You know, I have all these things I
want to say, all these things I could say about today's topic, but a
thousand monkeys mentally linked to me, typing out everything I think
about the subject is still unable to do it justice.
Today, I'm posting the first part in a
two part tribute to the production company Channel Awesome, to
celebrate the upcoming fourth year anniversary video with most of the
personalities of their flagship website,
www.thatguywiththeglasses.com.
I admit that for this blog, I am
primarily making it for said personalities, but also the staff and
fans, so this will be less likely to be new person-friendly. To that
end, I'll give a brief history and recommendations.
Channel Awesome itself was created by
three guys: Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis and Bhargav Dronamaju. While
working at a Circuit City in 2007, the three of them came up with the
idea for Channel Awesome, but put off on doing anything about it
until they were laid off. And for probably one of the few times in
history, that's an example of a dismissal leading to bigger and
better things.
They began with the website That Guy
With The Glasses, launching in April 2008, using the characters
created by Doug Walker. Before the site's set-up, Doug was hosting
these characters and concepts through YouTube, but they were
repeatedly removed every time suspected copyright infringement reared
its ugly head.
As time went on, more and more
contributors joined the site, and it grew into the entertainment
powerhouse it is today.
I think we'll stop there for a history
lesson, because this blog is already going to be long enough. If
you've never heard of the site, or only have a passing familiarity, I
suggest you click on it and check it out. Pick a talent that has
something relating to an interest of yours, whether it be video games
(check out the Blistered Thumbs subdivision with contributors like Dena Natali, hostess of The Game Den or Leon
Thomas, host of Heart Of Gaming), comics, manga (covered by the Inked
Reality division, which also covers anime, home to talent like Y
Ruler Of Time, host of Read Right To Left or Team Four Star, the
group behind Dragon Ball Z Abridged), movies (Diamanda Hagan,
Blockbuster Buster), TV shows (primarily the Nostalgia Critic and
Nostalgia Chick), music (Todd In The Shadows, Paw Dugan), even books
(the podcast Spine Breakers)
In a nutshell, it's a haven for nerds,
geeks and outcasts. I'd classify myself as all three, except I'm not
smart enough to be a nerd. Or smart at all. The site itself is a
wonderful gateway, to many wonderful people and so many things to
discover or rediscover. And again, I could be here all day listing
anyone and everyone who's involved with the site, presenting or
otherwise. But that's not what I'm blogging about.
No, I'm blogging to make amends. Amends
for things that have been done, amends for things that will be done
(mostly the next blog post, details provided later on).
Firstly, I apologize for anyone I
haven't mentioned up above or for anyone who won't be in the next
blog. I'm working on something that will be listing a lot of names of
people involved with the site, and if I've left your name out, it's
not on purpose. I know I have a lot of room to list every individual
who has ever been involved with Channel Awesome but nobody wants to
spend all day reading one random fan's ramblings. There is only one
person in the history of the site that I do not support in any way,
but that's a former contributor and we will not talk about that. And
if that is a sore spot with you, I apologize for that too. However,
that is my opinion and I will not change it. Even the closest things
to perfection have flaws and Channel Awesome is no exception. I do
not blame them, and it does not tarnish them, it's all on this
person.
Also, I apologize if I've rubbed anyone
up the wrong way in the Facebook fandom groups. While I've been
watching the videos of some contributors for years, it's only
recently that I started interacting with other fans, so it's been
exciting for me to talk with others who know the same jokes I do, who
have interests similar to mine, who are passionate about TGWTG too.
To that end, I fear I may have come across as a little over-eager, or
annoying. If I have in any way annoyed or offended any of you, please
accept my apology and know it was not my intent. I kind of lack
social skills, not that I'm trying to make excuses, but maybe that
does factor into it.
But lastly, I want to apologize to the
contributors. For most, I'm sorry that I haven't seen your videos
yet. It's not because I don't want to but rather it's due to other
things, like stacks of DVD's to work through and what not, and I want
to give every show a chance, even the shows that aren't about things
I'm heavily into. Hell, the shows might even get me into some of the
things I've overlooked.
Actually, there is one more apology I
need to make. I don't know if he'll ever read this, but it needs to
be said. So, to Lewis Lovhaug (also known as Linkara, host of Atop
The Fourth Wall), I am sorry for annoying you with my constant
comments and questions. I know it seems bias to say so and I'm sorry
for that too (you could make a drinking game out of how many times I
use “sorry” or variations thereof, but you'd probably die of
alcohol poisoning), but as my favourite contributor, it's his work I
follow most and the one I've seen the most times. I post under his
blog as The Blue And The Gold (well, that much was obvious, since
that's the name that appears in this blog) and I also feel I should
point out that the name isn't meant to curry his favour, even though
it refers to Booster Gold and Blue Beetle (mostly Ted Kord if I'm
right and if I'm not, throw another sorry in there), it refers to my
best friend, Dave Herndon, and how alike we are (as to who is Gold
and who is Blue, whichever of the two characters you like better,
it's always him).
Even the post title could be seen as
sucking up, since it's a catchphrase of the Tenth Doctor's. I must
say that if sucking up was what I intended to do, I'd use a quote of
the Seventh Doctor's, since that's his favourite, but the only
Seventh Doctor stories I know are the movie (which, as of writing, I
am getting close to the end to, and I might blog about it in the near
future) and The Greatest Show In The Galaxy (which, incidentally, was
the very first Doctor Who story I have ever seen).
And I'm pretty sure I've gotten off
track. The point is, Lewis, I am sorry if I've ever irritated or
frustrated you with anything I've said or done, in your blog or your
Twitter. I'm just fascinated by your work and I appreciate your
shows, since they were a big part in helping me when I was in a state
of depression (at this point, I'd like to say something different to
an apology and thank Lewis, Lindsay and Doug for making me feel
SOMETHING besides depression during those few months in 2010).
Well, that's all my grovelling,
rambling and so on. But as for the tribute itself, I will post that
next blog, once I've worked out everything to the final detail. But
since it involves a lot of name-dropping (all good, of course), many
Channel Awesome members are unlikely to make the final cut.
So, Stuart Ashen, Fraser Agar, Larry
Bundy Jr, Wesley Lock, Jon Jafari, Tom White, Leon Thomas, Austin
Hargrave, John Aprigliano, Eric Power, Harry Partridge, Eric
Rodriguez, Ed Glaser, Rollo T, Lindsey Briggs, Dr. Gonzo, Cat
Thompson, Travis Excelsior, Gordon Smuder, Matt Burkett, Sam
Goldberg, Ven Hosky, Kelley Bain, Christopher Barnard and every other
person I have forgotten (like the title card artists and Vincent E.L.
Goddamn it!)
But I thank each and every one of you
for all your hard work, and for your continued efforts to make
Channel Awesome one of the greatest things to be born out of the
internet and the world in general.
Well, that covers that. Hopefully I got
names and details right and if I didn't, take another apology out of
petty cash and remember, I am quite stupid. Next blog is the song I
have “crafted” to mark four years of the site. I'll go over that
in greater detail next time.
And as a smart man once said “I won't
hold back anything and I'll walk away a fool or a king”. That might
just be a hint at the artist whose song I've chosen to borrow for mine...
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