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Willy

pet dog · in 103 videos (2008–2026)

Willy, full name Fireball Wilson Roberts after James Crumley's The Last Good Kiss, is the puppy John and the Yeti got in 2008. Viewers often ask to see him, and John blames him for his campylobacter. In 2017 he had a slow-growing cancer; in 2018 John eulogized him as probably near the end of his life.

Videos by year: 2008: 29 · 2009: 33 · 2010: 12 · 2011: 13 · 2012: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2026: 1

Also known as: Willy the Westie, Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts

Threads

Also named in the threads: John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti' (2007) · 'In your pants' suffix game (2007) · John's 'the puff' stress habit (2007) · Question Tuesday: weekly Tuesday question days for nerdfighters (2007) · John asks whether he and Sarah should get a puppy and what to name it (2007) · John: a video every day for a week, as punishment for his week and a half without videos (2008) · John asks Nerdfighters what he can do for them (2008) · John: stand on a table for a $5,000 charity donation from Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier (2008) · John asks for Paper Towns questions for the Blurbing Book Club wrap-up (2008) · John: two videos answering questions about Paper Towns for the Blurbing Book Club (2008) · Brotherhood 2.0.0.9: the vlogbrothers' 2009 schedule and rules (2009) · John's Chewbacca for President 2012 bit, with Han Solo as running mate (2009) · 'French the llama': John's misreading of FTL as an exclamation of amazement (2009) · John's week in Europe for events in Amsterdam and Vienna (November 2010) · John decorates the blank blue wall behind him with objects from vlogbrothers history (2015)

Often together

What comes up in the same parts of the videos; the number is how many parts.

Sarah Urist Green (18) · Paper Towns (12) · Question Tuesday (7) · Peeps (4) · Tour de Nerdfighting (3) · Amsterdam (3) · Canada (3) · DFTBA (3) · Nerdfighter Ning (2) · made of awesome (2)

What the videos say

The most important statements of each year; all statements.

2008

  • 2008-01-08 · The Return of Question Tuesdays — John: Asked whether he'd rather have an elephant-sized puppy or a puppy-sized elephant, John picks the puppy-sized elephant and writes a letter asking Evolution to make him one. (joke) — 00:00:00
  • 2008-05-16 · Hank's Punishment (ugh...I don't believe uploading this...) — ask: Hank invites viewers to wish Katherine a happy birthday in their own way, ideally in YouTube videos, sent to her YouTube channel or by email. — 00:02:53
  • 2008-05-18 · A CUTETACULAR INTRODUCTION! — John: The real reason for the absence: John and the Yeti have made an extraordinary, unbelievably time-consuming acquisition, a puppy. — 00:00:46
    • They call him Willy; his full name, Fireball Wilson Roberts, refers to the first sentence of James Crumley's novel The Last Good Kiss, which John reads aloud. — 00:01:14
    • John's message to Nerdfighters considering a puppy: it is so hard; Willy needs constant attention. — 00:01:45
  • 2008-05-22 · Adorable Puppy Injury!!!! — Hank explains John spent most of the day at the dog hospital: Willy is okay but has a broken foot, which is why John is excused. — 00:01:19
  • 2008-06-26 · Don't Suck on That Bone — John frames the video as doing ten things the Nerdfighters asked of him; the first two were to see more of Willy and more of the Yeti (Sarah). — 00:00:00
  • 2008-07-13 · Willy's Elusive Head Turn — John says the skill they most want Willy to master is turning his head to the side, which he does whenever he hears sounds he's never heard before. — 00:00:44
    • John asks anyone who wants to make a video response with a sound they think Willy has never heard before. — 00:02:13
  • 2008-08-20 · Scavenger Hunting — announcement: The description announces that the scavenger-hunt clue has been found and links to a Nerdfighter Ning forum thread for discussion. — video description
  • 2008-11-19 · Sharing Presents in Westport — John misses his dog Willy while on the road; they received a Christmas ornament for Willy and a nerdfighting-puppy toy. — 00:02:43
  • 2008-12-08 (said on 2008-12-07, implied) · I Am Afraid of Heights — John: Narrating as Willy, John says that at an author party Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier teased him about his fear of heights and asked what it would cost him to stand on a hotel-room table. (playful) — 00:00:24
  • …and 40 statements more in 2008 — all statements of 2008

Also named in: A Video about Videos, The Pwning of Oprah, Skoodilypooping

2009

  • 2009-01-04 · Israel. Gaza. PUPPY! — John: Because the Israeli army invaded the Gaza Strip last night, John feels he has to discuss it on Newsday although it makes him miserable, and shows puppy footage to counter that. (hedged) — 00:00:02
  • 2009-02-08 · All Aboard the Fail Boat — John introduces the Fail Boat, the puppy-captained vessel Nerdfighters use to travel Nerdfighteria and to sail the world learning about places experiencing world suck. (playful) — 00:00:06
  • 2009-02-21 (said on 2009-02-14, implied) · Paper Towns and PUPPY — John: In a bonus video, helped by Willy and pre-recorded questions from 'past John', John answers Paper Towns questions he didn't get to in his last video. — 00:00:00
  • 2009-06-07 · I Will Call Him Louis: Australia Rocks! — John: At the Melbourne Nerdfighter gatherings Debbie warmed up the crowd with the Happy Dance song, and Natalie and Calvin sang about puppy-sized elephants. — 00:02:32
  • 2009-06-30 · Nerdfighter MARRIAGE PROPOSAL — John congratulates the couple, thanks them for being made of awesome and part of the community, and closes the call with 'best wishes'. — 00:02:49
  • 2009-07-19 · Harry Potter Nerds Win at Life — John says that when he played 20Q thinking of puppy-sized elephants, a creature 'in pre-existence', it guessed unicorns. (joke) — 00:02:08
  • 2009-08-11 · The Island of Nerdfighteria? — announcement: John says he and Willy will give $1,000 to the charity of Nerdfighteria's choice. — 00:02:28
    • John asks Nerdfighters to leave a comment naming the charity they want him and Willy to give money to. — 00:02:28
  • 2009-09-30 (said on 2009-10-01, implied) · 13 SEVERED HANDS! (1) — Hank says watching John's video from a couple of weeks ago, where Willy chewed the arm off Chewbacca, reminded him that he used to be a connoisseur of Star Wars hand removal. (playful) — 00:00:01
  • 2009-09-30 · 13 SEVERED HANDS! (2) — Hank: Watching John's video from a couple of weeks ago, in which Willy chewed the arm off Chewbacca, reminded Hank that he used to be a connoisseur of Star Wars hand removal. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2009-10-11 · Puppy Elephant Defends Capitalism — John says that when he gets cranky, he puts Willy in his tiny elephant costume. (playful) — 00:00:16
  • 2009-12-27 · How To Be a Nerdfighter: A Vlogbrothers FAQ — John says they asked natural selection for puppy-sized elephants, adorable enough to have an evolutionary advantage, and are waiting. (playful) — 00:01:41
  • …and 12 statements more in 2009 — all statements of 2009

Also named in: Giraffe Love and Other Questions ANSWERED, SOMALI PIRATES! France Penetrates Chad!, Free Will Fetish, John Loves Amsterdam, Tiny Chickens Cause Epic Fail, Question Tuesday, Peanut Butter Face Discusses Sri Lanka, Question Tuesday!, HAPPY JOHN DAY!!!, 100 QUESTIONS ANSWERED!!!!!!!, Paper Towns in Paperback: A How-to Guide, Paper Towns Winners and Ningmasters, In Which A Secret Is Revealed, Amazing Christmas Facts With John and Hank, Adorable Puppy Explains Health Care Bill

2010

  • 2010-01-18 · Fatherhood — John: When anxious, John reminds himself he is not the first organism to face parenthood and many were less qualified, such as Willy, who is adorable but 'an idiot' and not qualified to be a dad. (playful) — 00:01:48
  • 2010-11-19 · I'm Not Going Down: Thoughts from Amsterdam — John recounts his departure: up around 5:30, Willy senses he is leaving, he is driven to the airport, and he flies to Atlanta. — 00:00:00
  • 2010-12-29 · Baby on the Road: Thoughts from Places — John woke in the Yeti's childhood bedroom, found Henry removing trash from a trash can, and the family had to drive from Birmingham back to Indianapolis. — 00:00:00
    • John says he used to get distracted by roadside attractions, but this trip was all about speed: leftover barbecue for breakfast and no stop until lunch. — 00:00:45
    • Driving north with the whole family, John says the road delivered them to the one place his youthful trips west never could: home. — 00:02:36
  • …and 3 statements more in 2010 — all statements of 2010

Also named in: OMG MY BROTHER HAD A BABY, Cute OVERLOAD: The Ultimate Concern Edition, The Patron Saint of Youtube, I Love Hank: Esther Day 2010, The Fox Hat IS REAL, but Are Zombies People?, MY FRIEND CHESTER, 8 Things I Love

2011

  • 2011-01-07 · CONCUSSED Question Friday — John would name his puppy-sized elephant Lewis, and they would be best friends. (playful) — 00:01:08
  • 2011-02-09 · NERDFIGHTERS UNITE! (in your pants) — John piles up old in-jokes: pizza in the mustache, the singamajig, his puppy-sized elephant, the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts and French the Llama, Tender Morsels in your pants. (playful) — 00:00:18
  • 2011-03-23 · Why Does My Dog Eat Poop? — John says that a couple of years ago his doctor told him he had a parasite called campylobacter, which you get from eating feces; told most people get it from being licked by their dogs, he blames Willy. — 00:01:01
  • 2011-04-29 · Peanut Butter Face Question Tuesday — John: Willy is not in Amsterdam; he is staying with the Yeti's aunt and uncle, whom John says Willy likes far better than him. — 00:02:46
    • John gives Willy's full name as, technically, Wilson Bubbles the Nerdfighting Puppy Roberts. (playful) — 00:03:00
  • 2011-09-16 · Narrowly Avoiding Arrest: Some Airport Insanity — John hopes he is not suffering from 'signing madness', a disease he says he made up. (playful, hedged) — 00:01:55
  • 2011-10-19 · Question Wed — THE COVER OF THE FAULT IN OUR STARS! — John says one of the symptoms of 'signing madness' is terrible fashion sense. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2011-10-21 · Signing Psychosis, BlizzCon, TFiOS, Awesome Adventures, and URLatron — Hank diagnoses John with 'signing psychosis', a disease that makes him dress poorly, and dresses poorly himself in commiseration (a 'Weekend at Bernie's' look). (playful) — 00:00:00
    • Hank asks all of Nerdfighteria to dress poorly in commiseration with John and post photos tagged 'signing psychosis', preferably on Tumblr or Twitter, so they can laugh at them. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • 2011-10-24 · Signing Psychosis Takes Over — John, in the grip of 'signing psychosis', wears a suit made of signatures he cannot remember the reason for and asks viewers to ignore his crazy eyes. (playful) — 00:00:00
    • John thanks everyone for joining in Signing Psychosis: Nerdfighteria's fashion sense is getting worse along with his, which makes him feel better. (playful) — 00:00:09
  • 2011-10-26 · 7,000,000,000 People — Hank admits it is a little silly to discuss the pressing issue of global population while suffering from 'contact-signing psychosis'. (playful) — 00:00:00
  • …and 2 statements more in 2011 — all statements of 2011

Also named in: Revolution in Egypt: A 4-Minute Introduction, Puppies and The Tour de Nerdfighting 2012

2012

Also named in: Changes to Vlogbrothers

2013

Also named in: Addicted to the Internet

2014

Also named in: Warm Things for Cold Times

2015

2016

2017

2018

  • 2018-02-27 · Ode to a Dog — John says their dog Willy is probably near the end of his life, and he wants to eulogize him before he dies. (hedged) — 00:00:01
    • Fireball Wilson Roberts Green came home in 2008, named for the alcoholic bulldog in James Crumley's novel The Last Good Kiss; they call him Willy because, as the vet put it, he's 'Willy Willy cute'. — 00:00:07
    • John expected a cuddly puppy, but Willy does not cuddle (or didn't until recent months): he is very strong-willed, wants no pity or baby talk, and wants food, especially bacon and peanut butter. — 00:00:20
    • Worried that Willy, not a 'sweet' dog, would resent new children, the family found him always extraordinarily gentle and patient with the kids, even as babies. — 00:00:59
    • The children are fiercely loyal to Willy: when Sarah or John say they are a family of four, the kids shout back that it is five, counting Willy. — 00:01:26
    • John says the kids are right: Willy is only a dog, but he is their dog, and they are a family of five for a little while longer. — 00:01:39
    • John talked about Willy a lot online at first, but as he came to value the privateness of his private life, Willy became less of a fixture of his online life. — 00:01:47
    • Willy has been a constant amid big family changes; though his barking has ruined many Vlogbrothers takes, his companionship has been a profound gift, especially in hard times. — 00:01:57
    • In that spiral you feel very alone: people can love and listen but cannot share the feeling because they know it is irrational; Willy doesn't know, and only knows John is scared. — 00:02:43
    • Wary of anthropomorphizing Willy, John believes after ten years together that Willy knows when he is worried and gravitates to him, lying at his feet or inviting play. (hedged) — 00:03:01
    • John says Willy takes him seriously in a way no human can, and he is grateful for that. — 00:03:17
    • Willy is harder to care for, with weeks of interrupted sleep; as the cancer advances he becomes the quiet, cuddly dog John once wanted, and John is grateful for the dog he is and was. — 00:03:21
  • …and 3 statements more in 2018 — all statements of 2018

2023

  • 2023-12-12 · POTATO! — John says the parents wanted a regal name like the Dread Pirate Fireball Wilson Roberts, but the kids insisted on Potato and won. (playful) — 00:00:36

2026

  • 2026-02-15 · Project for Awesome 2026 part 5! — John's first dog, Willy, Fireball Wilson Roberts Green, came from Kokomo: a couple in the armed forces who were both deployed needed a good home for him; John misses him, though Willy was not actually a great dog. — 02:43:13
    • John says Willy was not cuddly but oversaw the family; Potato is not that cuddly either but wants to be near you, and John loves both dogs equally and immensely. — 02:44:47