BC: Who is your least favorite writer?
El Bicho: Writers who are lazy or sloppy in their work. Writers who try to hard to be clever. Writers who try to be controversial to get attention their writing wouldn’t otherwise garner.
BC: Do you have a favorite Blogcritic?
El Bicho: No, but there are plenty I enjoy reading.
BC: What do you think is the best part of Blogcritics?
El Bicho: The potential audience that I have access to.
BC: What song is stuck in your head right now?
El Bicho: “Idiot Wind,” I was just listening to Blood on the Tracks yesterday.
BC: What do you have set as the home page in your browser?
El Bicho: I use FilmJumper to publicize The Masked Movie Snobs, so my home page changes every time I use it, bringing up someone else that has an account.
BC: Who was your idol as you were growing up?
El Bicho: I don’t remember having one.
BC: What are three items you would need to have on a desert island?
El Bicho: As a Survivor watcher, I’ll say flint, water and food. Do I want to stay on the island? I might alternate “boat” or “a communication device.”
BC: What's the best place to get a meal in your neck of the woods?
El Bicho: Depends on what you are looking for. I enjoy the chiliburgers of Tommy’s. There’s a good Mediterranean place called Byblos in Orange. A great Cuban place in LA called Versailles. I ate at a great Persian place last night in Irvine called Caspian. Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is very good.
BC: If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
El Bicho: Since this is an impossible question, I’ll give an impossible answer. I would change the way people’s thought process works. I wish there was a way a person could truly be objective, so their ego would be completely removed from the equation. While I don’t claim to know any of the answers of the universe, it seems that it is more likely that we are all part of one thing rather separate individuals, so even though you think you are doing what’s best for you, your family, your state, your country, your political affiliation, your religion, your species, whatever, that might not necessarily be the case.
El Bicho Picks El Bicho
We asked El Bicho to pick some of his favorites from among his writings, and if you’ve missed any of these, do take the time to enjoy them. In fact, check out his entire Blogcritics oeuvre while you’re at it!
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Congrats, El B. Well done feature, Lisa.
2 - Lisa McKay
Thank you, DJ. It was a lot of fun to do, but the lion's share of the credit belongs to El Bicho, who, after all, supplied me with the source material.
3 - Eric Berlin
Outstanding El B and Lisa, great stuff !
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
"El" means "the?"
5 - -E
And how about that sexy mug shot. Good job, El Bitch-o.
6 - Sterfish
This is a very cool new feature and congrats to El Bicho for being the first honoree. It's definitely well-deserved.
7 - Mark Saleski
well-deserved bicho. congrats.
8 - Jess
Congrats! Next time you come by this way again we'll have to celebrate :0)
9 - Triniman
Very interesting. It's cool to get to know more about the writers. I look forward to more profiles in the series.
This may make you laugh. For a while, I thought El Bicho and Aaron, Duke de Mondo were the same person. I'm not sure why.
10 - El Bicho
My reign is half over and I wanted to thank those of you who stopped in and offered your congratualtions. It is appreciated.
Trini, although we started at around the same time and have some similar tastes, I too must wonder how you thought the Duke and I were one in the same.
Yes, Matt, "El" can mean "The". I'm glad to see you found the feature thought-provoking.
11 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
El Bicho, this was all the fun in the world, and a damn great feature, too, Ms. McKay.
Heh, Triniman, that dazzles my shock-glands senseless.
12 - Scott Butki
Congrats. I'm going to go read a few of your reviews.
13 - -E
So now that your reign as supreme king of all critics with blogs everywhere is almost over, how was it?
14 - El Bicho
-E,
The honor was a great compliment. I hope the powers-that-be got out of the feature what they desired. As for me, and not to appear ungrateful, after the first week, it was mostly uneventful on my end.
Intially, I noticed a few people come to my blog from this article, but they can read everything I write over here, so that's not an accurate measure of anything.
With all the writers and readers the site has I thought there might be more comments, but I proably needed to take a strident position on a political issue or list the greatest [insert noun] of all time.
I was surprised not to get a negative comment by a random poster, this is the Internet after all, so that's a relief. Although, I'm sure I've just opened up that door wide.
From the comments I did received, it appears at least half the people already knew and enjoyed my writing. That was flattering to discover because I was unaware they thought so.
If this feature introduced me to one new reader who will continue to read my future articles, it was definitely well worth it.
And lastly, we've finally put the rest the notion that Duke De Mondo and I are the same person. That's got to be worth something right there.
Thanks again to BC and Lisa.
El Bicho
BCotM for the next few hours
15 - Jet in Columbus
ElBicho did you write oscar acceptance speeches in another life? By the way, oddly your photo is exactly the way I've always pictured you.
I enjoyed it ;}
16 - Lisa McKay
El Bicho, it is indeed our fervent hope that this series will introduce the featured writers to a new audience by bringing just a bit more attention your way. You're quite right that the posts that always seem to bring the greatest number of comments are the political ones and the ones that challenge one's notions of who the greatest guitar players might be. The rest of us, laboring quietly in the vineyard for the most part, never really know who's out there reading, but if a few more readers are regularly making their way to your articles because of this piece, then it was well worth the effort.
And I personally enjoy learning a tiny bit about the 'insides' of our regular contributors, too.
17 - El Bicho
Dang, just saw a bio on Rod Serling last night on PBS and would certainly add him to my list of favorite writers.
18 - Dawn
Having finally met you in person, you are every bit as engaging and interesting as your writing. We sure are glad to have you around!!!
19 - for-too-oooh
i guess you know in puerto rico el bicho is vulgar for penis? it makes you seem sexier to me -- despite your associating the word with its literal meaning of bug
20 - IgnatiusReilly
"in puerto rico el bicho is vulgar for penis"
That's a coincidence because I know people who think he's a dick.