of fact, the one in Vegas could've sucked, maybe I just don't remember.
Vegas + Alcohol = blurry memories
^_^
/Court
Posted by: Courtney at February 13, 2002 05:57 PMThe Star Trek Experience is the single coolest thing related to Star Trek, outside of actually being in Star Trek.
Did that make sense?
Anyway, when I write the final chapter in SpongeBob Vega$Pants, it will be mostly about how cool that Experience was.
Posted by: wil at February 13, 2002 06:12 PMI dunno. I think today's kids aren't gonna find KITT sitting out in the lot cool anymore than I can bear to watch the Old Mickey Mouse Club.
DO they have Men In Black in California - there's something great about getting to shoot things with both guns when no one is sitting next to you.
Posted by: jodilyn at February 13, 2002 06:24 PMI can only live vicariously through everyone else's childhood trips to Universal Studios... (;
Posted by: kendoka at February 13, 2002 07:03 PMAnd your trips to Vegas...
I really need to get out more.
Posted by: kendoka at February 13, 2002 07:03 PMYou're all much luckier than me. I've been stuck in frigid Ohio my WHOLE life. All we have is Paramount's Kings Island, with some very short and VERY cranky Klingons.
Posted by: Bree at February 13, 2002 07:07 PMOh, but there's Cedar Point... which used to have stinky, grimy Berenstein Bears!
Posted by: kendoka at February 13, 2002 07:11 PMThat's got to count for something. (;
Posted by: kendoka at February 13, 2002 07:14 PMThey have the IMAX theater with the corrugated steel roof, too.... which was a GREAT place to be when those inevitable Lake Erie thunderstorms spawned tornadoes and waterspouts and stuff. (;
Posted by: kendoka at February 13, 2002 07:16 PMWow,..we never did the studios thing, but my Dad was a VP for a plastics company that supplied Kenner and Hasbro and all those guys. He would bring home all the prototype toys that more often than not never made it into production because of cost, or safety problems. And I think I always felt the same remorse that you speak of when I learned at such a young age how much truly great stuff gets thrown by the wayside in order to let the flow of the mediocre continue.
Atlas Shrugged is all starting to make so much more sense to me in my old age :)
Posted by: Banquo at February 13, 2002 08:31 PMMark, glad to have provided some amusement for someone other than the psychologists... Can't help on the Blazing Saddles tho, fell asleep through the only time I watched it. I happened to have been on a date at the time, which should show you how boring it must have been to put me to sleep thru a Mel Brooks movie. But I digress. I tried to bring some out from High Anxiety, but without success... Ah well, maybe I should quote some lines from Silent Movie :):)
Posted by: Chris at February 13, 2002 08:32 PMCourt-
I don't know why we didn't think to bring some hard alcohol into the exhibit. There was this one "game" where you had to shoot some kind of bubbles on the screen based upon where you were on the same screen (sort of like an UnCool VR game). I bet it would have been alot more fun after a few Vodka tonics... No wonder the English drink so much....
LOL! I WORKED at Cedar Point! Trust me, it's NOT exciting. Welcome aboard the Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad Ladies and Gentleman. While riding we do ask that you please remain seated at all times keeping hands, arms, and legs inside the car. Please secure all loose articles such as hats, bags, strollers and cameras as Cedar Point is not responsible for there loss or damage should they fall from the train. Remember please that eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted. Thank you and have a great day at Cedar Point... America's ROCKIN' Roller Coast!
:) Oh the memories...
P.S. I can say that whole thing in about 15 seconds! Don't you love people like me!
Posted by: Bree at February 13, 2002 09:12 PMOh, lawd, not another Stand By Me reference.....
Posted by: Jason L at February 14, 2002 07:31 AMi have got to break my livejournal addiction and get here more often...my poor eyes cannot manage to go through hundreds of comments at a time.
anyway, wil, you amuse me so very much. in a laugh out loud way that leaves me thinking 'damn i love that wil wheaton'.
Posted by: shanna/setf/y'know at February 14, 2002 12:21 PMAsk your friend Debbie Gibson if she knows the other girl from back then, Tiffany, who's going to be in Playboy. Now THAT would rock! And would make you cool.
Posted by: Scratch at February 14, 2002 04:04 PMDoes anyone remember Fraggle Rock?
Posted by: Beastly_spike at February 15, 2002 11:07 AMWil! What a fantastic site! So much to see and do!
I remember going to Universal Studios when it was still cool too! (Summer '82) I had heard how much the park had changed so when my husband and I had our honeymoon in L.A. we wound up taking the Paramount walking tour instead. It was really nice. (They were just wrapping up extra shooting for ST:Generations.)
I've brought out my pictures from that visit to Universal and found a picture of a cylon. If someone wants me to post it, let me know...*LOL*
Two Words
ROLAND RAT!!!!!!!
Posted by: Beastly_spike at February 17, 2002 01:53 AMDamn. I remember the cylon space ship. It's gone? That's a real tragedy. Generations of youth who will never experience it as we did. Mind you, they will probably never experience Battlestar Galactica...
Posted by: GameCat at February 18, 2002 06:03 AMHey Wil,
I was searching for some info and photos from the Battlestar Galactica show, cause I worked it after Highschool from 85-89.
Your right, it was the best!!!
Great to see you had a fondness for it as well.
Posted by: Art at August 29, 2003 02:12 PMhey, i was just wondering if anyone knew the name of the song that had the lyrics, "remember back when stickers were money, and everyone had nine lives?remember you'd get stuck in sticker juice..and then say im tiiiired."
i had it on tape but lost it and ive been looking around forever. if you know the name of it just give me an email please id really appreciate it.
Posted by: J at March 16, 2004 05:44 PMWhat's Crackin! - Just need to go Play Bingo - for my Online Bingo Habit! But I cannot Find a Good Bingo Online website to cover my bingo addiction!
Posted by: Bingo at October 25, 2004 03:37 AMPost a comment
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