Friday, August 24, 2012

Link roundup

1. "All Seven Of Lance Armstrong's Tour De France Wins Would Now Go To Cyclists With Doping Scandals Of Their Own."

2. Interview without answers:
Amy Sohn got in touch with us about her new book. She pitched a few ideas and the Gothamist editorial team pitched a few back to her, but neither side could agree on a topic for a post. As a compromise, Amy suggested another interview, similar to the one we did with her when Prospect Park West came out. I agreed, but on the condition it would be "really hard-hitting and possibly cruel." I felt strongly about the way Park Slope was portrayed in her books and her Awl piece, and felt anything less than hard-hitting questions would be puffery. When she got the questions, Amy decided to pass on the interview, responding in part "I can't answer these questions. Even for a writer who bares a lot and writes about her personal life, they're too invasive and too hostile. And I'm not sure that all of them are really questions."
3. 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. For example:
Dr. Bashir actor Alexander Siddig was the first choice to play Benjamin Sisko

Producer Rick Berman saw Siddig playing King Feisal in the British television production A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia, and decided to cast him as Commander Sisko. Berman changed his mind when he realized Siddig was only in his mid-twenties, and instead offered him the part of Dr. Bashir — who was originally named Dr. Julian Amoros. This was a part with way less job security: for the first two years Siddig was on the show, the network was constantly telling Berman and the other producers to fire him, because he was the most unpopular character. But the producers held their ground, because they wanted to change Bashir over time and slowly make him more likable. Also: Siddig and Miles O'Brien actor Colm Meaney fought in real life, while their characters were fighting on the show — they had hours of "furious fights" about England and Ireland, according to Siddig.