Nicholas Brendon audioblog update Jan. 4, 2008
Hello everybody, this is Nicholas Brendon calling from Venice, California, where I reside. I live here, in Venice, California, and I’m calling just to check in and see how everybody’s holidays were, and let you know how mine were.
You know, a couple things going on. There’s a strike still going on, and I just … don’t know how I feel about it anymore. You know, because like, it’s like… the little people, they’re not … Wait. Not the little people. The below-the-line people. The people who really need the money, they’re really being affected right now. So, just wanted to throw that out there because I figured it’s a part of my life, and I should let you know what my life is like. So, anyway, yes I support the writers more than… I don’t know what to say. I just want to have the people get back to work. There you go.
My holidays. … Oh, by the way, everybody give a shoutout to Jacqui, who runs my Web site. She’s just great, and apparently I found out that she … I talked to her yesterday; she actually transcribes the whole thing, by hand, which I find amazing. So every time I blog, I will give a shoutout to Jacqui.
You know, it’s 2008 here, and I couldn’t open it … open it? I couldn’t welcome it more than with my big open arms right now. I hope you guys all had a great 2007; I know I did, living here in Venice, California, where it’s about to start raining – I guess a lot.
Um, so, uh, yeah. Let’s see here. I don’t think I’ve talked to you since I wrote – since I wrote? What am I talking about right now? Since I did Super Cat. We did the pilot. Me and Tom … I wish I knew his last name – he’s the voice of SpongeBob, plays my little sidekick. And it’s just beautifully awesome; it’s just a great show, and it’s just been a great collaboration.
What we’re trying to do is, it’s going to be for the Cartoon Network. And we wanna kind of, because they love it, and I think, from what I understand, the head of the Cartoon Network is a big fan of mine, which is great, and I would imagine he’s a big fan of Tom’s, too. So we just need to get some prebuzz, some emails or letters or anything that we can send to the Cartoon Network to get this thing going. It’s the cutest show of all time; I think just on the merits itself it should go, but why not get a big push, as well?
Ben, who’s the creator of it, spoke to Jacqui, my webmaster, yesterday and I think they’re going to do like a press release on the Web site, and a picture of Super Cat, and if we can possibly get a sample of some audio for it. I’m fighting a cold right now, so if I sound a bit nasally, it’s because I am. [sniffle] ‘Scuse me. I apologize for that. Oh, gosh. So, yes, I think so we’re going to be on top of that.
The Criminal Minds thing – you know, everything’s great. I think once we get back to work I’ll be there, and that should be a lot of fun. And y’know, there’s some other things going on that we’ll talk about once they come to fruition.
Is there anything else going on really right now? Am I lying to you? I might be lying right now. I mean, what’s coming to fruition? There’s nothing happening. I’m a big fat liar! Well, I’ll meditate and I’ll manifest something that happens, so then I can talk to you guys about it.
Let’s see. In terms of … I’m trying to think, like…. I’ve been surfing a lot lately, and I think that’s probably where I got this Ian Fleming [cough] that I have right now. It’s kind of like when you have a lot of potatoes, I’d say, “Wow, I’m Starchie Bunker.” [laughs] God, I am funny. Oh, man.
I bought a huge tree yesterday, for my living room. I took out my Christmas tree, and my tree was probably, like, 12 feet. And I took it out, and I put it in the trash can, today, and, I almost started crying, y’know? It was in my house, for like a month, and all the sudden there it is, waiting for the trash people to pick it up. It was kind of awkward; it had like, a little lean to the left you know? And it was like, aw, you were such a big part of my place, and now you’re just – you’re just dropped off like a … I don’t know, like a murdered hooker or something like that – next to a dumpster. I don’t kill people, and I sure as hell don’t want to kill trees. But it was good, and so I said bye to it, and it’s weird. I got a little verklempt.
But, anyway, that kind of prompted me to buy this 14-foot, beautiful palm tree for my place, and so I’m looking at it right now. Anyway, I wish you guys were here.
Books that I’m reading – because I’m sure you all want to know. I’m finishing a book called The Catcher Was a Spy. It’s the story of Moe Berg. (I’m going to talk for a long time, so Jacqui has to type a lot. By the way, say a prayer for Jacqui, she’s going through some, a health thing. So just talk to God, and Jacqui and just kind of give her some love.) Um… It’s about Moe Berg, who was a catcher for the Boston Red Sox and a bunch of other teams – the White Sox – in the ‘30s, and then became a spy for the – hold on real quick. Oh, that’s a friend of mine calling – I’ll have to call back. And this guy was just a really amazing individual. Weird, eccentric, you know, but truly a fascinating man. And if you like fascinating men who work out, and enjoy a Turkish bath and gladiator movies, I think that you’ll like The Catcher Was a Spy.
I’m trying to think of what I finished. I think – well, I know I read a book about surfing. I think it was called On a Wave? By … uh… Some Guy? And, before that, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by, uh, author… um, also Some Guy. You know, Some Guy writes a lot of great shit, man. And before that, I read a book called The Mulching of America — also written by One Guy – Some Guy. Hah! One Guy? Yeah, I guess Some Guy is One Guy.
Oh, gosh. I need a cold medicine or something like that. So, big storms are coming in, apparently, to Los Angeles, California, or Venice, which is where I live, and, you know, they’re talking about flash foods and all that kind of great stuff. It’s been cloudy! Very cloudy, very gray. It looks like it’s about to really start coming down. But they said it was supposed to start coming down yesterday, at 10 o’clock in the morning, and nothing so far. Y’know, it’s just kind of like you know L.A. Story, basically. Remember when Steve Martin, he’s the weatherman, and he just puts all the sunny things on there, because he does the weather ahead of time, over the weekends, and anyway, y’know, comedy ensues. Traffic signs speak to him.
Traffic signs speak to me, as well. Typically, it’s about politics. It’s about world politics, and things of that nature. And also gives me songs. Like, ideas for songs to write. And it tells me the chord in which to play it in on my guitar – only two problems there: I don’t have a guitar, and I don’t know how to play a guitar. So I could be writing gold? Platinum – as it were – records. But I’ve got no idea what it’s telling me. You know, it could be written in Chinese as far as I’m concerned. I don’t speak Chinese, nor do I read music.
Maybe I should learn Chinese. I will do that. I will learn Chinese. OK. My next blog: I will be speaking to you only in Chinese. I’m a quick learner. So, let’s set a date – I know I do this all the time. Next [Editor’s Note: xingqiwû]. That’s actually next Friday, in Chinese. I could be saying that wrong. You know, I think it’s because I have a little phlegm in my throat that’s not – hold on – because I don’t need anybody who speaks Chinese to call me out. There we go. Bye… that’s good night you all, I will talk to you soon. [Sound] That means “Watch out, there’s a Mack truck behind you.”
Hope you guys are all doing well, hope you guys had a great holiday, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. By the way, Kwanzaa came into effect in 1967, a black woman told me, so it must be true. … Um, and that’s it, man. Love ya’ll, talk to you soon. I hope this message reaches you all in good health and happiness, and … I tip my balls to you. Talk to you soon. Bye.
The voice-over guy’s name is Tom Kenny. *Iz an animation geek*.
I think I’m going to have to work, “Lying their like a murdered hooker” into a conversation at some point today. Thanks for that.
Glad the new year finds you well, Nick. I can’t wait for Supercat!
Yay! Nick updated!
I’m just now getting over a cold, so I know how you feel. Cold meds were my hero for the past week. As well as mindless television and my new laptop I got for Christmas (I’m happy about that.)
I read “The Cather was a Spy” and I really liked it. Glad to know someone else read it too. I also just finished Reservation Road, which was pretty good. Each chapter is written from a differnet main character’s point of view. And it turns out they recently made it into a movie, which I haven’t seen yet, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you what it’s like. Also been reading some works by Ernest Hemmingway. Good stuff.
Gonna rain out there, huh? I still would rather be out there than here in DeKalb. Nothing but snow and negative digits, though they’re saying we might hit the low 50s by next week.
Lovin’ the term “dropped off like a murdered hooker.” I’m totally gonna start using it (especially when school starts next Monday. Wonder if I could use it in one of my essays? Kidding.)
Not a big fan of Cartoon Network anymore (alot of their shows have gotten weird since the shows I grew up with) but Supercat sounds awesome. Nicholas Brendon AND Tom Kenny? Oh yeah, I’ll have to see this. I’ll drop a note off to the CN website…give it a push.
The writer’s strike…yeah, I’m not too sure how I feel about that anymore. From a writer’s point of view, I totally see why they’re striking, and I agree on those reasons, (wish the big corporate suits would just give in, but to them, everything’s always about money, anymore.) But I also want to see my favorite shows back on the air and see that everyone can get back to work. So it’s a real tug of war on my opinion.
Well, sorry for the lengthy comment, but it’s rather dull around here lately, so just passing the time.
Glad to see you’re doing well, Nick, and hope to hear from you again soon!
Also, much love to Jacqui for transcribing and just being an awesome Webmaster!
Take care and Happy 2008!
John.
Such an awesome blog, and I did a test to see if an old tree dropped off on a corner looked like a murdered hooker by a dumpster and they totally look the same.
It seem’s everyones getting colds now, a cold is like the new slinky everybody has one. Hope your’s get’s better soon Nick.
I went to the libary to trey and get these book, but when I told them the author was some guy they gace me a weird look and literally kicked me out of the libary. Oh well, I’ll try and find them so I can read them
Cant wait for the next blog nick, though I suppose I’ll have to
To be totally honest I really don’t think I want to know if a tree by the curb looks like a murdered hooker. I really, really don’t. That means I’d have to see dead people and I really don’t want to be in on a Sixth Sense experience. Maybe later. Then again every time I look in my back yard I want to cry because my giant silver maples took a hit during the massive ice storms here last month.
I love your sence of humor. It’s a killer. Run into any vampires lately. I know how you feel about the strike. I think the writers and anyone who works on a show, movie or anything to do with media should get their deserved residuals for reruns and dvd/vhs copies of whatever they did the work on. I hope everything is well with you and your new 12 foot palm tree. I hope you have a great year. I wish Jacqui as a speedy recovery from her ailments and I hope you recoup fast too. If want she had has anything to do with cancer I know want she is going through. Not first hand but through my mother and sister. Thanks for listening to what I had to say and have a great life both of you.
Hey Nick, It’s been a few days, but if you’re still in the claws of that cold, try this: juice of one lemon, teaspoon cinnamon, honey to taste and add boiling water to mix it all up. Take 2-3 times a day. Kicks butt. Works best if you take it in the beginning of your cold, obviously too late for that, but will help in knocking it out. And keep it in mind for next time. Take care.
First let me say – Hey Jackie! You rock and I hope you’re feeling better.
Nicky,
Eww. Blow your nose *before* you audioblog, sweetie. LOL.
You’re so funny. You had me rolling a couple of times (Joss is writing this for you, isn’t he?).
Please keep blogging. You’re the best! I hope this strike ends soon so we can see more of you on T.V.
P.S. I also feel bad for the dwarfs.
I meant, Jacqui.
Sorry, Jacqui. Can’t spell worth a darn.
I hope that means you will be back on criminal minds, what a great show, and your part was awesome. and my kids would love a nother tom kenny cartoon. no more spongebob woo hooo
I am sitting here laughing my ASS off. Seriously.
Whereabouts do you surf? If you’re ever in the Huntington area and see an older couple teaching a couple tweenish boys to surf while some woman in a big-ass cover-ass and hat waves from shore and buries her face back into her book… yeah, that’d be my family.
My parents are the ones in charge of teaching the boys to surf. I’d try, but it would be more like lessons on how to fall off the board, knock yourself out and require rescue. Besides, someone’s gotta babysit the gear, right?
And Jacqui, you’re a better woman than I – for I cannot transcribe worth a tinker’s dam.
Hey Nick! Great blog! It really made my xingqiyi (Monday)!
Oh, Jacqui, awesome job on the transcribing.
I’m glad you got a tree, Nick. Hopefully you won’t have to throw it away any time soon. My patio was in serious need of plants last April and now (because I live in San Diego) I wake up every morning to morning glories. They do brighten perspectives…
I congratulate you on your desire to learn Chinese. I find speaking it is easier than writing the characters. Maybe this will help you on your road to language-
Hello= Ni hao!
How are you=Ni hao ma?
I am good= Wo hen hao
Thanks= Xie xie
No= Bu
Beer= Pijiu (spelling may be off, but the sound is right)
BBQ Pork with rice= Chao shao bao
Goodbye= Zai jian
I think I lived off of these phrases for a month. It’s easier to pick up when you’re hungry & no one speaks English… funny how instincts for survival kick in then.
I know about the cold, dude, and I feel you. I’m coughing and sniffling over here as we speak. So much for New Year’s. All I know was that at the end of 2007 I was healthy. 2008… eh, not so much. I’ve been drinking about 8 cups of hot water a day (mostly with honey/sometimes with crushed asprin to gargle/experimented with a couple of spoons of olive oil because I thought it would sooth the throat but all it proved was that I’m weird). Hot water works pretty well. If you have what I have (a mysterious bug given as a belated Christmas gift), you should be able to kick it in about 10 days. I know, it’s only day 7 for me, but I feel the end is near.
As far as the rainfall, San Diego has had its share. I can’t even walk to the car without water rushing in around my ankles. Good luck with it and be in the mood of fun stuff to do while being rained on. My good time was darts & getting soaked by rain water. Hopefully yours will be more fruitful.
Anyway, before this turns into novel, take care of yourself and I look forward to your next blog.
Zai jian!
Korki
Happy New Year, Nick. Thanks for your new blog. Good luck with Supercats. I loved you on Criminal Minds, and I think they left the door wide open for you to return, and so I’m looking forward to that when the strike ends.
Take care!
Hi. I just found your blog via whedonesque.com.
I just wanted to say I totally agree with what you’re saying about the strike. As much as I get the point of the strike (I love writing and i know how much hard work goes into it) I also feel for the poor crewmen and actors who need their jobs back. I’m sure everyone must be suffering right now.
Anyway, take care of that cold of yours. And I bet this year will be a better year for everyone!
Nick!
Good lord, you’re so funny! Yuck for the cold, hope you’re feeling better soon. and what in heaven’s name are you doing surfing in DECEMBER?!?!? Yikes! I live in FL and won’t go swimming – or anywhere near water that isn’t in my shower – in December. Too. Cold! Anyway, get better soon, guy!
The strike is so awful. I mean, yes, I totally support what the writers are wanting – it only makes sense to me – but it sucks that the behind the scenes people are getting the crappy end of this situation. And what the networks are doing because of it just….well, it frost my twinkies, and not in a good way! Grrr. So, here is some random woman in Florida sending up a prayer that the strike is resolved shortly and everyone can get back to work.
Speaking of work. Would it be weird if I said I wished you were back on my tv screen? I thought you were awesome as Xander (that could have gone without being said, really
) and no one else could have played Seth like you did. *sigh* I LOVED Kitchen Confidential. So funny! So yes! Keep us, your adoring fans, updated on when you’ll be back on tv.
Let’s see..I think that’s about all I wanted to say. Just, have a great time in FL, good luck with the Chinese (*wink wink nudge*).
Chelle
Hey Nick! (:
It’s great to hear from you again and I hope that you’ll have a very happy 2008. A murdered hooker, huh? (LOL) My tree is fake. So, we just took it down and put it in a box. I asked my hubby if he wanted to get a live tree for next year but he thought it might be better not to because the youngest might try to eat the tree. As it is, he keeps us busy trying to stop him from pulling the decorations off the tree and bouncing the ornaments around like little basketballs. Your palm tree sounds like it’s very beautiful.
I really love your blogs and I really appreciate that you do them for us. I wasn’t on the internet this weekend, so I didn’t see your blog until today. I was busy doing a wedding thing. My oldest son was in his first wedding. Not his wedding, I have a few more years before I need to freak out about that. He was the ring-barer. He was quite the entertainer. He laid down and rolled off the stage. It was one of those parental moments when I wanted to crawl under the pew, or the nearest rock, and hide. I could just hear that whole Southwest Airlines commercial, “Wanna get away?” montage in my head. It seemed to really tickle everyone else though. Especially the father of the bride who up until that point looked like he might just pass out on us.
As far as the Writer’s Strike goes. I feel bad about it. I wish that the writers would get what they need from the big whigs and that everyone could just go back to work. I imagine it’s pretty rough for quite a few folks out there right now. And I just hope that it gets resolved in a way thats fair to everybody.
The Catcher Was a Spy, and On a Wave sounds like very good books. I’ll have to look them up at my local library and read them. Books I’ve been reading? Lets see…currently I’ve been reading Millionare Women Next Door. It’s about women who started business’ and are now millionares. It’s about how they did what they did and what kind of business’ they own. I’ve also been reading alot of Performance Horse articles…one in particular about Doc Bar and Doc Quixote because their in my horse’s bloodlines. Also, alot about Cutting Competition cause my horse will most likely be ready to compete in the National Cutting Horse Shows this fall or winter. As far as movies go, I Am Legend, with Will Smith, that was good. I enjoyed that one.
Supercat sounds awesome. My little ones and myself will be psyched to see it. I’ll send a little email to CN. And, I will be very happy to see you again on Criminal Minds, too .
As far as the weather goes here, it’s about 65F in beautiful Tennessee and kinda between overcast and sunny. It was below freezing though all of last week, so the weather here gets pretty unpredictable. It sounded like ya’ll got slammed with some pretty harsh storms though, with alot of people out of power. I hope that they’ve resolved that quickly. And I’m sorry about your cold I hope that you get to feeling better soon. Can’t wait to hear from you again. (Hugs)
And Jacqui, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve not been feeling well. You do such an awesome job with this website and I really appreciate what you do here. (:
Sincerely,
Ruth
Hey Nicky,
Sorry you are feeling under the weather. I was sick over the holidays but feeling better now, hope you feel better soon!
Ive been hearing about the crazy weather you are getting over there. Hope that doesn’t keep up. We had some nasty snow storms here (eastern Ontario), today is just rain so the snow is going away…thank goodness!!!
Glad you had nice holidays! Take care
JennT
[...] Nicholas mentioned in his audioblog last week, we’re happy to offer you the first glimpse of Super [...]
Hey Nick!
Sorry about the cold
, although my power was off for a week and I got to this late, so it might already be over . . . Unless it’s one of those weird mutated ones, yeah. You’re hilarious! I especially loved the dead hooker, not that I kill people, and I tip my balls to you, those I’m definitely telling my friends about that. Jacqui’s wonderful for doing all of this and I give you both my love for these things, you’re both awesome. And Jacqui, I hope you feel better about whatever is affecting you right now.
The Catcher Was a Spy sounds really good, I’ll have to pick that up on my next trip to the bookstore. My Aunt got be a book by Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas, it’s definitely something to read.
The writer strike is sad, but I feel for them, they’re always such amazing people. The tree’s death is sad, too though, you could always buy a plastic one that looks real and hang car things on them, the pine smelling freshener thingies. Then you can store it in a closet and whenever you get nostolgic, give it a pet. But Congrats on your palm tree
. You sound happy, a little nasal too 
.
I’ll send an e-mail to the Network, and I hope to see Supercat up and running, it sounds wonderful!
Thanks for remembering the little people, well not everybody, but I’m 5 foot nothing, so, I am a little person, not too little though. Hmm.
So, hope you’re much better and very jolly, and green jello always helps me feel better if that helps any
.
Cheers and love.
Hi Nick-
Happy New Year to you and your family. It is so good to read that you are doing well and involved in projects you enjoy. The Cather was aSpy sounds like a book i would enjoy; Moe Berg played for the White Sox in the Thirties and toured Japan in a baseball exibitation with Babe Ruth (1932). I believe I read he and the rest of the team was the subject of very tight security-much like North Korea is today. Mr Berg actually made to the roof of the hotel he was staying at, took some pictures of Tokyo which were later used during the planning of the WWII Doolittle Raid in April 1942.
Anway looking forward to seeing more of you on Criminal Minds, and will check out SuperCat. Also look forward to rerunning my Buffy DVDs and seeing one of my favorite characters on TV!
Hi Nick I hope you had a better holidays then I did, Christmas time is not for me anymore, Christmas is not the same, My grandma passed away 5 years ago, I miss your so much every year around Christmas I cry, I always love go to ma grandma’s house for the day, but now christmas is never the same, it’s nothing but fighting and screaming all day long. I don’t get along with my brother anymore he stells off of me, my mom and my sister are not talking, my ex-brother in-law and his new wife witch i hate, take my sister’s kids and he will not return them, it’s going to be a long battle. And i’m always get in the middle of everything. Every Christmas time I cant wait till it comes and gos, Christmas I can careless about it’s just another day for me I don’t even go to christmas dinner or open up gifts, I don’t even put up a tree. I just stay home and watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” e-mail me some time. PS your the best actor in the world, Good looking too.
Hey Nick.
Just found your blog and was happy to see you’re keeping it going. We actually met at New York ComicCon last year, which was a pleasure. Hope SuperCat gets picked up- it looks like it would be a great opportunity for ya. Keep your fingers crossed for us PAs and ADs- this strike is really killing us. I’m a 24 year old crew guy in NJ and I now have to duke it out with 78 THOUSAND unemployed New York crew men and women. Yes. That’s right. There are 78,000 people out of work in the TV and Film market in NY alone. No wonder it’s so hard to get a gig these days…I’m all for the writers, but this strike needs to, in your own words, drop like a murdered hooker. You’ve started a trend man. Hope ’08 is going well!
_>SuperScottNap*_
Hi Nick,
Good to see you are still very much out there, a happy man and living the dream in Venice. I have just embarked on watching Buffy for the 4th time since it began (and oh so wish a movie was in the making). I got my nieces into it years ago (which they think is kinda cool for a then 28 year old bloke) and we still have our fave episodes on Halloween night (they are 17 and i am 38 now). Do you still hook up with any of the gang. Anthony Head is doing great over here, classic as the PM in Little Britain, amongst doing Doctor Who Confidential voiceovers (what a cool Brit).
So what are you mini movies like?
Dave in Brighton (South Coast UK – where it always rains and the people smile on). x
Hi,
I just wanted to say that I was having a somewhat horrible day and I came here and now I’m feeling ridiculously better. Thanks, Nicholas (and Jacqui)! Oh, and I look forward to Supercat. My husband’s a Cartoon Network fan, and it’s nice to know there’ll be something new on that I’ll enjoy.
Hi Nick- I hope you’re feeling better. I live south of LA and it’s raining all week. Instead of colds, people in my town have the flu. Almost everyone I know either has it or just got over it. The shots didn’t work. I keep tryin to get a whithe pine for Christmas every yaer so I can make tea out of the needles when it drys. When I ask, people just look at me funny. The only time I saw a dead hooker she was in the middle of the road in Orlando. She had been shot and the lights of the cop car was highlighting the blood. It didn’t look like a tree to me. She couldn’t have been more than 15. Sorry- I know its morbid, but I still get nightmares from it. I hope to see more of you on the big screen. I gave up watching television, dvd’s don’t have those pesky intureptions. When you go surfing if you see an airhead girl get out of a wheelchair and onto a boogie board- it’s probably me.
Wow- I just re read my post. After 4 days of no sleep, I’m about as coherent as a drunk at a spelling bee. Sorry.
Hey Nick, I heard you used to come to my Starbucks all the time, why must it be everytime I’m not there? Sob. I wore a Buffy shirt with my mother once and this girl was like ” Oh Xander and Joss Whendon come in here alllllll the time! ” Ahh! Haha.
I hope you’re doing well and you blog again soon.
Lots of love, Jaimie.
PS. A few years ago at the Slayercon Convention in Oakland, you told me I was beautiful, and from that day you gave me the most confidence in myself. I had never been told like you told me, so I’ve changed quite a bit, but being happy about it all is all thanks to you, so thanks kiddo! Meant a lot.
PPS. Come to my ( Studio City ) Starbucks more, eh!!
lol i agree with that other comment im gonna have to work “Lying their like a murdered hooker” into a conversation as well.
Hey Nick
can’t wait for SuperCat!
You are so naughty! You and the rest of the Buffy clan. I ended up buying the whole series and officially have become Miss Couch Potato 2008. I guess I should change my name to Starchie Bunker, huh? Now, I am funny! Mmm… in my own universe…