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Second Chance For A TV Pilot — And That’s Where The Internet Comes In

by Rachel Sklar | 9:45 am, December 21st, 2009

» 2 comments

Ronna & Bev Interview Will Arnett:

This interview is interesting because of the news it elicited — it’s from the spring of 2008, in the heat of the presidential primary season, and Arnett revealed that he was supporting Hillary Clinton (who his wife was currently playing on SNL). In addition to the confused reaction from the audience (New York UCB hipster audience = Yes We Can), the interview as conducted by Ronna & Beverly, in character, was interesting politically (Beverly’s sing-song declaration that she “wants Bill back Bill back Bill back” was spot on). Chaffin & Denbo were obviously politically savvy and involved, and actually made it on to PC World’s list of Top Ten Viral Videos from Election ’08.

Ronna & Bev Interview Rachel Dratch:

Less political, but fans of Dratch will enjoy.

Ronna & Bev Interview Eli Roth:

Included in full on our 5QQ with Roth, this is just a really fun interview, expertly conducted by Chaffin & Denbo with their trademark combo of dry commentary and effusive blurts, respectively.

Ronna & Bev Support Baruch Obama:

Ronna & Bev’s contribution to The Great Schlep.

Cover for Ronna & Beverly’s You’ll Do A Little Better Next Time. If this were a real book, I predict it really would be a best seller. Honestly, I’d buy it.

you'll do a little better

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justins

I enjoyed reading this article- right up until the part that said, “(I bet Feig wishes there had been an Internet back in the time of Freaks & Geeks.)” Oy!

Paul was in fact pretty ahead-of-the-curve when it came to cultivating Internet-based fans. He and Judd Apatow- along with several cast members and writers of “Freaks and Geeks”- interacted directly with their show-loving fans via the now defunct http://www.freaksandgeeks.com website. They were way ahead of the curve- doing this in 1999.

Fans were encouraged to contribute ideas to the writers- who in turn would frequently incorporate fan suggestions into the show itself. When the show was pulled from NBC’s lineup- Internet fans contributed funds to buy ads in Variety (“Operation Haverchuck”, we called it) hoping to get another network to pick-up-the-show. In the end, it wasn’t enough to save the show. But it wasn’t for lack of trying, nor was it for lack of sophistication when it came to Internet-based fan cultivation. It was just a hard sell when networks could throw cheap-to-produce “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” type crap on tv and not deal with all the hassle of an hour-long drama. In the end, it didn’t work.

Paul’s early and continued embrace of the Internet as an outlet for reaching out to fans is in fact why he has so large a following via Twitter. But it didn’t start last year- it started a decade ago- with freaksandgeeks.com!
Relic

Another SNL skit like laugh button masher. Sorry, no thanks.