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Post by cko on Apr 15, 2009 22:50:28 GMT -5
Here's an interesting idea. Some of us got contacted at Live Journal from a mod for "Save Sarah Connor" about their efforts to save that show. Her idea: to have fans of struggling shows agree to write letters for each others' shows. I'm happy to do it, except I can't totally figure out how it's going to be coordinated. Here's the link for more information; hoping blue or someone else will know how to take it to the next step, if people think this is okay to do? (Of course no-one has to write a letter, but I mean using the lj reaper comms to join in?)They actually have some good ideas over there, as well as this, can anyone confirm if it's true? "DVR numbers are important and right now, they could prove to be an important boost to the show's numbers. Three days. Watch it again. Watch it at Amazon. Buy episodes off of iTunes.
And this one's important for all of you U.S. viewers: Nielsen's does NOT count hulu.com. So if you're going to watch or rewatch online, do it at the official FOX site." |
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Post by cko on Apr 17, 2009 0:37:41 GMT -5
More on that above idea: watching on certain streaming sites. Contradicts the above, somewhat, regarding whether "they" count hulu and the like. So...watch Reaper online! It can't hurt! But it sounds like it has to be one of the "reputable" sites, preferably I guess the CW's.
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 17, 2009 3:47:46 GMT -5
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Post by cko on Apr 17, 2009 21:32:12 GMT -5
I know I seem to be keeping on about this, but these other fandoms seem to have ideas about how to boost the online and download ratings for shows, so here's a link on that topic; interesting. I got a season pass for Reaper on iTunes, and I'm going to ask everyone I know to add Reaper to their Tivo. Does this help? I have no idea. So, I couldn't figure out how to queue Reaper, I think because it actually plays at the CW site, which can't be bad. So I'm just letting it play in the background as I go about my "business." Heh. |
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 17, 2009 22:00:25 GMT -5
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 18, 2009 16:07:51 GMT -5
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Post by cko on Apr 19, 2009 14:26:17 GMT -5
That Press Democrat article links to the ReaperDMV news comm and the Series Finale page, which is cool because we've been working that guy, who is a moderate fan of the show, and that paper is in the Bay Area. He's not too optimistic, but still:
So cool, our efforts are getting noticed, anyway!
Here's what I'm doing, lately, based on my above ignorant musings about on-line viewing:
1) I got a Hulu membership and am accessing Reaper through it. It clicks over to The CW, but anyway. I let the vids run in the background whenever I'm on-line which is, yeah, quite often.
2) I asked my friends and family members with Tivo to add Reaper to their lists.
3) I'm using my on-line groups to get people to help out by signing the petition or voting in a poll. Even non-watchers will do it if you ask the favor; with them though it's better to ask for just one short activity, like the petition, rather than a whole list of ideas. So far I've gotten 5 people to sign the petition! Hey, what. 5 is 5, right. If we each got 5 people, we'd have...anyway.
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 20, 2009 15:13:28 GMT -5
Fairly lukewarm, but I guess at least they came to the party: Zap2It. |
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Post by cko on Apr 20, 2009 23:56:35 GMT -5
Nice support as always from Rachel at about.com, well-balanced and includes the campaign information! I thanked her, maybe others could too. And the NY Post has a story on "Bubble Shows" asking people to post their choices for shows to be saved. Probably gets some traffic, so go post! And another nice piece at Comedy Centric. By nice I mean cautious with the "news" and sounds sad if Reaper is cancelled. |
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Post by cko on Apr 21, 2009 12:49:50 GMT -5
Various people are Twittering about Reaper and posting links to the ReaperDMV news comm, so that's good. Not sure if you can see this if not a Twitterer, which if you're not, good for you. search.twitter.com/search?q=%23reaper |
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 22, 2009 16:36:56 GMT -5
That Press Democrat article links to the ReaperDMV news comm and the Series Finale page, which is cool because we've been working that guy, who is a moderate fan of the show, and that paper is in the Bay Area. He's not too optimistic, but still: So cool, our efforts are getting noticed, anyway! |
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Post by cko on Apr 22, 2009 17:31:03 GMT -5
That above link is so cool, I'm going to quote it here. People, keep it up!
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Post by cko on Apr 23, 2009 1:09:16 GMT -5
Quite lengthy and detailed perspective at Hitfix.com: Making the case for 'Reaper' by Daniel Fienberg: Worth reading. I really like this paragraph, which would be good campaign-recruiting material, actually: "I just wanted to pause and pay a little attention to "Reaper" and note that just because USA Today and The Hollywood Reporter say it's dead doesn't necessarily mean it deserves to be. "Reaper" has put in combat duty this spring, facing down an unbeatable foe with a certain modestly rated valiance. The least The CW can do is give the show its due consideration. Any other "Reaper" fans out there?" |
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 23, 2009 19:43:17 GMT -5
Well, this sucks. www.tvguide.com/News/Subway-Save-Chuck-1005397.aspxA) Wish we had thought of that. B) Wish we could DO something like that, but honestly, how many guys can we get to buy CoverGirl Cosmetics or First Alert Pregnancy Sticks. C) I'm pissed TVGuide is covering them, but no one else. There are several shows out there that have been campaigning hard, Sarah Connors, us, etc. Yet TVGUIDE does Chuck. I don't recall them doing the Socks Campaign last year. |
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Post by loandbehold on Apr 24, 2009 13:18:41 GMT -5
Someone over at TWoP thought up the idea. She mentioned it to one or two of the Chuck sites and from there it got picked up by a number of tv critic/bloggers. I've seen comments from 2 of the stars and the creator of the series. Time magazine's tv critic has said he's going to particpate.
I think one of the reasons this has resonated so well, is that it involves actually purchasing the product of one of the sponsors. Sending in peanuts (Jericho), Mars bars, or socks might have some impact, but doesn't really get to the people who can keep a low-rated show on the air - the advertisers. I couldn't even name one of Reaper's advertisers.
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Post by cko on Apr 24, 2009 21:39:02 GMT -5
So, loandbehold, I take it the pee-on-a-stick pregnancy tests and lo-cal snacks don't register with you?
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Post by Kwyjibo on Apr 24, 2009 23:46:45 GMT -5
That just bothers me too much...   Reaper seriously needs better advertisers... |
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Post by loandbehold on Apr 25, 2009 9:34:21 GMT -5
cko, what people do in the privacy of public restrooms is between them and their God (moderate "Juno" reference).
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 26, 2009 23:14:33 GMT -5
I couldn't even name one of Reaper's advertisers. Okay, this is The Home Stretch: Sponsorship: "Reaper is sponsored in part by AT&T." Commercial Break I: AT&T Fighting (movie) Altoids Smalls Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner Kohl's Lowest Prices of the Season Sale Smallville America's Next Top Model 90210 Commercial Break II: StateFarm (Teen Driver, plus "16 going on 17" music ad) 17 Again (movie) Olive Garden T Mobile Target 90210 Road Trips America's Next Top Model Local (Seinfeld) Local (ITT Tech) Carl's Jr Brand Power Yoplait Yo+Plus Supernatural Commercial Break III: KFC Clean and Clear Morning Burst Verizon Glade Sense and Spray Oreo FunStix 90210 Commercial Break IV: Airwick EyeMotion Fighting (movie - repeat) T Mobile (repeat) Smart Food Popcorn Clusters Nasonex America's Next Top Model Smallville Local (ITT Tech) Qwest High Speed Internet Local (News) Dove Go Fresh: Gossip Girl It Girl Commercial Break V: Verizon Walmart (plus Milkbone) Honda - Insight Red Bull Walmart (plus Friskies) 90210 Credits: "Promotional Consideration Provided By: Toyota" |
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Post by cko on Apr 27, 2009 1:06:09 GMT -5
Whoo, blue, that's doing a hero's job there. Hmm, well there are some things there I could see buying. And lo, much as I hate to bring up your topic, there are a few things on the list that would apply.
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Post by Blue Sunflower on Apr 28, 2009 21:46:59 GMT -5
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Post by cko on Apr 29, 2009 22:05:28 GMT -5
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Post by Kwyjibo on May 1, 2009 3:56:51 GMT -5
Well, we were just chatting a while ago about ways to let The CW know we want Reaper to stay on the air. Blue wanted to print the whole petition (130+ pages) but I remembered that the network is promoting itself as being "green", and it has even used Bret and Tyler for that purpose:
We can find an eco-friendly way to print and mail that petition, and/or we could also let people know that if they support Reaper, they should also support the environment by planting a tree, recycling, saving energy, getting hybrid cars and such. After all, the Devil is also against global warming... hehe.
The campaign could be called "Green Reaper" (a play on "Grim Reaper"), and the slogan could be "Hell might've just frozen over, but we shouldn't let our planet melt!".
I think that by going this way it would get the network's attention more effectively than just by signing petitions and sending them enormous amounts of e-mails and socks... hehe
We could also complete the Demonopoly board game with recycled materials and send it to The CW as well.
So, what do you think?
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Post by bec on May 1, 2009 12:47:27 GMT -5
As much as I like the idea of being green for Reaper, the kind of green that speaks the loudest to TV networks is money. That's why the Subway thing for Chuck is so genius. I brought a Subway sandwich, too - halfway around the world, but we have Subways here.
I think buying anything from the advertisers and sending a copy of the receipt (or the actual receipt if you don't need it anymore) to the network would help. The problem is that we don't have an advertiser like Subway - something clearly recognizable, that was product-placed in the show itself, that just about everyone (anywhere!) can easily buy, but also something that has a lot of competitors. Something that creates a nice rallying point that makes great headlines so people will report about it.
In this season's episodes, Reaper has given me cravings for Vietnamese food, burgers, beer, string cheese, and strawberries. Too bad none of the advertisers sell these things. (Okay, KFC have "chicken burgers", I think? But it's not the same. Oh, and I guess Walmart have some of those things, but that just doesn't link to the show in the most direct way.) Altoids and Red Bull might be good contenders for product placement. I could see buying those things even though I never bought them before. I think they're available around the world, too.
Seriously, Reaper has the potential to be really great for product placement. But all I can think of right now off the top of my head are Prius and Dirt Devil, and you can't buy those things every day, and not everyone could buy them.
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Post by cko on May 1, 2009 19:36:01 GMT -5
More on the idea of switching networks. Who would we write to push this idea? From TV Squad: |
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Post by pacejunkie on May 1, 2009 22:43:56 GMT -5
I agree that Reaper may have a better life on cable but we shouldn't fall into the trap of assuming every low rated show survives there. A great example of a show with potential that was cancelled too soon was The Dresden Files, and it was on Sci-Fi, who you would have thought would have been more patient with it, particularly considering it was based on a successful and still ongoing book series. Anyway, off topic but I just wanted to point that out.
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Post by Blue Sunflower on May 1, 2009 22:45:53 GMT -5
Who would we write to push this idea? I'm thinking this should be our next step, if people are up for it. Off the top of my head: DirecTV SyFy Comedy Central Syndication TNT Spike ABC Family We'll need to get addresses - email and snail mail. If anyone's up for looking, post them here. That's next season's worry. I'm exhausted enough worrying about the here and now. Let's just try and get another season, no matter where it lands.  Which is where I will point out the missed opportunity here - the boys eat fast food, yet the "fast food" places they go to are made up. Isn't Jack-in-the-Box national yet? Not to mention, the show is set in Seattle. Where are the Starbucks product placements? The Workbench has a coffee bar. Damn, I wish we were running this show. |
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Post by evilalex on May 2, 2009 0:19:36 GMT -5
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Post by Kwyjibo on May 2, 2009 1:45:19 GMT -5
The "green" thing was just an idea. Reaper really doesn't have any (good) advertisers, and it's perfect for any kind of product placement. Believe me, if I had the money I'd buy a Toyota Prius, but I'm still a student with greedy parents, and even though I have a job, let's just say Mexico is not known for its excellent salaries...
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Post by cko on May 2, 2009 1:54:59 GMT -5
I'm up for trying this, but i'm having a tough time with the internet tonight, keeps shutting down, so I'll look for those addresses tomorrow, sigh. I am intrigued with the idea of another network, though pace I hear what you're saying, cable is no panacea. But look at something like SyFy (so dumb) -- they don't have much else, and ABC Family, well it's already produced by ABC, right? I'm game to promote this angle.
Oh, and alex, I already said this in Chat, but...hilarious!
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