Transformers to Hit Universal Studios Singapore

(via InterPark Magazine):

"Transformers will be making its debut as the theme park mega-attraction at Universal Studios Singapore come 2011, fusing 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system designed to forever transform our perceptions of a theme park experience.

The first-of-its-kind attraction is scheduled to make its debut in Singapore even before it appears in Universal Studios Hollywood in the US."

Still not excited about this. (And am I the only one out there who has no interest whatsoever in the Transformers II movie??) I can only hope this ride is not popular enough to make its way to Universal Studios Japan. While they could probably use it to replace the Backdraft ride, I fear that "Transformers: The Ride" will be the end of "Back to the Future: The Ride".

Hope I'm wrong.

Mediocre Man... In Japan??

The Backstory:
Mediocre Man and The Mean Average
The Misadventure Continues

The Profile Picture Debate Continues!

So last month, based on a suggestion from Samantha (one of my darling and loyal readers), I posed a question to you, my (well-dressed and intelligent) virtual audience.

Namely, should I change my profile picture from this:


To this?


My original rationale for the current profile picture was that it was just so god-awfully bad that, when people saw it, they would (hopefully) want to stick around to see what this little blog was all about. Also, I liked that the blue backdrop matched my blog's color scheme. Finally, I was hoping to build some sort of "cross-platform brand recognition" so that I could eventually feature that picture prominently in the submission packet for my book. Heck, maybe even use it as the author's photo. And for future driver's licenses.

I pointed all of this out to Samantha and her response was that "Doc Brown - though interesting - is not as hot as 'not Doc Brown'". A good point, and one I did not take lightly (especially considering I don't want to drive away my key, core demographic: sexy ladies).

Anyway, I ended up getting a surprising amount of feedback (surprising to me, at least) and the overwhelming answer so far is: neither.

(Sorry, Sam. Sorry, Matt's Cuban-Style Roast Pork Sandwich. Sorry, bad Doc Brown picture.)

Several reasons were given. (My favorite being from a reader who thought that, while my new picture looked good, it was an odd way to hold a slice of pizza.) But, overwhelmingly, people still wanted to see me as Doc Brown. Just not a Doc Brown that was so - as Shannon (a ravishing and provocative new reader) put it - "poopy pouty face".

Faced with the task of finding a new profile picture, I couldn't help but think about how much easier the whole process would be had I performed in a country heavily populated with high-tech, top-of-the-line camera-toting shutterbugs who would take pictures of me several times a second from every possible angle and then frequently present those pictures to me as gifts.

And then I remembered I'd worked in Japan.

So, I busted out my massive box of fan pictures and started searching. Some of the fan pictures were, quite literally, "fan pictures":

These, while humorous (and useful on hot days), would not make very good profile pictures.

Most of the other pictures were scary. A remarkable number had me with my mouth open. But, there were a lot of good ones. So, I picked a nice handful, scanned them and I present them to you now. There are a lot in this post but it's because I tried to include a large variety. These were taken at various stages of my Doc Brown career. Different shows, different wigs, different levels of tolerance for my Japanese superiors.

So, if you don't mind and if you've got a few seconds, take a look and let me know what you think. If you'd like a closer look, click to biggify them. I did touch them up a bit to try to get rid of the dust and the yellow of time but, bear in mind, most of them are scans. Once I have an idea of which ones you all like, I can probably track down the original digital copies.

So, without further ado, let the competition begin!

This first picture was taken by my (ever-so-handsome and talented) brother and I'm currently using in the background of my Twitter page:

Back from the Future

A few suggested that I should be smiling. This one feels a bit forced:

"I love my job. Honest."

Here's one that's a bit more natural:

Smiley Profile

It was also suggested that I use a picture of Doc doing the very-Japanese "peace sign pose". Here are two that I found:

Peace Doc #1

Peace Doc #2

Here are a few shots from the "Doc and Robot" show:

Doc and IB4E
(don't worry, the Japanese didn't find that name funny either)

Doc and remote

This may not make a great profile photo but, I love this picture:

From the look on her face, I'm either being really funny
or I'm sexually harassing her.

Here are a few pictures from the DeLorean show:

Doc's model pose.

"I need fuel!"

Doc considers buying a Mac.

"Great Scott!"

And some from the "In Search of the Fifth Element" show:

He's got the whole world...

Goggle Doc

Conductor Doc

Doc and Megaphone

Two pictures with the Segway:

Segway Doc #1

Segway Doc #2

And finally, a couple of random poses:

"You talkin' to me?"

Can I get a what what?

Doc and Einstein

So, what do you think??

[Special thanks to Ken, Ai, Mai, Yoshiko and Asako for the pictures, the applause and the memories.]

My Writing Process

A few people have recently asked me what it's like spending all day, nearly every day, locked in my apartment trying to write.

Well, when I'm deep in the creative process, I'm a lot like a 7-year-old after dental surgery.



Is this real life??

The Brief (and Welcome) Return of Bill Hicks to Television

This is amazing.

My brother and I were walking around Green Lake on Friday and our conversation turned to the topic of stand-up comedians. This inevitably got me talking about how great Bill Hicks was and how welcome his voice would have been these last 8 years.

I had watched the Bill Hicks Live DVD the night before and couldn't get over how funny it was and just how well his material has held up. What also struck me was how humble and genuinely upset David Letterman sounded in the documentary portion of the DVD for having cut Bill Hicks's last performance from his show (unaware, of course, that it would be his last performance).

And, man... what I would have given to see his last Letterman performance.

So, guess what played later that evening?

Bill Hicks on Letterman, Finally
(via TV Eye):

"A 1993 standup performance by Bill Hicks on David Letterman that was cut from the telecast 15 years ago finally saw light of day on an unusual episode of 'Late Show with David Letterman' on Friday.

Suddenly awash with guilt for cutting the performance in its entirety, months before the edgy comic died of pancreatic cancer, Letterman not only showed the entire performance, he also invited the comic's mother, Mary Hicks, on the show so he could say how sorry he was for the whole thing.

'Let me again apologize for the heartache and sadness my decision caused your family,' Letterman told the white-haired lady.

'I appreciate you saying that,' she said."

And I thought Letterman seemed humble before.

I'm not sure how long it will be online but you can see a video of it here. (The site doesn't give the option to embed.) I won't comment on the material so you can enjoy it on your own (we can discuss it in the comments if you'd like), but I will say 2 things:

1. When I watched it, they preceded it with a Christina Aguilera Target commercial. Does anyone see the head-shaking irony of including that before a Bill Hicks clip?
2. Can't lie, hearing the David Letterman of 2009 say "Here's the very funny... Bill Hicks" got me all choked up.

Enjoy.