The Live Finale
Posted on: June 6, 2005 4:09 AM
This is it. The final video of Ultimate Blogger. After 300 applicants, six weeks, and twelve contestants we finally have a winner. No one could have predicted this outcome with twists and turns that shocked us and brought a wry smile to our collective cheeks as we all mumbled "Those clever bastards" under our breath. James and Lyova. Two names we will not soon forget and who have set a bar so high for this competition that we almost dare not repeat this internet experiment. One more time we applaud you both.
But this isn't a game with two winners. Only one will be the Ultimate Blogger, and it remains up to the former contestants who wears that crown. After all the votes were counted the winner won by a single vote. A fitting end to the Stalin Alliance.
And so, let's all enjoy this final "live" episode where the winner of our $500 dollar prize package is revealed. Congratulations to all our players, but today we celebrate THE ULTIMATE BLOGGER.
Click here to view the challenge (24.2MB - MP4) Click here to download QuickTime
oh also us viewers should thank steve, mike & jona for all the hard work. this has been mega entertaining.
Posted by: Kevin Erickson at June 6, 2005 4:46 AM
Yep, kudos due to one and all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
So good.
KUDOS!
Posted by: Andrew J at June 6, 2005 5:03 AM
Congratulations James and great job Lyova! Did I hear the final vote of 6-5 for James right? Was there an UHUB staff vote in there to break a tie?
Posted by: Kevin (not Erickson) at June 6, 2005 7:04 AM
Thanks to Mike, Steve, and Jona for coming up with a great concept and making it happen. You put a tremendous amount of work into this project
Congratulations to both Lyova and James for making it to the end. And of course James, You know how I feel. I think Lyova was great and I think he found out that he is an excellent Blogger and an excellent writer. If he sticks with it he will go far. You, however, have a unique ability to entertain, make people think, and touch peoples hearts. I believe you deserve the title and you should be very proud.
I remember an email you sent me at the beginning of this thing where you talked about the incredible talent and the wonderful blogging skills of all the other contestants. In comparing yourself to them you felt that you were not even in their league. Well the contest is a combination of many things, I think more than just blogging and strategy. I think it includes elements of exposing yourself to the world, touching people, and of course, getting comments and getting people to chat back and forth over a particular subject. You have the ability to get epople interested and get them thinking and feeling.
All the bloggers are wonderful, Anyone could have won the prize. I am very proud of you.
And of course, you are one the the 10 nicest people in the world. I know that for a fact ! Somehow I think some of those folks began to get a fell for that by the end of the contest.
Love Ya
Dad
And how do we get ahold of you ? ? ?
Posted by: WuJie Shanghai at June 6, 2005 7:16 AM
Congratulations James!!! (you like this, yes? my little bitch...)
(wow! your voice really sounds different on that speaker phone contraption! almost as coherent as any sane individual's...who would have thought? heh heh *wink*)
Posted by: TAB at June 6, 2005 7:16 AM
Congrats James!
Wow, I'm gonna miss this, great job you guys! I really am looking forward to The Ultimate Blogger: The Australian Outback, or The Ultimate Blogger: Africa, for that matter.
Posted by: Jez at June 6, 2005 9:08 AM
JAMES WINS!! JAMES IS THE ULTIMATE BLOGGER!!!
Congratulations friend. And congratulations to Steve, Jona and Mike who have created the Ultimate Internet Sensation. This expiriment was a fantasic success and I think I can speak for (almost) all of the contestants when I say we are very lucky and very proud to be a part of it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I love you James.
I love you Steve.
I love you Mike.
I love you Jona.
I love you fellow contestants.
I love you commenters.
I love you UBUBUGUHUG.
Thank you.
Posted by: willow at June 6, 2005 9:50 AM
I think my favorite part was the last three seconds of that final video, when G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band faded us to black.
That said, congratulations to everyone ever.
Posted by: Adam Kline at June 6, 2005 10:52 AM
this whole thing has been beyond rad. seriously, you guys are on some next gen internet shit right here. i feel like i just saw the future. good work all you guys.
ps: what up adam!
Posted by: matt at June 6, 2005 11:25 AM
Thanks to all the viewers. This thing has consumed us for six weeks and it was totally worth it. It feels like a huge weight is gone, but instead of feeling free I feel a little empty. I am on a self-imposed "no new projects for a week" regimen.
Posted by: Mikey at June 6, 2005 11:33 AM
well, it has been a great series.
i really hope this comes out on dvd.
MY FACE IS IN THE EPISODE!
Posted by: Morgan at June 6, 2005 2:19 PM
Thanks for all the kind words.
I want to talk about the vote. I mean, I think both of those guys win because of what they accomplished, but the vote was interesting.
I think Lyova's immense support from viewers of the game hurt him in this vote. He was very popular, and I think this might have rubbed some of the previous contestants in the wrong way, since he was so new to blogging. Lyova was also more controversial than James.
James's kind deeds of helping people with entries and such might've really paid off for him. Not to take away from James' blogging, because it was excellent.
All the contestants were great, everyone who helped us with videos and webstuff deserve thanks.
DVD is coming. It will probably be a few months, but it is coming. Hours of footage. Over an hour of challenge videos, tons of video from contestants, all the challenge entries, behind the scenes footage from producers and contestants, backstage emails and ichats, plus much more!!!!!!!
Posted by: Steve Schroeder at June 6, 2005 2:28 PM
HELP!
My brother wants to fight! I don't want to fight my brother! Someone help!
http://straightuptruth.blogspot.com/
Love,
Joel Conrad Bechtolt
8th Runner-Up (or something like that) Season One, The Ultimate Blogger
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 6, 2005 3:50 PM
This is the 2500th post and/or comment on The Ultimate Blogger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2500!!!!!!!
STREAMERS!!!! BALLOONS!!!
Hey Joel, should we put that blog in the sidebar as your blog now?? In that blog you should link to your weird movies your putting up on your .mac account.
Posted by: Steve Schroeder at June 6, 2005 4:01 PM
Please put that (http://straightuptruth.blogspot.com/) in the sidebar. I will try to figure out the weird movie links on .mac being referenced on my blogger thing. Just as I was getting used to Moveable Type... Oh well, learning rules. As KRS-ONE says (check the acronym for those who don't know) "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone"
Nearly Everyone,
Joel Conrad Bechtolt
(Happy to be the 2501st post and/or comment on The Ultimate Blogger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!")
PS: For the Millionth time, thanks a million Urbanhonking, Steve Mikey, and Jona for a wonderful experience.
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 6, 2005 4:07 PM
Steve,
Hey I think I got the link figured out! Go here to check my work:
Language is fun! Even HTML!
Watshi No Name Wa Bechtolt, Joel Conrad Desu Ka!
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 6, 2005 4:50 PM
Congrats, James. You got my vote simply for coming to my site and commenting. Good show, old chap.
Posted by: karsh at June 6, 2005 7:41 PM
Hey guys,
Check out my cooking fiasco, live and direct!
http://homepage.mac.com/straightup/iMovieTheater35.html
http://homepage.mac.com/straightup/iMovieTheater36.html
http://homepage.mac.com/straightup/iMovieTheater37.html
It was fun (but it kinda hurt!)
Love,
Joel
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 6, 2005 9:29 PM
thanks everyone!!
it was such an incredible show... im so sad its all over. and i forgot it was monday! how ridiculous... i am so used to being a day ahead in taiwan!! i just now realized the last video would be up!
thank you so much lyova for being such a pal... i miss you dearly!
and willow! i will always be a merit badger at heart!
all the contestants were so wonderful, it was an honor to compete with everyone. I just want to make it clear, though, that i am excepting this as stalin, the lines between james and lyova are thin and blurry. each word, chat, email, post, picture, film... was done side-by-side... i could have never made it this far on my own.
oh steve, jona, and mikey... the show was incredible! im so happy to have been a part of this. i really look forward to meeting you... and everyone. so... i hope to make it to portland this weekend. anyone up for a picnic or something?
sorry... i have some horrible jet-lag... and i think i fell asleep 3 times trying to write this comment...
oh... dad... you can reach me at 206-527-2165.
Posted by: james at June 6, 2005 9:37 PM
This weekend?!?
That hardly gives us any time to plan fun Urban Honking events for you!
Also, COME VISIT!!
:)
Posted by: Azure at June 6, 2005 10:48 PM
James,
I just called you. It is very late/ early and I just got out of the hospital. I hope we can picnic in Portland! Call me anytime, I left my number on the number you posted, may your travels be safe!
Love,
Joel
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 7, 2005 2:38 AM
See James, you give out your number on a public forum and freaks like Joel WILL CALL YOU. Let that be a lesson to you.
Congratulations to you on your win, which I think is well deserved because in retrospect, despite your humble silence, it's obvious how much you must have contributed to much of Lyova's work.
Congratulations again and again and again to Mikey, Steve and Jona, for being brilliant, enthusiastic and a little bit lucky which put them WAY over the top.
Congraulations to everyone who has participated in this phenomenon, and now two important questions:
When is season 2?
Is Lyova getting a blog?
Posted by: Lucie at June 7, 2005 4:49 AM
There is no such thing as luck. There is preparation met by opportunity. And brilliance. Let that be a lesson to you.
Love,
Joel The Freak
971-227-0769
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 7, 2005 7:44 AM
One of the many measures of UB's success is that over the past couple of weeks, regardless of the situation, I keep finding myself repeating Lyova's gossip catchphrase in my head... every time I hear the mail drop on the doormat, read some awesome fact in a book, or hear a great news item on the radio, the commentary in my head runs "Ohhh interesting!". I just cannot stop my damned brain from doing it.
Posted by: Andrew J at June 7, 2005 1:20 PM
I've had "Playboys & Pagers" stuck in my head for like a month...
So Sonny, bring me M16
And Mimi, be my dancing queen
James you shoot my video
And Ritchie, you must lead the show
Medya, in your Cadillac
And Joel (drinks/brings) to heart attack
Willow, whom I don't yet know
Lois whose brain is many ???
This Karsh enjoy arithmetic
That Crash, he don't like look at chicks (that is okay, yes?)
But Lyova he will rule this things
Because he is the blogger king
Posted by: Kevin at June 7, 2005 8:09 PM
Thank you so much for these things you say!!! I am total overjoy that, even when I am shredded, I am not yet deceased within your brains! And this is also encouraging me to acquire my own blog...
Your lyrics, Kevin, is very correct. Here is the things you are ambiguous about: "Joel drinks..." and "...brain is manyfold".
I smile today.
Posted by: Lyova Lyubov at June 8, 2005 12:13 AM
yay! That was fun! Congrats to both Lyova and James for a fantastic showdown, and everyone who made Ultimate Blogger so much fun.
God, I'm making myself vomit I sound so nice. Better get back to my blog for more bitching over there.
xx
Posted by: mimi at June 8, 2005 1:03 AM
(ready to fall asleep from all the activity!)
Go here: http://homepage.mac.com/straightup/iMovieTheater40.html
Then here: http://homepage.mac.com/straightup/iMovieTheater41.html
What does it all mean?
Love,
JCB
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 9, 2005 5:58 PM
Now that I think about it, I would have rather seen a fistfight. I am dissapointed that James and Lyova have fallen off the face of the earth. 38 hits in two weeks? How dare you? Bye guys!
Love,
Joel Conrad Bechtolt
(The Ultimate, ULTIMATE Blogger)
#39
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 19, 2005 8:57 AM
(Reprinted with permission from http://straightuptruth.blogspot.com/)
Dear Readers,
I have made the conscious decision to remove myself from the "Ultimate Blogger" community. It seems as though free speech is not a "reality" in that particular part of the world. I have been called: "Faggot", "Asshole", and worst of all, "Stalker" by people whom I respect. I have also been asked to "kill myself", by family members. This will not do, for me.
I performed a scientific test, and came up with positive results. Some folks either
A: Cannot handle the truth, or
B: If they can't, or if they don't like what I say, good or bad, figure out how to stop it (the words they find disturbing).
I have been called "insane", all my life, and contrary to popular opinion, do not find it encouraging. My feelings are not hurt. I am not "emo". Some folks are. I simply have been "laid" up, with a broken foot, and found the idea that I could still compete in this world, with only a laptop, and a little wit, fascinating. I am sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings. I have learned a valuable lesson. I will now get back to writing my book, making my movie, and recording all my new songs, which I find borderline excellent (but they still need a little work).
Thank you to the creators of the wonderful contest, namely Jona, Steve, and Mikey. It was fun while it lasted.
Good Luck, and Goodbye,
Your Friend,
Joel Conrad Bechtolt
Much Props:
Twenty-Something by Crash
Italianolio by Eddie
Hiho.org by James
Straight Up Truth by Joel
BlackGayBlogger by Karsh
Professional-Lurker by Lois
N/A by Lyova
Medya Daily by Medya
Mimi in NY by Mimi
Regarding by Ritchey
Hokie.us by Sonny
Perfect Heart by Willow
Yada
Yada
Yada!
Posted by: Joel Conrad Bechtolt at June 22, 2005 11:46 PM
Please note: when the final shredded contestant meets his fate the audience is not booing that contestant, but rather booing us for shredding him. He had many many fans in that rather large live audience.
Posted by: Steve Schroeder at June 6, 2005 4:01 AM