El Cerrito, CA
I understand the feeling of something you love and hold dear as a niche being exploited and co-opted by the media risking a huge influx of people and turning something very quickly into a blown out fad. When I was in high school I was huge into local third wave ska bands. Almost anyone I talked to had no idea what ska was.
Then real big fish comes along, and MTV, people start writing about it, attributing bands like smashmouth as part of the big new wave of ska (which made people like me furious) Suddenly it was in commercials, it was everywhere and everyone HATED it, and rightfully so. It wasn't fun anymore, it wasn't special. The bands all dried up in like five years and ska virtually disappeared for a decade.
I empathize with people not wanting something fake and phony like the Kardashians as a spokesperson for the hobby. This will be the first time thousands of people will have heard of pinball in years, it's not exactly who you want to have as a mouthpiece (pun intended)
I like when I hear that someone like Jason sudekis got a new WOZ more than this. It's not so much a celebrity liking pinball, it's THAT kind of celebrity that's only famous for a sex tape and reality show. They are on different levels.
I know this is a ridiculous amount of thought to put into this so I will also say I don't think it's a huge deal at the same time. I'm older now and that whole "punk rock ethic" of never selling out just doesn't jibe with me anymore. I mean who cares? I have met the guy that owns the place they filmed at and he's super nice and I hope this brings him more customers, more power to the little guy I say.
