Firebrand Making Ads The Total Show.
Submitted by penpusher on Tue, 12/11/2007 - 07:08.
The "First 12 Days of Firebrand" is making an impact for certain... thanks in great part to the WGA strike. Ion Television is running a 30 minute show with selected spots as a regular part of their programming, and the website is showing even more, including ads that can't be run on standard US television.
Give it a look and see what you think about the "ad as content" idea. They even list the producers and director of the spots, just like MTV would do with a video, as well as the agency!
Would love to hear what people are thinking about this.
http://www.firebrand.com/
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I don't like firebrand (the website) for lots of reasons that I don't care to list here (I charge for such information) and as a TV-channel or show? I can't see that working, ever.
The fact that the WGA strike is on and people are looking for eye-catching things as an alternative to the reruns of late-night television suggests that this might have more legs than it would otherwise. The site itself may need work but the concept might have been perfectly timed.
First think, THEN ink.
As much as I adore ads, I'm not expecting firebrand to become what MTV used to be.
I agree that no one is going to clamor over commercials the way they did over music videos. Of course, the more recent trend is to make commercials using popular songs; they're kind of turning the spots into videos. It is curious and has to be noted based on the very high profile the site/Ion Network is giving it.
First think, THEN ink.
Didn't think of how the WGA strike might affect things. G-d knows I'm in dire need of desperate housewives closure man WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TORNADO!?? ;P
I heard there will be another DH coming in a couple of weeks... I have no idea whether it'll answer these questions, but at least it'll be something.
First think, THEN ink.
Yes there's a new episode airing in the States on January 6th for all you fans who have to know who survives the tornado.
I heard last night that the Networks want to bring the talk shows back and that companies like Letterman's Worldwide Pants are now negotiating separately. Even so, I can imagine the IA crews crossing the picket lines in any case. I don't think most rank and file crew members are very sympathetic to the writer's "plight." The differential in pay is just too great, and how long are they going to support the WGA?
As I mentioned yesterday, the NY Times is reporting this morning that Leno and Conan will return to the air on January 2nd whether the strike is over or not, and that Worldwide Pants is indeed negotiating separately so that Letterman and Craig Ferguson can return to the air on January 2nd with their writers.
And today's NY Times reports that Jimmy Kimmel will return to the air on January 2nd sans writers.
This is going to be very interesting. I don't know if Letterman is banging out a waiver agreement with the writers to get both his show and Ferguson to have their writing staffs back in place, but that would make a HUGE difference in the quality of their programs, versus the writerless Leno/Conan Kimmel.
I still have no idea how Stewart and Colbert will do their programs, since they rely completely on commentary to do bits. Maybe they're hiring scabs?
First think, THEN ink.
Letterman is negotiating separately for a new contract with the writers, not just a waiver, so yes, it would make a major difference in the quality of his and Ferguson's shows.
I doubt very much that Stewart and Colbert are hiring scabs. I don't think the IA or the DGA would cross the picket line to work with scabs. The DGA has its own contract negotiations coming up now.
Who's behind firebrand? I've seen their shows embedded into adweek articles now.
Perhaps DaniS who seems to know so much about Firebrand or the four users named Firebrand could answer that.
There are plenty of shows where the ads are the main content, this has been done since the eighties at least. Remember "Carrot's commercial breakdown", Jim Davidson's Commercial Breakdown and Jo Brand's Commercial Breakdown? I don't see what Firebrand is doing different. It's a bit like a Shots reel but with a guy doing the talking head bit between the ads. And less expensive (on the web). Have you seen the show called "Ad persuasion"? Does anyone remember ads.com? Same concept.
Update: Firebrand burns out.
I should've known, when they started spamming the comments here it reeked of desperation.