Back in 1999, TNT aired Pirates of Silicon Valley, a TV movie that told the story of the technology race between Apple and Microsoft through the years, with a focus on Bill Gates and Steve Jobs’ involvement in pioneering the computer age, which would lead to them changing the world with their technological contributions. In the wake of Steve Jobs’ death, TNT is set to re-air the movie tonight.
Adapted from a book by Paul Frieberger and Michael Swaine, Pirates of Silicon Valley stars Noah Wyle, playing Steve Jobs, and Anthony Michael Hall as Bill Gates, with Joey Slotnick playing Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak. While Wyle is now known for his role on TNT’s Falling Skies, back then, most of us associated him with his role as Carter on ER. Meanwhile, Hall was better known for being a member of the Brat Pack when he took on the part of Microsoft mastermind Bill Gates.
Pirates of Silicon Valley went on to win five Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Made for TV Movie. For those of you looking for a way to honor Jobs’ memory, re-watching the film might be the way to do it. The movie will air tonight on TNT at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and then again at 10:00 p.m.
Update:
Noah Wyle made the following statement regarding Jobs' death and portraying him in The Pirates of Silicon Valley:
"My condolences and thoughts are with his family who will certainly miss him most as a husband and father. Portraying him in "Pirates of Silicon Valley" was as challenging and as fulfilling of a role as I will have in my career. I had the honor of meeting him shortly after the movie aired and was struck by his sincerity and self-deprecating sense of humor.We have lost a visionary whose innovations will continue to impact our society forever."
