Steven released this Spotlight in August, 2000
I figured I'd better get this "Spotlight" in before the huge speculation from "IIFY?" starts. Forget Monday -- I'm doing it now.
This month's "Spotlight" is on Mike Quinn.
Before I go into what we all know he's well-known for, it seems that Mike has written a few fanfics for our reading pleasure on the side. Let's take a gander at them without giving too much away--you can read them yourself, if you haven't already. I'm not spoiling it.
Mike's first fic, "Padded Room of Terror", is to me a trilogy that is a homage of a parody within a parody. "Huh?", you ask. Well, let me explain. "Cute-urama" is a Daria-homage to the cartoon "Futurama". It is an interesting take from Mike's POV on exchanged auras in a "Halloween/Twilight Zone" way. No, not exchanged *bodies*, exchanged *auras*. You heard me right, and that's as far as I'm going.
In "Daria Trek: Spoilager", Mike does a Daria-parody of, yes, "Star Trek: Voyager", with some of the characters in the roles. Hint: You might get an appetite for some potatoes.
"Child's Clay" is a parody of "Celebrity Deathmatch", as well as the movie "Child's Play". Stone Cold Steve Austin is "Chucky". Take OH and co. an a field trip to a former prison as well, and you have mayhem. So what else is new? All of these combined are a homage/parody to the "Treehouse of Horror" 'Simpsons' specials.
Mike gets into canon with "Touchdown Jane". Daria's sidekick needs artistic inspiration, and she drags OH along to get it. Mack plays a prominent role in this fic, and he has a bit of a moral dilemma in it. Enough written.
More canon is in store in Mr. Quinn's "Race To The Finish", a "Helen-Centric" (Copyright of Kara Wild) fanfic. It involves Daria's mom, and a decision Helen makes because she's fed up, and has had enough. It also has a character that Mike has allowed me use in my follow-up to "Revelations". (Thanks again, Mike) It's an interesting take on Helen, and what she believes.
Okay, now for what Mike is *really* famous for in the 'Daria' community:
His "Delayed Reaction" Reviews! There are other reviews, but I look particularly for Mike's take on a 'Daria' episode. He seems to be able to get to the gist of an episode and what it's about, the things we may have missed in an ep, even giving us his favorite alter-egos from that ep! Oh, and I certainly can't forget his grading system. I may not agree with everything he says in his reviews or grades, but I do respect them, and more than often, he's right on target in both categories. In a way, pity him when he reviews "Is It Fall Yet?". :D He's going to have to take an awfully *long* time to write what he thinks. I don't envy him when he does, but I sure do look forward to it! Mike also has a rep for being very helpful and generous in the 'Daria' fanfic community. I can attest to that.
In closing, Mike Quinn I think is the preeminent 'Daria' ep reviewer. What do YOU (and the budding fanfic writer/reviewer) think? Thanks.
Queen Jossie
Mike gets 2 Gold Stars and a Smiley Face!!!!
Bob Marley
Sitting here, with a cold 7&7 (aka "High-ball" aka "2 parts Jack Daniel's No.7 whiskey with 3-4 parts 7-Up) dulling the pain of a looonnnnggg day answering freshmen (We can... just walk in and use these computers?) I want to thank Mike Quinn for his devotion to this particular cause. (Bud beer commercial voice) Presenting "Real America Hero's", today we salute you "Mr. Daria Episode Review Man." While other's of us merely watch MTV's Daria... You are the one bringing us in depth commentary on every nit-picky detail and plot device that goes on. Telling us what you think and what consequence it will have, from Tom's side on glance back at Daria during "ILAP" to Jane's attempt at cleaning his clock in "DDMD." So sit back with an ice cold Bud, "Mr. Daria Episode Review Man." You may never convince us that "DDMD" didn't deserve an A+, but you're A+ in our books!! *Small print* Drinking is bad, it makes you post stupid stuff like the above post. And don't fall on your head from a great height. Lighting yourself on fire can also have serious consequences. Good night and God bless.
Kemical Reaxion
I couldn't agree more! Congrats, Mike! It's a well-deserved spotlight.
Guy Wheatley
Ah, excellent pick Steven. Something I find ironic about the critic who doled out his first, and only, "F" in the Daria canon on the reviled "When Depth Takes a Holiday," is that he himself specialized only in parody and whimsy fanfics before finally graduating to canon-progressive material. But then, I remember Austin Covello admitting that he had the polarized tastes of someone who primarily liked canon fic but wrote mostly freelance, anything-goes stuff. Besides the occassional fic and of course his cornucopia of Delayed Action Reviews, he's also been a prolific essayist awhile back, that *other* signifigant area of Daria community writings, all over at Outpost Daria. He's dabbled in everything, and what can I say, the man has major-label credibility. I think he's also brought a level of depth by being the appointed critic of the community, expounding on eps as something to be analyzed and enjoyed instead of just sitting back after half-an-hour with one's friends, turning the tube off after the credit run, and nonchalantly saying, "That was a good Daria ep." Isn't that the premise that this entire board is based on, going beyond that? His reviews fortify that premise. Kudos Mike. (-:
Robert Nowall
Fascinating, Captain.
I caught his stuff on "Outpost Daria" when I first surfed over to these Daria sites. They told me a lot about each episode, even some stuff I hadn't realized. My first post was a rebuttal to his comments about "I Loathe a Parade." And, as time proved, he was right and I was wrong (at least about Tom; I'm not giving up my opinion on Daria yet.)
(No matter what I start to say, I always wind up talking about myself.)
Guy Payne
Mike Quinn's reviews have been a Godsend for me during this, "the year without cable," keeping me semi up-to-date on the eps I've missed as well as being the entertaining and informative resource it's been for me in the past. Good work, Mike. You da mensch!
John Takis
Hey! Congrats, Mike! Speaking for myself, "Touchdown Jane" is one of THE best Mack-centric fics, and an overall well-explored look at scholarships. Can't wait to read your sure-to-be-monumental review of "Is It Fall Yet" ... like cramming 4.5 episodes into a single collumn. Talk about "delayed"!
Author's Response
Response to Queen Jossie
Mike gets 2 Gold Stars and a Smiley Face!!!!
I've already got them posted on my wall. :)
Response to Bob Marley
Sitting here, with a cold 7&7 (aka "High-ball" aka "2 parts Jack Daniel's No.7 whiskey with 3-4 parts 7-Up)
Thanks for the explanation, not much of a drinker myself (I have a bottle of champagne that I got for my 21st birthday that I'm saving for a "special ocassion").
dulling the pain of a looonnnnggg day answering freshmen (We can... just walk in and use these computers?)
Oh, yeah, know what you mean, now that I'm a temporary resident of "T.A. land"
I want to thank Mike Quinn for his devotion to this particular cause. (Bud beer commercial voice) Presenting "Real America Hero's", today we salute you "Mr. Daria Episode Review Man." While other's of us merely watch MTV's Daria... You are the one bringing us in depth commentary on every nit-picky detail and plot device that goes on. Telling us what you think and what consequence it will have, from Tom's side on glance back at Daria during "ILAP" to Jane's attempt at cleaning his clock in "DDMD." So sit back with an ice cold Bud, "Mr. Daria Episode Review Man." You may never convince us that "DDMD" didn't deserve an A+, but you're A+ in our books!! *Small print* Drinking is bad, it makes you post stupid stuff like the above post. And don't fall on your head from a great height. Lighting yourself on fire can also have serious consequences. Good night and God bless.
Gawd, I love those comercials!!!!
Response to Kemical Reaction
I couldn't agree more! Congrats, Mike! It's a well-deserved spotlight.
Thanks, and yes I am going to go through and reply to everyone :)
Response to Guy Wheatley
Ah, excellent pick Steven. Something I find ironic about the critic who doled out his first, and only, "F" in the Daria canon on the reviled "When Depth Takes a Holiday," is that he himself specialized only in parody and whimsy fanfics before finally graduating to canon-progressive material.
I was halfway through writing it when I realized that, then I thought to myself that if I ever actually saw that episode, I'd give it an F- ;)
Besides the occassional fic and of course his cornucopia of Delayed Action Reviews, he's also been a prolific essayist awhile back, that *other* signifigant area of Daria community writings, all over at Outpost Daria.
Obligatory plug here: some of my essays are also on www.toonscape.com (or the clickable link below) in the animation articles section. I may also be doing some more for them down the road (it basically depends on whether I find the time to do any more).
He's dabbled in everything, and what can I say, the man has major-label credibility. I think he's also brought a level of depth by being the appointed critic of the community, expounding on eps as something to be analyzed and enjoyed instead of just sitting back after half-an-hour with one's friends, turning the tube off after the credit run, and nonchalantly saying, "That was a good Daria ep." Isn't that the premise that this entire board is based on, going beyond that? His reviews fortify that premise. Kudos Mike. (-:
"major-label credibility" - that sounds like a lot of responsibility ;)
Thanks
Response to Robert Nowall
Fascinating, Captain.
Spoooooooooooooooock!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, as time proved, he was right and I was wrong (at least about Tom; I'm not giving up my opinion on Daria yet.)
Hey I'm not always right.
Thanks
Response to Canadibrit
Well deserved - you have quite the comic flair.
Sometimes it's even unintentional, case in point:
Jane: She's got you there. The "New Blood" angle is the way to go.
Daria: Oh, you just like to draw blood.
I didn't even realize how funny I thought that was until I was proofreading
"Race to the Finish" was a brilliant piece and really got me more into your work. *clap clap clap*
Thanks, that means a lot to me.
Response to John Takis
Hey! Congrats, Mike! Speaking for myself, "Touchdown Jane" is one of THE best Mack-centric fics, and an overall well-explored look at scholarships. Can't wait to read your sure-to-be-monumental review of "Is It Fall Yet" ... like cramming 4.5 episodes into a single collumn. Talk about "delayed"!
Oh, yeah, I can hardly wait for it, I'm going to try to keep this one under 5000 words ;)