Celebrities Say ‘No’ To Twitter TV Show; Twitter Comes Clean
After yesterday’s announcement of a Twitter TV show, Twitter have responded on their blog and essentially denied most of the rumours surrounding this story.
There is no official Twitter TV show-although if there were it would be fun to cast! In dealing with networks and production companies we sometimes have simple agreements. Regarding the Reveille and Brillstein project reported today, we have a lightweight, non-exclusive, agreement with the producers which helps them move forward more freely.
Good thing, too, as the general response within the Twitter stream hasn’t been exactly positive. TechCrunch’s Mike Arrington was quick to write an piece entitled, “300 Things I’d Like To See From Twitter Before A TV Show“, and invited readers to submit their own ideas. (Mine can be found here.)
But it’s the celebrity response that’s been the most telling. As reader Rooker reported in the comments in my article, a Twitter account that is in opposition to the alleged show has been established that is already gathering some interest, including that of Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Alyssa Milano.
Couple this with a hashtag that is already in Twitter’s top ten, and you have a lot of concerned and panicking A-listers.
Others, of course, took it in their usual good spirits.
Celebrities threatening to leave a platform that has, in some cases, revitalised their sagging careers is perhaps to be taken with a very hefty pinch. But it’s certainly true that nobody likes the idea of being exploited; at least, not without an agreed sum of money being involved.
It’s not clear whether Twitter had grander plans and later were again forced to step back a little due to an unfavourable response, or whether the reports from Variety et al are another example of old media bodging up a new media story. Still, what remains quite evident is that Twitter’s persistence in operating within a cloud of secrecy and mystery, and only making announcements after the fact, is continuing to hurt them.
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I believe (hope) there might be a misunderstanding causing celeb tweeters to freak out. A TV show where the formula is to stalk unwilling and unwitting participants doesn’t sound like a very smart idea. Especially in California with its stalking laws.
That Variety article even suggested it, with “Better watch out Ashton” or something like that.
My first impression, after hearing about it, was that they would have celebs sign on to do this willingly and then people would have to figure out where they are. None of the articles I’ve read so far go into any real detail, so people are reacting based on practically no information.
I hope that’s all this reaction is – a misunderstanding based on vague reporting. It’s nice to see these TV and movie stars chatting to their fans without the PR/security entourage all over the place, flash bulbs going off and attracting a mob of random people shouting for an autograph. It would be a shame to see them leave Twitter.
Yes, I think they’ve overreacted and clearly misunderstood (as you say, one hopes) any plans that Twitter might have had (or been associated with), and it illustrates again how the vagueness of this kind of reportage in a real-time environment causes many to leap to conclusions, perhaps justifiably.
I concur that reading between the lines it seems fairly obvious this ‘Twitter TV show’ would have utilised willing celebrity participants – although where the chainsaws fit in with that is anybody’s guess.
first off the show sounded stupid from the get go, but after the backlash the founders are backing off. However, they are still talking about expanding the brand in other ways check it out: http://www.newsy.com/videos/twee_vee_twitter_gets_down_to_business