06/23/2006 Entry: "I like trophies."

Wooo hooo! Remember that Furby giveaway spot I did many months ago? Wellp, last night, it took home a silver trophy in the annual Promax awards -- sort of like the Emmys for promos. I'd known it was nominated for a while now (category: "On-Air Sales Promotion"), and while I managed my expectations with all of that "it's an honor to be nominated" bullshit, I really wanted to fucking win. I was never in Little League and nobody invited me onto their bowling team: This is my first trophy ever, and it's heavy and silver and is now glued to my hand.

The awards show was last night, which was hosted by SNL's Darrell Hammond (funny) and played out more like a highlight reel of the year's best spots -- but due to time constraints, only select gold winners. One of the first spots shown was the gold winner in my category -- something from TBS starring Ashton Kutcher -- and between that and the sheer awesomeness of everything that was playing on the big screen, I was 100% sure I didn't win anything. Was I disappointed? Sure, but the real problem was that the show was really, really long, and I really, really had to piss, the entire, entire time. It wasn't just a case of having the nagging notion that it was time to relieve myself -- no, we're talking about a face-first, all-out pulsating bladder bomb that threatened to burst at any moment. My eyes were watering. It really hurt.

After the show, they gave out booklets naming all the winners and...there it was. The Furby spot. Silver. Fuckin' A. Relieved (both because of the win and because I finally had the chance to piss all over the walls in a ritzy hotel bathroom), we trekked up to the 9th floor so I could grab a statue and experience one of those rare moments in life when absolutely nothing is bad.

And to think, it wasn't too long ago that my high points involved finding Furby dolls at Toys 'R' Us and selling 'em on eBay with a 30% markup.

Chestnuts roasted by Andy @ 06/23/2006 01:58 PM EST

Awesome Matt, let me be the first (damn, second!) to say congratulations!!

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 06/23/2006 01:58 PM EST

By the way Matt, I was cleaning my room and found a Sears Wishbook from '92. You want it?

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 06/23/2006 02:01 PM EST

Congrats. Is it solid silver?

Chestnuts roasted by Somethin' Funny @ 06/23/2006 02:06 PM EST

Way to go.
I always thought silver was for the real winners anyway. It just always looked better than gold to me. I've always felt that way.

Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 06/23/2006 02:19 PM EST

Congrats!

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 06/23/2006 02:19 PM EST

Rock on! Congrats! You deserve it!
!!!

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/23/2006 02:25 PM EST

Congratulations. You should melt it down and re-sculpt it into a Furby. Remind you where you came from.
I believe it was Mr. T who said, "You can't know where you're goin' if you don't know where you're from!"

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 02:31 PM EST

Absolutely awesome, Matt!
The guy is a little weirdly shaped, but still totally cool.
Congratulations!

Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 06/23/2006 02:34 PM EST

Yay! That's super cool. I could tell you'd been working hard by all the "work sucks" mentions on the site, but now you have something to show for it Waytogooooooooo

Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 06/23/2006 02:54 PM EST

Congrats Matt! I just received an award from the Academy of American Poets. Woah, it's weird to think of me as an "American Poet."

I didn't get to go to a swanky hotel, though.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 06/23/2006 02:59 PM EST

Congrats Matt!

When's Disney Part III comin'?

And this is a bit cheery, because yesterday my pet parakeet that I've had for the past 9 years or so passed away. You just so damn attached to these things, and this was no different and my house will be a lot different without him.

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 06/23/2006 03:14 PM EST

Super congratulations, Matt. That is quite an honor. On an unrelated note, I'm thinking of getting a digital camera and was wondering what you use and how you like it. The stuff you post on the site looks pretty killer, and the video you posted in your Disney article looked really good if you shot it with a digital camera. So, would you recommend the model you use to others?

Chestnuts roasted by Jack Gladney @ 06/23/2006 03:50 PM EST

Congrats, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Rob @ 06/23/2006 04:01 PM EST

Well done mate - Hope there's many more to follow! - Excellence all round!
Hurrumph, hurrumph, hurrumph!!

Chestnuts roasted by Pete @ 06/23/2006 04:13 PM EST

Hehe,congrats to you. Cheers.

Chestnuts roasted by Felix @ 06/23/2006 04:15 PM EST

Congrats, Matt!! As someone who does imaging for a radio station I know how kick-ass it feels to win an award for something that you put together yourself and saw through from start to finish. And, when you get something like that and can rub it in the face of others, it makes you feel 10 feet tall. Way to go, bro!

Chestnuts roasted by Frito @ 06/23/2006 04:33 PM EST

Jeff Mack - I'm a Pittsburgher too. And a writer, actually. What neighborhood do you inhabit?

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 04:35 PM EST

Congratulations!

Chestnuts roasted by Hey I'm Jeff @ 06/23/2006 04:38 PM EST

Jessica Marie:

I live in Shadyside...you?

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 06/23/2006 04:44 PM EST

Woo-hoo-ray for our besotted and beloved leader! is the spam filter fixed yet?

(using Fark name to see if it circumvents filter)

Chestnuts roasted by Optimal Illusion @ 06/23/2006 04:49 PM EST

Edgewood. Do you work while you go to school? I guess Shadyside would be rather convenient if you go to Chatham. I've never known anyone who attended grad school for writing. Are there any requirements to be published or anything?

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 04:54 PM EST

Congratulations Matt!

I once won a Science Fair in 5th grade, and I'm still playing that card on a daily basis. (Yes, I'm that lame)

Chestnuts roasted by Deuce @ 06/23/2006 04:57 PM EST

Yeah, I run the Broadcast Studio on campus...it's a cushy little job that also pays me very little. =)

Requirements to be published? I guess just start sending stuff out to smaller presses until you can build up enough publishing credits to get into bigger magazines.

I got accepted in the next issue of The Brooklyn Review (which is rather prestigious), so I'm hoping this opens up bigger doors for me. =)

What kinda stuff do you write?

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 06/23/2006 05:02 PM EST

Congrats Matt!

BTW, does anyone know if the Clio awards still exist? Those were the awards for commercials. Fox aired it a few times. Would promos be nominated for a Clio?

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 06/23/2006 05:51 PM EST

I mean, for your masters are you required to get published? That's pretty sweet about The Brooklyn Review - what did you submit?

I write articles, and I'm semi-working on a novel. Sort of in a motivational slump at the moment, which is awesome. What do you write?

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 05:53 PM EST

Once again, congrats!

Now don't be afriad to take your time with Disney Part 3, you don't want to be like Jamie Fox and go from Winning an Oscar to Stealth.

Chestnuts roasted by selvig @ 06/23/2006 06:05 PM EST

Hey, Matt. Congrats on the big win. I won a trophy in Cub Scouts once for the little wood cars racing thing. Damn. That sucks that that is the highlight of my wins.

Invader Norbert: sorry to hear about your parakeet, pal. It's never fun to lose something you care about. I have no idea what the typical lifespan of a parakeet is, but 9 years sounds like a pretty good run.

Chestnuts roasted by Chris Martin @ 06/23/2006 06:30 PM EST

Congrats, Matt! I hope you can resist the urge to heat that thing up and bend it so the dude has perfect posture.

Chestnuts roasted by Spoodles @ 06/23/2006 07:01 PM EST

Is he examining his fingernails from a distance, or are his fingers just stubby?

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 07:53 PM EST

Salutations!!
does this mean you are a celebrity now ? your writing in creativity has always been steller in my book!!!

Chestnuts roasted by J D @ 06/23/2006 07:56 PM EST

Aww, Congrats, Matt! I still have that commercial on my computer.

Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 06/23/2006 08:16 PM EST

Jessica Marie:

Sadly, no. Looking back on the MFA program (I graduate in August) I've realized that the MFA program is no longer where future literary superstars are made, it's where people that want to learn how to write can get better.

Is that necessarily a bad thing? No, but at times I've been frustrated as other students aren't where I am in life (20s, ready to get their name out there) and thus at times didn't get out of it that I could.

I wrote a narrative poem about the Pittsburgh police for the Brooklyn Review.

I write poems, fiction, and travel pieces. Currently working on my first novel while I send out poems, hoping at some point to get a manuscript together to send out to first book contests. Publishing books of poetry is infinitely harder than novels. =)

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 06/23/2006 08:22 PM EST

Jeff -
What are the others in your program like? My professors told me not to bother with grad school (I really wanted to go, oh so bad) and to just write for experience. Are you glad you went?
When's your poem going to be in The Brooklyn Review?

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/23/2006 08:54 PM EST

congrats on the win, matt! you totally deserve it.
that's a pretty sweet statue.

Chestnuts roasted by candice @ 06/23/2006 09:27 PM EST

Jessica -

In the MFA program as a whole (not just mine - in general) talent ranges from tremendous to terrible. Only in creative writing PH.D programs is the talent all top-notch.

Despite my misgivings with the MFA program, I can personally vouch that my writing ability has skyrocketed, but I also put a lot of work into it. If you're serious about being a writer, I would definitely go to grad school.

I've received my contributor copies of the Brooklyn Review, but they haven't updated their site yet. =)

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 06/23/2006 09:38 PM EST

Congrats dude! Way to go! Now you have something heavy and shiny to throw at people in a drunken rage!

Chestnuts roasted by LemurCat @ 06/23/2006 09:39 PM EST

Awesome, Matt! I guess you're Big Dog there in the office now, right?

Chestnuts roasted by freudguy @ 06/23/2006 09:42 PM EST

I rarely ever post, but CONGRATULATIONS MAN!!!! You've given so much to all of us, so its really great to see you receive something that means alot to you!! So heres to you Matt!! Oooooooooh YEEEAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! DIG IT!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Loneman1 @ 06/23/2006 10:25 PM EST

Congradulations, Matt! I've won a very, very small trophy in what would have been 8th grade for winning a school marbles tourament (I kick rear at marbles) and a plaque as the outstanding newcomer in my college's student-run TV station in 1998. I haven't the faintest notion of where that trophy is now, but the plaque finally found a proud place of honor in the music half of my living room.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 06/23/2006 10:29 PM EST

Congratulations, Matt! Even though I'm sure Nickelodeon counts themselves lucky to have acquired such a creative force, I'm glad you haven't sacrificed your site for the glamour of showbiz. Cheers.

Also, since this thread has turned all literary on us, for a limited time only you can CLICK MAH NAME to access the site where I store some of my short stories.

Oh, and Matt? If you want to pick up the gold next year, I've got just two words for you: recreational napalm. I trust you can run with it from here.

Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 06/23/2006 11:18 PM EST

Congratulations, Matt! The world would be filled with peace and love if people received more trophies.

Chestnuts roasted by Welsh Rabbit @ 06/24/2006 12:43 AM EST

I were those awards televised?

Chestnuts roasted by Akajohnnyx @ 06/24/2006 01:05 AM EST

Congratulations Matt! A more deserving person couldn't have won the award. Thanks for an incredible website. CHEERS!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Bludge @ 06/24/2006 02:11 AM EST

Grats Matt! Keep it up!

Chestnuts roasted by Jack Sparrow @ 06/24/2006 02:29 AM EST

Um, JD, "salutations" just means "hello" pretty much. It's just a sort of general welcome greeting term. But it's okay, the English language is the most difficult language for a reason, ask any linguist. I have a cum laude English degree and I still can't spell "restaraunt" ??? was what right???

Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 06/24/2006 03:34 AM EST

No.

Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/24/2006 09:21 AM EST

CONGRATULATIONS MATT!!!!
abd chris martin: I Also Won The Wooden Car Races Where I Live!
What An Honor, I Hereby Formally Challenge You To A Race-0ff!!!

Chestnuts roasted by JoshC @ 06/24/2006 09:37 AM EST

Many combolations elizagerth!

Conratulations Matt! That is so cool, I wish I had half the talent you did... actually I wish I had half the talent people on this blog did!

Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 06/24/2006 10:45 AM EST

Congrats, Matt! The trophy is shiiiny... so shiiiny...

Chestnuts roasted by jazzy @ 06/24/2006 11:48 AM EST

Congrats! I too, would like to know if it is solid silver.

It sounds like an honor, and it's good to know that it went to someone who really loves the things he's writing ads about.

Chestnuts roasted by SuperRecoome @ 06/24/2006 12:35 PM EST

Congratulations on winning that shiny, shiny trophy!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 06/24/2006 12:45 PM EST

congratulations! that furby spot is something that today's kids will remember and talk about on their own blogs. and with the wonder of the internet they'll find this site and read about the creator. that is really neat. imagine if all (or any) of the guys who made our favorite spots from the 80s did their own blog?

anyhow, congratulations again. this is a really impressive achievement.

Chestnuts roasted by the german @ 06/24/2006 02:27 PM EST

german:
THAT WOULD BE AMAAAAZZZZIN!!!
i think my favourite ad memory was those undies that when you put em on you turn into he man or optimas prime and i believe there was a couple more
thanks for bringing that memory back dude!!
i actually still have a he-man pair, STILL UN-OPENED IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING!!!
i ahd like 10 pairs!

and matt: Could you PLLLLEEEEAAAASE post the ad that you did, i live in a reclusive island provine in good Ol' Canada
called Newfoundland, so i dont get A LOT of the rad programming and Ad Spots you do.

AND IF ANYONE HERE IS FROM NEWFOUNDLAND LET ME KNOW, AND IF COLIN(QUACK!) POSTS ON THIS, GET AT ME!!!
anyway, enough pointless internerd friend searching, i wont be here for the SNT, so to all of you from all of me, HAVE A GOOD ONE!!!

smoke one for me!!!

cheers!
El-Josh-0

Chestnuts roasted by JoshC @ 06/24/2006 02:59 PM EST

JoshC: click on "Furby giveaway spot" in the post. That'll take you to his original post with a download copy of the ad.

Chestnuts roasted by Spoodles @ 06/24/2006 03:39 PM EST

I know it's probably getting redundant at this point...but congrats Matt!!

As for people talking about their writing...if anyone would like to see any of my writing...please feel free to clcik on my name and check them out *on knees begging* Please?!

Chestnuts roasted by Jabo @ 06/24/2006 04:26 PM EST

I like how the statue guy is ready to hold a candy bar or something. "Could you spare a packet of Kool-Aid for a former Herald of Galactus down on his luck?"
Maybe one of you writers out there can harness my brain? There is so much potential for damage that is going untapped.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash (Optimal Illusion) @ 06/24/2006 04:35 PM EST

Just more proof of how f'ing awesome Matt is!!

Congratulations Matt. All the hard work is paying off.

I've never been picked for any sports either. I was always getting beat up, and my two younger brothers were the "cool" ones out of the 3 of us. I was just the computer nerd. To top it off I was also a very ugly little boy.....I'm still waiting for an award for something...

=(

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Galvatron @ 06/24/2006 05:05 PM EST

I think the word emototronic is now one of my most favourite words ever.

Chestnuts roasted by Cap'n B @ 06/24/2006 06:03 PM EST

Thanks for the well wishes, all!

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/24/2006 07:39 PM EST

I just saw the weirdest movie.
Just a part of it anyway.
It had Cyclops in it and he was in a car asking an 8-ball if what he had in a package was a murder weapon.
Then he pushed the car over a cliff.

Chestnuts roasted by Somethin' Funny @ 06/25/2006 03:28 PM EST

Hey JoshC

where in Newfoundland?

I was born and Raised there..but have moved to Fredericton to go to (and recently graduate university)

Btw

CONGRATS MATT! What an honor

Mandi (n00b)

Chestnuts roasted by Mandi @ 06/25/2006 06:41 PM EST

I am also a writer from Pittsburgh. I write for the glorious CITY PAPER, which is free to all. I just love working hard to write articles that are published in a magazine that homeless people take and use as blankets.

Chestnuts roasted by Old E @ 06/26/2006 04:16 PM EST

Congratulations--now you can justify a shelf by your desk at work to display it on, slowly accumulating more and more awards until you fire Bob Goldthwait in a fit of evil pique and he gets drunk and blows them all to hell trying to kill you.

Hello, rabbit!

Chestnuts roasted by hodsthorn @ 06/27/2006 04:53 AM EST

Very late with this, but still wanted to include my congratulations! Way to go! Glad to see your talents being recognized.

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 06/27/2006 08:52 AM EST

Wait a minute...something with ASHTON KUTCHER ranked higher than you?

See why I don't watch TV very much anymore?

Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 06/29/2006 07:52 PM EST

Congratulations for you!!

I think that statue is a girl

Chestnuts roasted by yelinna @ 06/30/2006 06:51 PM EST