Difference between revisions of "John Hodgman"
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| − | John Kellogg Hodgman (born June 1971) is an American author and humorist who is best known for his personification of a PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign and his correspondent work on Comedy | + | '''John Kellogg Hodgman''' (born June 1971) is an American author and humorist who is best known for his personification of a PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign and his correspondent work on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". He has also written for McSweeney's, worked as a literary agent (at which his clients included actor [[Wikipedia:Bruce Campbell|Bruce Campbell]]), and guest-starred as the "deranged millionaire" for [[They Might Be Giants]] on the videos for their "Venue Songs" album. |
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| + | Hodgman and [[Jonathan Coulton]] became friends after meeting as freshmen at [[Wikipedia:Yale University|Yale University]]. They have worked together on many projects. | ||
== [http://www.littlegraybooks.com/ Little Gray Book Lectures] == | == [http://www.littlegraybooks.com/ Little Gray Book Lectures] == | ||
| − | In 2005 | + | In 2005 Hodgman served as master of ceremonies for a series of variety lectures, with Coulton as "musical director" and frequently featuring a selection of guests. These "Little Gray Book Lectures" included comedy and music. Some of these lectures were recorded and released as [http://www.littlegraybooks.com/hear.html podcasts]. Later podcasts were separate from and supplementary to the lectures. Several of Coulton's songs were written for the lectures or the podcasts, including [[Furry Old Lobster]], [[The Presidents]], and [[Brookline (demo) | Brookline]], the last of which was prompted by the lecture in Hodgman's hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts. |
| + | == The Complete World Knowledge: The Areas of My Expertise == | ||
| + | Hodgman wrote the book "The Complete World Knowledge: The Areas of My Expertise" (usually simply referred to as "The Areas of My Expertise"), a humorous "almanac" of distorted, misinterpreted, or merely erroneous facts, based in part on material from the Little Gray Book lectures. Coulton accompanied him on the promotional book tour, typically being called upon to perform "Furry Old Lobster". | ||
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| + | A large portion of the book pertains to a mythical history of hoboes, including a list of "700 Hobo Names." A [http://www.archive.org/download/700HoboNames/Hobo_Names.mp3 promotional track], released on the [http://www.areasofmyexpertise.com/hoboes.html book's website], has Hodgman reading the entire list aloud while Coulton plays an acoustic version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain", as the website has it, "''live'', for an hour, one take." This track also makes up one entire CD of the "Areas of My Expertise" audiobook, which also features Coulton exchanging banter with Hodgman and performing "Furry Old Lobster". | ||
== Attack of the Show == | == Attack of the Show == | ||
| − | + | Also as part of the "Areas of My Expertise" promotional tour, in February of 2006, Hodgman and Coulton appeared on "Attack of the Show," a tech-related show which runs daily on G4. During their appearance, Coulton again performed "Furry Old Lobster." | |
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== Thing A Week Liner Notes == | == Thing A Week Liner Notes == | ||
| − | + | Hodgman also wrote the liner notes for the four [[Thing A Week]] CDs. | |
[[Category:Collaborators]] | [[Category:Collaborators]] | ||
Revision as of 02:48, 19 April 2008
John Kellogg Hodgman (born June 1971) is an American author and humorist who is best known for his personification of a PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign and his correspondent work on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". He has also written for McSweeney's, worked as a literary agent (at which his clients included actor Bruce Campbell), and guest-starred as the "deranged millionaire" for They Might Be Giants on the videos for their "Venue Songs" album.
Hodgman and Jonathan Coulton became friends after meeting as freshmen at Yale University. They have worked together on many projects.
Little Gray Book Lectures
In 2005 Hodgman served as master of ceremonies for a series of variety lectures, with Coulton as "musical director" and frequently featuring a selection of guests. These "Little Gray Book Lectures" included comedy and music. Some of these lectures were recorded and released as podcasts. Later podcasts were separate from and supplementary to the lectures. Several of Coulton's songs were written for the lectures or the podcasts, including Furry Old Lobster, The Presidents, and Brookline, the last of which was prompted by the lecture in Hodgman's hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.
The Complete World Knowledge: The Areas of My Expertise
Hodgman wrote the book "The Complete World Knowledge: The Areas of My Expertise" (usually simply referred to as "The Areas of My Expertise"), a humorous "almanac" of distorted, misinterpreted, or merely erroneous facts, based in part on material from the Little Gray Book lectures. Coulton accompanied him on the promotional book tour, typically being called upon to perform "Furry Old Lobster".
A large portion of the book pertains to a mythical history of hoboes, including a list of "700 Hobo Names." A promotional track, released on the book's website, has Hodgman reading the entire list aloud while Coulton plays an acoustic version of "Big Rock Candy Mountain", as the website has it, "live, for an hour, one take." This track also makes up one entire CD of the "Areas of My Expertise" audiobook, which also features Coulton exchanging banter with Hodgman and performing "Furry Old Lobster".
Attack of the Show
Also as part of the "Areas of My Expertise" promotional tour, in February of 2006, Hodgman and Coulton appeared on "Attack of the Show," a tech-related show which runs daily on G4. During their appearance, Coulton again performed "Furry Old Lobster."
Thing A Week Liner Notes
Hodgman also wrote the liner notes for the four Thing A Week CDs.
