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Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a very well organized protest going on in regard to CBS canceling the TV show Jericho. There has been a windfall of coverage with online groups sending emails, letters and thousands of pounds of peanuts to CBS in New York. Well, the power of the people still has some juice as CBS announced last night that the once canceled show has now gotten a second life and will be back on the air next season.
Hooray! One happy Jericho fan posted,
“I will be wearing my ‘Jericho’ shirt all weekend long to events such as the Belmont Stakes so that the whole world (well at least tens of thousands of people) can know about ‘Jericho’ and tune in next season!!!!”
Boy is that special. Let’s take a quick look at history shall we? Back in the day, people banded together to fight for things like civil rights, womens rights and fought against the likes of the Vietnam War, Watergate and corruption. Now we are fighting to get our favorite TV show back on the airwaves. Man, I was so born several decades too late. *Tear* Oh well…
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Well good for them. Yes it is for the cause of a television show, but they were heard which is uncommon these days.
I’ve never seen the show, so I have no opinion on whether it deserved to be salvaged or not. I also understand your point about people using their power to effect change in a relatively unimportant place, but I confess I’m surprised. Given other posts that corporations don’t get it and are not listening to their audience, doesn’t this at least serves as an example of a network and a group of marketers that are listening? That’s got to be a good thing, right? Or at least an encouraging sign?
Jud and Paul,
I hear both of you and you both make good points. I guess it is a good example of people gathering and then letting their voices be heard and then a large company actually doing something about it. So maybe I was a bit pessimistic.
But it is just a TV show… ;0
You are being very pessimistic on this point my friend. I am shocked you didn’t applaud the outcome as small as it may seem!
Well Jud, I guess I would like to see this kind of stuff happen for more important things than a lousy TV show. I think it says a lot about our society that more people vote for American Idol than for the President of the US. But as I said, you are right, it is a good step and hopefully we will see more in the future.
I love the fact that fans sent 8 million peanuts in on this campaign! Brilliant! What a great way to generate interest and press more than just sending money or letters.
http://mattnando.typepad.com/the_digital_perm/2007/06/these_people_ar.html
I was hoping there would be more noise made about the Bingo America show..
N…48….B…24
Cord,
I couldn’t agree more. I am presently in a personal struggle to find a place where we can use our knowledge and skills for greater good while keeping the journey for personal wealth.
In the new attention economy, political action seems so far down on the list. As pissed off as I am at our present political situation, I can’t for the life of me figure out what to do about it. I feel completely helpless.
I do what I can for MoveOn.org, sign petitions and such but it feels so impotent.
It’s almost like Bush overloaded us. There are so many f–ked up things he has done and is doing that we can’t effectively mobilize on a single front to make anything happen.
We are overloaded and over run by senseless ignorance, death and violence.
So instead, we fight the battles we think we can win. Like saving a TV show that helps us escape our countries sad political reality.
Sorry for the bummer comment but you hit that nerve. Don’t the rest of you have that nerve?
Didn’t it get hit?
Or is it numb now?
I think it’s great that the fans rallied together and made some headlines. Is that an actual statistic that more people vote for American Idol? If so, that is depresssing and proves people feel completely alienated from politics for whatever reason.
As to what Adam said above me, it’d be great to see people active about their own communities, perhaps that would ease that feeling of “impotence”.
I’m with you Cord, this is no triumph of the people, the only “voice” this corporation heard was the $$$$ potential. So what if the hypmotized masses get to pick their own opiate, this has nothing to do with corporations being socially responsible.
Sending 8 million peanuts to a major network kind of loses its wacky fun angle when you take into account the millions of people starving to death on this planet.
Timewarp,
Thank you for going there.
Are you saying that it is impossible for people to care about TV and care about the needs of others at the same time? I was sad when my guilty pleasure TV show went off the air does that make me part of the hypnotized masses?
Yes, sorry, but if you “care about TV” then you are already losing the battle for your own mind - it means you care about something that is totally meaningless and fed to you by people that are solely interested in manipulating you for their benefit.
Except the Simpsons of course!
Sorry for the delay in responding to your comments…
Sean - The peanuts were a good idea, but not original, it has been done before.
Adam - You know you can go anywhere you want here, your thoughts are always welcome. More importantly, I totally agree with your comments and I think we should talk about exploring your thoughts further. I think your points absolutely need further discussion.
Jen - I am not saying iot is impossible for people to love a TV show. Everyone has as you say, their guilty pleasures as do I. What I am saying is that I would love to see that kind of passion from people on maybe some more important issues than a TV show. With all the crap that is going on right now in the world, I just think our energy and passions could be better focused on maybe more important issues.
Timewarp - I agree with several of your points. I don’t totally agree with the thought that TV has no redeeming qualities. I think we just need to find a happy medium between couch potatoes and maniacs.
Thanks for all your comments.
Cord,
Thanks for the encouraging words, you sent me on another tirade that got too big for its britches.
Here is the result. http://www.adamschultz.com/2007/06/11/why-will-people-fight-so-hard-for-a-tv-show-but-not-for-injustice/
Timewarp,
Moderation man, balance and moderation.
Cord - I like what you said here ” I think we just need to find a happy medium between couch potatoes and maniacs.”
I definately agree. I also think that we are the problem, unless we ourselves go beyond our strong opinions about what others should be doing, and do it ourselves, we might as well be couch potatoes because talk is nothing without action.
Personally, I am trying to get a city clean up day started grassroots style. I love my city and I hate to see trash littering the highways and parks. Maybe there might be someone else out there who wants to get up and do something. Even something small.
Timewarp - I like that you make exceptions for yourself
Although I’m sure you would judge me if you knew my guilty pleasure…