What do you think of this Grindhouse-inspired ad for the Fox TV shows Dollhouse & Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles? Are they fun? Do they misrepresent the shows themselves? Seems very 1970s/Wonder Woman to me.
I thought it was just a cute little advertising trick meant to be a throwaway thing. The Dollhouse scenes and atmosphere kind of lend themselves to that 70s style though if they really wanted to exploit that.
Yeah. Now that I am thinking about it, I think Fox realizes that Joss has such a loyal fan-base that they might be able to turn these shows into successes through them alone, even on a Friday night.
They probably figure that the crazy Firefly crowd will rally around the show regardless of the night/time, and then they will stick around to watch Firefly alum Summer Glau on Terminator.
That's the only explanation for this that makes any sense to me at all.
Agree with the misrepresentation. Seems like a marketing guy wanted to copy something he thought was visually striking and the execs said to run with it.
Why does Whedon continue to do stuff for Fox?
Granted, he had two relatively successful series start there (and some people don't get any), but you'd think that, after Harsh Realm and Firefly, he'd give it up and move over to one of the cable networks.
Oh, definitely misleading. I found it funny, though, that less than two years after Grindhouse itself tanked at the theater, that its' style is getting aped.
But their target audience is far removed from the Grindhouse style unless they are uber movie geeks like Tarantino...it does seem like a fresh advertising approach to the execs at Fox who clearly are only bean counters
I thought it was kind of funny, but I don't think it would bring any additional viewers to the shows as I think the audience already tuning in for one or both shows is the same audience who gets the reference.
... So, after watching the 'House premiere, I can tell you that the monologue/promos with Glau and Dushku were worse than the Grindhouse ads; the dialogue they were given was just that bad.
Fran Kranz is amazing in The Dollhouse. Is anyone here a big fan? I also found him on showbizzle.com - this new website for actors. Characters like THESE show off their stories. haha, it's hilarious at times.
Better than shadow puppets. (maybe)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was just a cute little advertising trick meant to be a throwaway thing. The Dollhouse scenes and atmosphere kind of lend themselves to that 70s style though if they really wanted to exploit that.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I love this. Haven't seen either show...probably won't start now. But I like the style, for sure.
ReplyDeleteWell, I might check out Doll House. But I don't know when. Who's got time?
I think it's a poor ad that misrepresents the shows in some attempt to attract a demographic that will ultimately be uninterested in both shows.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me a little sad because I feel like Fox is getting ready to kill these shows just like they killed Firefly.
I wrote more about it here: http://geekwhisperin.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/fox-gears-up-to-repeat-history/
"It makes me a little sad because I feel like Fox is getting ready to kill these shows just like they killed Firefly. "
ReplyDeleteI agree. If they felt secure about the shows, they wouldn't need to do an ad that clearly misrepresents the material.
Nothing against the Grindhouse riff, but it just smacks of desperation in this specific case.
Yeah. Now that I am thinking about it, I think Fox realizes that Joss has such a loyal fan-base that they might be able to turn these shows into successes through them alone, even on a Friday night.
ReplyDeleteThey probably figure that the crazy Firefly crowd will rally around the show regardless of the night/time, and then they will stick around to watch Firefly alum Summer Glau on Terminator.
That's the only explanation for this that makes any sense to me at all.
Perhaps misrepresentation, but it is a fun ad. Aren't most TV ads misrepresentation, though?
ReplyDeleteAgree with the misrepresentation. Seems like a marketing guy wanted to copy something he thought was visually striking and the execs said to run with it.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Whedon continue to do stuff for Fox?
Granted, he had two relatively successful series start there (and some people don't get any), but you'd think that, after Harsh Realm and Firefly, he'd give it up and move over to one of the cable networks.
Oh, definitely misleading. I found it funny, though, that less than two years after Grindhouse itself tanked at the theater, that its' style is getting aped.
ReplyDeleteThe strange thing about Fox using a Grindhouse-inspired ad attack is that the same approach was a total failure for Grindhouse itself.
ReplyDeleteI feel the ads are disgusting. "Hey! We has two female-driven shows where the females are actually strong characters! Let's sex'em up!"
ReplyDelete(I'm assuming Dushku's character is going to be written strong.)
"Aren't most TV ads misrepresentation, though?"
You mean like with SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the feel-good movie of the year?
(which will get movie of the year)
It's lame. Advertising Sarah Connor with Dollhouse makes sense, but the grindhouse shtick is just random and pointless.
ReplyDeleteBut their target audience is far removed from the Grindhouse style unless they are uber movie geeks like Tarantino...it does seem like a fresh advertising approach to the execs at Fox who clearly are only bean counters
ReplyDeleteI've got it!
ReplyDeleteTo Fox, retro must mean "came out a few years ago and only applies to die-hard fans of two specific genre directors".
I thought it was kind of funny, but I don't think it would bring any additional viewers to the shows as I think the audience already tuning in for one or both shows is the same audience who gets the reference.
ReplyDeleteCalvin,
ReplyDeleteNow the Whedon fans ARE Grindhouse fans, because Joss Whedon fans are tools.
I'm not saying every fan is a tool, just a good chunk of them.
... So, after watching the 'House premiere, I can tell you that the monologue/promos with Glau and Dushku were worse than the Grindhouse ads; the dialogue they were given was just that bad.
ReplyDeleteFran Kranz is amazing in The Dollhouse. Is anyone here a big fan? I also found him on showbizzle.com - this new website for actors. Characters like THESE show off their stories. haha, it's hilarious at times.
ReplyDelete