TGWTG "Nostalgia Critic" / Doug Walker, Rob Walker, Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis, Holly Christine Brown, et al - The Incompetent Predator-Protecting Upper Management of Channel Awesome, Doug Still Not That Funny

[Someone in a Tree]

This actually raises an interesting question: why did Doug sign his rights over to Mike in the first place? Why would he ever think that's a smart thing to do?

I imagine he did so because he kept having his videos removed from YouTube when he first started uploading in 2007 due to copyright issues. Michaud offered him a safe haven in the form of Channel Awesome, allowing him to make money off his videos and not having to worry about being flagged by movie studios. At the time, there was no indication that YouTube's policies would change (some would argue that it's not much better), nor did anyone anticipate just how big of an audience the Nostalgia Critic would gain. Also, many starving artists make stupid deals just to get their work out in the first place. Mike Judge has been very vocal about how one sided his initial Beavis and Butthead deal was.

 

[ComeoutandJULAY]

This actually raises an interesting question: why did Doug sign his rights over to Mike in the first place? Why would he ever think that's a smart thing to do?

Spoiler

:autism:

In all seriousness, though, I think that decision can simply be chalked up to Doug's deep-seated need to become e-famous. Remember, this is the same man who ended his days sitting in a cubicle in this fashion:

He wasn't just adamant on putting his name out there for everyone else to remember it (he claims they don't have to, but they do). He was hell-bent on making screaming at a camera for twenty minutes and then posting it on the Internet for the world to watch an actual job.

Hubris and shortsightedness obviously played a role as well. He thought his output was of Hollywood-tier quality and that he was capable of doing more than screaming at a camera for twenty minutes, so much so that he believed he could sustain his career with TGWTG/CA for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, he has consistently only thought about his success in the moment, never in the long run, and it's been that way from the very start, since the very inception of TGWTG/CA.

TL;DR: Doug wanted to become famous and was willing to go to great lengths to get it regardless of the cost, including handing over his soul to someone who was just as inexperienced and uneducated as he himself was. In some ways, that shows great dedication and passion. In other ways, it shows stupidity, which is why we're discussing it here in the first place.

 

[From The Uncanny Valley]

If I were Doug I'd round up my remaining worshipers and start a death cult.

 

[Vorhtbame]

If I were Doug I'd round up my remaining career and start a death cult.

 

[HickoryDickory]

And then there's other contributors who've used parasocial relationships to their benefit, such as the unnamed predator, plus I recall Brad Jones's ex Violet was a fan who met him at Midwest Media Expo before dating. So there's that. (Edit: I don't mean to imply Brad's the predator, it's just 2 separate examples of dudes who have become very close to fans in one way or another)

Brad and Violet were married recently, iirc? In November-ish? I wish he wouldn't put his s/os in his midnight screenings. It's just awkward if they break up again.

I've wondered how the contributors even made any money. CA is a failed attempt at a being Fullscreen.

 

[ChevroletBlackboard]

God, this blew up like crazy. Any chance we can get a quick recap in the OP or something?

If the OP or a mod can add it in, I'll happily do a summary of the Google Doc and everything that's happened since mid March.

 

[BigTubboWithLittleChina]

If somebody pitched a Channel Awesome movie to me I'd laugh my arse off and kick the fuckwit to the cobblestones.

FTFY

 

[RJ MacReady]

I wonder what the IP for the Nostalgia Critic consists of. Could Doug continue to do "funny" reviews in front of a plain wall, with "funny" skits intercut, and just not call it Nostalgia Critic?

For all we know, he could have signed an agreement that allows him to not work in that industry for a set amount of time which could be the case why he has not left. Considering that administrator had to sign one to get severence pay, I would not be suprised if this is the case.

Considering Channel Awesome's questionable management, I can only imagine just how effective and enforceable their non-compete terms would be.

"You'll never work in this town again!"

"In Naperville? Well, thank God Chicago's right there."

On that note, I wonder if Holly could find grounds to sue for earnings lost over whatever agreement she signed, if the terms were bogus, at least.

Let's not forget the Nostalgia Critic IP is worthless without Doug. The only reason Michaud would have to keep it if they parted ways is spite, or hopes of a payout in exchange for the rights.

Doug was TGWTG's original talent so I doubt there's any special conditions attached to their agreement. Simply holding the IP gives Michaud sufficient influence, since Doug is also worthless without the Nostalgia Critic IP. A non-compete clause would be unenforceable anyway, as was Holly's but she was too broke and timid to ignore it.

 

[MarvinTheParanoidAndroid]

My question is, why the fuck is all this dirty laundry being aired out now? This stuff happened years ago and only now are these ex reviewers talking about it

They wanted to get as much mileage out of Michaud as much as possible.

 

[UnKillFill]

Has anyone figured out who the Anons are in the "Not So Awesome" document yet? (particularly "Anonymous II," as they seem to give off quite a bit of :powerlevel: information about themselves.)

 

[Maradontia]

This actually raises an interesting question: why did Doug sign his rights over to Mike in the first place? Why would he ever think that's a smart thing to do?

He seems gullible so he was probably willingly tricked and still thinks it's a good deal.

"Hey Doug, just sign this and I'll do all the legal stuff for you so you can focus on your reviews."

"OK."

 

[NIGGO KILLA]

Forgive me if its already been asked but has anyone from channel not-so-awesome left after the doc dropped?

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

Forgive me if its already been asked but has anyone from channel not-so-awesome left after the doc dropped?

FilmBrain left a day or two ago. Can't think of anyone else at the moment.

 

[ChevroletBlackboard]

Rap Critic was already leaving but he was originally going to just leave without comment until the "apology" dropped, then he was more vocal about his departure. Otherwise yeah, Buck's the only casualty since the Doc dropped.

 

[madbringer]

You know, most of this stuff is not really new to me, if you paid attention back in the day you'd know most of this shit was happening, tho the trivia is still interesting. What got me curious about the topic was Mike Ellis, because the tidbits about him that dropped here and there are really fucking shady. I wonder if anyone out there has the fully story on that fucker.

 

[BatNapalm]

Brad and Violet were married recently, iirc? In November-ish? I wish he wouldn't put his s/os in his midnight screenings. It's just awkward if they break up again.

Nah, it's some chick named Laura. If they dated for more than a year before getting hitched, I'll be shocked. Who knows what happened to Violet and while Brad doesn't seem like a bad guy, Violet was still really young and I can't help but think she dodged a bullet there.

 

[Xenomorph]

My eardrums.

He is so fucking annoying.

 

[ObeseScreamingBlackMan]

The last I knew of Brads old lady, it was some leathery tattooed single mom. Has he been divorced twice or is this the same person.

 

[BatNapalm]

The last I knew of Brads old lady, it was some leathery tattooed single mom. Has he been divorced twice or is this the same person.

That was Rhiannon/Ryan/Raynbow/Polygamy Cunt. I think she was between his first divorce (Jillian) and his almost-wife Violet. That time, it was Brad who dodged the bullet. He's currently married to that Laura chick...but for how long?

 

[BrunoMattei]

Spoiler

:autism:

In all seriousness, though, I think that decision can simply be chalked up to Doug's deep-seated need to become e-famous. Remember, this is the same man who ended his days sitting in a cubicle in this fashion:

He wasn't just adamant on putting his name out there for everyone else to remember it (he claims they don't have to, but they do). He was hell-bent on making screaming at a camera for twenty minutes and then posting it on the Internet for the world to watch an actual job.

Hubris and shortsightedness obviously played a role as well. He thought his output was of Hollywood-tier quality and that he was capable of doing more than screaming at a camera for twenty minutes, so much so that he believed he could sustain his career with TGWTG/CA for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, he has consistently only thought about his success in the moment, never in the long run, and it's been that way from the very start, since the very inception of TGWTG/CA.

TL;DR: Doug wanted to become famous and was willing to go to great lengths to get it regardless of the cost, including handing over his soul to someone who was just as inexperienced and uneducated as he himself was. In some ways, that shows great dedication and passion. In other ways, it shows stupidity, which is why we're discussing it here in the first place.

He never sat in a cubicle at that company. He was a janitor.