Channel Awesome forgetting to be Awesome (Part 2)

So, what pivoted Channel Awesome to where it is today?  In other words, how could the website go from awesome to wretched?  Well, I think there was a change every year after the anniversary specials that increasingly would show flaws and concerns about how its business and relationship with content producers was fraying.  Incidentally, every anniversary special began to be more elaborate than the one before.

2009: The One-Year Anniversary Brawl.  In this one, Doug Walker and James Rolfe end their feud once and for all at a Chicago conference center.  This turns in to a free for all with Channel Awesome critics against Channel Awesome gamers.  In the end, Ask That Guy presents to these people words denouncing senseless violence and ushers in the era of collaborations.  And darn if it is not one of the funniest works Walker did.  I and many others were completely surprised when this showed up without much warning one late May day. 

Now perhaps the family atmosphere had not yet taken shape.  After all, many of these web stars were meeting each other for the first time that weekend of filming.  None the less, a rather good time was had by all.  As I mentioned, this ended the Angry Video Game Nerd vs. Nostalgia Critic feud.  And it did provide a transition to have people new to the website look at many of their contributors.  Yet, changes started to come.  Not drastically, or even with a tinge of sadness. 

For one thing, there was one reviewer, Dan Rizzo (The Aussie Gamer) that many felt a pain in the rear end for numerous reasons valid and otherwise.  Rizzo was let go, or left depending on how one views it.  Also, a few of the brawl participants were mainly podcast people, such as Cat Thompson and Billy "Gonzo" Smith of Nerd to the Third.  Their contentment was to do their writings and podcasts in the future.  Also, there were many Channel Awesome people that could not make it to the filming; but were there in subsequent anniversaries.  So overall, nothing problematic on a overall level. 

2010: Kickassia.  A more lengthy movie like structure in which Doug Walker and others make attempts to overthrow the micro republic of Molassia.  It is located in Nevada, and is basically the living quarters of its President, Kevin Baugh and his family and his alter egos.  Without surprise, Walker turns into Raul Julia as M. Bison in Street Fighter and effectively loses the republic. 

This allowed quite a few Channel Awesome producers to show their alter egos, or some of them at least.  For instance, Noah Antwiler's Dr. Insano, Linkara's Ensign Munroe, Lindsay Ellis' exaggerated Gov. Sarah Palin, etc.  Also, the filmmaking improved and seemed more professional like.  Yet, many changes came afoot that started to affect the relationship of several producers and the Channel Awesome leadership.

The most immediate impact was when Lee Davidge of Lee and Dena aka Still Gaming became three dimensional.  I should explain.  Lee would do his reviews and public appearances as if he were a still photograph able to move and speak.  That was an important part of his trademark.  It would change after Kickassia, of course.  Interestingly, Lee would have to deal with health problems and later life changes.  While his girlfriend Dena Natali has done numerous web series for Channel Awesome since then; Lee Davidge has postponed Still Gaming indefinitely. 

Another change occurred with some producers not making it to Nevada for the shoot.  In one case, Sean Fausz had health problems.  In another, Kristina Diggs (That Chick With the Goggles) had her computer crashed; subsequently leading to a reevaluation of her web series work.  And then, although she appeared in one scene beginning Kickassia; this would be the last Channel Awesome project Lindsey Briggs would get involved with.  Soon afterwards, Briggs ended the Little Miss Gamer series and PBC Productions to focus on working in different entertainment fields with firms like The Jim Henson Company.  For a fair deal of people that were early viewers of the site, this was a huge blow.  There still has not been any program on the website that was quite like LMG. 

Then came the first noted executive departure.  That would be when Mike Ellis left Channel Awesome. It would also be the first departure to not be explained by anyone.  I would think some rumblings came into form regarding financial matters within the company, and with whom was getting what in finances. 

2011: Suburban Knights.  In this movie, William DuFresne (Suede) returned after two years of missionary work.  Plot wise, Doug Walker led many Channel Awesome producers doing cosplay work to search for a MacGuffin.  In the process, they fight the Harry Dresden inspired Malacite (Orlando Belisle Jr.) and eventually save the world. In the process though, in plot and in filming, a mythos was created that would later be an albatross on the Walker Brothers.

You see, Doug and Rob looked at Kickassia as we look at Star Trek: The Motion Picture.  Rather good, including its restored director's cut, yet with flaws.  Not surprisingly, they looked at Suburban Knights like we look at Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.  A game changer in the universe and perhaps its best film.  In this case, the Walkers effectively made their own Wrath of Khan. 

In the movie, Ma-Ti destroys Malacite with the power of Heart (as in the Captain Planet ring).  Ma-Ti was killed in the process, leading to a complete Wrath of Khan recreation.  And yes, a hint at the end for Ma-Ti's return. 

So in effect, Doug and Rob Walker painted themselves into a corner with Suburban Knights.  By basically lifting from Star Trek II, the next anniversary would need to lift from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.  Eventually, that is what would happen.  Several events would alter the original plans.

First, a noted personality from the website, Jason Mulara (LordKat) left Channel Awesome around the time Suburban Knights was filming.  Partly as a result of tiring from doing Until We Win, and yet also due to differences afoot with the Channel Awesome leadership (including the Walkers) in artistic and commercial expression, Mulara left not in the best of terms with the website.  Afterwards, Benzaie would limit his involvement with Channel Awesome while doing other films and projects.  His role in the next anniversary was filmed in France and was essentially a cameo role.

Another person to stop by that time was Game Heroes creator and producer Thomas Hanley.  Handsome Tom as he is called went from having an effective lead role in the Brawl to a smaller role in Kickassia to an even smaller role in Suburban Knights.  In that film, Hanley mostly only said "I'm Wiilow".  He would appear for perhaps 10 seconds in the next anniversary film reading in his office. 

And then a departure took place that I believed changed everything for Channel Awesome. Early in 2012, Bhargav Dronamaju left his leadership role at the website and with that ended his Coffee with Bhargav web series and his Ma-Ti character.  To this day, No One from Channel Awesome past or present will mention why he left, or for that matter really anything to do with Dronamaju.  I at the time found it to be of a most disturbing trend of departures that would create problems with trust and legacy within the company.

2012: To Boldly Flee.  The result of these events led to an interesting film that in and of itself altered Channel Awesome considerably.  In short, Doug Walker as the Nostalgia Critic gets messages from a manifestation of Ma-Ti (this time Rob Walker, who is also an expy of Palpatine from Star Wars) regarding matters of death, destiny and plot holes.  I am still not certain what it all means.  I do however know of the ending.

In the end, Nostalgia Critic enters a universe where he is a character created and effectively destroyed by Doug Walker writing an end for To Boldly Flee.  Helped out by Mathew Buck, Bennet White (Bennet the Sage), Brian Heinz (The Last Angry Geek) and James Rolfe, Walker says goodbye to Ma-Ti, enhances the plot hole (whatever that might be), and in short dies in sacrificing the Nostalgia Critic.

Now, at the time, a great deal of us thought this was a way to obscure and lessen the blow of another departure.  Sometime after filming To Boldly Flee, Noah Antwiler ended his association with Channel Awesome, while keeping his website The Spoony Experiment.  Whether he was let go, wanted to leave, had personal problems that only leaving Channel Awesome and relocating to Chicago would solve, or had gotten deteriorating relationships with other producers is a matter to discuss for another time.  Suffice to say, relations between Spoony and others in the TGWTG universe have improved.  Noah recently was interviewed for Doug Walker's web discussion series, Shut Up and Talk. 

In actuality, Doug Walker, Rob Walker and Mike Michaud had planned this for a quite some time.  Doug had wanted to end Nostalgia Critic in order to devote more time to other Channel Awesome series filmed or planned.  In particular, A series he planned on was Demo Reel; long in planning and now with the funds to do it. 

\The results were not pleasing.  You know that episode of Rocko's Modern Life when Ralph Bighead becomes the successful producer of Wacky Deli and does whatever possible to end the show?  That in a way was what I and others felt with the Nostalgia Critic ending and Demo Reel beginning.  Demo Reel was not that bad; it could have used some improvement.  Yet, actions that the Walker Brothers, Mike Michaud, and other leaders at Channel Awesome would take these last three years would prove an irreparable damage would occur.

I only thought this would go two posts.  Yet, this may need to go for three.  The post-To Boldly Flee and post Justin Carmical era of Channel Awesome has altered the website with unforeseen consequences.  I will get to mention what I think has occurred during that time.  Feel free to comment on what your thoughts are for Channel Awesome; or even what I write here. 

Thank you again for letting me be able to post these opinions.  There will surely be more to come.  Remember to get a Google+ account in order to comment.

Talk to you again later,

Robert

PS.  Junior Seau (1969-2012), Jerome Bettis, Will Shields, Charles Haley, Tim Brown, Ron Wolf, Bill Polian and Mick Tingelhoff are now Pro Football Hall of Famers.  I was right on 5 of the 8 inductees.  Kurt Warner should go in next year, along with Brett Favre.