Proving He Still Can't Take A Joke, Wheaton Decries 'Wesley Crusher' Minifig
At some point in his professional life and career, Leonard Nimoy underwent a cultural epiphany. See, not long after his first foray in the realm of Star Trek, the actor penned an autobiographical tome called "I Am Not Spock" in an attempt to distance himself from the popular character he had helped craft on the Gene Roddenberry franchise. Years later, he kinda/sorta rethought his position, and -- realizing he wishes to correct the record -- wrote and sold another even vastly more popular work called "I Am Spock" in which he came to terms with playing a pop culture icon that will forever be a part of television history.
Ahem.
Enter Wil Wheaton ...
For those unaware, Wheaton found SciFi fame in the role of Ensign Wesley Crusher aboard the revered Star Trek: The Next Generation, but his character didn't enjoy the warm reception that the Vulcan Spock did. Arguably, Crusher is quite probably as revered as he is hated amongst even the most forgiving Star Trek enthusiasts. And -- to be perfectly fair -- none of this is really "owed" in any part to Wheaton: Crusher was simply -- in my humble estimation -- an addition to Trek that wasn't well written or conceived. He was always a little too wide-eyed and nerdy for my tastes, and the writers inserted the young man into situations oft times with dialogue that seemed written for someone half his perceived age. I think Wheaton probably did the best he could with what he was given, but he's always seemed to take issue and/or umbrage with fans online who sound off on Wesley's awesomeness and awfulness.
In fact, I think it was just this last year that the actor threatened to block any and all persons taking part in the 'Shut up, Wesley' memes that occasionally surface on the web. (The meme is owed to an episode of The Next Generation wherein Capt. Jean-Luc Picard famously told the boy to do just that.) Wheaton didn't want the meme to spread any longer, so he took it upon himself to run point on a mission to wipe it from virtual existence. (I think it was actor Patrick Stewart who -- just as famously -- chimed in with "Shut up, Wil," at this point.)
Word comes from an article on Screen Rant (here) that now Wheaton is focusing his sights on the forthcoming toy issue of Star Trek: The Next Generation minifigs in which his character is blessed with a crying, boyish face. Though he claims to 'get' the joke, the actor is still calling the effort lazy and uninspired and suggests such foolishness might be turning kids off science.
Might I suggest that Mr. Wheaton take a page or two out of Nimoy's shared epiphanies and be a bit more thankful that he's been given such a perch in TV history? Is it so bad to be forever linked with a character that's still inspiring the best AND perhaps the worst in us? Mind you, I'm not trying to sound jealous here, but -- at some point -- actors are just actors playing a role, and maybe it could be left at that? I don't doubt that maybe there's a bit of personal chiding that goes hand-in-hand public ridicule, but in the grand scope of history isn't this little more than small potatoes?
As always, thanks for reading, live long and prosper, and May The Force Be With You!
Ahem.
Enter Wil Wheaton ...
For those unaware, Wheaton found SciFi fame in the role of Ensign Wesley Crusher aboard the revered Star Trek: The Next Generation, but his character didn't enjoy the warm reception that the Vulcan Spock did. Arguably, Crusher is quite probably as revered as he is hated amongst even the most forgiving Star Trek enthusiasts. And -- to be perfectly fair -- none of this is really "owed" in any part to Wheaton: Crusher was simply -- in my humble estimation -- an addition to Trek that wasn't well written or conceived. He was always a little too wide-eyed and nerdy for my tastes, and the writers inserted the young man into situations oft times with dialogue that seemed written for someone half his perceived age. I think Wheaton probably did the best he could with what he was given, but he's always seemed to take issue and/or umbrage with fans online who sound off on Wesley's awesomeness and awfulness.
In fact, I think it was just this last year that the actor threatened to block any and all persons taking part in the 'Shut up, Wesley' memes that occasionally surface on the web. (The meme is owed to an episode of The Next Generation wherein Capt. Jean-Luc Picard famously told the boy to do just that.) Wheaton didn't want the meme to spread any longer, so he took it upon himself to run point on a mission to wipe it from virtual existence. (I think it was actor Patrick Stewart who -- just as famously -- chimed in with "Shut up, Wil," at this point.)
Word comes from an article on Screen Rant (here) that now Wheaton is focusing his sights on the forthcoming toy issue of Star Trek: The Next Generation minifigs in which his character is blessed with a crying, boyish face. Though he claims to 'get' the joke, the actor is still calling the effort lazy and uninspired and suggests such foolishness might be turning kids off science.
Might I suggest that Mr. Wheaton take a page or two out of Nimoy's shared epiphanies and be a bit more thankful that he's been given such a perch in TV history? Is it so bad to be forever linked with a character that's still inspiring the best AND perhaps the worst in us? Mind you, I'm not trying to sound jealous here, but -- at some point -- actors are just actors playing a role, and maybe it could be left at that? I don't doubt that maybe there's a bit of personal chiding that goes hand-in-hand public ridicule, but in the grand scope of history isn't this little more than small potatoes?
As always, thanks for reading, live long and prosper, and May The Force Be With You!
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