Comments on: How to Make Things Even Worse (Post Mortem Edition)

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:15:49 +0000

One more post-script... this is just too funny: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/281jwoak.asp

By: Stephen Denny

Stephen Denny — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:40:53 +0000

Not finished yet, apparently: The Cartoon Channel CEO just got the axe. http://www.drudgereport.com/flash.htm

By: Stephen Denny

Stephen Denny — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 20:54:14 +0000

… as a tombstone on this case study, consider this:
Turner is now talking not about how many “hundreds of thousands” they’ll spend to make things right.
The tally is now at $2 million.

By: Dawud Miracle

Dawud Miracle — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:51:04 +0000

Who cares about Aqua Teen Yada Yada. Don’t you think that we’ve gotten way too paranoid with all this terrorism stuff? I know we need to protect our nation and its citizens, but my gosh, how about a little restraint and investigation before we make a cartoon into a national crisis.

By: Stephen Denny

Stephen Denny — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:20:55 +0000

All:
I don’t think Aqua Teen Whatever gained one additional viewer from this. And I’ll bet they lost more than a few potential advertisers. None of this rebounded to their credit, in my opinion.
I’m sure I said this somewhere, but none of this was even remotely interesting to me until I saw the press conference. That’s what set me off.
Kudo’s to Turner CEO for stepping up, though. (He must be a secret reader — just like Rupert!)

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:50:13 +0000

Anne — I know! Wasn’t that attorney interesting? Somewhere between embarrassed and frustrated, and pretending he wasn’t there. The thought bubble above his head should say, “Four years of law school for THIS?!”
Cam, CK, Vahe — Me, too. On all.
I was totally in sympathy for the artist-as-pawn/victim in this corporate game. But I agree with you, V…. they came off as childish and spoiled, with no values.

By: Vahe

Vahe — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:09:04 +0000

Ann, Cam: Yeah, wow.
I was in their corner–until those idiots opened their mouths. Had they shown even the slightest inkling of humility or said something–anything–based on principle (artistic license, creative freedom, constitutionally protected speech… heck, even anarchist ideology), I would still be with them.
They instead proved that they are merely spoiled, entitled children who do not grasp the concept of “consequences.”
Maybe some time in jail would give them perspective.

By: CK

CK — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:00:54 +0000

Cam, Ann & All: Didn’t that video just make you feel they were disrespecting us all? (not just the press). While not a Bostonian, I felt they were personally using their spotlight to mock us…and tank the profession. Remember, a lot of consumers will understand THAT performance = ALL marketers. We’re in a bubble and know the pros from the idiots…let’s remember consumers aren’t in that bubble and now have that piece to view–now and forever.
P.S.: Ann, this made me cringe and I have no affiliation with Turner (ha!)

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 20:45:42 +0000

Ann-
and what about the attorney? how clueless was he?
i was glad to see that turner stepped up with the ad in the boston globe and is having discussions about restitution. i can’t believe that the panic in boston was deliberate, but, deliberate or not, panic ensued and they need to take responsibility.
great article, stephen. love the approach of the note to the cmo here and on your blog.

By: Cam Beck

Cam Beck — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:32:23 +0000

Ann -
Wow.