Loser
Williams Street
Big time. Williams Street for the uninitiated is a converted warehouse in Atlanta that houses some of improvisational humorists and animators that make up Adult Swim of which ATHF is a part. Some of their programming they purchase from independent studios but much of it is created in house. Lately during the bumps (places in between commercials where they comment to their viewers) they have bemoaned not having any idea how to manage anything relating to the upcoming Aqua Teen movie. It’s completely possible that no one there gave a second thought when this insane stunt was proposed. Knowing their shows and liking them as I do it would seem in keeping with their nouveau-slacker attitude.
Too bad guys. This was your “Opie and Anthony” moment. Papa Turner and Mama Time/Warner will be clipping your wings real soon. Just wait until you see all the new approvals you are going to have to get to do anything remotely crazy creative in the future. Your profitability notwithstanding not everyone who works there will be working there at the end of February.
Loser
Some poor schlub at Turner Broadcasting
Around 8A.M. today, somewhere in Atlanta,
“What the hell is going on? I thought I told you to keep a rein on the Williams Street crowd? You told me everything was under control! What have you been doing?”
This will go on for hours if not days.
Winner
Mayor Tom Menino, The BPD, The BFD and all the Emergency Services that sprung into action.
You people have every right to be pissed off over what happened yesterday. We are all fortunate that a real emergency didn’t arrive while Turner Broadcasting was pranking you. But had this been a real emergency you would have acquitted yourselves with flying colors. It took a mere six hours to resolve the issue. That is an outstanding performance considering all the people who fanned out across Boston and Cambridge. Every emergency drill you were part of, every simulation you participated in was time and money well spent. Yesterday was, in a sense, another test. It showed that we, as a city, are prepared. As well, I’m sure it also highlighted places for improvement that I’m confidant will be addressed. What the Mayor spearheaded and the employees of the City carried out are just more reasons I’m proud to be Bostonian.
Loser
Emily Rooney
How could Emily blow it? She’d assembled quotes from the Governor’s office and had a relaxed but angry Tom Menino in studio providing a definitive analysis of the day’s events. Yesterdays one broadcast shows just how valuable “Greater Boston” is to the area.
Yet blow it she did. I paraphrase but during the Menino conversation she said something like:
Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I?I don’t even know what that is!
In itself not very derisive but what came across was:
Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (*snort*) I?I (*sigh*) don’t even know what that is!
Thank you Emily. As a loyal viewer I do so like being dismissively referred to. Oh how I hate that snort but this isn’t the first time we’ve heard it. She showed the same dismissive condescending attitude a few weeks back with the John Carroll Beat the Press blog misquote flap. There was the same eye rolling, the same shoulder shrug and always that snort as if to say how dare we plebeians show interest in something she dismisses out of hand as trite. And blogging as well as the people who do it are, to Emily, trite.
At the end of the blog flap, during Beat the Press, there seemed to be a consensus that some effort should be made to include the on-line community. It would be ideal for such a program it being devoted to examination of Boston media. Nothing was done of course. She had no intention of raising any mere blogger to her exalted position. Many thanks Emily; I’ll be sure to remember that snort next time I get a call from the WGBH pledge drive.
Winner
Bostonians
There was no panic in the street; no frantic families rushing to schools to get their children. There were traffic jams for sure and even a temporary shutdown of mass transit. The people of Boston just took in stride. They stayed in touch and kept a watchful eye as events unfolded. Cell phone usage was up as was viewership on the three local stations. Boston.com was slow as a mud-turtle from all the added traffic. A few bloggers caught on to the gag early but even by then it way too late to stop the City’s reaction. For Bostonians it was just another potentially life threatening emergency that had to be dealt with. Maybe it has something to do with us not having a blizzard yet this year. We crave adversity so that our better sides may come out. Anyway, good for all of us.
Winner
Interference Inc. and executive officer, Sam Travis Ewen.
The originators of the promotion. Be heartless for a moment: this campaign worked far better than ever expected. Never forget the prime dictate of any publicity: so long as they spell your name right there is no such thing as bad press. Generate some quickie boilerplate apology and add this one to the portfolio.
Losers
Peter Berdovsky Sean Stevens
Because someone has to take the fall for this and you two are it. And none of that “we were only following Interference Inc. orders” crap. Lacking creative ethics or money or both does not excuse some poseur artist and his idiot buddy from wreaking havoc. A sticker, affixed to each Lite-Brite stating that it is an ad along with a telephone number or web address for more information would have prevented most of what happened. Keep laughing chuckleheads you’re going to need a good lawyer to keep your butts out of Walpole.
Winner
Ignignokt and Err
Because they are the Mooninites and they are perfect in every way. So shall it be. Now and forever.
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