Just whistling in the dark by recheandia

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Just whistling in the dark

POSTED BY: RECHEANDIA
UPDATED: Friday, December 5, 2003 15:35
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VIEWED: 2855
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Thursday, December 4, 2003 7:46 PM

Hi all.

I've been a lurker here for about three months and just had to sit down for once and share with the rest of the class.

Here's my firefly story:

I know Wash personally. No really.

I used to be part of a comedy troupe in Dallas called 'Rubber Chicken' and one of the members was none other than Alan Tudyk whom most of you know as Wash, Serenity's pilot.

He came into the troupe late in the game (despite what it says on his bio on IMDB) along with another comedic actor by the name of Andy Long. They were the new kids on the block and they were good. Alan was probably the best actor in our troupe. He had acted all through high school and had plans on becoming even more serious about acting and comedy.

In the beginning the troupe was about 10 people. We rehearsed for months before our first performance which was at a seedy little redneck bar on South Greenville Avenue in Dallas. All things considered it went off pretty well. Andy and Alan were room-mates for a while and as their apartment was the one closest to most of the gigs that we played, most shows ended with everyone grabbing some beer and heading over to their place to party late, late into the morning.

A couple of years went by and I continued to play with rubber chicken on the weekends. Alan and Andy actually helped my family and I move into our house at one point. For a while his younger sister even babysat for my son, Brian.

Life was good.

After a while I had to leave the comedy troupe to focus on my family and my professional career. By that time Alan had left the troupe and was at Juliard in NYC. I had a business trip to New York and was actually able to track down Alan's room-mate's number. We met in Manhattan and cruised some of the bars of Time Square, drinking beers and swapping stories. I'm honored to be able to say that he told me he felt glad that one of his old buddies would take the time to track him down and actually meet up when he came into town .

More time passed and as I continued to stay in touch with some of the original members of the comedy troupe here in Dallas, I learned of Alan's move to the west coast and his emerging success in the film business. I had not seen any of the movies that he was in: 28 days, A Knight's Tale or Patch Adams. I rented them and as I sat on the couch and watched them, I thought about the times that all of us in the troupe had spent together and what a deeply fun and good person Alan is. I always thought to myself that I wished him well and all of the success that he very much deserved.

Then I heard about Firefly. Having been a science-fiction fan for as long as I can remember my reactions were probably fairly predictable.

A new TV show?
A new SCI-FI TV show?
A new SCI-FI TV show that's got Alan in it?

Yippee!

The first episode that I ever got to watch (not surprisingly) was the Train Job. I thought to myself "Okay.... that's different..... I think I can get to like it though.... maybe I'll watch the next episode."

Because I had to travel a lot on business while Firefly was on the air, the only other episode that I actually got to see on the air (and record onto a closely cherished VHS tape) was 'War Stories'. I immediately felt deeply in love with the show. I can remember watching the first two years of Star Trek the Next Generation and thinking how absolutely painful it was to try to watch these characters figure out their relationships with each other. The characters on Firefly really, really made sense with each other, had relationships, fought, swore (albeit in Chinese) and needed each other to survive. I was completely and absolutely hooked.

One thing led to another and the show was canceled.

So here I am.

Its now December 4th, 2003. I'm counting down the day until the DVDs are released. Through the hard work of the folks that run this and the and many other Web sites dedicated to Firefly I've read all the scripts, downloaded the graphics and even stuck my sometimes hesitant toe into the waters of the fanfics.

I am SO looking forward to the DVDs. Recall that I've only ever seen 2 episodes. For many of the episodes, the only visual images that I have come from Succatash's excellent videos. (BTW: thanks for all the grins 'Tash!)

I'm not sure why I wanted to share my personal history with you folks, the best gorram crew in the 'verse. Although I'll probably not meet any of you, I still feel a real kinship and a camaraderie that surrounds what is to me, one of the most finely crafted television shows it's been my pleasure to watch.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks to Joss, Tim, the cast and crew of FF and everyone who has posted on this form, taken the time to write fiction and keep the candle burning in the darkness. To paraphrase Mal

I know its not much,

but its enough.

Richard Echeandia

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 10:06 PM

MAKEROFPATHS

It's amazing that only two episodes seen at odd intervals has turned you into a believer in the Whedonverse.

You are Browncoat now. Resistance is futile. But why would you want to resist? Although you will find yourself constantly rewatching the episodes, this is normal. Buy a second set in case you wear out the first.

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 10:25 PM

HUMBLE

welcome to the firefly 'verse. thank you for the story it was very interesting to get some background info on a cast member. also, i originally only recorded 2 episodes prior to series cancellation. reasoned i would just record the reruns later. yeah, that really worked out great! since you're in "the biz" could you keep your ears open for any rumors or gossip on the show? thank you so much!

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Friday, December 5, 2003 3:39 AM

TEELABROWN

I think I saw two full ones, most of a third, and a tiny bit of the fourth. I read whatever I can on the episodes. Well, here I am.

Keep flyin'!

............................................................................................
"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2+2 makes 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Keep flyin', and remember, THEY can't take the sky from US!

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Friday, December 5, 2003 4:22 AM

SARAHETC

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:

Here's my firefly story:

I know Wash personally. No really.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks for that story. Just cos I'm madly in love with Wash and therefore, somewhat in love with Alan Tudyk. Thank you. I should probably go faint, but I have to say thank you again.

Enjoy your DVDs and once you've seen Out of Gas let's talk more Alan Tudyk Apocrypha.

Thank you. (Squee!)

I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case

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Friday, December 5, 2003 5:05 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
Hi all.

Here's my firefly story:

I know Wash personally. No really.

This alone has made many a browncoat giddy with joy, and we warmly welcome you to the crew!

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
We met in Manhattan and cruised some of the bars of Time Square, drinking beers and swapping stories. I'm honored to be able to say that he told me he felt glad that one of his old buddies would take the time to track him down and actually meet up when he came into town .

Sounds like true browncoat behavior already and Firefly hasn't even entered the picture yet.

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
The first episode that I ever got to watch (not surprisingly) was the Train Job. I thought to myself "Okay.... that's different..... I think I can get to like it though.... maybe I'll watch the next episode."

This happened to a lot of us, myself included. Train Job was a bit disjointed due to how fox never aired the original pilot. I think it was Mal sailing through a holographic window, and the twin moons in the sky behind him that made me go, "Oh! Wow! How cool is that!" and then Wash on Serenity's PA

"Everyone there go back inside or we will blow a crater in this little moon."

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
Because I had to travel a lot on business while Firefly was on the air, the only other episode that I actually got to see on the air (and record onto a closely cherished VHS tape) was 'War Stories'. I immediately felt deeply in love with the show.

You went from the somewhat disjointed right over to one of the best episodes in the series.

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
I am SO looking forward to the DVDs. Recall that I've only ever seen 2 episodes. For many of the episodes, the only visual images that I have come from Succatash's excellent videos. (BTW: thanks for all the grins 'Tash!)

Few browncoats have the kind of devotion to Firefly fandom that Tash has. For all his strangefingerness, we're lucky to have him.

I had two episodes too - both pilots, Train Job and Serenity. I managed to pick up a set of bootlegs from a quality amateur production, but it doesn't include the unaired episodes. I'm also told by a very reliable source in England that the commentary on Serenity is HI-larious and well worth the wait.

Now the U.K. got to see the series after the U.S., but they get their DVDs first. That seem right to you?

Quote:
Originally posted by recheandia:
I'm not sure why I wanted to share my personal history with you folks, the best gorram crew in the 'verse. Although I'll probably not meet any of you, I still feel a real kinship and a camaraderie that surrounds what is to me, one of the most finely crafted television shows it's been my pleasure to watch.

I guess I just wanted to say thanks to Joss, Tim, the cast and crew of FF and everyone who has posted on this form, taken the time to write fiction and keep the candle burning in the darkness. To paraphrase Mal

I know its not much,

but its enough.

You, my friend, are welcome back here anytime.

Keep Flying Richard - we'll be saving you a seat

Channain

Firefly Artwork Series
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Friday, December 5, 2003 8:30 AM

ANOTHERFIREFLYFAN

That's really cool! Thanks for sharing.

I think it's really funny that the only other episode you saw (War Stories) was the sequel to Train Job. That's cool.

Come on down to the official board http://forums.prospero.com/foxfirefly/start

and visit with some more Browncoats and Adam, yes, THE Adam Baldwin.

~Another Firefly fan

Keep flying

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Friday, December 5, 2003 8:56 AM

RISKEVERYTHING

Does everyone here know about this place:

http://versaphile.com/download/firefly.html

Where you can download every episode (all 14 and the "blooper reel") and watch them on your PC with the RealOne Player. The video may not be DVD quality but it's pretty good, even at 2x magnification. It's kept me entertained while I await my DVDs.

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Friday, December 5, 2003 9:06 AM

ANOTHERFIREFLYFAN

Truly worthwhile are the Gag Reel and the original version of the Serenity, because neither are on the DVD. (The DVD gag reel is a shortened version)

The one annoyance with the site is that the episodes are listed in aired order, not intended order (last time I checked it, anyway)

Keep flying

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Friday, December 5, 2003 3:35 PM

SUCCATASH

Welcome, and thanks for the compliment. Glad you are enjoying the vids. Thanks to you too, Channain.

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