March 24, 2001


[IMANsteve] :Okay, new name...
[OboeCrazy] Hi there!
[OboeCrazy] Does that name work better for some reason? :-)
[R2Mod] Hi steve
[IMANsteve] Yeah...
[IMANsteve] It doesn't cut off Binder...
[R2Mod] Welcome!
[R2Mod] hang on here ...
[IMANsteve] Thank you.
[R2Mod] Okay, we'll get this party started in just a bit
[R2Mod] You ready Steve?
[IMANsteve] No problem
[OboeCrazy] We're putting the final touches before letting the party begin :-)
[IMANsteve] Yep, I'm ready.
[IMANsteve] Sure.
[R2Mod] alright then ...
[R2Mod] we'll start letting ppl in in a second, gotta lay out some ground rules first
[IMANsteve] okay dokey
[R2Mod] Thanks so much for doing this Steve, I really appreciate it
[IMANsteve] Glad to help out.
[OboeCrazy] We all really appreciate it!
[R2Mod] Quick question, do you mind if we post this chat on the fan club site?
[IMANsteve] Sure.
[R2Mod] thanks so much!!
[R2Mod] {{huggers}}
[R2Mod] Lauren, hang out here, gonna start getting ppl over here, okay?
[IMANsteve] {{huggers back}}
[OboeCrazy] OK...I'll direct traffic. :-)
[OboeCrazy] Just give Stacey a sec. to lay down the rules, and everyone should be coming on in.
[IMANsteve] okay dokey
[IMANsteve] just hanging
[OboeCrazy] OK here they come...
[IMANsteve] standing by
[Hei-Mao] Hello Steve!
[IMANsteve] Hello.
[Kitkat] hi there!
[MrsSpooky] :)
[MrsSpooky] Hi Steve!
[OboeCrazy] Everyone's out!
[Pensive] Can I pull out the hot tub?
[R2Mod] Yes Pen
[TheMalteseHobbes] close the gates!
[R2Mod] Okay gang ... before we start
[Pensive] =)
[R2Mod] I would like to give Steve a proper intro
* Spudster sets down a platter of veggie dip
* Pensive pulls out the newly christened Hobbes Hot Tub and invites everyone in
[R2Mod] Just a quick intro here
[R2Mod] Greetings my fellow Imaniacs! Welcome to our 3rd Fireside Chat, with our
very special guest Steve Binder. You will remember Steve as the writer of
the only good EWSWFH eppy "Frozen In Time", Steve has taken time out
of his busy schedule to chat with us and we are all glad he's here. So pull out
your Imans, settle on those blankets and grab the marshmellows. Ladies and
gentlemen ... I am proud to present .... our very special guest for the evening ...
STEVE BINDER!!!
[R2Mod] welcome steve!!
* OboeCrazy starts the applause!
[IMANsteve] Well, now I'm feeling a little embarrassed..
* Painting-Misbe waves *Welcome to the Insanity, Steve*
[Spudster] Welcome steve!!
* TheMalteseHobbes waves the "Go writers!" banner
[Hei-Mao] Welcome!
* Pensive applauds
[MrsSpooky] Nice to meet ya, Steve!
[IMANsteve] Hello everybody
[TheMalteseHobbes] welcome!
[OneWingedAngel] Hey!
* Spudster holds up an autograph book and jumps up and down
* R2Mod stands up and gives thunderous applause
* Painting-Misbe joins R2
[OboeCrazy] Do you have any opening comments, Steve?
[IMANsteve] Uh... opening comments.. just that I'm excited to be here with you guys.
* MrsSpooky shyly extends hand to TIMsteve
[IMANsteve] I'm a little embarrased to ask... what's EWSWFH?
* MrsSpooky giggles
* Hei-Mao chuckles
[Painting-Misbe] go ahead R2, tell him!!
[Pensive] Uh oh heheh *snicker*
[Spudster] hehe
[R2Mod] Evil Water Spitting Woman From Hell
[IMANsteve] Ah....
[OneWingedAngel] Very creative name =)
[IMANsteve] I kinda figured that.
[IMANsteve] Allianora.
[OboeCrazy] Delka, you get the first question! Fire away!
[IMANsteve] :)
[Delka] Hello Steve, what do you think of us "I-Maniacs",the fans of the show? And how
important do you think we are to the show?
[IMANsteve] I think you guys are great...
[IMANsteve] You have a lot of energy and passion for the show and we know that.
[R2Mod] quick interjection here ... Steve when you're done just type GA
[IMANsteve] gotcha
[IMANsteve] We love to peek at your web sites and to see your takes on what we've been doing.
* R2Mod has just fainted
[Pensive] There's one for R2. Let's see how many she racks up. Place your bets!
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] Hei-Mao?
[Delka] :)
[Hei-Mao] Thanks for chatting with us! Have you ever had a character try to 'tell' you he wanted to
do something different than what you intended to write?
* R2Mod thinks about PBV for that one
[IMANsteve] That's a good one... let me think..
* Painting-Misbe looks at R2 - no explosions this time - she's improving!
[R2Mod] LOL Pen
[Pensive] ;)
[R2Mod] night's stil lyoung Misbe
[IMANsteve] Usually I try to do what the character is "telling" me and NOT try to force the character
into a situation that rings falsely. In I-Man, I came onboard after the characters
personalities were fairly well established... so we just set up the situations and tried to
write true to what Bobby and Darien would do. Sometimes you branch off into new
directions and discover things about them... Like Darien's penchant for rap...
[R2Mod] *swoon*
[IMANsteve] And swap meets...
* Hei-Mao laughs
[MrsSpooky] LOL
[IMANsteve] But mostly they dictate to us what they're going to say or do.
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] Kitkat?
[Kitkat] hi steve...do you prefer to write humor or drama?
[IMANsteve] Prefer... i don't personally have a preference but my stuff always seems to come out funny.
[R2Mod] LMAO
[IMANsteve] I don't necessarily like a straight comedy - I like it more as a seasoning.
[IMANsteve] That's the great thing about I-Man. It's certainly a serious show but, as you all know, has some great comedic moments.
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] MrsSpooky?
[MrsSpooky] Hi Steve! How did you get into writing professionally? Is this something you've always wanted to do?
[IMANsteve] Actually, no... I never really wanted to be a writer.
[IMANsteve] I wanted to direct and have done a few things.
[MrsSpooky] *giggle*
[IMANsteve] But writing is a way to get into that.
* Hei-Mao snickers
* R2Mod likes the way Steve writes!
[IMANsteve] And then it just took on a life of it's own and now I love it.
* MrsSpooky is glad of that. :)
[IMANsteve] As to how I got into it...
* R2Mod applauds Steve's writing
[IMANsteve] I just started writing.
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] OneWingedAngel?
[OneWingedAngel] Hi Steve! Thanks for coming! Who is your favorite character to write for, and why? (if you have a favorite that is)
[IMANsteve] My favorite easily is Bobby.
[R2Mod] WO HO!!!
* R2Mod dances
* Hei-Mao cheers!
[OneWingedAngel] Yay!
[IMANsteve] He's fun - he has a weird take on things.
[TheMalteseHobbes] man's got good taste...
[IMANsteve] He's passionate about his work. I would trust my life in his hands in a second.
* R2Mod swoons
* OneWingedAngel was getting scared...Spooky took the words right out of her brain and she had to think of something quick ^_^;;
[IMANsteve] You never know what he's going to say.
[IMANsteve] Darien is fun to write for, too.
[IMANsteve] Very sarcastic.
* MrsSpooky thinks OWA thinks real fast
[IMANsteve] And of course there's The Official, The Keeper, and Eberts...
[R2Mod] LOL
[IMANsteve] They're all fun to write but for Hobbes is my favorite for sure.
[IMANsteve] GA
[MrsSpooky] Be careful using the words Hobbes and passionate in the same sentence
[R2Mod] YAY!!
* ChibiTetsuyaKaze sits there and watches calmly, pig at her side and notes that OWA can be slow sometimes o.o*
[R2Mod] GO BOBBY
[OboeCrazy] I think Hobbes is rather popular :-)
[R2Mod] *ack*
[OboeCrazy] Misbe?
* R2Mod faints
[Pensive] There's 2!
[Painting-Misbe] well, its actually 3, pen!
[Painting-Misbe] Welcome to the Insanity, Steve! Excuse me while I wipe the paint off my keyboard...... Have you written for any other shows?
[IMANsteve] I-Man is my first television job... I've been working in the feature world mostly.
[IMANsteve] GA
[Pensive] ack
[R2Mod] wow!!
[R2Mod] What kind of features?
[OneWingedAngel] Neat!
[R2Mod] sorry for the Q, just had to ask
[IMANsteve] Comedies.
[R2Mod] Anything you can name?
[Painting-Misbe] s'ok, r2...its what I was looking for.. ;)
[IMANsteve] No... just kidding. I've written all kinds of things. The only produced project was a film called "Eating L.A".
[IMANsteve] GA
[R2Mod] interesting ...
[MrsSpooky] I've heard of that
* R2Mod makes a mad dash for Blockbuster
* TheMalteseHobbes puts that on the list of things to look for...
* OneWingedAngel follows suit
[OboeCrazy] Pensive?
* Pensive holds her head in a semi-QSM way because she can't think of a Q
[R2Mod] LOL
[Pensive] Come back to me- I'm earning my handle
[MrsSpooky] LOL
[OboeCrazy] OK! Spud?
* R2Mod hums the jeopardy theme ....
[Spudster] Oh thanks Dee, throw this all on me...well, Steve. If there's going to be a karaoke scene in the show, who would sing what? In your opinion.
[IMANsteve] Hmmm....
[Spudster] It's my famous Karaoke question
[IMANsteve] Karaoke...
[IMANsteve] It would have to be a duet...
[R2Mod] uh oh
[IMANsteve] I'm thinking "Me and My Shadow"...
[IMANsteve] With Darien and Hobbes...
[OboeCrazy] LOL
[TheMalteseHobbes] rotfl
[Painting-Misbe] LOL!!!!
[OneWingedAngel] LOL!
[MrsSpooky] Heehee
[Spudster] LOL!
[Kitkat] lol
[IMANsteve] But each fighting about who's the ME and who's the SHADOW.
[Invisible-Mom] LOL
[R2Mod] LMAO
[Pensive] ROFL
[Pensive] Great Steve!
* Spudster still thinks of "Agony"
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] lol :D
* R2Mod falls out of her chair in hysterics
[TheMalteseHobbes] lol spud
[R2Mod] great answer Steve
* R2Mod thinks that would make a great scene in a future eppy
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] Maltese? Your up!
[Spudster] thanks steve! I've been known to ask everyone this question
[IMANsteve] Go ahead...
[Pensive] Karaoke-thon for the Agency!
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] what about "you and me and me and you?"
[TheMalteseHobbes] Money for Nothing involves some direct input from fans (how we vote), but it also looked remarkably similar in some ways to things we've been speculating about for a while here online. While the writers can't actually use ideas from the boards, fanfiction, etc - do you try to (how to put this?) "follow" fan sentiment?
[Pensive] Good one MaltHobbes
[IMANsteve] I think each personality on the show would answer that question differently.
[IMANsteve] What I can say is that the writers try to write true to their own vision (which is what all good writers should do). Sometimes that parallels what's on the fan boards. Sometimes it doesn't.
[MrsSpooky] GMTA. :)
[R2Mod] Nod Spook
[IMANsteve] But it doesn't surprise me that we all end up in the same place regarding where the show goes.
[Pensive] Maybe we're all psychic? Close ties between cast/crew and fans?
[IMANsteve] A good idea is a good idea.
[TheMalteseHobbes] aces!
[IMANsteve] GA
[R2Mod] NICE, to coin a phrase
[OboeCrazy] OK let's do LoneGirl next, and then Chibi! So LoneGirl?
[IMANsteve] Did you guys all vote?
* Hei-Mao voted
[R2Mod] FRELL YEAH!!!
[IMANsteve] (and girls)
[Spudster] oh yea!
[OneWingedAngel] And Invisible-Mom!
[Painting-Misbe] of course we did!!!
[Pensive] YES! Of course!
[Kitkat] yes!
[Invisible-Mom] YES!!!!
* TheMalteseHobbes hides...not yet
* R2Mod glares at Mh
[OneWingedAngel] I voted!
[OboeCrazy] I voted! Hobbes needs to go with Darien! :-)
[Pensive] We fried the server hehehehe
[R2Mod] go vote
* Painting-Misbe stares at mh
* Hei-Mao notes the room is 90% estrogen
[TheMalteseHobbes] I'm thinkin'! I'm thinkin'!
[IMANsteve] I noticed. I couldn't get online.
[MrsSpooky] I voted!
[R2Mod] LOL!
[Painting-Misbe] and you call yourself an imaniac...
[IMANsteve] How'd you all vote?
[R2Mod] poor server is having a stroke right now
[R2Mod] RUN HOBBES RUN
[Painting-Misbe] B
[OneWingedAngel] I voted B all the way!
[MrsSpooky] Hobbes go with Darien!
[OboeCrazy] Take the money and run!!!
[R2Mod] kick the new agent's ... oh, wait
[OboeCrazy] LOL Stacey!
[IMANsteve] :)
[TheMalteseHobbes] To "B' or not to "B"? That is the question...
[R2Mod] *snicker*
[R2Mod] LOL MH
[Pensive] LOL R2
[Invisible-Mom] I couldn't get my vote in yesterday, but today it got accepted.
[Pensive] A *runs and hides*
[R2Mod] I think we all want to see Hobbes go with Darien, Steve
[OboeCrazy] OK everyone...calm down....
[R2Mod] *ack* Pensive!!
[IMANsteve] That's how I voted.
[Pensive] I am the lone dissent here.
[MrsSpooky] Good!!
* R2Mod stares at Steve in dismay
[TheMalteseHobbes] what we really want to see are *both* versions...
[Invisible-Mom] Yeah, I would like to see both versions also.
[Pensive] Yet more stuff for the imminent I-Man DVD/VHS special release. Alt. endings to MFN
* MrsSpooky pats Steve on the back
* Pensive low-fives Steve
[OboeCrazy] LoneGirl, I believe it's your turn to ask a question.
[LoneGirl189] Okay, here's my question : Is there any advice you would have for someone who wants to make writing into there carrer?
[IMANsteve] Writing a career... yeah...
[IMANsteve] I would say write, write, write
* R2Mod starts taking notes
[OneWingedAngel] Ditto ;)
[IMANsteve] And try to write something that "speaks" to you, something you have an opinion about, something you have something to say about.
[IMANsteve] Everyone has something to say but sometimes a new writer gets bogged down with the sheer effort of writing that they'll pick ANY story.
* R2Mod glances at Lauren
* OboeCrazy glances back at Stacey
* Painting-Misbe ponders going back to her fic and finishing it now...
[IMANsteve] Once you've got material, material you believe in, then you have to go about getting an agent... That's its own nightmare.
[R2Mod] ack
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] Chibi? Your turn!
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] Hiya steve ^.^ I've heard that you've written for "Small World" and considering that you seem to like this job (who wouldn't! It's I-man) do you plan on writing a future episode and if so what kind of theme would it be? Comical, dark moody or on a lighter side?
[IMANsteve] Small World... I'm really looking forward to seeing that one all put together.
[R2Mod] ME TOO!!!!
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] nod R2
* Pensive agrees
[R2Mod] except now that frelling song is stuck in my head
* R2Mod glances at Steve
[OboeCrazy] We all hate that song :-)
[IMANsteve] As to a future eppy, I was working on a big one but, for a variety of reasons, is not going to make it to the big (little screen).
[R2Mod] awwwwww
* Spudster wonders if the dutch kids and hawaiian kids got along between shoots
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] aww
[IMANsteve] I'm still pitching however so we shall see.
[Pensive] =(
[R2Mod] Pitch away! Go get 'em!
[OneWingedAngel] Yeah!
[Pensive] Maybe he needs a jersey too?
[IMANsteve] It would probably be a lighter side episode. There's a lot of things I'd like to do with an invisible man that haven't been done yet...
[R2Mod] You write great stuff, we wanna see it!
[IMANsteve] GA
[OboeCrazy] Actually I have a question, if I may? :-)
[OboeCrazy] Where do you find inspiration when necessary? Do you look to past episodes? The characters? A certain muse? :-)
[R2Mod] *snort*
* OneWingedAngel hugs her muse
[Pensive] This is the ONLY time I never have anything to ask! *feels like a letdown*
[IMANsteve] Inspiration...
[IMANsteve] The shower, mostly.
[R2Mod] LMAO
[Painting-Misbe] LOL
[Hei-Mao] Woo hoo!
[IMANsteve] I don't like to look at past episodes b/c that's stuff we've already done.
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] hey no prob...so THAT"s where you got the song Steve :D
* R2Mod is getting a mental image
* Spudster is with R2 on that one
[Spudster] *blush*
[R2Mod] NICE
[IMANsteve] With a show like I-Man, the first place I started was, "If there really was an invisible man what sort of situations could he get into that were SPECIFIC to him being invisible?" And then I go from there...
* OboeCrazy now waches all the IM fic writers run to take many many showers.
[IMANsteve] GA
* Spudster cracks open a window
* Pensive saunters up to Steve "I think I have a Question now"
[OboeCrazy] Pensive...you have the floor!
[IMANsteve] Go for it.
[Spudster] lol. about time!
[Pensive] What does the S in Harry S Truman stand for?
[Pensive] *snicker*
[ChibiTetsuyaKaze] o.O
[IMANsteve] Hmm... got me on that one.
* Hei-Mao covers her face with her hands...
[R2Mod] Pensive ....
[Painting-Misbe] s'ok steve....we forgot her meds today....
* Pensive laughs and falls out of her chair
[Spudster] I'm disappointed in you Dee...
[OneWingedAngel] Hey! We forgot one important question!
[R2Mod] NOT YET
[TheMalteseHobbes] yeah...that would have been my next question...
* ChibiTetsuyaKaze places pig over her face and hides*
[Spudster] go for it OWA!
* Painting-Misbe takes pensive by the hand and quietly leads her away...
[R2Mod] not yet NOT YET
[Pensive] Hey, don't pull that! I am still thinking!
[OneWingedAngel] Not yet!
[Spudster] awww
[OboeCrazy] Ok everyone calm down!
[OneWingedAngel] I think I-mom needs to go...
[Painting-Misbe] oh yeah!!
[R2Mod] Do NOT ask the all important question yet
[Painting-Misbe] THE question!!
[OboeCrazy] R2, do you have a question?
[R2Mod] Yes I do
[IMANsteve] The all important question? Now I'm worried.
[R2Mod] *snicker*
* Hei-Mao laughs
[Painting-Misbe] you should be, steve!
[OboeCrazy] Oh we'll get to that one soon enough :-)
[MrsSpooky] Heheh. :D
[Invisible-Mom] Well my cable exploded and I missed the first half of the chat
* ChibiTetsuyaKaze guffaws*
[R2Mod] Be afraid, be very afraid
[Pensive] The answer is : that's a trick Q. It doesn't stand for anything. (thanks History Channel)
* MrsSpooky cracks knuckles in anticipation of "the question"
[Invisible-Mom] so I hope this question wasn't asked
[OneWingedAngel] Heh heh...
* Pensive slides under the hot tub bubbles in anticipation


To read the next part of our chat with Steve, please click continue.