Theoretical Focus Group - New Show

[Teenager's]

the problem comes when trying to make a Puppet TV show...that airs at night with possible guest stars...it just gets pigeonholed automatically...

 

[Marky]

the problem comes when trying to make a Puppet TV show...that airs at night with possible guest stars...it just gets pigeonholed automatically...

I get the picture. See, the whole point of this thread was to hopefully gather some feedback which consisted more of shooting down the whole idea from the beginning. Some suggested angles to take on what people would want to watch or find interesting.

I think the other person was right - this is the wrong website to gather feedback from about this type of project. Other puppet people aren't the ones to converse with, I guess. Who'd a thunk it?

 

[JoeyMuppet]

the problem comes when trying to make a Puppet TV show...that airs at night with possible guest stars...it just gets pigeonholed automatically...

I agree, I mean when Jim Henson tried selling or advertising the idea for The Muppet Show to stations like ABC, NBC, and CBS in 1975... The stations wouldn't buy it, they thought the Muppets or even puppets in your case were just for kids. And that adults wouldn't be interested in it. I know it maybe different in your case Marky, but don't give up on the idea. I think it sounds great what planning to do, and if I come up with any ideas... I'll be sure to tell you. O.k.

 

[ravagefrackle]

I get the picture. See, the whole point of this thread was to hopefully gather some feedback which consisted more of shooting down the whole idea from the beginning. Some suggested angles to take on what people would want to watch or find interesting.

I think the other person was right - this is the wrong website to gather feedback from about this type of project. Other puppet people aren't the ones to converse with, I guess. Who'd a thunk it?

I think your taking this a little to personally ,

I just gave an opinion,
I would rather see some one create from thier own vision, to bring thier idea to life, rather than cater thier ideas to the desires of others.The whole focus group thing pretty much has resulted in what i would call the stagnation of broadcast television today.

all the shows, except for a few are pale imations of ideas that were original at one time or another.

the only shows that really take off are the ones with a solid idea that is allowed to develop,

again just my opinion.,

 

[Marky]

I think your taking this a little to personally ,

I just gave an opinion,
I would rather see some one create from thier own vision, to bring thier idea to life, rather than cater thier ideas to the desires of others.The whole focus group thing pretty much has resulted in what i would call the stagnation of broadcast television today.

all the shows, except for a few are pale imations of ideas that were original at one time or another.

the only shows that really take off are the ones with a solid idea that is allowed to develop,

again just my opinion.,

Believe me, I'm not taking it personally at all. no worries. Your entitled to your opinions.

 

[MGov]

The problem isn't the focus group idea (though I hate focus groups too), it's the questions you are asking. The questions are far too general. It seems as if you want to do something but can't come up with an original idea of your own so you are asking others for their ideas.

In the years I worked for producers in Los Angeles, one of the lessons I learned was: A great idea, poorly executed, still has a better chance of selling than a boring idea well executed.

Of course, an original idea, well executed, aimed squarely in the face of high school and college kids, has a great chance to sell.

There you go. I just answered question #3.

Actually, I answered what qustion #3 should have been: What audience SHOULD be targeted?

 

[Buck-Beaver]

I have to agree with the folks suggesting the asking what people want is the wrong way to go about doing a show. I don't think that the whole focus group/asking-the-audience-what-it-wants thing doesn't really work, at least not before you make the show. Testing a pilot or show once it's been created is probably helpful, but I'm not sure starting with the market research is the way to go.

That is sort of what Hollywood and the music industry do and the result is usually really bland, lowest-common-denominator entertainment that only makes money because they throw millions of dollars worth of marketing behind it. That quality products occasionally slip through is a minor miracle.

I don't think audiences know what they want until they see it. I doubt there has been a single smash hit ever developed by asking people what they would like to see. In fact, most really successful things test market very poorly...remember every major network passed on the Muppet Show because research at the time said no adults would watch puppets. Star Wars was supposed to be a B-movie flop. I think few people could have predicted the poker craze a few years ago, or that the iPod would almost single handily save Apple.

Seth Godin has a great book called "Purple Cow" that makes the case for just focusing on making remarkable products (or shows) instead of research and marketing. The idea is that the best stuff sells itself because it's so good that people just have to have it.

 

[Marky]

I get it, I get it!

Wow, look to other puppet fans for a little inspiration and let the negativity and nay-saying floooood right in!

I am not Hollywood, I'm just looking for some personal one-on-one feedback for myself to ponder to reflect on with a unique opportunity. I won't make the same mistake again, and I'll ask this thread be locked.