Bill Gates To Star With Steve Jobs On Broadway

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Bill Gates To Star With Steve Jobs On Broadway

Posted by Zonk on Friday September 2, 2005 @10:48PM from the all-singing-all-debugging-cast dept.

jg21 writes "As these pictures from a sneak-preview earlier this week demonstrate, the "outrageous epic take on the parallel stories" of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs – as reported by the Seattle PI – is about to be unleashed this month at the New York Musical Theater Festival. Its title "Nerds://A Musical Software Satire" suggests that its in the same genre as Martyn Burke's 1999 movie Pirates in Silicon Valley. Woz features in the plot, too."

58 of 84 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Misleading topic... again! by p0 · 2005-09-02 22:53 · Score: 4, Informative

What. Don't Slashdot editors have the power to "edit" the topics? Really, misleading topics like this should never ever happen here.

--
This is my sig. There are thousands more, but this one is mine.
1. Re:Misleading topic... again! by JediLow · 2005-09-02 22:58 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Bonk the Zonk...?
2. Re:Misleading topic... again! by tuggy · 2005-09-02 23:00 · Score: 1
  
  hey look.. its Zonk again! wow :P
No. by Doctor+Ian · 2005-09-02 22:56 · Score: 5, Informative

It's a musical about them, not starring them.

--
Trust me, I'm a doctor.
1. Re:No. by Jupiter9 · 2005-09-03 01:10 · Score: 1
  
  And not only that, the link doesn't work! I keep getting a "nerds is not a registered protocal" error!!!
  
  --
  
  --
  Does anyone remember /\/\/\?
Sample Songs Available in mp3 format! by tpgp · 2005-09-02 22:57 · Score: 4, Informative

(Because this show premiered in 2003)

Windows Rap
Bill Gates busts a rhyme to release Windows
(Featuring the lyrics "remember my name, Bill Gates, bitch, pimp of the software game")

I Am Just A Nerd
Gates laments about his geeky past

--
My pics.
1. Re:Sample Songs Available in mp3 format! by dancallaghan · 2005-09-03 00:52 · Score: 1
  
  OMG dude I cannot believe how totally rude you are, you just linked to those poor nerds' intarweb site, and now their server is, like, exploded! Shame on you!!! I hope they link their web page back to you page! How do you like it now, huh!?!?!!!!!!~~
2. Re:Sample Songs Available in mp3 format! by tpgp · 2005-09-03 01:05 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Sorry,
  
  I should have clarified:
  
  Famous Last Nerds is the official website of the duo who wrote the musical in question.
  
  I found the mp3s I linked to on this page
  
  I guess I could've coral cached the links - but screw it - they're commercial artists distributing promotional songs - I assumed they'd have the neccessary bandwidth.
  
  --
  My pics.
3. Re:Sample Songs Available in mp3 format! by SnprBoB86 · 2005-09-03 03:26 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Not nearly as funny as this:
  http://www.monzy.com/intro/drama_lyrics.html
  
  --
  http://brandonbloom.name
4. Re:Sample Songs Available in mp3 format! by Tablizer · 2005-09-03 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  Windows Wrap: [I'm a big-shot] I won't get pantsed anymore
  
  No, just pied: http://www.bitstorm.org/gates/
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
Stars by JonathanR · 2005-09-02 22:58 · Score: 1

Didn't someone say these stars were going to leave the Microsoft Way?
Ha ha, very funny. by halcyon1234 · 2005-09-02 22:59 · Score: 5, Funny

First we get the article about Google nerfing all non-indexed information. Now we get this one about a broadway musical about Bill Gates.
I mean, seriously. When are these going to end? Haven't we had enough joke artc...
Wait. (Reads TFA).
They're serious?
Whoa. I think that permanetly put me off musical theater.

--
UTF-8: There and Back Again
Cameo? by Mercedes308 · 2005-09-02 22:59 · Score: 4, Funny

One wonders if good ol' Steve will make a cameo appearance. Especially doing that used car salesman type type ad he did in the early 80's.

--
And no, I couldn't give a shit what my karma is.
1. Re:Cameo? by Crash24 · 2005-09-03 03:55 · Score: 1
  
  ...and the show will go on tour everywhere except Kansas.
2. Re:Cameo? by Elranzer · 2005-09-03 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  Well for some reason Super Mario is a cameo in the movie, played by a chick though...
3. Re:Cameo? by mr100percent · 2005-09-03 17:14 · Score: 1
  
  You're thinking Steve Ballmer, not Steve Jobs
4. Re:Cameo? by Mercedes308 · 2005-09-03 21:06 · Score: 1
  
  Right you are
  
  --
  And no, I couldn't give a shit what my karma is.
Go back to the homepage. by tgd · 2005-09-02 23:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

Scroll down and look at the other stories that master of editoral disaster, Zonk, has posted over night.

I'd normally bet it was a night of drinking followed by lapses in judgement, but its actually just his normal quality of work.

And its indicitive of the fact that no one at Slashdot has given two squirts about the site since it was bought by VA or whoever it was back in the day.

And I can say that with the authority of someone with a 4 digit user id. ;-)
1. Re:Go back to the homepage. by mwilli · 2005-09-02 23:36 · Score: 1
  
  Scroll down and look at the other stories that master of editoral disaster, Zonk, has posted over night.
  Sorry, I no longer view articles from Zonk on the homepage. Now I get the stories worthy of being read, plus no dupes! Although my homepage is about 4 stories long, it gives me a chance to peruze the different categories.
  
  --
  My sig beat up your sig.
2. Re:Go back to the homepage. by ginotech · 2005-09-03 00:38 · Score: 1
  
  I'll give you 2 bucks for it. ;)
3. Re:Go back to the homepage. by mnemonic_ · 2005-09-03 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  Like, a million dollars.
4. Re:Go back to the homepage. by Phroggy · 2005-09-03 07:34 · Score: 1
  
  Huh? They're worth money?
  
  No, but a few years ago they were (sort of like Beanie Babies used to be valuable and now go on eBay for below retail). Low-UID high-karma accounts are valuable to trolls, because it lets them post crap with a +1 bonus and trick people into reading it.
  
  No, I didn't buy mine either. ;-)
  
  --
  $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
  $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
wrong name.... by JeremyALogan · 2005-09-02 23:11 · Score: 1

It's "Pirates OF Silicon Valley." If the editors (Zonk) had bothered to follw the link that those word make he would have easily caught this. What's /. coming to?

--
Jeremy Logan's Website.
1. Re:wrong name.... by whopis · 2005-09-03 02:53 · Score: 1
  
  It's "Pirates OF Silicon Valley." If the editors (Zonk) had bothered to follw the link that those word make he would have easily caught this. What's /. coming to?
  That's the name of the made for TV movie, the name of the original work is "Fire in the Valley". What are the /. nitpickers coming to?
2. Re:wrong name.... by superpulpsicle · 2005-09-03 05:23 · Score: 1
  
  Nonetheless that was a really good flick. It was very accurate to history, easy to watch. Anthony M Hall played an excellent Bill Gates. I do wonder if he's this annoying in real life.
  
  Anyways, they nailed down the most historically important moments and did justice to the tech community.
3. Re:wrong name.... by timmerk15 · 2005-09-03 06:12 · Score: 1
  
  If anyone is interested, Pirates of Silicon Valley became a DVD 2 weeks ago. Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000 9NSCS0/ref=ase_reality/104-6161972-3594335?v=glanc e&s=dvd
  
  --
  Free stuff without getting the referrals? http://referralaccelerated.com
4. Re:wrong name.... by Tablizer · 2005-09-03 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  Anyways, they nailed down the most historically important moments and did justice to the tech community.
  
  Somebody suggested that the potrayed relationship between IBM, DOS, and Gates was not historically accurate.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
The real article by LkDotCom · 2005-09-02 23:18 · Score: 5, Informative

From a little better editor:

Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, authors of "The Bomb-itty of Errors," an award-winning, hip-hop Shakespearean play, have written "Nerds," which they call "a musical software satire." It is to be performed this week at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

The musical explores the lives of Mr. Gates and Mr. Jobs, a founder of Apple, from their teenage years to the present, and includes supporting characters like Apple's other founder, Steve Wozniak, and fictional female love interests.

The authors said they had invited Mr. Gates, Mr. Jobs and Mr. Wozniak to an earlier production of the show at New York University. Only Mr. Wozniak responded, they said, but he did not attend. They said Mr. Wozniak told them that he would try to make it to the show this time. Mr. Gates and Mr. Jobs declined to comment.

Jane L. Levere
On NYTimes here.

--
Grammar Zealots: please spare a non-english writer (lastknight dot com)
1. Re:The real article by chrisfez · 2005-09-03 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  The funniest part about this for me is that Jordan is the son of my advisor, who is an electrical engineering professor at Stanford. I've been hearing about this musical since my sophomore year intro to semiconductors course. He even brought the music in on his laptop and played it in class.
  
  Jordan also designs software for iPods, so don't worry! The writers know what real nerds are like.
Anything with a Queen influence? by Biomechanical · 2005-09-02 23:21 · Score: 1

"Beelzebub has the source code put a-side for me-ee-ee, For meee... For meeee!"

I'm sure someone here can take the lyrics and turn it into a cool parody. :)

I lack the imagination. :/

--
His name is Robert Paulsen...
1. Re:Anything with a Queen influence? by wizzdude · 2005-09-03 00:02 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Been done...
  
  http://plig.net/things/rhapsody.html
  
  --
  Mod me down now and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine
2. Re:Anything with a Queen influence? by scottschor · 2005-09-04 12:39 · Score: 1
  
  Bravo !! ... The parent got me to thinking, and then this link. I smiled broadly as I read.
Misleading headline by broothal · 2005-09-02 23:42 · Score: 4, Funny

"Bill Gates To Star With Steve Jobs On Broadway"

Yeah, and Batman stars in his new movie "Batman begins".

But then again -a headline that read "Some unknown actor plays Bill Gates" would probably not be posted on slashdot.
1. Re:Misleading headline by nicknack · 2005-09-03 00:43 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah - next they'll anounce an an Electric-Parade at Disneyland
  starring Mickey-Mouse and friends
  ...but will they really show up? :-)
2. Re:Misleading headline by chawly · 2005-09-03 19:54 · Score: 1
  
  Evolution happens, what will you ?!
  
  --
  How many beans make five, anyhow ? ... Charles Walmsley
I wonder... by Xarius · 2005-09-02 23:49 · Score: 5, Funny

If Ballmer is going to do his wonderful "Developers, Developers, Developers!" Song?

--
C17H21NO4
1. Re:I wonder... by rocketsled · 2005-09-03 00:32 · Score: 1
  
  "ding ding goes the trolley..."
2. Re:I wonder... by Hawthorne01 · 2005-09-03 02:38 · Score: 1
  
  As long as he doesn't try to dance.
  
  --
  "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
3. Re:I wonder... by rk87 · 2005-09-03 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  Well of course he is doing the "Developers, Developers, Developers" dance, followed closely by the chair-throwing ritual. It's just like in real life!
  
  --
  I'M NOT ANGRY!
The topic may have been misleading... by ErikPeterson · 2005-09-02 23:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Well even if the topic is misleading at least we can all rejoice that when we clicked on the pictures link we didn't have to actually see pictures of the REAL Bill Gates! I think we have all had enough of him! Zonk could have put Bill's ugly mug on the icon on the start page... if thats within his power ;)

--
The world's smartest bug zapper www.zapstats.com/kickstarter
Change the name of slashdot..... by killeena · 2005-09-02 23:54 · Score: 1

to Zonkdot. Seriously, everything on here is from Zonk.

--
Freedom would be not to choose between black and white but to abjure such prescribed choices. -Theodor Adorno
I smell FUD by postgrep · 2005-09-03 00:42 · Score: 1

http://www.nerdsthemusical.com/main.htm two technological geniuses, as they blaze a path from "garage inventors"... No wonder they've quoted that. Steve Jobs did nothing but sell Apples, Ol' Woz made them and programmed them with this bare hands and didn't receive any credit. Whilst Gates stole his initial OS from Apple again. Remind me why these people are being played off as geniuses instead of criminals?
1. Re:I smell FUD by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-03 00:47 · Score: 1, Interesting
  
  >>Whilst Gates stole his initial OS from Apple again
  
  MS-DOS was stolen from Apple?
  
  More like MS wrote the BASIC interpreter that was pretty much the operating system of the original Apple II.
  
  Talk about smelling FUD! It's coming from your own asshole I suspect.
2. Re:I smell FUD by postgrep · 2005-09-03 00:48 · Score: 1
  
  Apple II != first apple made
3. Re:I smell FUD by Tablizer · 2005-09-03 08:32 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed. They are essentially marketing and packaging geniuses. It was not their tech that made them big. Few know this outside of the tech world.
  
  --
  Table-ized A.I.
Monsters Inc Musical by GaryPatterson · 2005-09-03 00:53 · Score: 3, Funny

Is it just me, or does someone else think of the scene in Monsters Inc where Mike screams out "Put that thing back where it came from!" and then pretends it's a musical?

Pixar put it in the DVD as an extra bit. It was very good, but somehow I keep thinking of this story in the same vein.
Re:No. ??? by justsomebody · 2005-09-03 02:10 · Score: 1

???? Well, guess I'll put tomatoes and other sticky vegetables back to storage then.

And to think I almost bought a plane ticket to attend this target practice.

--
Signature Pro version 1.13.2-3 release 83.5 beta3try7 after-breakfast edition
Genre? by HD+Webdev · 2005-09-03 02:13 · Score: 1

"Its title "Nerds://A Musical Software Satire" suggests that its in the same genre as Martyn Burke's 1999 movie Pirates in Silicon Valley."

Are you sure that you mean the "crappy, inaccurate, made for TV genre" that Pirates OF Silicon Valley belongs to?

--
This is not a dream, not a dream...we are transmitting from the year 1-9-9-9.
1. Re:Genre? by Carthag · 2005-09-03 02:47 · Score: 1
  
  I think they mean plot, not genre. Unless I completely missed them, there weren't any songs in Pirates of Silicon Valley.
How to Succeed in Business... by dexter+riley · 2005-09-03 03:14 · Score: 3, Funny

...By Being an A**hole: Act One, Scene Four:

Ballmer:
I...am.
Gonna set this town, gonna set this world on FIRE!
I...am.
Gonna make our stock, gonna knock his block off HIGHER!
I...am!
Gonna be the one, be the shining sun, be the number one--
Bates:
(coughs)

Ballmer:
(sighs) Gonna be true blue, be the number two,
be the bastard whoooooo....
(runs down a line of chairs, scattering them across the stage)
Is gonna be! The! One! To!
Chorus:
He's! The! One! To!

Ballmer:
Swear-to-god I'll... (throws chair)
Chorus:
Juv! En! Ile! Wooo! (dodging chair)

Ballmer and Chorus:
Kill!
Goo!
--gle!!!!!!
(Big finish, orchestra swells)

Ballmer and Gates:
Yeah!
Misleading headline as well! by getling · 2005-09-03 03:42 · Score: 1

NY Music theatre festival != Broadway

The show is getting a small run, along with a TON of other shows as part of a yearly festival (of which there are several as well)...and the authors _hope_ it will move up to Broadway or off-broadway. The odds of that happening are pretty low; in fact even an extension in the same theatre is pretty momentous. For instance, from this year's Fringe festival (a more prestigious festival that just ended), there are about 10 shows out of 200 that are even lucky enough to _consider_ extensions. So the moral of the story is, don't expect to see this on Broadway anytime soon!

--
"Life is tough but we're tougher. You only get what you give, so give all that you've got." --Tony LaRussa
Comment removed by account_deleted · 2005-09-03 05:05 · Score: 1

Comment removed based on user account deletion
Re:Hey, I have a -1 by databyss · 2005-09-03 05:21 · Score: 1

I think it was supposed to be Zork, but he misspelled it.

--
Hmmm witty sig or funny sig? Maybe elitest techy sig!
"Dat pesky fouw-eyed wabbit!" by Tablizer · 2005-09-03 08:01 · Score: 1

Kill da Wabbit, Kill da Wabbit!

--
Table-ized A.I.
Re:Hrm. by Tablizer · 2005-09-03 08:29 · Score: 1

Honestly, this sounds like the worst idea ever.

Even over "MS-Bob, the Play"?

--
Table-ized A.I.
Re:stop the worship.. by eno2001 · 2005-09-03 17:28 · Score: 1

Hmmm... So are you suggesting that Broadway should go the way of the dinosaur? Why not the way of Classical Music. Broadway was at least as important as Bach in the develompent of culture. Considering that one of it's offsprings (The Music Video) is still doing quite well world wide. No. Not a dinosaur. A classic that deserves some level of respect. (Heh. And I HATE musicals)

--
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
Effects for Slashdot by nikster · 2005-09-03 20:11 · Score: 1

Good: Makes it more likely people click on the link because of the outrageous title.

Bad: Makes it less likely people will click on any links to Slashdot in the future.

Too bad...
Mother says,, "It's A tony award winner" by gamekeeper · 2005-09-07 08:23 · Score: 1

My mother just read the article and saw the pictures. She says it could be a "Tony" winner. She hopes it, will come out to California. What intrests us both about this is, the people depicted in this play are possibily the most influential of our time, either positivly or negatively. The fact that none of these powerful people have filed suit against the production for things like "defamation, or slander" must lend some credit to it's honesty. I think it's interesting that this type of stuff is going on now instead of like 100 years or more after they die.. I am not for or against the decisions that these people have made, some Really suck and affect alot of people in verry negative ways, and there are some that are a Stroke of Genius that moves us forward, I guess it all depends on your perception of the given situation.. Thats my take, gk