Maybe you agree with this guy, maybe you don't...

[CommanderTaggart]

If you don't, why not write him and tell him so? I did.

leegoldbrg@aol.com

http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2004/09/clueless_morons.html

Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Clueless Morons

Yesterday in Variety, a bunch of clueless morons calling themselves The Colonial Fan Force ran a full-page, color advertisement clamoring for a "Battlestar Galactica" movie starring the original cast.

Millions of fans still dream of seeing the Battlestar Galactica roam the heavens once more in a big screen continuations of the epic story that began in 1978 with the original cast and characters leading a new generation of warriors

Yeah, right... there are millions, no TENS of millions, of fans clamoring for the return of Herb Jefferson, Laurette Sprang, Dirk Benedict, and Richard Hatch (who is not nearly as powerful an actor as the nude guy of the same name on "Survivor"... nor as successful). I suspect the real audience is about 100 fat guys in their 40s, who at this very moment are busily duping all their Heather Thomas videos onto DVD...
Galacticaad
That said, I am always amused by the losers who spend their comic book money on pointless ads like this (or, worse, the ones who publish a synopsis of, or excerpt from, their unsold screenplays). The advertising guys at Variety and the Hollywood Reporter must laugh themselves silly with glee every time one of these suckers comes in.

In the case of the "Battlestar Galactica," the folks at "The Colonial Fan Force" urge the readers of Variety (most of whom are entertainment industry professionals) to write writer/producer Glen A. Larson and Tom DeSanto, a guy who once tried to launch a movie version of the TV show. This shows just how little the people who paid for this ad understand about how the business works...and even sillier when you consider the SciFi Channel is already in the midst of shooting a new "Battlestar Galactica" TV series from NBC/Universal Studios with an all-new cast led by Edward James Olmos.

I suppose we have Gene Roddenberry to blame for this, ever since he cleverly engineered the so-called "viewer campaign" to save "Star Trek" from cancellation. So now we get ads demanding the return of dull supporting characters axed from TV shows (the "Save Marina" campaign on "The L Word" comes to mind) and from the millions of fans still crying over the demise of "Manimal." I'm looking forward to the "Bring Gloria Reuben back to MISSING" ads... maybe the Colonial Fan Force can take up the cause.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't joke. This "Battlestar Galactica" stuff is serious business, as is clear from the Colonial Fan Force website:

We've got to buckle down, and get to work. It's going to be up to each member of fandom to make sure our efforts come to fruition. The CFF and its leadership will remain active in coordinating fan efforts as much as possible, but everyone reading this page has got to accept individual responsibility for making sure that we, as a group, rise together and speak with one voice. None of us can afford to think that "someone else will do it." We've all got to find some time (and some stamps), and make it happen. We've got to make some collective noise.

This would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Think of all the truly worthy causes that could benefit from the same time, effort and money these morons are devoting with such earnestness to this idiotic pursuit...

[thomas7g]

I think most people assume that the new show is the entire ballgame. That any hope of a revival went out the window with the new series. And that any attempt by fans is pathetic and hopeless and fanatical.

That sadly is the average Joe's opinion.

Though there is a core group, we few but hardcore that will continue.

I don't think we should bother this guy. We should leave him alone. Any attempt will only convince him he is definitely right, that we are fanatics and losers. Its like tryong to out argue Shawn Hannity on Fox that democrats are smarter.


That guy above has some definite holes in his logic born out ignorance of some facts. But his opinion is the same opinion the majority of the world has. That sadly is a grim fact.

:(



And frankly, this guy don't matter. Has anyone ever heard about this guy before? Would we even care about him if not for this one article he wrote? Course not. He's just another schmuck like the rest of us webmasters. He doesn't matter.


:colonial:
We have a good chance at a movie starting up in maybe 2008 or so. But right now I can't see a way to convince people without Larson or DeSanto doing an announcement.

["T"]

What happens in 2008?

Dont you think thats going to be a little silly if the New Series hits good reviews / Ratings?

Why bring another BSG on to the stage if teh new one picks the torch up and carries on the saga of the Colonials if a little differently to what happened in 1978?

-"T"-

[kingfish]

If you want my honest opinion:









I don't agree with him but will not waste my breath or time on him.




1)Fandom should be commended on the job done in getting the ad in the first place. makes me proud.

2) Fandom could have done nothing but cried like GIRLIE-MEN, we did do something. "Did we make a difference?" Can't say until the big screen version comes out.

3) Our chances might be slim but as the man said, "It will be FUN!!!"




4)CFF rocks!!! Well done!!!

[thomas7g]

What happens in 2008?

Dont you think thats going to be a little silly if the New Series hits good reviews / Ratings?

Why bring another BSG on to the stage if teh new one picks the torch up and carries on the saga of the Colonials if a little differently to what happened in 1978?

-"T"-

I think T just proved my point :LOL:

You have to first convince people that the new show isn't the only game in town. :D

[thomas7g]

T if you haven't seen these yet, take a look at these theads.

http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4726
http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6614

For more of an answer I need my own thread... :D

[kingfish]

Bald and Fat:

I am six feet in height, weight 159 pounds, and have all of my hair (long at the moment, Colonial Warrior style). :D

[Antelope]

I'm with Kingfish.

He isn't worth your time. He's got some problem and it isn't Battlestar Galactica fans.

If you feel like writing stick to the letter writing campaign.

I don't know if the ad will do any good but it didn't hurt and the people behind it certainly aren't morons.

[Mustex]

Bald and Fat:

I am six feet in height, weight 159 pounds, and have all of my hair (long at the moment, Colonial Warrior style). :D

I used to be fat...until I lost fifty pounds (Cambell's Chicken Noodle Soup is the perfect food for weight loss). My weight now varies between 146 and 152. Plus I'm seventeen, and not yet bald. :bg04: :warrior:

[BST]

Tag,

I wouldn't waste the keystrokes on that, uh, person. He's so full of himself, it's almost laughable. He almost reminds me of another celebrated writer of self-proclaimed fame, whom many of us know and would rather forget. I won't mention the name, though, he might want to sue us, ......., again.

;) :D


Suggestion: If you printed the article, use it to line the bird cage, face up. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, **** to **** :D

[Gemini1999]

The article does suck.... but it isn't worth the time to write to him. He obviously didn't get the reason we put the ad in Variety - not to generate letters so much, but to put something out to the entertainment professsials that there is interest out there for a continuation film. Enough interest to organize a fund drive, create and ad and pay to have it posted.

Tom is right, it is the "average joe" opinion.... This guy would probably wind up in a mental institution when he heard about the 300 thou that the Scapers raised to produce their own commercial...!

Who cares anyway? We didn't do it for people like this - he's as bad as the posters at AICN (or worse).

No skin off my nose - he only makes himself look bad by claiming that he's a journalist, but puts such an opinionated spin on the article that you can tell he's got an axe to grind....

Best,
Bryan

[Titon]

Well now, seems someone got a bit of pee in his poast toasties this morning.

Actually if anyone is clueless it's this individual. God the things i could tell him.

hehe.

:)

[Gemini1999]

Well now, seems someone got a bit of pee in his poast toasties this morning.

Actually if anyone is clueless it's this individual. God the things i could tell him.

hehe.

:)

Don -

We'll just have to save the little pisher's e-mail addy for when that time comes....

I love nothing more than saying "I told you so" to someone that really deserves it!

Best,
Bryan

[jewels]

Well now, seems someone got a bit of pee in his poast toasties this morning.

Actually if anyone is clueless it's this individual. God the things i could tell him.

hehe.

:)
Shoot! the things I could tell him are enough to show him to be way beyond moronic in his opinion. And I've been around only a blip of time compared to Titon.

Tom DeSanto told us that the the new series couldn't hurt our dreams of a continuation--only continued interest in the original series mattered. Glen Larson told us that the new series being successful could only help us. And Ron Moore supported the Colonial Fan Force. "T" I read that as none of the main players are terribly concerned about the 2 stories coexisting. 2008 sounds fine to me. The Galactica cruising across the big screen to Stu's theme is worth waiting for.

Jewels

[Ravishol]

I've been around since 98 but only lurk anymore. I appreciate Titon's optisim but I hate to admit that this fellow may be right.

I would love to be proven wrong.

[kingfish]

I've been around since 98 but only lurk anymore. I appreciate Titon's optisim but I hate to admit that this fellow may be right.

I would love to be proven wrong.



When the big screen Larson/DeSanto version hits the screen the nonbelievers will all be proven wrong.

[CommanderTaggart]

Ravishol... the ad may never make or have made a difference. Sure. But we, as a fanbase, have sent a message regarding what we want by means of a publication that is read by the people who have the power to bring it to us. No more, and no less. We have demonstrated that we are still willing to spend money on TOS. No more, no less. We never expected anyone to turn to page 19, smack their head, and say "Why didn't I think of this before! Get production on the phone!!!"

Anyone who believed that was our goal is... welll... a clueless moron.

[thomas7g]

to be honest Tag, I think your website is more effective than the ad. :D

[Mustex]

Tag,

I wouldn't waste the keystrokes on that, uh, person. He's so full of himself, it's almost laughable. He almost reminds me of another celebrated writer of self-proclaimed fame, whom many of us know and would rather forget. I won't mention the name, though, he might want to sue us, ......., again.

I must have missed this lawsuit. I don't suppose you could PM me the name, and information about the suite (I take it this should be common knowledge by now).

[BST]

There was NO lawsuit, just a threat of one.

The name is best forgotten and in your case, Mustex, not knowing is a blessing.

:)

[Gemini1999]

Wow!

I just visited Lee Goldberg's website to read some of the comments left for him after his scathing article concerning the CFF effort... All I can say is:

Well done!

There were some extremely well-worded and well thought out replies over there. I doubt that if I had chosen to respond to the article that I could have done better myself.

I don't think that anyone changed his mind, but I wonder if he'll write another article that attacks a group of people in the same way again? Probably not!

Good job people!

Best,
Bryan (the over 40, not bald, not fat fan of the original Battlestar Galactica)

[warhammerdriver]

I have four words for this guy:

Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars

[thomas7g]

To be honest... I asid that replying to this guy is a waste of time. That any atempt to reply would be met ith antagonism. That he would see any response as proof he is right.




:halo:

[jewels]

Though I'm in agreement with Tom, I'm glad that those who got licks in were well-worded. :D OK, let's face it, half the folks here could write something more eloquent and coherent than 90% of the so called web-journalists out there, so there's that pride factor that is going to react to anything disagreeing with him. I'd not worry about feeding the fish on this one. :salute:

[julix]

I just had to respond couldn't help it tried not to really....tell me what you guys think if you read it....It is still hard for me to write........... ;)

[Rowan]

To be honest... I said that replying to this guy is a waste of time. That any atempt to reply would be met with antagonism. That he would see any response as proof he is right.




:halo:That is my take on it as well. This man is a shock jock like tom leykis or howard stern he just says $hit to get people worked up and upset. People don't say such incindiary things unless they get off on starting something he's just itching for a fight so I'm not going to give him my little pattuty to whack around thank you very much ;) :D I'll save that for nice thwackings :D
Sincerely,
The fat bald chick :LOL:

I don't know about the rest of you but I flush $hit down the toilet :D ;)

[Rowan]

Tom DeSanto told us that the the new series couldn't hurt our dreams of a continuation--only continued interest in the original series mattered. Glen Larson told us that the new series being successful could only help us.And Ron Moore supported the Colonial Fan Force." This is seriously important to remember!! T" I read that as none of the main players are terribly concerned about the 2 stories coexisting. EXACTLY!!! 2008 sounds fine to me. The Galactica cruising across the big screen to Stu's theme is worth waiting for.

JewelsLet's be the best durn Hosts and Hostesses out there, meet and greet folks lets be the honey that attracts the bees http://www.harrythecat.com/graphics/Z/bee3.gif :D

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Ignore this

[julix]

I was just going back through this thread and came upon something else that was very distrubing to me.....Here is a post from Lee Goldberg.





You'll notice that, with the exception of the STAR TREK and NAKED GUN movies, that none of the many other movies-based-on-TV series that have followed have starred the original cast, nor have any that have been announced for development

But that's not the issue that makes the VARIETY ad so stupid or the people behind it so...how to put this nicely?...naive and wrong-headed.

These theatrical remakings of TV series are basically trading on the name identification of a hit series to create a new movie franchise, which is why they keep the name but cast movie stars in the roles. The original franchise is the selling point, not the actors. (Which is why I SPY didn’t have Bill Cosby, it had Eddie Murphy, and why WILD WILD WEST had Will Smith and not Robert Conrad. And why the new MIAMI VICE isn’t going to star Don Johnson or Philip Michael Thomas…but Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, instead).

These movies are intended to be blockbusters. And the blockbuster imperative doesn’t extend to nostalgia-friendly casting, with the exception of cameos (ie Patrick MacNee as invisible ghost in AVENGERS or Mark Goddard with one line in LOST IN SPACE) as a sop to the fans.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA has been done…as miniseries. The franchise value is already being mined. And it's highly doubtful that people will flock to the theatres just to see Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and company.

On a whole different level, the ad itself was wronghead, directed at an audience of writers, producers, directors, and studio heads who aren’t about to write letters to Glen Larson or Tom DeSanto.

The fans threw $12,000 away on an ad targeted at the wrong audience for their message (the message itself was wrong-headed, but I will get to that later, too). They humiliated their cause in the eyes of the very Industry that the fans were hoping to impress. Industry professionals who see ads like that in Variety aren’t impressed (any more than they are buy the struggling screenwriter who spends the money on a full-page ad to reprint pages of his unsold screenplay). The ad simply reinforced every preconception Hollywood has about fandom. It certainly did for me.

(On a side note, even if Glen Larson was dying to do a BSG movie, he does not have the clout to get a $100 million feature off the ground. You will notice he is only tangentially involved in the features in works based on his other TV series. So writing letters to him isn’t going to persuade a studio to dump money into the revival of a franchise that is already being mined on television, if in a “re-imagined version).

The ad in Cinescape, however, was also money poorly spent, though less obviously so. I’ll get to the reasons why in a moment.

You want to revive BSG? I think it’s a lost cause, especially since the valuable aspect of the franchise is already being mined on TV, but here’s some constructive advice:

Investing money in trade ads is useless. It’s better to use that money to organize a grass-roots campaign to make people aware of the BSG DVD and get them to buy it. On your website, make it look more businesslike and less fannish.

The trick is not to convince the powers that be that there are 100,000 absolute diehard fans who will do anything to get BSG back as a feature. You need to convince them there are actually tens of millions who have at least a passing interest in seeing BSG brought back. You want to spend money? Spend it on raising awareness among non-devotees of BSG. Get a groundswell of interest in the show itself. Try to push the DVD on people who aren’t familiar with the series. This is how it worked with THE NAKED GUN (on video) and later THE FAMILY GUY and FIREFLY, which were revived after cancellation because a lot of people saw the shows on home video and fell in love with them. Those video sales convinced the studios there was a lucrative market still out there.

The only thing that will convince a studio (or financiers) to make a movie is to be persuaded by hard facts and hard cash that there is still MORE money to be made Slavish devotion by a handful of fans… even if there are 100,000 of them… won’t bring in nearly enough money to justify a film.

Bottom line: Expose people to the show, not to your fandom. Expose studios to sales, not examples that some diehard devotees exist.

Which brings me to the website the advertisement directs readers to. The design and writing on the website only serves to confirm every Industry professional and non-fan’s immediate assumptions from the ad: This isn’t about the quality and merits of a TV show… it’s about a handful of diehard fans who can’t let go and have no real-world perspective.

The more you can do to NOT make this about the fans--- and about THE SHOW, the better chance your campaign has of succeeding. But you’ve sabotaged yourself, and your campaign, from the outset… by crafting the wrong message and sending that wrong message to the wrong people. You need to rethink your image (the name "Colonial Fan Force," for example), your message, and the best way to present it to the people you need to reach…

Which isn’t the studios.

It’s the viewers.

Posted by: Lee Goldberg | October 22, 2004 11:42 AM





I am not sure what to think of this my friends, but I can tell you after reading this I felt very dishartened. I was thinking of all the movies and shows Hollywood has redone like Lost in Space and Brady Bunch and etc...and It was just for the purpose of cashing in on a already made audience. I feel like reality has hit me and I feel very sad........what do you guys think? BTW I still feel CFF was a very admirable and noble effort and I am glad and proud to be a donator. I am not taking anything away from CFF.......

[Gemini1999]

Julix -

You mean that dog is still chewing on that bone....? What a loser! Don't pay him any mind - we all have learned that there are people out there that love to push buttons to get attention. He's probably enjoying all the "interaction" from our side of the street - it's probably the most traffic that site has had in a long time!

I can understand why it bothers you - but Lee Goldberg is just an a**hole with a website. It's not like he's a big player in Hollywood or anything - if he was, he wouldn't have the time to bicker with us bald, old timers sitting in our basements waiting for Galactica to be ressurected as a film franchise.

Bottom line - who cares what Lee Goldberg thinks? I sure as frack don't..... Let him rant on, he's the only one who's listening!

Best,
Bryan

[thomas7g]

Actually I was thinking that all of those movies he mentioned ...sucked. And star trek was a pretty close model to what we want done here.



The trick is not to convince the powers that be that there are 100,000 absolute diehard fans who will do anything to get BSG back as a feature. You need to convince them there are actually tens of millions who have at least a passing interest in seeing BSG brought back. You want to spend money? Spend it on raising awareness among non-devotees of BSG. Get a groundswell of interest in the show itself. Try to push the DVD on people who aren’t familiar with the series. This is how it worked with THE NAKED GUN (on video) and later THE FAMILY GUY and FIREFLY, which were revived after cancellation because a lot of people saw the shows on home video and fell in love with them. Those video sales convinced the studios there was a lucrative market still out thereI do agree with him on this point. Actually when it comes to strategies I think there is some merit in what he says. I also agree that it might help to be more about the show and less about the fans. I think by pushing it as a fan driven effort we alienate people who have no intrest in the fandom part of BG, whereas the show has a greater appeal than the fandom.


:D

[CommanderTaggart]

Julix, Lee doesn't understand (a) the campaign, (b) the ad, or (c) the passion of the BSG fanbase.

Lee is obviously oblivious to how well the BSG DVD box-set sold (with another reissue around the corner). I don't have the numbers to compare the BSG set to the Firefly set, but Firefly has been priced-to-sell for a while now, and... so far as I know... it never sold out, nor has there been a reissue. (Of course I realize the BSG reissue is set to coincide with the American premeire of The Abomination, but it's still getting the original Battlestar Galactica series back out there).

Lee is obviously oblivious to the fact that BRAND NEW LINES of action figures are being released... not in the image of The Abomination... but in the image of the original Battlestar Galactica series .

Lee is obviously unaware that a company in England is about to relase a bound edition of vintage the original Battlestar Galactica series comics.

The financial "proof-in-the-puddin'" Lee is talking about is already happening. He just doesn't know it because he doesn't bother to do any research before spouting off his "expertise." But it's all there for anyone who wants to take the time to dig it up. There's more new BSG merch out there now than there has been since 1978. And everyone who is cashing in on BSG is cashing in on the original Battlestar Galactica series , and not The Abomination... and that says something. Lee's right about DVD and merch sales playing a role... he's just clueless about how much is already going on.

We have not humiliated ourselves with the ad. Lee's not a player... he's a dime-a-dozen writer who likes to pretend he's a player. The ad accomplished what we intended for it to accomplish, and this is to show Hollywood that there are a great many fans out here who want this, and are ready to spend our hard-earned money just on the dream. Real Hollywood players are either going to acknowledge that message for what it is, or they aren't. But at least we have said it.

Finally, Lee is also right that movies like Lost in Space, The Wild, Wild West, and I, Spy did try to cash in on name recognition only, recasting the original players with "movie stars." So did The Beverly Hillbillies, McHale's Navy, and Sargeant Bilko. None of those films was achieved the "blockbuster" status to which Lee referred, and none of them spawned any kind of franchise. Look at that track record!!! The Addams Family scored well enough to spawn a sequel because of the lengths to which the producers of those films went to remain true to the feel of The Addams Family television show. For all intents and purposes, it was a "continuation" utilizing a new cast... and, if you disagree with that, you at least have to concede that it was a faithful remake. (before I get jumped on, that wouldn't have been my first choice for BSG, but I would have preferred it to The Abomination).

This is why I have repeatedly questioned RDM's and Eick's statement that their decision to reimagine was largely influenced by the fact that there were any number of "reimaginings" that worked and as many continuations that had failed. I repeatedly sent emails to the "Ask David Eick" column at Skiffy begging them to identify the properties to which they were referring. did I ever get a response? I have asked mini-fans to identify these properties... these successful reimaginings and failed continuations. Nothing.

Star Trek was continued. We all know how that turned out.
The Avengers was reimagined. Most of us have forgotten that, or have at least tried.
Planet of the Apes was reimagined. We all know how that turned out.
I, Spy was reminaged. When's I, Spy 2 coming out, again?
Lost in Space was reimagined. While not a cataclysmic failure, still not strong enough to spawn a new franchise.
Wild, Wild West; The Beverly Hillbillies; McHale's Navy; Sgt. Bilko all reimagined. All in the $5.99 bin at Wal Mart.
The Addams Family was a faithful remake, capturing the style, feel, and charm of the original. Spawned a sequel, and would probably have spawned more if not for the untimely death of star Raul Julia.
Bryan Singer is planning on making his Superman feature a continuation of the Donner films.

Come on, who's kidding who? Hollywood must have made enough money off the name-recognition flicks... but none of it is runaway boffo blockbuster.

So that's a long-winded way of saying don't let it get you down, Julix. Lee Goldberg's just a guy with a computer spouting off his opinion with no more expertise than you or me or Thomas7g (sorry, Thomas, but the rhyme scheme worked).

The fact is that the jury is still out on The Abomination, the original Battlestar Galactica series merch is still making money, the CFF ads are still out there and people are writing their letters, a second CFF ad will be out shortly... and there is one last thing to remember that Lee isn't taking into consideration:

While Lee is most assuredly not a Hollywood player, Tom DeSanto most assuredly is. Tom DeSanto is a fan of the original Battlestar Galactica series . As Thomas7g has said, it's going to take more time... but Tom DeSanto is among those who still believe.

Feel any better? ;)

[thomas7g]

Lee Goldberg's just a guy with a computer spouting off his opinion with no more expertise than you or me or Thomas7g (sorry, Thomas, but the rhyme scheme worked).It was a good rhyme. :D

And I acknowledge that I am just an ordinary joe. Though I can design a hell of a BG website.
;)

[KJ]

Star Trek was continued. We all know how that turned out.
The Avengers was reimagined. Most of us have forgotten that, or have at least tried.
Planet of the Apes was reimagined. We all know how that turned out.
I, Spy was reminaged. When's I, Spy 2 coming out, again?
Lost in Space was reimagined. While not a cataclysmic failure, still not strong enough to spawn a new franchise.
Wild, Wild West; The Beverly Hillbillies; McHale's Navy; Sgt. Bilko all reimagined. All in the $5.99 bin at Wal Mart.
The Addams Family was a faithful remake, capturing the style, feel, and charm of the original. Spawned a sequel, and would probably have spawned more if not for the untimely death of star Raul Julia.
Bryan Singer is planning on making his Superman feature a continuation of the Donner films.

Come on, who's kidding who? Hollywood must have made enough money off the name-recognition flicks... but none of it is runaway boffo blockbuster.

So that's a long-winded way of saying don't let it get you down, Julix. Lee Goldberg's just a guy with a computer spouting off his opinion with no more expertise than you or me or Thomas7g (sorry, Thomas, but the rhyme scheme worked).

The fact is that the jury is still out on The Abomination, the original Battlestar Galactica series merch is still making money, the CFF ads are still out there and people are writing their letters, a second CFF ad will be out shortly... and there is one last thing to remember that Lee isn't taking into consideration:

While Lee is most assuredly not a Hollywood player, Tom DeSanto most assuredly is. Tom DeSanto is a fan of the original Battlestar Galactica series . As Thomas7g has said, it's going to take more time... but Tom DeSanto is among those who still believe.

Feel any better?

Well done Taggart, put across most excellent.

Far as i'm concerned the Star Trek revival comparison IS very much a strong arguing point of the "Revival effort" made by the Galactica fanbase. Let alone any popular sci-fi fanbase.

And I acknowledge that I am just an ordinary joe. Though I can design a hell of a BG website.

And we Galactica fans are very grateful you've made a terrific website to be a place for us fans to hang out Thomas7g.

I see Lee Bitchberg back, wanting more attention **sigh**

Anyone mind if take the piss out of him and his comments? (i'm bored i want some fan around here?)

Can i? o.k. then.

But that's not the issue that makes the VARIETY ad so stupid or the people behind it so...how to put this nicely?...naive and wrong-headed.

I say this cos i haven't any balls myself to say this to anybody's face!

These theatrical remakings of TV series are basically trading on the name identification of a hit series to create a new movie franchise, which is why they keep the name but cast movie stars in the roles. The original franchise is the selling point, not the actors. (Which is why I SPY didn’t have Bill Cosby, it had Eddie Murphy, and why WILD WILD WEST had Will Smith and not Robert Conrad. And why the new MIAMI VICE isn’t going to star Don Johnson or Philip Michael Thomas…but Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, instead).

And if i actually when to these films i'm labeling, i'd know too that hollywood lost it? To bad i'm a cheapskate and rented these films at blockbusters, Pay to see these movies in the theater. "&*£$% NO", as you know i prefer to bitch about it on my computer. Sad men like me, thats all i do remember.

These movies are intended to be blockbusters. And the blockbuster imperative doesn’t extend to nostalgia-friendly casting, with the exception of cameos (ie Patrick MacNee as invisible ghost in AVENGERS or Mark Goddard with one line in LOST IN SPACE) as a sop to the fans.

Basically, i'm talking down to you at this point, cos remember i have no balls. Damn why didn't i get cast as the female Starbuck? boy i'm peed off.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA has been done…as miniseries. The franchise value is already being mined. And it's highly doubtful that people will flock to the theatres just to see Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and company.

Boy i love to talk some smack about them too, but if they were here, they'd whup my ass good.

On a whole different level, the ad itself was wronghead, directed at an audience of writers, producers, directors, and studio heads who aren’t about to write letters to Glen Larson or Tom DeSanto.

I can't do an ad like CFF one so yeah, i'm a jealous little freak with a big puffy grin, on my nerdy wimpy pig looking face right now. Damn i wished i had done that for my shows.

The fans threw $12,000 away on an ad targeted at the wrong audience for their message (the message itself was wrong-headed, but I will get to that later, too). They humiliated their cause in the eyes of the very Industry that the fans were hoping to impress. Industry professionals who see ads like that in Variety aren’t impressed (any more than they are buy the struggling screenwriter who spends the money on a full-page ad to reprint pages of his unsold screenplay). The ad simply reinforced every preconception Hollywood has about fandom. It certainly did for me.

Thats cos i'm a stupid bastard, hell i'm turd of a coward who wouldn't enter an Ironman contest. I'm the sterotypical internet naysayer. I'll talk a bunch of smack i don't know, just to pee off you people! Like sheep, i'll say dumb ass stuff you'll all heard before from people like me. i wouldn't know what industry professionals say, hell they laugh at me anyways (remember my face?)


(On a side note, even if Glen Larson was dying to do a BSG movie, he does not have the clout to get a $100 million feature off the ground. You will notice he is only tangentially involved in the features in works based on his other TV series. So writing letters to him isn’t going to persuade a studio to dump money into the revival of a franchise that is already being mined on television, if in a “re-imagined version).

Of course, i haven't even done my own homework on this to begin with. Larson owns the theatrical rights. Regardless of my stupid post above, no movie continuation will happen unless he is involved in some capacity?! Duh stupid me. Letter writing another thing i have against all you smarter people.

End of part 1

[KJ]

The ad in Cinescape, however, was also money poorly spent, though less obviously so. I’ll get to the reasons why in a moment.

You want to revive BSG? I think it’s a lost cause, especially since the valuable aspect of the franchise is already being mined on TV, but here’s some constructive advice:

Investing money in trade ads is useless. It’s better to use that money to organize a grass-roots campaign to make people aware of the BSG DVD and get them to buy it. On your website, make it look more businesslike and less fannish.

The trick is not to convince the powers that be that there are 100,000 absolute diehard fans who will do anything to get BSG back as a feature. You need to convince them there are actually tens of millions who have at least a passing interest in seeing BSG brought back. You want to spend money? Spend it on raising awareness among non-devotees of BSG. Get a groundswell of interest in the show itself. Try to push the DVD on people who aren’t familiar with the series. This is how it worked with THE NAKED GUN (on video) and later THE FAMILY GUY and FIREFLY, which were revived after cancellation because a lot of people saw the shows on home video and fell in love with them. Those video sales convinced the studios there was a lucrative market still out there.

The only thing that will convince a studio (or financiers) to make a movie is to be persuaded by hard facts and hard cash that there is still MORE money to be made Slavish devotion by a handful of fans… even if there are 100,000 of them… won’t bring in nearly enough money to justify a film.

Ahhh, what do i know anyways. Can't you all tell that i'm pulling this crap i'm spewing, out of my ass! Cos i'm a pissed off, jealous, diease of a man, who could never do any of this myself?!! I'm too ashamed to admit, i love the 2003mini's baby killing scenes. And i want to own the Baltar shags Six senseless bedroom playset! Along with the Starbuck in jail toyset to boot. Toys that look like the cheesy series it's based on.

Bottom line:

I'm an asshole! Me Lee Goldberg nuff said.

Expose people to the show, not to your fandom. Expose studios to sales, not examples that some diehard devotees exist.

Which brings me to the website the advertisement directs readers to. The design and writing on the website only serves to confirm every Industry professional and non-fan’s immediate assumptions from the ad: This isn’t about the quality and merits of a TV show… it’s about a handful of diehard fans who can’t let go and have no real-world perspective.

And yet most of them are, Married, With a cute ass girlfriend, Have decent lives, Are richer than i am. And i'm a ugly frog of a man who engages in pointless lameass sterotypes to piss'em all off. (which is working against me for some reason!)

The more you can do to NOT make this about the fans--- and about THE SHOW, the better chance your campaign has of succeeding. But you’ve sabotaged yourself, and your campaign, from the outset… by crafting the wrong message and sending that wrong message to the wrong people. You need to rethink your image (the name "Colonial Fan Force," for example), your message, and the best way to present it to the people you need to reach…

Which isn’t the studios.

It’s the viewers.

And if people actually listen to my felgercarb, then they are even dumber than my tirades against you obviously, harden fanboys! The real lesson is, don't listen to me Lee Goldberg, talking out of ones ass, like a overly annoying movie critic is my job. A rare talent i have a knack for. Hey, it's what i do obviously? I TALK felgercarb FOR A LIVING! deal with it.

Posted by: Lee Goldberg | October 22, 2004 11:42 AM

Now i'm off to read a certain book off amazon.com recommended by somebody i knew, *closely* at one point!. It does get me **moist** at times!

[DISCLAIMER,]

LEE GOLDBERG IS NOT BE LISTEN TO. HE IS A SAD PISS OFF LITTLE MAN WHO HASN'T LET GO OF THE FACT, HE WAS PUT IN HIS PLACE BY FANS HE CLAIMS ARE IN THEIR FORTIES!!! IGNORE THIS PITIFUL UNPROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DO NOT LET HIM DRAG YOU INTO HIS SAD GAME OF "He said - She said!

If he could stop racing to finish his god awful tirades. He would realise magazines adverts such as the CFF Cinescape ad. Will reach those so-called millions of people who buy them! While he hasn't the two brain cells left to comprehend this concept, he lo hasn't comprehended the fact he is dragging his own family name down along side his brother's just like the Titanic ocean liner!

In all seriousness now (game's over this is me now!)

Shut up Bitchberg, fans will do with their money. What they see and judge to be fit. Not you. Your only concern is getting fit, for a certain challenge? Or are you the sterotypical coward who talks a good fight. But as always can't back it up!

It maybe be childish somewhat, but i don't care at this point i think we all deserve to vent at this chubby faced loser.

I don't give two craps about him, his previous work in writing etc or his books. But he is pissing us off and bad mouthing a hell of alot of good people who have worked hard done far more than he will ever do. I have a personal interest in seeing Galactica revived and i don't care for a moron more cowardly than "Languatron" on his worse day posting at skiffy, telling me or anybody else for that matter how others how to go about reviving a beloved TV show of the past. Letter writing you moron is an old school way of communicating with the TPTB or producers. Who say lightining won't strike twice doing this YOU? Till i see the crystal ball in your hand or Universal Studios refusing to do Battlestar Galactica for 75 years plus Or the rights are sold to George Lucas who burn the Galactica copyrights in his fireplace?. I'll back what I want with whomever i choose to side with.

Rather than listen to another usual boring snore fested, snotnosed, dickhead all high and mighty telling others what to do, what he himself isn't caperble of doing. You're a man (loosely stated) with lack of vision or a backbone (or both) or balls (indeed) to put together what a millions of 40 year olds* have! (pun intended*)

This asshole is one disturbed puppy!

:thumbdown

(quote Howard Stern from the Private Parts movie)

Mrs Goldberg your husband needs more SEX pronto! He is too pissed off. - :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

[KJ]

Yeah i know, very unKJ like. But i haven't ranted at Lee Snotberg before, can you blame me?

I ain't apologising for it, but i had enough of of reading that big nosed loser whining at this fanbase.

40 indeed? i ain't 30 yet either? And he saddles me as a bald 40 year old with no life. A lot of free time perhaps when i ain't working. But 40?

That bastard!

KJ

In your face L. "Chubby Face" unfit for Ironman contest GoldBerg.

CFF - :thumbsup: :cool:

[Rowan]

:eek: Do you feel better now Lord Kingjason? ;)

(((((((((((((((((((((((Lord Kingjason ))))))))))))))))))))))))))) :D

[Rowan]

http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/LEESHOT1.JPG http://www.toiletnet.com/DCRitz.jpg
someone can do the cut and paste for I don't know how ;) :D

[thomas7g]

While Tommy kinda thinks that this LeeGoldberg thing is well...kinda waste of time. I really don't think one negative opinion is worth all this energy. Though I actually do think there are a few things he says that are right and it would aid us to listen to...But for the fans here who need to grab that icon above and move it to the toilet I have made a special movable icon for you.


leegoldberg
feel free to move this to the toilet above if you want.:LOL:

[julix]

First off...I wasn't trying to get more attention drawn to someone who a lot of people feel is a waste of time. I didn't want to go back down the road of his insults. Sorry if that is happening. I did want to have all of my friends comment on the quote from him I provided because it did truely upset me and made me feel as though my dream might never come true. So I needed help and turned to you all. I can deal with lots of obsticles as long as there is hope, and after reading Goldberg's quote that I listed I lost it for awhile. Because from a bussiness standpoint it seemed to make some sense....I didn't like feeling that way. Again, that is why I posted it. Thanks Tom, Bryan, and especially Tag.
I do feel better Bill and it is exactly what i needed. I know he is just one guy and not one I respect(I can't have respect for anyone who uses insults)But it did get to me. It is hard to hold on to dreams especially the older you get(at least for me)and I so want to see my heros back in action. Thanks for helping me still there is still hope :)


BTW Lord KJ...I know how you feel we all need to vent sometimes, especially someone like him.... and you made some good points too



And Tom....the website rocks and so do you ;)

[CommanderTaggart]

The fact is that continuations and faithful remakes have a better track record than "reimaginings." The problem is the Hollywood egos that have spun so far out of control, with everyone wanting to place his or her "stamp" on a property, that TPTB have refused to recognize this as fact. But Tom DeSanto knew to stay true to the lore with X-Men. Bryan Singer knows to stay true to the lore with Superman. These may well be the only two men in Hollywood who do get it right now... but when Superman delivers the same kind of box as X-Men, reality might just start penetrating the skulls of those who would otherwise reimagine Space: 1999, only making Martin Landau's character a minority lesbian. Oooooohhhh... gritty!

[jewels]

Lee's point about getting awareness heightened and increasing sales of the original Battlestar Galactica series merchandise, especially the DVD set is completely valid.

Making the CFF site into more of a gateway into understanding the old show is also valid.

That the addresses shouldn't have been on the Variety version of the ad: also valid as anyone in Hollywood that cared would pick up the freaking phone. We just didn't know how poor the nationwide distribution is for Daily Variety. It's not relevent enough for mainstream bookstores to stock daily.

Cinescape's timing is nothing we could control. Sounds like a mag on it's last legs, but how could one tell that nearly 6 months ago? Only a media buying professional placing ads in that niche market would know that Cinescape was falling into production woes. We were looking for something to place where people would actually pick up the magazine - Cinescape is available at Blockbuster and the major bookstores, and where do you think one finds Sci-fi and movie fans frequently? :rolleyes:

[Rowan]

leegoldberg
feel free to move this to the toilet above if you want.:LOL:
:LOL: Thanks Thomas that's hilarious!! :D

[martok2112]

This is a Muppet News Flash

Escaped renegade Muppet, The Sweedish Chef is still at large. Do not attempt to apprehend on sight. Report his whereabouts to the appropriate Muppet handlers.
Here is a photo of his most recent sighting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/martok2112/leegoldberg.jpg

Sorry, just had to do that.

I will agree with some of what this guy said. Moose is a very good....

Oops..sorry, off topic. :D

Some of what Mr. Goldberg said may make sense, but I would not let it get me down.

Sooner would I cast my fate with hope, than with a rope :)

Martok2112

[thomas7g]

leegoldberg

leegoldberg leegoldberg leegoldberg

leegoldberg

spaceinvadershield............spaceinvadershield...........spaceinvadershield...........spaceinvadershield

spaceinvaderturret




Oh No! He's Multiplying!!!

[julix]

Thanks Tom and Steve it is good to just laugh!!!!!!