Star Trek was his nemesis

Wil Wheaton, author of "Just A Geek" & "Dancing Barefoot", is probably best known for his stellar performance as writer Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner’s “Stand By Me” & as Ensign Wesley Crusher in “Star Trek The Next Generation”. The merits of ‘Stand By Me’ are obvious. It’s one of the finest coming of age pictures ever filmed. He can also be seen in "Star Trek-Nemesis", just like I can be seen, in "A League Of Their Own"....in widescreen only & get a microscope. I was just a core extra...he was a CAST member. His scene ended up on the cutting room floor. "Thanks guys....sheesh. Ya couldn't have found a different 60 freakin seconds to cut?" (my quote, not his, but I bet it crossed his mind) Then again, “Star Trek the Next Generation” was the 'Crown Jewel' entry in the ‘Star Trek’ saga. It merely took the original Star Trek’s morality play and presented it in a technologically believable cinematic environment. Outside “Superman, The Movie”, it’s probably the most impressive update of an American legend. Deep Space Nine was a wash; except for their Tribbles sequel. Voyager was good, with a great ensemble cast, but suffered from the fact that TNG was first & had already covered the territory. By the way, who would’ve thought I’d have erotic dreams about Mrs. Columbo or a reprogrammed Borg. Thank you Kate & Jerry. Enterprise, while it has it’s moments, and I am a huge Scott Bakula fan, I have a tough time mentally placing it before the original series. I guess because of the obvious cinematic technological differences. Good effort though, except for the really lame theme song. I do have a Tivo season pass however. Most of the credit of the success of TNG must go to the excellent group of actors who not only performed at an incredible level of talent but also achieved an ensemble camaraderie that is so rare, yet so necessary for success in episodic television. Especially when you are trying to update a cultural icon. Wil has previously gotten little credit from either the fan base or the corporate “Borg” of the studio, yet he played an important part in the development & success of TNG, by single-handedly, helping skew the demographics of an 18 years removed sequel of a “classic”, to an audience younger than it’s original fan base. (Well, okay, Marina Sirtis in the tight uniform helped get young boys, not involved with Catholic priests, watching too….&….. maybe, me) What was Wesley’s appeal? It’s obvious. Star Trek is a comic book on TV. A great comic, but none the less, a comic book. He did it by merely being “Robin” to Picard’s “Batman”. All kids identify with the “kid/sidekick/sometimes hero” trying to fit in & be as good as the grownups. After reading “Just A Geek”, which originated as an extention of his website's 'blog', it seems that both Wesley & Wil were this trying to accomplish that ‘fitting in’ objective. I applaud his decision to leave a hit TV series for a 'real' career in films,(see McLean Stevenson & Suzanne Sommers) because it led to his realization that he is happiest as a tech 'geek' & writer. That is the focus of the book. Moral, just be happy. To fully understand the impact of Wil’s book, on yours truly, lets go back to just days before former President Bill Clinton went in for heart surgery. He was on Dave Letterman’s show & made, what caught me at the time, as a very poignant statement. To paraphrase/quote… “Everyone should sit down & write their own biography. It will make you think seriously & reflect on just about everything you have ever done”. I felt that I could use a little soul searching & thought seriously about writing one. I found myself too lazy to even start. Then I read “Just A Geek” & thankfully realized that Wil had already done it for me. His struggle with personal, public & family perceptions of his life decisions is universal, regardless of what field you work in or your self perceived role in life & society at large. The battle between “Mr. Self Doubt” & “Prove to them quitting Star Trek wasn’t a mistake” is a similar battle to one we have all had to referee at some point. Wil does this with style, grace, humor, an occasional tear & of course, painful personal insight. He really opens himself up & let’s us see inside. I’m not sure I could be so candid. “Then I made the terrible mistake of checking my logs, so I could see where people were coming from & thank them for linking to me & I found that some guy uses my site as “hell’. Thanks fucker. Some dude at metafilter says “I’m too good” to join them. Yeah, I can’t wait to get into that shit. Please can I join your club, so you can hold me up to further vilification without ever getting to know me? Can I spend even less time with my family, sitting here at the computer, so I can change the minds of people who are going to judge me no matter what, without ever walking an inch in my shoes” Hasn’t everyone had that same, if slightly altered, feeling of rage, for the same basic reason? There, indeed, is the ultimate connection. Regardless, “Just A Geek” is a fun, fast & terrific read & an insightful exploration of our own lives & feelings. His companion piece, “Dancing Barefoot” is the perfect companion book. Sorta like a slice of Key Lime Pie after a medium rare steak, baked potato (loaded), 32 cans/bottles of Guinness & a salad (Blue Cheese). The Guinness reference was for Wil’s benefit, I actually prefer tasteless beer like Bud/Coors Light. I really identified with his struggles. Having been a radio announcer, stand-up comic, & ‘talent going to auditions at large’, I probably identify with more of what he talks about industry wise, but the lesson is universal. We‘ve all made bad decisions, We've all had to deal with everyone, including ourselves asking “Why?”. More specifically, I’ve also had deal with losing an aunt as he did. In my case, an aunt who was the only connection I had left to my ‘original’ family. (grandparents, parents, uncles & aunts. Everyone NOT created AFTER I was 11 years old) When she left us I felt all my ties to ‘family’ had vanished. Wil had very much that same experience. Then again, haven’t we all (over the age of $%&#@) lost someone who anchored our lives? I highly recommend “Just A Geek”, because there is nothing more fascinating & perplexing, than exploring your own focus & life decisions. The good news is that Wil has already done the legwork for us. Take advantage of it & have a few laughs in the process.

Farewell Kal-el, we will miss you

Christopher Reeve, the 52-year-old actor who a generation ago made the world believe a man could fly, died of a heart attack on Oct. 10. The first time I saw him it was overwhelming. Marlon Brando was just finishing the 12 year education of his son whom he had rocketed to earth as the planet Krypton exploded: "Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, if they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you--my only son." At that moment, as John Williams brilliant theme began to swell. Reeve, stood far away from the camera against the icy white background of his Fortress Of Solitude, in familiar blue tights & a red cape. This motivated my 3 year old son to yell out in an otherwise silent theatre "Look dad, it's Superman!" Christopher Reeve as Superman then took flight, soared toward the camera banking left to right across the screen as Williams' music reached its crescendo. Yes, I believed a man could fly. To quote film reviewer Teddy Durgin's tribute to Reeve "Reeve's brilliance in the role may only now be fully celebrated now that he's gone. He didn't have a mask or a cowl or CGI transformation to hide his identity and do the acting for him. He had a pair of glasses. That's it! Reeve did the impossible. He made Clark Kent and Superman two believably different people. He changed not only his body language, but his whole stance, his whole being when in nerdy, mild-mannered reporter garb. But in just those few scenes where he would take off his glasses for a moment--PRESTO! CHANGO!--there was Superman!" He would be forever typecast but it was a role he loved. He still turned in great non Superman performances like one of my favorite films, "Somewhere in Time". However, I especially enjoyed him most recently in the tv series "Smallville" where he appeared in two of the series best episodes. His character, Dr. Virgil Swann, was the first to teach young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) of his Kryptonian destiny as the original John Williams Superman theme swelled in the background. Honestly, that scene brought tears to my eyes. The tragic riding accident nine years ago that left him paralyzed, never stopped him from being a husband, father, actor, director, writer & activist. He showed a strength, courage, hope and determination which few of us could ever lay claim to. "But most will remember this sad day as the day the proudest, most noble man they ever knew finally fell. For those who loved him -- one who would call him husband, one who would be his pal, or those who would call him son -- this is the darkest day they could ever imagine. They raised him to be a hero: to know the value of sacrifice, to know the value of life. And for those who served with Superman in the protection of all life comes the shock of a failure: the weight of being too late to help. For a city to live, a man had given his all and more. But it's too late. For this is the day that a Superman died." - Superman #75, 1992 (written by Dan Jurgens) He was truly the epitome of Siegel & Schuster's 1939 creation. He was larger than life and an inspiration to us all. He was indeed a true Superman.