We started with 64 entrants, and after a series of brutal and bloody campaigns, only two survive for the final, alliterative battle. Winner of the Final Battle will be recommended to President Barack Obama to fill Secretary position of the as-yet created Department of Geek Affairs. All results to this point can be found on the main Geek Madness page.
As a refresher (or primer, for those who might be seeing this tournament for the first time), here are the qualifications for the position:
- Advise the POTUS on matters concerning, affecting, and/or of interest to geeks (as well as nerds and similar constituencies);
- Implement POTUS policies generated by first responsibility; and
- Act as liaison on POTUS’ behalf between the greater U.S. geek community and other national and international stakeholders.
- Not required to be a U.S. citizen, because we say so.
Now do your patriotic duty and VOTE!
Joss Whedon: Writer/producer/director; creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film/TV), “Angel” (TV) “Firefly”/Serenity (TV/film) and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (interwebs)
Notes: Has strong track record of creating television shows marked by clever dialogue, smart and interesting characters, fantastical elements, and extremely short lifespans; ridiculously devoted following; as if geek cred wasn’t strong enough, was one of the co-writers of Toy Story. Defeated Ken Plume, Doctor Who, Jonathan Coulton, Felicia Day and Kaylee Frye.
Wil Wheaton: Writer, actor; blogging pioneer; most widely known for roles as Wesley Crusher (Star Trek TNG) and Gordie LaChance in Stand By Me.
Notes: Parlayed his much-maligned portrayal of Wesley Crusher into a multi-platform second career; blog/website is a hub for geek discourse; poker player and fan; has his own tag on Fark.com. Defeated Bruce Campbell, Wesley Crusher, Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak and Gabe & Tycho (Penny Arcade).
[poll id=88]
50 Comments
Okay, the choice I dreaded is here. After hemming and hawing, and trying to figure out who would do the best job as Secretary of Geek Affairs, I finally voted for Wil. Mostly b/c I met him at the LA Festival of Books, and he was tremendously nice when we spoke while he signed the books I was buying.
Definitely Wil Wheaton. He’s an all-around geek, not specialized like Joss, and he’s a hell of a nice guy. He loves his wife, kids, and fans. And he’s somewhat politically active, which might be a plus for this position.
Voted for Wil. Several folks have commented that all he’s done is be in an old TV series and/or write some books, but the man is 100% pure-bred geek. D&D, check. Comic books, check. Action figures, check. Sci-fi fan, check. I’m sure there’s a bunch more stuff that I don’t know off the top of my head but that others can fill in. And he goes to Paul and Storm concerts. 🙂
The thing about Wheaton is I get the feeling that he will actually accept and embrace the title of Secretary Of Geek Affairs.
Does Whedon even have a blog? I think I’d rather have a blogger as my Secretary Of Geek Affairs. You know, for transparency reasons.
I *knew* it would come down to this.
For me the answer is Wil, hands down. If we’re choosing a SoGA I want somebody who’s not only geeky, but is in touch with the geeky masses.
Sorry, Joss. As much as I love Firefly I can’t vote for you.
TO WHEATON!
Wow… you folks have never watched the commentary on any single Buffy/Angel/Firefly episode have you? Joss is as deep a geek as any of us. Plus, I don’t think Wil is a musical theater geek, so he falls short of Joss in at least that one category.
He *wrote the screenplay* for Toy Story for gad’s sake.
Nobody else for Joss?
I had to vote for Wil. He’s the more well rounded Geek. And I think he would feel more honored and take the title more “seriously.”
Is there a Certificate, Plaque or Trophy to give to the winner? Will there be a formal presentation/induction ceremony, say at a convention? I see no reason not to contact the media, put out a formal press release once the “Secretary of Geek Affairs” has been officially determined.
I had to give my vote to Joss, since he appreciates his fans. Wil, however, was in a cranky mood one day and decided to block me on Twitter because I sent him a link to my podcast. I thought, as a Geeky parent, that he might like to see my geeky parenting blog. It isn’t as if I wanted to sell him Enzyte or refinance his mortgage. So sorry Wil, I have to go with the guy with the better attitude.
Joss For The WIN!
I voted for Wil because he said he liked my art. He never did get back to me about his Wil Wheaton sweater picture though:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jawboneradio/3216730070/
I have been expecting this showdown. I have to vote for Wil. As much as I love Joss and his work, and appreciate his understanding of geek culture, I think that Wil is a better choice. As someone above said, I also think that Wil would take the job more “seriously”, and would represent the interests of all Geek Americans proudly.
HAD to vote Joss! Look at the rest of the competition…he CREATED one of the competitors in the Penultimate 4. Creator and createe, both in same competition. Love Wil, but Joss has created more geeks, and is therefore the bigger geek.
I’m voting for Wil for one specific reason: If Joss were busy with other things, he would not have time to devote to Dollhouse and any other projects he might have in the oven, baking.
Come on, people! Think! 🙂
Much as I love and respect Joss, I had to go for Wil. Fact is, he’s been acting as a shadow SoGA for years anyway. (Note: I only mean that in the parliamentary sense of “shadow”, not the B5 sense…!)
Because of his years of active promotion of Geeks everywhere, I expect that
Wil should win by a landslide, I encourage Wil to embrace his SoGA role publicly. He should start by writing a Geek Affairs Manifesto for the Obama administration…!
Both are admiral, but in the words of Nathan Fillion (in the Serenity gag reel), “Joss is boss.”
I think the fact that Wil has geeked out over Joss’s work makes him a more unabashed geek. Which for some reason I think makes him more qualified.
If this happened before Dollhouse I’d be voting Joss all the way, but my spite now demands a vote for Wil.
JOSS! C’mon guys!
That’s all I can say. Just..c’mon!
I respect them both but my vote is for Wil. Wil is a geek among geeks. He loves his wife and delights in leading his boys along the geek path.
Joss FTW!
Wil, if you win this, don’t let it go to your head.
This was a hard decision, as either would be worthy. I *almost* voted for Whedon in the hopes that a win for him might help with Whedon Watch, but had to go with my guy and vote Wheaton.
Dollhouse = vote for Wil.
Have to go with wheaton on this one.
Len, That picture is fantastic.
Oops. “Gut” not “guy.”
I voted for Will because Whedon has too much to do. He’s got Dollhouse and hopeful a sequel to Dr. Horrible.
Feeling slightly ashamed to have found out about these via @whedonesque and still voted for Wil! In my defense, I am proving my slavish devotion to Joss by enduring Dollhouse each week.
Dollhouse! = Clear vote for Joss. That show is awesome. So many layers.
I voted for Wil! I’m a HUGE Joss Whedon fan, but while Whedon FANS are bigger geeks, Wheaton, himself, is a bigger geek than Joss, thereby understanding what geeks need much better. Joss Whedon might be my Master Now, but I want Wil Wheaton to be my Secretary of Geek Affairs.
However, he does still owe me $12:
http://www.pinkraygun.com/2009/03/09/wil-wheaton-is-a-deadbeat/
I’m a die-hard Whedon fan, but I agree with the above who have said Wil would embrace this more than Joss would. Joss would get too busy and fall behind in his Secretary of Geek Affairs like he did when he was writing the Fray comic. I love you, Joss, but come on, you know it’s true!
So Wil gets my vote.
I voted for Wil, and here’s why:
Wil reminds me of my dad. Kind of creepy, I know, but just listen. My dad is a total geek. Tons of fun and super cool, but still a huge geek. I’m a different, geekier person because of his influence. Joss is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but he just seems like the cool uncle that you always want to hang out with but you wouldn’t want to live with. Wil just seems more open and friendly. Plus, he’d blog and Twitter up a storm about geek affairs.
Joss, totally.
1) He is just as nice or nicer to fans (and wife and kids and friends, and stray puppies)
2) He is wayyy more the comic geek than Wil is – Joss has been a fixture at ComicCon for years, and has written for comics (X Men, Runaways, etc.)
3) Joss can check the D&D box also (he told me that gaming in college was the most fun he had until he had his own show to run)
4) Joss is also politically active
5) Joss may not blog as often as Wil, but then, he has actual movies, TV shows, and comics to communicate with. He does post on Whedonesque when he has something to say, including politics if he feels it is appropriate
Don’t vote for Joss because Dollhouse is awesome (it is), but because he is an uber-geek even more than Wil.
Vote Wil. Because he has better hair…. LOL
In the end, for me the question was not so much the candidates’ own geekosity but their ability to inspire geekosity in others.
Wil Wheaton’s top accomplishment in this regard, as far as I know, was to inspire someone to create the erstwhile USENET group alt.ensign.wesley.crusher.die.die.die.
Sorry, Wil. My vote goes to Joss.
I voted Wil.
Because it came up tails.
I voted for Joss – I mean Dr. Horrible is AWESOME. Plus you have Whedon Watch, and I do trust your judgment (most of the time?). So yeah, Joss, FTW.
I love them both, but I had to vote for Wil for one reason: Wil is a natural-born evangelist, in addition to being a geek. Joss is brilliant, but his skills lie elsewhere.
hrm..choices hard. If Joss wins then no time to make more excellent shows. If Wil wins..will he have time for his bloggity goodness? Voting for Wil because we can’t risk not having Whedon shows.
This is truly the pinnacle of geekdom. Going against my better judgment, I believe Wheaton is the better choice. I mean, seriously, look at who he defeated:
Bruce Campbell: a deity among geeks
Stephen Hawking: smartest man alive? uber-geek
Wesley Crusher: If you can defeat your alternate self and survive, you have achieved everything that it is to be a geek.
Sorry Joss, I’m still a huge fan.
Man… Most of the people I voted for didn’t make it too far. I don’t care about either of these guys. I’m not voting on this round.
Joss is boss
I voted for Joss because he owns 1/2 of my soul.
I gotta go with Wil on this one! Go Wil!
WIL WHEATON
Wil would be a MUCH more articulate ambassador for geek-kind. Joss is a good writer, but not so good at the speaking.
This WAS a tough one — but it comes down to what others have already mentioned: who will embrace it and be the evangelical geek diplomat/advocate? Against pretty much any other opponent I’d vote for Joss… but in this instance, it’s Wil FTW.
Mr. Whedon or Mr. Wheaton. It’s a tough choice. It comes down to who is a higher quality geek. For my vote, that’s Mr. Wheaton. He seems like a normal guy. Occasionally does some acting. Plays ye olde fashioned pen and paper D&D, and shamelessly rocks out to Guitar Hero on YouTube in front of a crowd of fellow geeks.
I don’t know what Mr. Whedon does in between his shows being canceled on Fox.
Good luck Wil.
At least it isn’t Wesley Crusher vs. Wil Wheaton.
Wil – because he cares. Whedon just continues to ignore Paul and Storm – he must be punished. Minions unite!
Joss should win this thing hands down. The end.
I find it comic that Joss is beating Wil, and yet, pretty much every comment made is pro-Wheaton.
That being said, I feel Joss FTW, just cuz I’m a vampiric-Active-Browncoat-Evil Genius (that just sounds sad in retrospect), and figure Joss could just write a autobiographical T.V. show, wherein the plot precognitively solves any political/diplomatic problems
I’m with #39, noone I care about is in the final round. One is certainly a geek, but one with strange agendas and a poor attitude a lot of the time. The other makes TV shows and movies, but as someone who doesn’t watch television, that doesn’t mean much to me either. I suppose if I vote, it’ll be against the person who seems to have a chip on his shoulder a lot of the time.
I’m pretty sure my 6mo old son’s first words will be something Whedony. How can you not consider the man a geek? His outlet is film. Who cares if he doesn’t keep a public blog. The man gave us like 10 years of vampires & demons, a bunch of space cowboys (and girls). And not for nothing, he gave me more Gina Torres.
Joss IS Boss.
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