Amanda Congdon, who last week signed a deal to develop a show for HBO, will be video blogging for ABC News, and “turning up occasionally” on Good Morning America and 20/20. You go Amanda…!
With ZeFrank — who’s just as likely to compete in Olympic phone dancing in his living room as to give scathing political commentary — and Ask A Ninja — who’s hilariously odd, and just might be ZeFrank — featured in the NY Times Magazine on Sunday, it’s clear that Internet celebrities are the new mainstream media flavor of the month.
There are huge numbers of extremely talented people online, despite all the space detritus on YouTube et al, and I’m willing to bet that you’ll be seeing more of them on large and small screens soon.
As TV networks swtich to an endless stream of idiotic “reality” (a.k.a. cheap to produce) shows, the Internet is replete with fresh talent, eager for a shot at a wider audience (a.k.a. cheap to produce.) So soon you’ll see online saving offline, if there’s really anything to save at this point.
Congdon will also be doing a weekly video blog on www.amandacongdon.com a la “kind of how I designed RB’s casual Fridays.”
ABC News benefits from the charming Congdon’s hipness factor, and HBO gets another shot at developing a star who’ll appeal to digital natives. And Congdon apparently also is free to pursue her own projects as well. Looks like she had a good lawyer doing her negotiation.
As I said, when Congdon got fired from Rocketboom, “…I’m sure you’ll do great things. The only part I don’t get is why you’d wanna move to LA. Yecch.”
Woops, you are wrong again then, Amanda wasnt fired, she quit
Let’s just say there was a parting of ways.
BL,
I think the question we must ask is: Will internet celebrities change TV and celebrityhood, or will the internet celebrities be changed to be just another clone for the ratings?
We can be pretty cool and outspoken when ratings matter less than content. But when the tables are turned, don’t most of us leave or become just another tuba player in the parade?
The point is that network TV content sucks.
Interesting post. Amanda Congdon provided a blend of personlity, news, interesting topics, and opinion that appealed to a certain segment of Internet users. It will be interesting to see how that appeal translates to a TV audience, and what, if any adjustments she has to make to adjust to this new audience. Kudos to ABC for trying something new.
Network TV content is gonna suck even more; the TV show that was supposed to prominently feature a Masi has now had the clamp put on it by NBC. I’m told it might come back next year…
Anyway, to the point, TV content is pathetic. I rarely watch any TV anymore. I think Lewis said it right though that once in a different arena with different pressures, will the Hollyweird world dominate?
I very much want to believe that the “old” Amanda will win out, but will it? Would Masiguy be the same Masiguy if he was on TV? (The answer is yes, just with better hair and make-up.)
Great point Lewis. But dump that metaphor, okay? My daughter plays tuba in her H.S. band.