After last night's frenzy of activity at Low Bar in Dumbo -- where among other readers a trembling M. Wombat presented his multimedia extravaganza "The Wuss-Out: A Case Study in Self-Leadership Challenge" -- the morning's mood calls for a simple, low-key quiz, as comforting as toast and tea. We turn therefore our trivial attention once more to the world of books, although the subject of this week's question is no mere scribbler:
He directed the first feature film to incorporate digitized images. He wrote one of the top 10 betsellers of 1975. And he appeared most recently on bestseller lists in 2002 and early 2003. Although it was not a bestseller, he has also written a biography of Jasper Johns.
Who is this man?
First correct answer posted to comments wins a bag of Bitter Patch Kids gummy candy (anise flavor). No Googling or using that new Turbo5000 search engine thingy, and don't even think about calling your old roommate who used to work at Kim's Video. One guess per comment, but comment as often as you like.
(And to those of you who came out last night, your presence and indulgence was beyond appreciated.)
Posted by BT at June 13, 2003 09:55 AMHere's a hint -- he's crap. Not qualified to. . . never mind.
Posted by: Hillary Clinton on June 13, 2003 10:09 AMMichael Crichton?
Posted by: Brian T. on June 13, 2003 11:46 AMI don't think that this is right at all, for so many reasons, but someone has to get the ball rolling, right? So I'll say Joe Ezsterhaus, or however you spell his name.
Posted by: Scott on June 13, 2003 11:47 AMGood thing you don't work at an undertaker's shop, dude, or worse yet at an actuarial company.
This might be as feeble an answer as Joe Esterhaus, whose name faintly taps at the dented bell of my brain, but howzabout Michael Eisner?
Viva the Wussbat!
Posted by: bootsy on June 13, 2003 12:14 PMHillary's opinion aside, we have a winner! The mysterious Mr. T. enters the halls of Wombat Fame forever.
[cue up that music they play on Iron Chef]
Crichton's use of digital special effects was of course in Westworld. For bonus points: the title of his 1975 blockbuster? Hint: notThe Andromeda Strain.
Posted by: BT on June 13, 2003 12:18 PMConfidential to Bootsy:
No worries about actuariality; I'm secretly a top advisor to the Prez!
Um, Crichton, 75. . . Ehrm. . .
Posted by: Scott on June 13, 2003 01:27 PMComa! Future Shock! Towering Inferno! Jazzercise!
What Color is Your Megatrend!
Michael Crichton! Jesus Christ! I always get here too late for these things. I knew mother-scratchin' Willard Scott, too.
Posted by: Pope John Paul II on June 13, 2003 02:22 PMPS, do any of you cats have a couple of thousand dollars I can borrow? There's this nice Nigerian gentleman I'm trying to help out.
Posted by: Pope John Paul II on June 13, 2003 02:28 PMWell, it appears that I rule. I didn't even have to google. The Great Train Robbery was ok, but remember, he is responsible for the novels which were turned into Congo and Sphere which cancel out anything good he may have done. And he created the TV show ER.
Is no one else alarmed by the idea of Michael Crichton writing a biography of Jasper Johns? Is no one else shocked that it wasn't a best-seller?
Posted by: KF on June 13, 2003 03:57 PMI'd also like to mention that Bill's reference to "the mysterious Mr. T" makes me think "I Pity the Fool that Rings Twice."
It's a perfect example of the sort of crap my brain does.
I'm curious about this guy, though. I have it on good authority that there's been some posting under false names. Hackley Fracture, for example. So who really is going to not get the anise flavored candy?
Posted by: Scott on June 13, 2003 04:11 PMNah, I am just new to the site. So, do I get some Bitter Patch Kids or what?
Posted by: Brian T. on June 13, 2003 11:31 PMYou are new to the site.
Posted by: Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2003 02:09 PMNew but oh so welcome. Brian, your Bitter Patch Kids are...well, look inside you, deep into that place where you have a small, bright flame of hope that burns with an unquenchable light, even through the fog of endless disappointment that threatens constantly to snuff it out. Do you see it?
OK, now, look in that little metal cabinet, next to the flame. The one that looks like an Ikea reject There's a coupon in there, under the pile of Thai take-out menus, good for one free packet of Bitter Patch kids.
You can't use it at Key Food, though. Sorry.
Posted by: BT on June 17, 2003 12:07 AMIkea rejects stuff?
Posted by: Scott on June 17, 2003 09:01 AMThanks for the roadmap to my bitterness, BT. I actually found mine sitting on top of the cabinet. Waiting. Watching.
On another note, I am a bouncer at an "indie" bar and I get really of these scenesters mistaking my kindness for weakness. Would it be ok to wear a shirt that says "I bet you have a terrific scream" or would that be going overboard?