Ask Wil Wheaton Anything

Wil Wheaton [IMDB] is our latest interview victim. Best known here as Wesley Crusher on TNG, Wil has a history doing movies both good (Stand by Me) and, uh, otherwise (see his FAQ). His movie "The Good Things" just won the grand prize at the 27th Festival of American Cinema at Deuville. His currrent project is "Jane White Is Sick & Twisted". Post your questions for him here, one per post, and we'll forward a few of the highest rated ones to Wil.

Comments

What I would like to know is...

[mttlg]

Why all this Wil Wheaton stuff everywhere all of a sudden? I never knew this guy's name until a couple weeks ago, and now I see it all over the place. Was this a carefully planned attempt to distance himself from the "Wesley must die!" movement, or is this just another case of the media picking someone to hype for no apparent reason? Or is he being recognized for his accomplishments or some other seemingly obvious reason?

Re:Ashley Judd - Please clarify

[sandidge]

More importantly... " Bootytown "?!?!?

Re:regrets

[squaretorus]

Having been THE most hated character on TeeVee generally for years, ruining many a fine episode for me, now that you are one of those freaky super beings would you travel back in time and just, like, not turn up for the audition or something!

It won't bother you! Your a super being!

Why Wil Wheaton?

[ChrisJones]

Does CmdrTaco have a secret desire to be Wesley Crusher? Happy little geekboy growing up in a world for happy little geeks? ;)

Re:The TNN TNG Marathon

[frknfrk]

TNN is no longer 'the nashville network'. they are trying to 'reinvent' themselves as 'the national network'. so instead of 'dukes of hazzard' they are showing 'star trek'.

-sam

Cheerios contest

[Krelboyne]

I remember back when TNG first came out, Cheerios ran a promotion on the back of the cereal box that let you enter a drawing to be a guest star on the show. At the time I was 8 years old, and winning that contest was pretty much the goal of my life. Since losing the contest, my dreams have been shattered and I shake uncontrollably whenever I see a Cheerios box.

My question: Do you remember who won the contest? Was he/she cool? Did he/she actually make it into an episode?

Evolution

[mirko]

What about an IMDB evolution?
Here are several possibilities:

• Multilingual info DB (some submissions could consist of translating some other): make it international. (in this case, differentiate the top movies list in order also to show it according to the voters origins. For instance, Amelie Poulain may be have gotten higher in a French Top-List)
  
• Extending IMDB to derivative works: related DVD presentations, books or videogames made after a movie (or maybe inspiring a movie, like "Mortal Kombat", "Street Fighter" or, more recently, "Tomb Raider" or "Final Fantasy")
  
• Adding forum to each of the film entry... Making it a little more dynamic.
  

Why do this interview now?

[Rogerborg]

Hey Will,

I've been following your insightful CleverNickName postings and reading your fun site for a while now. Simple question: what prompted the "coming out"? Mad whim, or promotional? Your candour is appreciated. ;-)

Re:A character done wrong?

[escherIV]

I'm sorry, but your questions 2-4 are entirely moot. The name of the character played by Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride is, in fact, not Wesley. It is a common misconception, but the name is Westley. Check the credits, or just check on the IMDB.

Nitpicky, but hey, it's a major point in most of your questions. :)

Hail to the King, baby!

[Scutter]

Ash vs. Duke Nukem: Who would win?