What if you leak a show for publicity, but it sucks?
Michael Gay July 30th, 2007
So there’s this thing called the Internet, and people have figured out how to put their favorite shows on it. Then, in some board room somewhere, an executive had the great idea of leaking their fall shows to get the people who use them Internets to watch the show and want more of it, like crack or Krispy Kremes. TV Week confirmed for us that the shows are online.
The sarcasm could end here, but it’s just getting good.
That’s because CrunchGear has reviews from people who illegally downloaded and viewed the pilot for “Cavemen“, the sure-to-be-hit ripoff of a commercial.
• “This show is going to fail miserably. I wanted to stop watching 5 minutes in it was so bad.”
• “This wont go past season 1 unless they get better material.”
• “The NAACP is going to be pretty peeved over this show. Its all just recycled black jokes but they replace the “n” word with “caveman”. Actually, its not just the jokes, but the whole premise is that way.”
• “Unfortunate, this show is a piece of crap. I really hope it doesn’t get picked up. If they reshoot the pilot they’ll have to change the entire premise. The “race card” joke got old after the first 2 minutes. After 5 it was just offensive. I’m white myself and normally I don’t care for the PC police… but jeez this is just modern day blackface. And it’s not even remotely funny. Cro magger.. uh huh.”
• “This show sucked. It’s a rasist piece of crap.”
Ouch. I doubt the idea of leaking the pilot seems so good anymore.
I’m going to give the network an easy way out of this mess. When asked if you leaked this pilot tell people, “A pilot based on a commercial? You guys fell for that? Hahaha! You’ve been punked!”
11 Comments Add your own
1. Frank Catalano | July 31st, 2007 at 6:10 am
There is a saying in marketing (which I attribute to Harry Wilker, a former exec at the former software company Broderbund): “Nothing kills a bad product faster than good marketing.” It’s because the word of mouth spreads quickly. This an excellent example.
2. Steve | July 31st, 2007 at 8:14 am
Anyone consider that this was leaked to convince a few die-hard corporate defenders of the show that it’s a failure?
3. Safran | July 31st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
We all knew this was a bad idea the moment we heard the concept. I don’t need to watch the pilot to confirm it.
4. Rob | July 31st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Every year the networks come up with at least one truly horrible concept for a TV series. Last year, ABC’s was was ‘Emily’s reasons why not’ which lasted one episode.
After watching a couple of clips of the cavemen show I don’t even think bringing in Ted McGinley or Chaka from ‘Land of the Lost’ could save this from cancelation after the first episode.
5. News Consumer | July 31st, 2007 at 5:13 pm
This is like some bad throwback to the 70’s or early 80’s when nearly everything on TV sucked. Hello, Three’s Company???
6. Anonymous | August 7th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I liked it, so Foff
7. Death to Sciolism | August 8th, 2007 at 11:28 am
I’ve lost faith in both televison & film alike in the past 10 years with very few exceptions.
Every well-premised, flawlessly casted gem among turds, has been cancelled due to the utter lack of imagination and understanding of intelligent writing.
Also, when there is a limited amount of superficiality, people freak.
WHAT NO A-LISTERS???? OOMMMMGGG
Deal with it and stop trying to knock a show you’ve only watched clips of.
I’m very picky when it comes to the televion programming I allow myself to watch.
I don’t feed into whatever bullshit series every trendy stooge is totally into.
People who turn their back on this well crafted show are simply not open to the idea of IMAGINATION.
I understand the black joke implication & all but it was rather unexpectedly charming.
I enjoyed the original cavemen Geico commercials, thought they have become more stale than month old bread sure.
This show is NOT like anything on television now and i’d love to see it stick around for a few seasons atleast.
I love how people judge things they DON’T like by the PILOT.
You don’t get it, just stop paying any attention to it and find something you DO like.
8. Cavemanspliff | August 22nd, 2007 at 2:27 am
“Me and Tina are getting back together!”
:P
9. Anonymous | August 25th, 2007 at 9:45 am
where can you view it before it premieres?
10. Marc | October 2nd, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Sucks ass - watching it on air right now
:(
11. Anonymous | October 2nd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
just watched the premiere. Man that sucked.
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