Tech Universe reviews Happiest Days

I promise this isn't going to turn into "The Happiest Days Reviews: in Exile." It's just that I needed to come up for air for a minute, and saw this review of Happiest Days at Tech Universe:

Reading the well-written Happiest Days was a fun experience, and you can't help but feel like Wheaton is telling you these stories himself . . .and these really are some happy and fun stories, including one about his love of Star Wars action figures, or his family run for the Susan G. Komen foundation, or his great poker game . . . or even his return to the stages that once housed Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he played Wesley Crusher.

I have to hand it to Wil, he brought back my own memories. I think he's around three years older than I am, and I fell in love with Star Wars figures at the same time; I was stuck wearing corduroys in the late 70s/early 80s (thank God they went out of style by the time my family moved to South Florida in 1984), and more.

Two themes are emerging in reviews and reader comments and e-mails: it feels like we're sitting together (possibly in a nice pub, having a few pints) while I tell you these stories myself, and the stories I tell are awakening shared memories from readers who, like me, are in Generation X.

Last night, I packaged the remaining hardcover book orders. I'll take all the domestic orders to the post office a little later today, and Anne and I will get started on the customs forms for the international orders just as soon as I get this writing assignment finished so I make my deadline a week from now. It's a cool fiction project that I should be able to talk about relatively soon, but at the moment I'm in a serious panic over it. Once again, I wish I could stop time, or at least slow it down.

(Speaking of stopping time, is anyone else totally over Heroes this season? I haven't been this disappointed by a series since the third season of Lost.)

Comments

[Craig Steffen]

Speaking of stopping time, is anyone else totally over Heroes this season? I haven't been this disappointed by a series since the third season of Lost.

I don't know; I haven't seen it. I must say, though, I'm really digging "Chuck". It's really getting good quickly considering this is its first season.

I was intrigued by "Heroes", but that was Before DVR at my house, and it's at the same time as Monday Night Football, so I didn't watch it. Alas.

[Andrew]

Tim Kring pretty clearly didn't learn any lessons from Lost, most important of which is "Don't introduce a whole new set of characters in the second season, idiot." And yes, the pacing was WAY off. They're wrapping things up in last night's and next week's episodes that should have been played out over four or five shows.

[FEJ]

Last nights dissapointed me. I felt it was rushed (probably due to writers strike) The two before me had restored my faith, but then it fell flat. There are some holes that I dont think they can close correctly by seasons end. (especially since the comics are not being written either due to strike)

[Craig Steffen]

Wil,

Good luck with the writing assignment. Remember:

"I am not a number,
I am Wil Wheaton.
I will not fear,
fear is the mind-killer."

Can't wait to hear about it. Good luck! May the luck of the seven pillars of gulu be with you at all times!

[FEJ]

@Craig
Chuck is my new favorite. I hope they can make it last.

@Andrew- I heard on the 9th Wonder Podcast that Tim Kring realized his mistakes, but due to the strike, I don't think there is enough time to save it before a lot jump ship.

[vincentsmommy]

I'm not totally over "Heroes", but if the pace hadn't picked up with these last few episodes, I probably would have been. I really think the writers should have opened the season with the threat of the virus and ran with it, instead of giving us episode after episode of characters running for the border or tripping through time or forgetting themselves, etc., etc. Now, they have to wrap everything up faster than they wanted to and have to leave a lot of questions unanswered. If there's another season, I hope it's better paced.
Oh, and I'm with everyone else who loves "Chuck". It's full of awesome and win!

[bigmoneygrip]

Well, good. As a person who recently discovered Heroes, I am almost finished with the 1st season thanks to the magic of DVD. It seems, however, that the consensus is that the second season sucks. Maybe that is good, though. When I Tivo the second season, which is sure to repeat thanks to the writer's strike, I will be pleasantly surprised. By that, I mean that I'll expect suckitude in the neighborhood of "Joanie Loves Chachi", so the second season won't be so bad.

[ZB]

I'm totally with you on both Heroes and Lost. I'm still interested in Lost, but I've sworn to wait until the end and then just dow...er...watch it all at once on...um...DVD. I can't handle the pacing on a week-by-week basis, and anyone who willingly sits through all those commercials these days is a screaming idiot. Sad but true.

As for Heroes...after the season 1 ending, the writers are lucky I didn't personally kick them all in the nutballs. Worst. Ending. Ever.

Perople really need to take a cue from Battlestar Galactica. Killing people off makes for damn good TV, and characters you can actually care and fear for.

[Chuck]

I just got my hardcover today. DEFINITELY worth holding out for, and I'm proud to be a member of the Wheaton 300.

[Chuck]

P.S. For some strange reason, I'm quite fond of the TV show Chuck myself. :)

[Andrew]

@BMG: I don't think the second season sucks, but it's certainly not up to the quality of the first, and I think a lot of that is due to the Nikki-and-Paolo effect. The writers have new characters that they have cool ideas for, and they don't realize that their ideas are long-term and don't translate well to the audience. The result is fan resentment and discontent. A young show can't make that mistake.

[Tony]

Wil-- I totally agree with you about Heroes. I posted in my blog that the writers' strike is actually doing Heroes a favor, because it should give everyone time to think about the importance of writing and figure out why so many of the scenes from this season read like canned dialogues from acting class textbooks.

[Paul Crowe]

I haven't completely given up on season two of Heroes. Even though Tim Kring himself has said he's disappointed in it, I don't think it's too bad.

That said: I did feel that they really dropped the ball at the end of season one. They suddenly started making a lot of mistakes typical for the genre. Which was a shame as they had held it together so well for the first half of the season. So I guess my expectations for Season 2 were somewhat subdued.

Kring has said that they have an alternate ending planned for this (half) season and that he will learn from the mistakes he made if/when season 3 starts up.

[blooflame]

Wil, can I have a copy of that "X reviews Y" macro? My wife's also a writer, it could come in useful.

[DavePress]

I've been over Heroes since literally the first episode of this season but it was going as far back as the tail end of last season. Its like watching a bad 90s comic book.

Though Chuck, is probably my new favorite show. Its like Alias meets the 40 year old virgin but without the risk of bodily harm. Like I can't see anything bad happening to any of the characters. Its a parody of the spy genre not really part of it. So, we'll see how long they can make it last.

But Friday Night Lights...rocks!

[TheGibson]

Couldn't agree more on HEROES. Lost me early this season. Also, you need a big-ass RSS button on your page... can't find a way to put you into my reader.

[Mad Monk]

I'll tell you exactly why I like this book: My life is so fracking stressful with work, new baby, wife's new job, work, work, the people at work, and how much my work stresses me out.

Then I read this book, and it just reminds me that life wasn't always this way, and maybe doesn't have to be, either.

[Jimbeaux]

I guess I'll throw myself on my sword and be the lone voice of dissent.

I'm really enjoying this season of Heroes. In fact, I thought last season was a little messed up wrt the pacing and timeline.

But then, I also liked the third season of Lost more than the second - so what do I know? :-)

[ephany]

Speaking of TV shows...are there any monkeys here from Portland (OR) who have a recording of Wil's Numb3rs episode? I was traveling and forgot to tape it and I don't want to watch online until the writers are getting fairly paid for it--but I would love to see it. Find me thorugh my link. Thanks.

[Squirrelgnome]

I am thoroughly hacked at Heroes. I don't know how a show that was the epitome of awesome has lost its way, but it certainly has. I read an interview Tim Kring gave and he said that he has listened to the viewers and will make the vital changes necessary for the remainder of the season. I hope he means it.

[Keri]

Yep, Heroes is pretty mediocre this season, but a mediocre Heroes is still loads better than a "good" Desperate Housewives or American Idol.

Life and Journeyman are my new faves. Did anyone catch last night's Journeyman? Holy cat, was it good! And Bionic Woman is finally getting rolling now, too. Hopefully the writer's strike won't kill any of my shows. (Journeyman is threatened, I hear.)

[love2all]

Yes, exactly, see you agree with me. Heroes sucks so much this season that I missed the last two episodes and DIDN'T CARE. I'm pretty much just watching The Office and that's it (wish TDS and Colbert would be back on... sigh).

In other news... yes, see, that's exactly how we feel about you, Wil. We feel like you're an old friend that we can have a few beers with and talk about old times. Even though we've never met. At least that's how I see it.

*Cheers, dude* (though I have cheap Wal-mart Black Friday wine today instead of my standard brew. It'll suffice. ;)

[uneedaklu]

Can't comment on Heroes because I've tried very hard (so far successfully) not to get sucked in.

But I spent today in a haze of my-sinuses-hate-late-November-in-the-Northeast headachiness, and decided it would be the perfect opportunity to enjoy THDOOL.

And I was right. It was like sitting with Wil telling me stories while I curled up under my blanket. It was hawesome incarnate.

Except for the story about Felix. I had my own Felix many years ago, and your story cut right to the bone. I lived my memories of Felix all over again, thanks to you.

Although the tears seemed to have helped my sinuses a bit ...

[Danielle]

Yay! Wheaton 300 member checking in with a big thank you. I just want you to know that it is KILLING me not to be reading this book right now, but it's a holiday gift for my boyfriend, and he'll be extra happy knowing his eyes are the first in our house to read your words.

Coolest thing, though? When I opened the book to see our esteemed number, I could still smell the Sharpie ink. Hee.

*I still love Heroes. Claire is turning badass and Sylar was extra creepy last night.

[Mystral721]

Tim Kring did an interview with Entertainment Weekly that was in their issue 3 weeks ago. This might be the one that people read: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20158840,00.html

Personally, I appreciated him listening to his fans and acknowledging his mistakes. That's made me stick with the show more than anything else. Oh - and I also love Chuck! I'm getting pulled into Journeyman, too, though no one else that I know watches it.