From the AVClub -
Schur was approached to direct the “Calamity Song” video because he went to school with the brother of the Decemberists’ manager, who remembered his affinity for Infinite Jest. Decemberists' frontman Colin Meloy came up with the video’s concept—which involves teenagers playing the fictional game Eschaton—and got acquainted with Schur by talking about the book for an hour over the phone. Schur, who calls the Decemberists his favorite band, was thrilled to discuss his favorite book with Meloy. “If that’s where it would’ve ended, that would’ve been great for me,” Schur told the A.V. Club. “That’s something I’d bid $10,000 at a charity auction for.”
I feel like I should try to read Infinite Jest whenever I read about Infinite Jest, but I might be able to fend off that urge this time.
Fun fact - Michael Schur is also Ken Tremendous from the awesome, now defunct, website Fire Joe Morgan. I can't help but love the guy for leading the charge on that issue. And he also drops casual reference to Neutral Milk Hotel on Parks & Rec -
Parks & Recreation is the best show on television, btw.
