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February 6, 2009 12:15 PM PST

The top 25 most influential...fans of CNET TV

by Molly Wood

Forbes just put out another of those crazy lists where it proposes to identify the top Web celebrities--following a recent spate of other lists of top Tweeters and talkers and Web-famous types. And while we don't dispute the attractiveness of doing stupid lists to get people to look at your content (see: CNET Top 5), it could be said that the Web 2.0 elite is getting, well, nauseatingly self-congratulatory.

So, Tom Merritt and I decided to make our own list of influential people on the Web. These are some, but only some, of the top CNET TV fans who have, over the past few years, helped build our podcasts and videos from lonely little broadcasts to full-fledged, incredible communities--families, even. Without them, we've got nothing. Which is to say, these are most definitively the top 25 most influential people on the Web.

  • Alex: This one's for all the Alexes, be they from Miami Beach, Romania, or iPhone app makers.
  • Alex Brewer: He immortalized the words "Well, actually" and made it a thing. Well, actually...he did.
  • ChanBot: All #cnetfans IRC chat visitors know it's a pleasure to be kicked buy ChanBot. Try it. IN ALL CAPS!
  • Chris the podcaster: His evil plans for tricking us into promoting his podcast Amateur Traveler...have worked again!
  • DanielinHell: One of the few folks out there who had his nicknamed changed by us (but let's be honest--we've changed a lot of people's names over the years, right PaulNotRon?). And he has a great accent. What's not to love?
  • Dave the Psychologist: We always know that when we screw up the statistical significance of a study about the effects of gaming, he'll be there to catch us.
  • Dylan from Scotland: When he doesn't call CNET Live, we feel empty inside. And we fill that emptiness with Scotch.
  • Engnr_chik: If you've ever lived any significant period of your life without structural engineering insight, you have wasted that period of your life. Get in your time machine, go back and make friends with engnr_chik.
  • Fordo: Future roommate of Molly Wood, Netflix date, pajama-wearing No. 1 fan--Fordo speaks for herself. A lot.
  • Frank L: He's patently informative.
  • GKnee: There is no smooth-running #cnetfans chat room without GKnee, and no one gets properly welcomed when she's not there. It's just a simple fact.
  • Hollyhock: Twitter friend, chat-room regular, Gadgettes agenda-filler extraordinaire.
  • Dr. Karl: We like to think we helped him through medical school, because that means he might put us in his rich doctor will.
  • MissM: Chat-room regular, defender of the South, and one of the family.
  • NicNetter: Suspiciously in on all of Phatemokid's private jokes, they keep the chat-room rolling (and wondering.)
  • PB30: There is no Watchbol.com without PB30. Literally. He made it. Himself.
  • Peterjon Smith: From the earliest days of CNET podcasting, Peterjon has filled the lineups of BOL and Gadgettes with helpful e-mail and calls.
  • Phatemokid: Mug! (You'll have to listen to Buzz Out Loud to understand that one.)
  • Rafa: Our Brazilian correspondent and the fastest-speaking non-native English speaker you will ever hear.
  • Remy: Hey, this is you on our list. The geekiest postman on earth.
  • RogueTess: Won our hearts with her amazing relation of sewing patterns to music copyright law. Pwned!
  • Shalin: One must always know a rocket scientist. Just in case. Shalin: our conscience and our guide to outer space.
  • Tales: In every live podcast chat, sending e-mail to Mailbag, coming up with show titles, and correcting us when we're wrong. Invaluable!
  • Tom Merritt the doppelganger: The dude's name is Tom Merritt! Poor guy! But we should put him on a podcast! (We do! Fairly often!)
  • Xadacka: If there's a hack we need to know about, we officially did not hear about it from Xadacka.
  • As host of the Buzz Report video series, Molly provides a fresh and funny perspective on the latest consumer electronic products to hit the market, as well as commentary on the stories and development that she thinks are truly buzz-worthy. She is also co-host of Buzz Out Loud, CNET's "podcast of indeterminate length," which entertains listeners with a funny and skeptical take on the day's technology news. Her other podcast, Gadgettes, is proof that girls can be geeks too.
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    by rafacst February 6, 2009 5:06 PM PST
    I am trully honored to be on that list. Thanks, Molly and Tom. I'll be sure to keep the feedback coming to all the podcasts that I'm subscribed to. And you guys be sure to keep up the good work! :)
    Reply to this comment
    by MissM- February 6, 2009 5:14 PM PST
    Is also honored to be included in this list... aw shucks. Thanks.
    Love the show.
    MissM
    Reply to this comment
    by RogueTess February 6, 2009 6:33 PM PST
    Dudes! Thanks for compiling this list and including me among such luminaries. I am humbled. Looking forward to watching cnet's reach extend to more of the masses. I love all your shows. -- RogueTess
    Reply to this comment
    by RadioNed February 6, 2009 6:50 PM PST
    THAT is so very cool. great list! It's a pleasure to hang with all you folks during my lunch (half) hour!

    RadioNed
    Reply to this comment
    by jsa82980 February 6, 2009 6:51 PM PST
    I though it was Dr. Karl, not Dr. Rob. I think.
    Reply to this comment
    by firestarter February 6, 2009 6:54 PM PST
    thanks for the honor this made me day.

    Peterjon Smith
    Reply to this comment
    by gknee_ February 6, 2009 7:22 PM PST
    Thanks for the mention. There wouldn't BE a list without you. :-)

    PS - ChanBot will be pleased.

    gknee
    Reply to this comment
    by Androne_Original February 6, 2009 7:27 PM PST
    Congratulations to all those on this list. We who have followed in your footsteps salute you. :-D
    Speech, speech, MUG :-)
    Reply to this comment
    by rosscbrown February 6, 2009 8:35 PM PST
    Yay, another list I'm not mentioned in. :P
    Reply to this comment
    by aTales February 7, 2009 1:31 AM PST
    Wow this is Awesome, Technically I got 2 mentions :P, I'm an Alex and a Tales! sweeeet
    Reply to this comment
    by dbrodbeck February 7, 2009 6:13 AM PST
    I feel like using that old Groucho Marx quote, but, well, frankly, I just think this is pretty cool. Love the show etc. I still say Cooley has no empathy.....
    Reply to this comment
    by bolmedias14 February 7, 2009 8:28 AM PST
    Wow, I feel petty honoured (with a 'u') as well. This is actually awesome. Thanks guys.

    btw I'm DanielInHell, bolmedias14 was an earlier nickname I used.
    Reply to this comment
    by hollyhock February 7, 2009 12:07 PM PST
    wow... a great list! Thanks for including me... very humbling indeed. There are so many fantastic people out there in our community that the list could easily grow to HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS! Made me a little sniffly to read it even. Keep up the FANTASTIC work! You guys make my day so much better when we can all hang out together at lunch. :)
    Reply to this comment
    by shmody February 8, 2009 12:13 PM PST
    Thank you sooooo much for this award! awww - what an online family we got here huh? ;) I'd like to thank the judges, MacGyver, my parents, college buddies, and ramen noodles. But most off all, honestly, I'd like to thank the online CNET community.

    To many more years of fun and enrichment! :)

    Best,
    Shalin

    P.S. - Next space shuttle flight is scheduled for late February - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts119/index.html
    P.P.S. - I'm so sorry I've kinda dropped of my contributions, lotsa things going on but I'll continue to make an effort to keep up with this community. ;)
    Reply to this comment
    by kwahhn May 13, 2009 3:44 PM PDT
    I never make the list. :(
    Reply to this comment
    by Xadacka October 4, 2009 12:45 PM PDT
    Awesome :)
    Reply to this comment
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