Any publicity is good publicity, right?
Cory Bergman January 31st, 2007
So what do you think of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force marketing debacle? The show’s ratings and iTunes downloads will certainly increase, especially since it targets a younger, slightly rebellious crowd. But both the governor and the mayor say they’re prepared to take legal action against Turner Broadcasting to recoup some of the costs associated with the bomb scares. And one person has been arrested for planting the devices. Sure, attaching suspicious-looking devices to bridges isn’t the smartest idea to promote a show, but really, are state and local officials going too far because they’re embarrassed they didn’t realize the connection sooner? Why is Boston the only city out of ten that turned it into a terror scare? Comment below…
Earlier: Lost Remote was the first site to link the devices to Adult Swim
8 Comments Add your own
1. Jonathan Marks | January 31st, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Sorry, Aqua Teen get the “Turner Prize” for sheer stupidity. Were the packages marked? Was a terror alert part of the campaign thinking? Was all of this clever? No to all questions.
2. the energizer bunny | January 31st, 2007 at 8:38 pm
and why were duracells the battery of choice?
3. Steve Safran | January 31st, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Before today, how many people heard of ATHF? Now how many do? Before today, how many people knew what a “mooninite” was? Now how many do?
Stupid idea? Yes. Unbelievable over-reaction to it? Yes again. PR success? Most definitely. Like it or not.
4. Joe | January 31st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
At first, I was on the “hang Turner” bandwagon. Now I’m starting to think Boston over-reacted just a little bit to these dangerous “Lite Brites.” It’s not like these things looked like a bunch of red sticks tied together with duct tape and with a clock stuck on them.
5. charley | February 1st, 2007 at 1:23 am
The mysterious boxes were in place for a few weeks before all this started. Whether they were bombs or advertising, the authorities AND the Cartoon Network promotions department failed at their jobs.
6. Alyssa | February 1st, 2007 at 8:49 am
I agree with Charley, all involved failed. No one seemed to notice the things for what they were- marketing objects. ( Part of that might’ve had something to do with the fact that an MIT freshman could’ve come up with a better power supply for them…)
7. the energizer bunny | February 1st, 2007 at 8:57 am
alyssa, speaking of which (mit freshman) i find it hard to believe these were “in place” for nearly 2 weeks.
everyone knows batteries are at half strength in cold weather.
8. David Martin | February 2nd, 2007 at 7:07 am
The response of the Boston police is clearly an anomaly when viewed in the context of all the DMAs involved. This leads me to question whether the Boston “street team” spiked the stunt after days of failing to get attention. My sense is someone went over the line in Boston and somehow got the attention of Boston police in a manner that demanded an immediate or at least a serious and guarded response.
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