GEEK MADNESS: Final Battle! Whedon vs. Wheaton

Wil WheatonWe 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.

Geek Madness Reasonable 8 Brackets

As a refresher (or primer, for those who might be seeing this tournament for the first time), here are the qualifications for the position:

  1. Advise the POTUS on matters concerning, affecting, and/or of interest to geeks (as well as nerds and similar constituencies);
  2. Implement POTUS policies generated by first responsibility; and
  3. Act as liaison on POTUS’ behalf between the greater U.S. geek community and other national and international stakeholders.
  4. 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]

44 Comments

  1. Dake Hussein
    Posted March 11, 2009 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    Joss is too private an individual… Besides, as he likes to say, he’s not comfortable talking about other people… We’re not voting for who you like better, but for who will be a better representative for our community… To me, this means Wil, hands down.

  2. Posted March 11, 2009 at 1:35 pm | Permalink

    Well the good thing is, unlike presidential elections, no matter which candidate wins the country is in good hands here.

  3. Posted March 12, 2009 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

    Wheaton. He is the Uber-Geek!

  4. Posted March 12, 2009 at 7:47 pm | Permalink

    Whedon is winning. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

  5. Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:01 am | Permalink

    I gotta go with Wil on this one. Sorry Joss.

  6. Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:17 am | Permalink

    Forget ‘Next Generation’ … Kirk is the ONLY cap’t of the Enterprise … JOSS FOR LIFE !!

  7. Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:25 am | Permalink

    Wil Wheaton, no doubt about it. He taught me how not to be a dick.

  8. Robb
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:37 am | Permalink

    If you take a look at who they beat to get to the final round, Wheaton had to work a whole lot harder. I’m not a fan of Wil’s oft-snarky attitude (though who can blame him given the whole Wesley Crusher teenagehood), and I love Joss’s work far more. But Wil deserves (and probably wants) this win more than Joss.

  9. Robb
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    Oh and besides, Wil insprired me back in

    to start my first blog. Joss entertains me, but never really inspired me to write a musical or anything.

  10. twilight2000
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:42 am | Permalink

    Definitely Will Wheaton – he’s an all around geek, not specialized – he’s comfortable talking with and about others, he’s a great writer – he’s very good at NOT being a Dick – and he’s at least a little political – which, as others have said, might be useful in this situation.

  11. Michael B
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    Wil all the way baby, the man owns GURPS books for God’s sake! GURPS books! And he uses them to actually play GURPS! How can it get any geekier than that?!?

  12. Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:12 am | Permalink

    Yes Joss has a blog. It’s called Dr. Horrible!
    Voted for Joss. But honestly, would not be the least bit disapointed if Wil Wheaton won the crown.

  13. Tracey C.
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:23 am | Permalink

    Totally Wil.

  14. Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:23 am | Permalink

    Ahhh, how to choose?
    I’m thinking Wil.
    Wil seems like more of a geek to me… Joss is just a creative genius!

  15. DavidK44
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:28 am | Permalink

    Wil for the win – he’ll be a better representative of the common geek. Plus, he triumphed over his own alternate character earlier – if that isn’t a sure sign of uber-geekdom, I don’t know what would else would qualify. Joss knows how to appeal to the geek in all of us, but Wil embodies it in all he does.

  16. Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:41 am | Permalink

    I voted for Wil. This was a TOUGH call, but for me, it ultimately came down to one thing: Joss Whedon needs to remain undistracted by governmental duties to continue doing what he does best: making the shit we end up dreaming about for decades. Wil Wheaton, on the other hand, is a PERFECT choice. Why? Because the man is the ULTIMATE geek FAN. He can speak intelligently on all things GEEK, and has all of our best interests at heart. He is the perfect choice to ensure that Geekdom, as a whole, continues freely and unmolested.

  17. IanY
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 11:08 am | Permalink

    Wil was snubbed for portraying a geek back before geeks were considered cool. I’m not aware of Joss ever sacrificing cool for geek. Sure he’s geeky, but uncoolness (real or perceived) is an important part of geek heritage. Besides, I’d rather have Wil leading us and Joss entertaining us than the other way ’round.

  18. Posted March 13, 2009 at 11:17 am | Permalink

    If anyone has any doubt that Wil is The One, just follow his Twitter-feed for a few hours. I mean, damn! There’s no contest here. I admire Joss, too, but if what we’re looking for is the right geek to fill this new cabinet position, then there is no question which way we must vote: WIL!

  19. Suzdal
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    I’m a total Whedon fangirl, but Wil wins my vote here.

    Joss is brilliant and very geeky, but his online presence is lacking. I mean the man can just barely figure out how to post on Whedonesque, bless his heart.

    Will is Geek 2.0.

  20. Dazed
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 12:14 pm | Permalink

    Wil wins because he is CleverNickName over at Slashdot (News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters).

  21. Posted March 13, 2009 at 1:01 pm | Permalink

    The choice is obvious: Wil, because he’s been around in the geek scene since he was a kid. I’ve only recently become a fan of Joss’s, with Firefly. But Wil still feels like part of the crowd when it comes to geeks, and for that I have to vote for him.

  22. Michael Vezie
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 1:23 pm | Permalink

    Read this post from Wil’s blog: http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup/2009/03/this-isnt-a-book-its-a-time-machine.html

    … and tell me he doesn’t belong as SoGA.

  23. Robin
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 2:13 pm | Permalink

    I’ll be happy whoever wins. I love them both so much that I had to just close my eyes and point. After reading everybody’s comments, though, I have to agree that Wil would appreciate the honor more, and it’s best for everyone if Joss keeps churning out the entertainment for us to enjoy.

  24. cmwnyc
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

    I voted for Wil, because as much as I’ve liked Joss’s work, I think Wil is pure ubergeek. Also, I think Wil will think this is awesome and have a lot to say about it, while Joss may not even know/care that this is going on, and probably won’t have any kind of public reaction.

  25. Thomas D
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 2:53 pm | Permalink

    Wil Wheaton is the patron saint of the Internets.

  26. Fluxulous Abadeth Quantum
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

    Joss Whedon pwns Wil Wheaton! I voted for him and all of you should too!

    Flux out!

  27. Posted March 13, 2009 at 3:27 pm | Permalink

    For anyone who thinks Wil isn’t the biggest geek, go to http://www.wizards.com/dnd and listen to the Dungeons & Dragons podcast he recorded with Gabe & Tycho of Penny Arcade.

    The man busted out Elvish this week (technically Eladrin) for flip’s sake!

  28. Scott
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    I voted for Joss. Will was a good actor and lives the life of an alpha geek.

    Joss CREATES geekdoms. Joss is a geek god.

    Big difference between the two. They are just in separate levels and Joss godhood trumps living the geek life any day.

  29. Sam
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 4:53 pm | Permalink

    For precisely the reasons #78 Scott outlined above, I would not vote for Joss, no offense. I’d want a SecGeek who was well-grounded in policy and extremely adaptable. Mr. Whedon, your admirable views on social issues tend to permeate a lot of your different ‘verses…which means I get a sense of deja vu when watching different shows.

    Also, Whedon doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who could operate *under* a commander or within a command system. Wil Wheaton’s earned his wings there.

    Whedon would be the Sam Archer of the Department of Geek Affairs, the one-man Swiss Army knife capable of creative endeavors wherever required. But for the Secretary of Geek Affairs, the man in charge of representing all geekdom to the President and United States, I vote Wil Wheaton.

  30. Swampmaster
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 6:21 pm | Permalink

    Damn. Scalzi’s endorsement certainly tilted the balance…

  31. literatewench
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 7:02 pm | Permalink

    Joss is a reclusive genius, Will interacts with his fans. If Joss won he’d be the creepy unseen man-behind-the-throne in the oncoming dictatorship; if Will won we could all have more influence at the highest levels of our government,

    steps away from the president himself.
    Will Wheaton: +1 for transparency and democratic access in government;
    Joss Whedon: +1 because that t-shirt where it says “Joss Whedon is my master now” would be accurate.

    Wil Wheaton looks dorky. He’s a classic geek, only lacking the glasses. Joss Whedon looks crazy. He’s a classic mad scientist, only lacking a lab coat. (No offense to either, since it’s comforting to see real people in the plasticine pleasure palace of Hollywood.) We can be represented by someone who is a geek themselves or by someone who might cut our brains open to comprehend us better.
    Will Wheaton: +1 for representation by the people;
    Joss Whedon: +1 for the shivveringly cool scenario of Joss with a scalpel picking our brains.

    If Joss Whedon gets it he might not have as much time to write screenplays. If Will Wheaton gets it he can blog funny things about meeting the president.
    Will Wheton: +1 because the product he currently puts out aligns with the position of Head Geek;
    Joss Whedon: -1 because it would be a huge loss to the geek community.

    Wil Wheton wins! WIL WHEATON WINS!

  32. Kim
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 7:13 pm | Permalink

    OMG! I can’t decide!

  33. Posted March 13, 2009 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    Not even a challenge. Wheaton FTW.

  34. Laura
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 8:54 pm | Permalink

    Anyone still undecided can check out my blog about this on the SFX website. Might help. I’d post a link, but it appears not to be allowed (which is beyond ok). Oh, and #80, same thing happened when this went up at Whedonesque. Back and forth, to and fro, forward we look and forward we go.

  35. Laura
    Posted March 13, 2009 at 8:54 pm | Permalink

    PS-Wil FTW, indeed.

  36. Posted March 13, 2009 at 9:01 pm | Permalink

    Both were great choices, but I feel that TV needs Joss so much that we can’t afford to divide his attentions.

  37. Posted March 13, 2009 at 10:24 pm | Permalink

    No contest what-so-frakking-ever. Dearly though I love Joss and his creations, Wil Wheaton gets my vote.

  38. morgan
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 1:01 am | Permalink

    Wills competition is farked again!

  39. Jess
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 2:06 am | Permalink

    Joss Whedon all the way!

  40. shiva7663
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 2:22 am | Permalink

    Was the voting shut down early? There appears to be no link to click to actually vote on this.

  41. Zach Totz
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    A few people that should without a doubt make your masterlist of Geekdom celebrities (though I understand that starting with a list of

    choices would’ve been totally unwieldly):

    -Isaac Asimov (you included other dead folks)
    -Mark Hamill
    -Stephen Colbert
    -Terry Gilliam
    -Neil Gaiman
    -Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick
    -Vin Deisel (for his noted love of D&D)
    -Ben Edlund

    I voted Wil Wheaton. Wish JoCo had come up against him instead of Joss, but…

  42. Jess
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    The article author is obviously a Wil Wheaton fan! hence why he shut the voting down earlier.

  43. Sophimus
    Posted March 14, 2009 at 4:09 pm | Permalink

    FINISH HIM

  44. Posted March 23, 2009 at 11:22 am | Permalink

    Somebody needs to bump this to the top of paulandstorm.com, declare a winner, and send the results off to Wil…

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