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Blaze
03-05-2003, 01:59 AM
Well I saw some comments in other threads about this and decided it'd be better to post something here rather than in the wrong thread.

First of all some concern was raised over the comic book mail in campaign. WB might not open the comics? First of all, mail has to be delivered. There's not any real way to sort them out other than size and even then there is the chance that they have to open them to ensure that they aren't missing something important. The only problem is if anything is going to a fan mail address it will probably be easier to get rid of it rather than sending it to a legitamate address that mixes it with daily mail.

One of the biggest mail in campaigns in the history of TV was for Star Trek. Star Trek is a prime example of what fans can do for a show.

When they first canceled Star Trek fans all over the place mailed in letters, cards and complaints that it was being canceled. This bought the show another season. The accounts I've read in many of the Trek books about the history of Trek says that they had so many letters staff had to be added on just to process the mail and get the non-fan mail out.

Once the show was gone, people still kept Trek alive. Through books, fan clubs, and other means. This went on for years until Paramount realized that there was money in this. Next, came the movies. Granted some were good and some have been okay, however, the key is they were Trek and the fans love Trek. Some liked the first movie, some didn't but still supported it.

From a series of movies, clubs, groups, and books, they launched Star Trek Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, Enterprise. All of which I personally think have had weak first seasons and the only think that kept them going was the fans.

Since the first write in campaign for Trek, write in campaigns have gone on in areas to TV stations to get the show back on locally when stations dropped it.

With the dawning of VHS and DVD, these shows grow even more.

Since then we've seen campaigns for different shows and one mentioned most on WB is Roswell. It got them more time.

If you really want the mail campaign to work, you need to send as much as you can preferrably in the same week so they get it all at the same time. The idea is to get their attention.

I think that if you really want to get WB's attention or another network, you'll need to appeal to their sense of money. If fan groups can get together to put up a billboard across from WB, the network you're hoping will take it over, or somewhere there is a lot of traffic it'd get their attention in a heartbeat, plus the attention of the news and media. After all, it sounds a bit insane for people to pay to put up a bill board for a show that's been cancelled doesn't it? If you want to get their attention, that has to be a good way. More than one strategic billboard will definately get their attention. Full page adds. Something that will get the attention of the news media.

Also when pushing for the DVD's, let's go for it all. The unaired plot and deleted scenes and what not. Personally, I'd buy 2 just so I had a back up.

At least that's my 2 cents worth on the subjects.

UltimoPegasus
03-05-2003, 04:18 AM
Hear that people, if the Trekkies can save their show, we can save BOP, we just gotta do everything in our power.

BopRockMyWorld
03-05-2003, 06:58 AM
today i'm sending 3 mail's. and this week i'ma be sending more too.plus also calling

DrayvensCrow
03-05-2003, 08:37 AM
2 cents, Blaze? More like 25.....lol. But good points, unfortunately, ST:TOS also had merchandising out the wazoo! Da Dub-bya-be didn't see fit to have any except for their Street Team. Ask SGH, she knows! I mean, if they can put out high dollar collectibles for BATMAN & ROBIN, they could have made an effort for us!?

SevenSlave
03-05-2003, 08:41 AM
"Smallville" has action figures out. o.o

Blaze
03-05-2003, 09:50 AM
Sorry I guess it was a bit long. I tend to be long winded when I try to make a point. I tend to go around the block to cross the street when I write something.

Yeah, Trek had the merchandising but there was a time when there wasn't much of it. A few comics, a few books and a few action figures. Not like the market now. I used to collect this stuff. I actually have one of the original board games. Role-playing games also kept this alive. Most of it was the fans or fan generated merchandising. It wasn't until after the movies that they really got behind it.

When someone somewhere realized that fans were paying a small fortune for precious Trek memorabilia there became a market.

As far as collectibles goes WB doesn't have to be the one to put it out. Look at eBay. It started out as a place for Pez collectors and look at it now.

Right now if you put in Birds of Prey on their search engine you get the listing of bird of prey books (the animals). Plus comics, action figures, Cast photos, and a few things we are aware of that seem to keep getting pulled before they are sold because of certain laws. If you've been there you know what I'm talking about. Granted some of the stuff is based on the comics, but still it shows there was an interest. It all has to start somewhere.

DrayvensCrow
03-06-2003, 02:29 AM
True enough, Blaze....ST:TOS also had a few more seasons under their belts. I'm not trying to be a downer, but we have a bigger hill to climb than ST:TOS fans did. If BOP had been a 'free' network show, we would stand a better chance of getting it back(those guys give in to pressure much easier). If The Flash (CBS)would have had this kind of support when it was cancelled, it might still be on the air....

Blaze
03-06-2003, 03:48 PM
You're probably right.

The other huge catch is that most of the fans want to see the original cast. Granted some could return, but what if they decide to do it, fix some of the stuff but have to use different actresses/actors? It's just something folks need to keep in mind.

SevenSlave
03-06-2003, 04:13 PM
Worst comes to worst, we can always shoot for a movie (We're also campaigning for a DVD release of the show :) ).

When the show comes back, I'd like to see Reese scaled back to a recurring role (IMO, there's been too much Huntress/Reese and not enough Oracle or Dinah :mad: ).

As long as we can, why not go all the way?