Homestar Runner Wiki Forum

I'm sorry, but I can't keep myself shut up about this any longer, and I hope to God this reaches Matt somehow, because I've had enough. Taking a hiatus is one thing, but the idea of keeping one's mouth shut just to, in theory, keep the viewers suspense rolling is unethical, offensive, and unnecessary crap. In other words, pretentious. In fact, that's the key word here: pretentious. There is absolutely no point in cutting us off for years and dropping us cryptic and cute little hints here and there to keep us guessing. At this point, and I hope there are many more with me, I would like to be treated like an adult and be informed as to what the hell is going on. In fact, I find this happening all too often i.e. the author from Hyperbole and a Half disappearing to God knows where after mentioning a newly minted book deal. Clear communication is what I'm asking for, and that's not much; but it seems like "Matt the artist" is being "artistic" for "exercising complete freedom in the face of polarizing his fans," or call it what you want.

I can understand a permanent vacation from HR, but at least have the decency to let us know why and when the decision was made. Otherwise, the faithful that have been the sole reason this cult phenomenon has had its existence are being treated with nothing but condescension, arrogance, and childish dismissal. Yes, we the faithful have been ditched. From a business standpoint (I'm a small business owner, and yes, I have spent a lot of money on HR merch, so yes, I view myself as a customer, as are the rest of you) it's the antithesis of professionalism, an insult to prospects and clientele alike, completely unfair. What have we done to deserve this?

The Chaps have treated us like second-class fodder, and I'm surprised no one else seems to be as ticked off as I am. I'm not even asking for more sbemails; I'm asking for the simplest of things, clear communication, which has nothing to do with an out-of-focus closeup of a future sbemail script and verbage like "someday, when you least expect it..................................................................................................etc." This is akin to what Christ said about the end days ("like a thief in the night..."), further showing the Chap's getting a kick out of acting like little gods.

I may get a lot of flak for all of this, but at least I have the courage to say it: they have been doing a stupid thing for years and I hope to God they get it right for the sake of the people that kept them going. I mean, really, this is the thanks we get?

Shay

Hey Shay,

I understand why you are frustrated. Especially since you've probably invested a lot of time and money into supporting Homestar Runner. I think the cryptic messages are less of an artistic move and more of a business move. I would guess TBC feel that if they string their audience along, people will continue to check the website for updates every now and then, thus keeping it alive. Which is working if you check the comments on their YouTube channel. And I can garuantee you at some point they will make more cartoons. If they didn't plan on making cartoons they would have sold off the property years ago. Homestar at this point is like their back up plan in case things in Hollywood don't work out. Which is smart considering how volatile the business can be. One day you're hot, next day you're not. And as someone who has worked at Nickelodeon for several years, I can tell you that development execs have been particularly interested in the TBC for a while. And so I imagine TBC will be pretty busy for the next year or so, especially if their pilot at Disney gets picked up. But that isn't to say we won't get a cartoon here or there in the meantime. I wouldn't expect the same amount of content to return to the website anytime soon. Anywho I'm sure this doesn't make you feel better, but hopefully this helps you understand the situation a bit more.

p.s. You could also view their work on Gravity Falls and Aquabats Super Show as an extension of their website. I mean a lot of the humor is the same.

I understand how upset you are and I can relate. Respectfully though, you're assuming a lot of negative stuff about their intentions. I'm sure you've read all the posts about how "they don't owe us a thing because they gave us the site for free and no one forced us to buy the t-shirts". What I'm really reading here is that you're put off by the fact that they didn't have "enough respect for the fans" to say goodbye.

You don't need some stranger on the internet to tell you that nothing good lasts forever. I think the real problem here is that perhaps the Chaps haven't let go of it. I'm guessing they're not ready to say goodbye. If you feel this strongly about it imagine how they must feel.

I hope it doesn't feel like I'm putting you down or trying to teach you a lesson. I'm also talking to myself. I've also been mad at the whole thing. I've also felt the same things you are feeling like "They're off doing their own things and I'm left here... waiting for this little bit of happiness I used to get every Monday morning. Now they stop doing it and don't even take a moment to explain why. They don't owe me more free cartoons just an explanation"

It's a mystery but let me ask you not to take this an affront to you and the rest of the fans. There is a wonderful strange spirit to this Homestar stuff it comes from its own world while still celebrating and poking fun at the things many of us grew up with. I'll be honest when I say I fell in love with the site from the first time I found it ten years ago. I miss it. I wish it could have kept going on and on making my inner-child laugh like hell but it didn't. Whoosh. It's gone. The Chaps gave us a little gift for a while and it looks like that much is going to have to do. No explanation. I don't think that comes from hate or slight regard but perhaps their own difficulties in saying goodbye. Just a thought. Cheers to HR!

While these are decent and considerate arguments, they underline the kind of thing that is driving me batty: the Chaps are given too much forgiveness and understanding in doing something that both works against common sense and belittles a broad support base. It's how they're pulling this silence off, not why. If this is the end, so be it, I won't be bitter to say the least. But it's damn time we hear it either way, even if it's in the form of "sorry for the delay, folks; been busy with this and that, be back shortly..." My thesis here is that their method of communication is off-putting and pretentious, something akin to a hidden offensive gesture. As much as I love the unpredictable nature of HR, logic dictates that it is best if the creators do not emulate their creation in the fundamentals of their business structure, especially when it comes down to PR and customer loyalty (not just service). To say this withholding of current events is part of the business model has some merit, but quite frankly we need to start seeing it for what it is: bad form, bad business.

A good question to posit is the current demographic and if the weakened structure has resulted in a loss of interest--certainly it has polarized us. For me, I've stopped visiting the site long ago because of two factors: 1) I've seen everything more than twenty times each, and 2) their mute method has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. How can the creators of something with so much heart, passion, and pleasure be so standoffish when it comes to the recipient? It boggles me that not even an up-front statement could be made.

All I want is honest communication. The only thing lower than what they're giving us would be a flat-out lie. I refuse to get teary-eyed for them anymore. I have a wife and two kids and various commitments but one will never, never, see me losing touch with my customers, because they're human and I care and they deserve to hear it the way it is. Damn it.

Artists almost always make for bad businesspeople (I'm an actor and have seen my fair share of theatre companies crumble because of artistic folks). I'm not sure if pretentiousness has much to do with it. That would be strongly assuming that their silence comes from a malicious or psychologically messed up place. If it does then @#$% those guys and @#$% HR. More than likely it comes from an inability to let the HR world come to a close. Saying goodbye to ones creation (particularly ones that gave so many so much joy) is very tough. Seeing those guys in earlier interviews I get that they're good people maybe just a little wrapped up in "another world".

Silence is a tough thing to deal with (once again..this isn't me trying to "teach" I'm talking also to myself). Given the length of time since the website effectively ended (at least from a new content perspective) I can promise that we wont get our closure. No final episode. No bang just a whisper. That sucks a bit but these people are who they are and it's best not to conclude that they're hateful or stuck up it will just ruin the enjoyment we had for the thing that's now over.

All my best to you and your family sir. It sounds like you have a lot of strength and integrity and that can only rub off in the most positive way to your children. I hope like hell this doesn't sound smarmy or condescending. Like I said I've felt much the same as you do about it but well it's just not worth growing to hate something we liked so damn much.

To health and happiness!

They say he's planning something big. Someday, when we least expect it...

I'm confused... if the OP is going so far as to accuse the Chaps of having a Christ complex about a goofy little web based cartoon show then why is anyone trying to explain things to the OP. He's clearly made up his mind that the Chaps are silent out of spite and sick pleasure. He's welcome to his opinion...but fellas....ladies...just leave this guy alone. He's welcome to say what he wants...but methinks he's coming from a different place.

And "horseinasuit" a little piece of advice... trying to manipulate the people you're arguing with by using compliments and overt pleasantness isn't cool. You may think it's helping...but it comes off as condescending...the OP may be coming from left field but everyone deserves to be treated straight and steady. Just my thoughts.

They work on other projects now, and Homestar Runner is not currently one of them. They will still make them every so often, though.

Nice try "stinkahmagee". Sorry folks an old friend of mine thinks its a hoot to follow me around the forums I post in and attempt to troll me into an argument. He then reveals himself after a while and then "hahaha".

"stinkahmagee" next time don't go after me for something we talked about three days ago. And get a different user name. It's the same one you used to troll me last time.

You also owe me a pizza now. Peperoni.

Foiled again!! I've had an account over here for a while! We've even posted on the same subjects!! I still win. BWAHAHAHA!!!!...but I'll make good. One pizza.

(You have to admit that the OP was a little over the top)

I was suspicious when I saw the name but let it go. You can get the pizza delivered to me tonight. I'll be home by six.

Sorry folks now back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

(And no I don't think the OP was over the top. He was upset. There is a difference or am I being condescending??? And on that subject how is saying someone is "from a different place" not the most condescending thing ever? Don't make me ask for two pizzas because of that one)

Haha. Fair enough. I was only trying to get you anyway. All hail the angry OP!

I'll toss in an order of breadsticks and we'll call it a draw.

Love,
Foot-in-his-mouth Jones.

It's pointless to be frustrated anymore, I've moved on to the "acceptance" stage of loss haha.

It was a good run, but it's over. Enjoy the toons and games as they are.

Who knows, maybe in a few years there will be a revival or something, nothing ever truly dies on the internet

Yeah, it was fun while it lasted. I wish there was a goodbye toon or something to bring closure but I've come to terms with the fact that there will never be. The Chaps don't want to create a final toon obviously because they want to leave the window open to return if they feel like it. They don't right now and my guess after so much time has passed is that they never will. They've found new careers and they will never get together and spend as much time on H*R like they did before ever again. One day yeah we might get one toon when they feel like it and find the time but it will probably only be one toon in a year or two from now... and then maybe another years after that.

But it'll never really come back. It's over.

One more toon isn't at all out of the question. It could come in 5 seconds or 5 years. Nobody knows, except them. IMO, they really deserve to take a break from the cartoon for a while.

Homestar Runner isn't over. The regular updates are long gone, but this doesn't seem like the kind of show that could have an actual end. They'll just make new 'toons whenever they get around to it, which is barely ever, but still.

Yeah, a long break will revitalize them. If you played the same video game every week for 10 years, would you still be enthusiastic about it?

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Fan since December of '02, yet it took me 4 years to discover this Wiki. ::shame::

This is pretty much how I view Homestar Runner now. I'm looking forward to seeing what Mike and Matt are going to do later on, but you have to accept at this stage that it's over. I don't even think there's a toon every year or so at this point. We haven't gotten any word on the sbemail Matt tweeted about for nearly six months now. Plain and simple, Homestar Runner is over.

If it is Rome Total War, yes.

Which isn't surprising considering it's the exact same production company as Yo Gabba Gabba. Not to mention his previous collaborations with the Aquabats. Anywho I think we should support Matt and check it out.

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This

Don't worry man! It'll still return!

See the 2012 updates for more info!
They are working on SBEmail 206!

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lu9, the one and only Brazilian Homestar Runner fan.

That was half a year ago. And we haven't even gotten a word about it. It's over.

Didn't they once say in an interview that they would put adverts on the site if it was dead or something? Because that's probably the time you should be worried then.

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*Witty signature goes here*