Wil, I first saw you in the J. Keith VanStraaten show, about 6 years ago. All I remember about it was that you announced that you were retiring your theme song, which was the TNG theme, and I, sitting in the front row, shouted, "But Wil, nobody knows the theme to 'Toy Soldiers!'" It got a laugh. It was special to me, and when I could afford to I started taking classes at ACME. Been there ever since. Thanks! Speaking of which, how can I get ahold of you to see if you want to film an episode of the Web series that I'm producing with some ACME folks? It's called "Robot, Ninja & Gay Guy," and we have a guest star role available as the Nosy Neighbor. shoots in WeHo, one day, your convenience. ~Trav

I was going to say, minnesota. "Hot dish" gave it away. I wend to to the UofMN Twin Cities :-) I do miss the cities a little. ~Trav

If I'm really about to post right after Emilio Estevez... wow. I was an extra on Bobby and had an amazing time out in the cold in the last remnant of the Roosevelt hotel, a memorable point at the beginning of my career. Anyway, Wil, this is a heartbreaking story, and I'm not quite sure why. Your writing, of course, really brings the experience and your own personal disappointment to life. I think it also reminds me of an audition I botched for Neil Patrick Harris about a year ago, where he recognized that I had Belles Palsy because one of his friends was dealing with it. I joked about it, still in character from the mostly-improvised audition, and on the way out of the room said, "well, now you've met someone who's had it from birth, so you can tell your friend to stop whining." Oooooh... Take care, still hoping to work with you someday. We have a show on Youtube called "Robot, Ninja & Gay Guy" that we're immensely proud of if you care to check it out. Best, ~Trav http://www.youtube.com/sivartis

Oh, Wil, I'm so sorry. I caught a glimpse of Ferris's picture with "tears" in the headline and had to switch to another window for a few minutes. I lost one of my own fur-people, Oshi, to a brain aneurism earlier in the year, and started tearing up as soon as I realized what you were about to say. Part of is just knowing what you're going through and being empathetic. But we've all been reading about how much you love Ferris all these years, it's like she was a friend of ours, too. If it helps at all, it does get better. Not all the way (when I started recovering from Oshi's death I was afraid I might lose her from my thoughts completely - I never have), but it does get better. All my best, ~Trav

Really, really well done, Wil. Very articulate and funny! ~Trav

Just thought I'd point out, because it tickled me so, that you can see Tycho from Penny Arcade there in the foreground for a sec. He happened to talk about being in that bar on PA today (www.penny-arcade.com) ~Trav *Penny Arcade created and hosts PAX, for which Wil did the keynote last year.

Just thought I'd point out, because it tickled me so, that you can see Tycho from Penny Arcade there in the foreground for a sec. He happened to talk about being in that bar on PA today (www.penny-arcade.com) ~Trav *Penny Arcade created and hosts PAX, for which Wil did the keynote last year.

Hey, Wil, I just started a youtube project last week that is already getting a good response from subscribers. I think of you a lot when I'm working on it, since you have been a big inspiration for the path my "career" has taken thus far. It features three newer ACME company members you may not be familiar with. If you have time to check it out, that'd be sweet. Maybe you could mention it in your blog; help some young Oates protegees out? www.youtube.com/musecast5 Best, ~TR

Hey, Wil, I just started a youtube project last week that is already getting a good response from subscribers. I think of you a lot when I'm working on it, since you have been a big inspiration for the path my "career" has taken thus far. It features three newer ACME company members you may not be familiar with. If you have time to check it out, that'd be sweet. Maybe you could mention it in your blog; help some young Oates protegees out? www.youtube.com/musecast5 Best, ~TR

At least he said "plz" :-)

At least he said "plz" :-)

hagiography... good word :-)

hagiography... good word :-)

iTunes has a converter to turn an m4p into an MP3, and you can adjust bitrate, etc. I use it for my own podcast. Actually, you and your readers might like it, I co-host Boy Cow Radio with Curtiss Frisle, another X-Ray Company performer at ACME. We call it a podcast for nerds, by nerds. It's currently hosted at www.collider.com, but we're trying to find a more permanent home. Check it out, just search Collider for Boy Cow for an episode listing. Best, ~T

iTunes has a converter to turn an m4p into an MP3, and you can adjust bitrate, etc. I use it for my own podcast. Actually, you and your readers might like it, I co-host Boy Cow Radio with Curtiss Frisle, another X-Ray Company performer at ACME. We call it a podcast for nerds, by nerds. It's currently hosted at www.collider.com, but we're trying to find a more permanent home. Check it out, just search Collider for Boy Cow for an episode listing. Best, ~T

yeah, that was a great story. I'm kinda glad I don't have a boyfriend any more to tell me how much of a dork I am at tearing up over Wil Wheaton's blog. :-) I met J Keith today after What's My Line? It was a show you did with him a few years ago that convinced me to be a part of ACME. I hope you have time to go back to the theater once I've climbed the ladder and I can have a chance to work with you. You're pretty amazing. ~TR

yeah, that was a great story. I'm kinda glad I don't have a boyfriend any more to tell me how much of a dork I am at tearing up over Wil Wheaton's blog. :-) I met J Keith today after What's My Line? It was a show you did with him a few years ago that convinced me to be a part of ACME. I hope you have time to go back to the theater once I've climbed the ladder and I can have a chance to work with you. You're pretty amazing. ~TR

That was the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time, Wil. Your Dancing with the Stars sketch was great, with Alex as Megan Mullaly. You're one of the main reasons I joined ACME when I was in search of improv/sketch classes, and it's shows like that that make me proud to be a part of the ACME family. If we ever get the chance to perform together, you're going to have to forgive the inevitable fanboy geekout. Best, Travis 2

That was the funniest thing I've seen in a very long time, Wil. Your Dancing with the Stars sketch was great, with Alex as Megan Mullaly. You're one of the main reasons I joined ACME when I was in search of improv/sketch classes, and it's shows like that that make me proud to be a part of the ACME family. If we ever get the chance to perform together, you're going to have to forgive the inevitable fanboy geekout. Best, Travis 2

I have a suggestion about Star Trek, and since I don't know anyone who works at Paramount, and am not an exec there myself (yet), here seemed as good a place as any. Part of what hurt Star Trek besides the uncaring way in which it was handled by the likes of Rick Berman, was simply an oversaturation of the market. So here's what should be done: Instead of a series or films, Paramount should produce TV movies. Say 3 or 4 times per year. Make them mini-series if you have to, 2 or 3 nights. This way, you can explore all facets of the Star Trek universe, past, present, and future (beyond the TNG timeline, that's what I want to see). You can go to Starfleet Academy. Make one all about Klingons, I don't know, the posibilities are endless. The point is, make it an EVENT. Something that fans will tune in to see because we'll feel like we've missed something big if we don't. Secondly, bring in new talent. Read and option some of the stories from books like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." It's some of the best Trek I've ever read. Suddenly Paramount would have an endless supply of original, gripping tales. Thirdly, from a financial point of view, or Why A Studio Executive Would Ever Consider Such A Thing (WASEWECSAT). How do you make money from such a project? First, I think you'll find higher viewership/ratings on TV than you've seen for Star Trek in a decade. So there's that. Then, get your asses in gear and get a deal inked with Apple and iTunes for subsequent distribution of the show after it airs, at $2 a pop. The revenue will be slow at first, but who do you think the people are buying those video iPods are, "Desperate Housewives" fans? It's the GEEKS! The Star Trek fans will download the show so they can watch it again anywhere they go. ANd lastly, DVD sales. You be sure to produce so much additional content that fans will not be able to pass up buying the DVD. I'm talking about cast interviews (shouldn't be tough because most of the shows won't need to use existing casts), screen tests, documantaries, blooper reels, commentary tracks, the WORKS. And the stuff we really want to see. There is your guaranteed money-maker. What do you think, guys? If you feel like chatting with me about it, drop me a line at travisrichey@gmail.com.

I have a suggestion about Star Trek, and since I don't know anyone who works at Paramount, and am not an exec there myself (yet), here seemed as good a place as any. Part of what hurt Star Trek besides the uncaring way in which it was handled by the likes of Rick Berman, was simply an oversaturation of the market. So here's what should be done: Instead of a series or films, Paramount should produce TV movies. Say 3 or 4 times per year. Make them mini-series if you have to, 2 or 3 nights. This way, you can explore all facets of the Star Trek universe, past, present, and future (beyond the TNG timeline, that's what I want to see). You can go to Starfleet Academy. Make one all about Klingons, I don't know, the posibilities are endless. The point is, make it an EVENT. Something that fans will tune in to see because we'll feel like we've missed something big if we don't. Secondly, bring in new talent. Read and option some of the stories from books like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." It's some of the best Trek I've ever read. Suddenly Paramount would have an endless supply of original, gripping tales. Thirdly, from a financial point of view, or Why A Studio Executive Would Ever Consider Such A Thing (WASEWECSAT). How do you make money from such a project? First, I think you'll find higher viewership/ratings on TV than you've seen for Star Trek in a decade. So there's that. Then, get your asses in gear and get a deal inked with Apple and iTunes for subsequent distribution of the show after it airs, at $2 a pop. The revenue will be slow at first, but who do you think the people are buying those video iPods are, "Desperate Housewives" fans? It's the GEEKS! The Star Trek fans will download the show so they can watch it again anywhere they go. ANd lastly, DVD sales. You be sure to produce so much additional content that fans will not be able to pass up buying the DVD. I'm talking about cast interviews (shouldn't be tough because most of the shows won't need to use existing casts), screen tests, documantaries, blooper reels, commentary tracks, the WORKS. And the stuff we really want to see. There is your guaranteed money-maker. What do you think, guys? If you feel like chatting with me about it, drop me a line at travisrichey@gmail.com.