3D and the press

[P3D <PTWW@xxxxxxx>]

One of the teasers on our local paper's Sunday TV insert reads:  The
networks hope for breakout ratings with classics, gimmicks and made-
for-TV movies."  Inside, the "Top Story" carries the headline: "A new
dimension for May sweeps" and the subhead: "Networks go all-out with 3-D,
other gimmicks to win end-of-season ratings war."

The first paragraph of the article, penned by Brian Lowry of the LA Times:

    In a sign of how tough times are in the television business,
    networks have become so desperate to hook viewers that they're
    trying to reach out of the screen to grab them--or at least it
    will seem that way with ABC and NBC both using 3-D gimmickry
    during the crucial "May sweeps."

Additional 3-D desriptives provided by Lowry:  "3-D promotion," "3-D
hoopla," "3-D stunts."  Wow, he actually managed to slip one neutral
adjective in among all the negative ones.

A few quotes included in the article:  "We're hoping even if people
don't have the glasses they'll be curious to see what it looks like."
That one from Alan Cohen, ABC's executive VP of marketing.

"My goal is it looks so good you won't even care if you have the glasses,"
spoken by director Phil Joanou who continues: "I always looked at the
glasses as icing on the cake....We're not doing spears coming at the
lens."

Paul Talbot


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