Which Presidential Candidate Is Related to Wild Bill Hickok?

Nicole Pasulka — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:01:00 GMT

Clue: The one who wasn't actually alive when the West was still wild.

Yup. Besides brimming with youth, brilliance and good looks, Barack Obama is distantly related to gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok.

According to Chris Child, a genealogist with the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Hickok is sixth cousin to Obama's fourth great-grandfather, Jacob Dunham, Child said. Their common ancestor is Thomas Blossom, who arrived with the Pilgrims. The society earlier found other notable links to Obama, including Brad Pitt, of Springfield; and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Those of you who've seen Deadwood understand the significance of this discovery.

(via YesButNoButYes)

Dear Cocksuckers at HBO: Finish "Deadwood" Already!

Bryan Christian — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:30:00 GMT

So, a few weeks ago, we ran across this interview on CHUD with Hitman star and former sherriff of TV's Deadwood Timothy Olyphant, and it totally bummed us out.

Now that it appears that the Deadwood TV movies are probably not going to happen, what are your thoughts on the show's legacy?[...] Do you feel kind of gypped that you won't have a chance to go back and finish up with those bookend films?

Honestly? It always feels a little... I could really give a shit. I mean it in the most respectful way. I had a great time on that show, and I am thankful to have that experience. To look at it from any other angle is, I think, a slippery slope. I don't think anybody owes me anything. I walk away from that saying thank God it existed. I have great relationships from that show. And you know what's better than seven or eight years on TV? Three years on TV.

OK, well, nuts. As some of you no doubt know, Deadwood was unceremoniously canceled by HBO after its third season, by which time it had developed its own very profane taxonomy, about 30 ongoing story arcs, and a cult following that, while never Sopranosish in size or intensity, nonetheless would probably have stuck with the show through thick, thin, and possibly even messianic surfers. There were rumors of wrapping up the plots with a few movie length installments, but nothing's come of it, despite the continuing dedication of the fans. And if this interview is to be believed, it'd be hard to imagine the show coming back without Olyphant as Sherriff Seth Bullock anyways.

Well, cut to last week, and Ian McShane talking about doing Pinter onstage with Time Out New York.

Deadwood was a creation. That’s what made the show a great piece of television. [Creator David Milch] created a time and mythos and a language. I found it quite amazing. Even now, we talk about it coming back.

Really? I heard that HBO finally dismantled the set.

Well, I said that in an interview, but then HBO put out a thing that said, “If we do the two follow-up movies, they would take place after the flood and the fire, so it wouldn’t necessarily be the same set.”

Hey, you know what, HBO? Shit or get off the goddamned pot. Olyphant would do it if the price was right, and let's be honest: ain't like you got much else with a guaranteed audience base. If you start now, you could probably get it done in time to premiere alongside whatever drama you got to replace The Wire. Or John From Cincinatti. Or The Sopranos. Anyway, just think about it.

PS: We mean "cocksuckers" affectionately.

Scanner : Deadwood

Which Presidential Candidate Is Related to Wild Bill Hickok?

Dear Cocksuckers at HBO: Finish "Deadwood" Already!