538 replies to this topic

[bethmerchant76]

A thread for organizing a mail and e-mail save FNL campaign.

I brooched this idea today in the media thread. Our two ideas currently are
1. An email campaign to NBC with the subject line "Don't mess with Friday Night Lights" and
2. a mail in campaign.

We need a target person at NBC and a date for a mass email.

Our ideas for mail-Footballs, or something to do with a corporate sponsor (Applebees, Toyota, UnderAmour have been mentioned).

Ideas, anyone who has done this before ?

Edited by bethmerchant76, Feb 7, 2007 @ 6:32 PM.

[ssmartinez55]

Also, I think making Ausellio and Watch with Kristin aware of this campaign when it's more formed will also help get the word out. Is there anyone out there that has experience doing this before? As mentione before, the only experience I have is with the Roswell campaign. I sent email, tobasco and money for that one. Think if we can get some ideas together and settle on that then it will be the first step. We will be able to get a better timeline and timeframe once Feb. sweeps are done. Thanks for the thread!!

[Snugglebucks]

Thanks for the thread and the effort. Check out the Veronica Mars thread. I know there was an organized effort to get it picked up when UPN merged with the WB to create the CW. I believe they had a plane flyover with an ad saying "Save Veronica Mars" or something like that. Dawn Ostroff was impressed.

[Dinya]

I know when Operation Browncoat was going on (to save Firefly) someone set up a PayPal account to raise money to buy an ad in Variety, or something like that. Obviously they weren't as successful as the Veronica Mars people, but we still got a movie out of it.

[bodwod]

I contributed to the Once and Again campaign. They did a mail in and raised money for a couple of adds in Variety and a billboard (outside the studio, I think). Everwood fans (I swear, all my favourites get cancelled) raised enough money to park a ferris wheel outside the CW offices (again, not sure about the location).

I know the mail in campaigns have been pretty successful in the past. Unfortunately, back when Roswell did it, and even Once and Again to a certain degree, it was new. I think the studios expect to be bombarded now and may be a little immune to it. That's not to say we don't try though. You've got to be in it to win it.

I think the little toy footballs are a good idea to send in. Or even something like a flashlight with a note "keep the lights shining on NBC". If they don't pick it up again it was shows us that with TV executives, the lights may be on but nobody's home!

I'll contribute to whatever's decided. I'm completely obsessed with this show and don't think I could take another loss.

Edited by bodwod, Feb 7, 2007 @ 8:32 PM.

[OptimisticCynic]

believe they had a plane flyover with an ad saying "Save Veronica Mars" or something like that.

That's already been done with NBC, it was a year before Veronica Mars did it (did I mention how much I hate no one acknowledges this? It's as if VM invented the idea) with American Dreams for a fourth season. If it didn't work then, I doubt it would work now. Also the Ferris Wheel for Everwood didn't work.

Although those are great gestures, the campaigns I think that work involve fans using time and effort to send something or do something that involves a sponsor or advertiser. That's one giant way in making them happy to put ad time in the show, and if the numbers aren't good, but people are willing to advertise anyway...well, you get the idea.

[silentwilight]

Thanks also for the thread :)
Like I said before, I'll contribute/help with anything for this amazing show.

[pixystixy99]

What about sending little bottles of Clear Eyes eye drops? (And yes, totally inspired by the Roswell Tabasco sauce idea.)

Great thread, great idea, btw!

Edited by pixystixy99, Feb 7, 2007 @ 10:24 PM.

[bodwod]

I like that idea. Might also be easier to get the masses involved in that one because I would assume that'd be easier to buy and cheaper to post.

[HarshBench]

I understand the devotion to Once and Again. It was quality show. But I never watched the other shows being discussed, so I can't comment.

That being said, I believe that FNL is a better show than all of those. If any show deserves a ferris wheel, an a-mail avalanche, a nerf football barrage...it is Friday Night Lights.

[Keel]

Okay, I've never participated in any campaign of this type before but just kind of brainstorming here: what if we tried to kill two birds with one stone.

We could buy a bunch of items from a sponsor, send it to NBC (with appropriate letter of support for the show) and then have them earmark it for donation to charity. For example, one possibility is buying fingerless athletic gloves from UnderArmour and then sending it to NBC with a stipulation that they donate it to some organization that helps kids who have become paralyzed. Perhaps there are better ideas for items but that's a thought. Also, I don't know the names of the appropriate organizations to donate to but perhaps other TWoPers can lend us their knowledge. . .

This show has so much heart that it physically hurts to think about it being cancelled after just one season.

[Marisleve]

I love the Variety ad idea. I know they don't come cheap (anyone knows how much this could cost?), but I'd be ready to pitch in.

[bethmerchant76]

I like the Clear Eyes eye drop idea. The drops could then be donated to nursing homes or Senior centers.

Or the Nerf footballs could the be donated to Today's Toy drive they do every year. I'll try to see if I can find Blue/Yellow footballs today on the internet.

What is a good time to go ahead with an E-mail ? When is the next date to announce Pick ups for next year ?

ETA: I have pictures of 3 football ideas up at my LJ site
<bethmerchant-76.livejournal.com>

take a look and comment there or back here

Edited by bethmerchant76, Feb 8, 2007 @ 11:20 AM.

[moonvine]

I'm in for this, just tell me what to do and when to do it.

[stepliana]

Okay, I have to say, I LOVE the Clear Eyes idea.

It's absolutely brilliant, witty, and the kind of small thing that everyone can find and send easily, and ties into the show's tagline perfectly.

Now if only there was something for the Full Hearts...

Edited by stepliana, Feb 8, 2007 @ 2:19 PM.

[bethmerchant76]

I really think the Clear Eyes drops is the way to go. The footballs are going to be harder to get our hands on cheap.

[dc222]

Count me in!

The Clear Eyes idea is genius! Especially about donating it (and the footbalsl) to charities, those who need it.

Also, we should do something with the big sponsors of the show. Applebee's definitely. Toyota is a big sponsor too. And I noticed last night that AT&T had its banner/billboard above the scoreboard at the field (whether it was really there or added in post-production, I don't know, but still a great mostly subtle way of advertising.)

[silentwilight]

I also love the Clear Eyes idea. Very practical too :)

I definitely noticed that AT&T billboard, especially since I watched that scene several times. I believe during commercials they also announce who sponsors the show "FNL brought to you by..."

[Malkin]

I def. like the clear eyes idea. Footballs would be good (especially small ones) but harder to find.

And defiantly EMAILS. Millions and Millions of EMAILS

[mmcdonald64]

What about sending little bottles of Clear Eyes eye drops? (And yes, totally inspired by the Roswell Tabasco sauce idea.)

Great thread, great idea, btw!

I like the Clear Eyes idea too. Back in October, I posted a thread on another FNL forum about how you know you're obsessed with FNL when: --and my contribution to it was :"When you go to put your eye drops in your eyes, and you automatically finish the prhase "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, CAN'T LOSE!" as you squeeze the drops in.

[pixystixy99]

bethmerchant76, I like the little footballs you found. I also did a bit of searching online...Clear Eyes eye drops are about $4 per .5 oz bottle (I'm sure that's comparable to regular store prices.) Oriental Trading Company (orientaltrading.com) has vinyl foam filled footballs for $9.95 per dozen. Yes, they're a bit tacky, but they look like it would be easy to write a message on them. And as for hearts...well, it's Valentine's Day, the perfect time of the year to find lots and lots of hearts. What about the bags of foam cutout hearts you can find in craft stores? Again, good ol' Oriental Trading Company (home of all things tacky and in bulk, gotta love 'em!) has bags of 400 for about $3, along with just about anything else made of hearts you can think of.

So, we could send packages of "Clear Eyes" drops, "full of hearts", with the message that we "Can't Lose" our Friday Night Lights.

Corny enough to get attention, do you think?

[Joe DUDE]

I love that idea. I dont think its corny at all. It's the thought that counts, and I think it'll work.

Edited by Joe DUDE, Feb 8, 2007 @ 8:29 PM.

[bethmerchant76]

Clear Eyes eye drops are about $4 per .5 oz bottle

Oriental Trading Company (orientaltrading.com) has vinyl foam filled footballs for $9.95 per dozen.

Oriental Trading Company (home of all things tacky and in bulk, gotta love 'em!) has bags of 400 for about $3,

So, we could send packages of "Clear Eyes" drops, "full of hearts", with the message that we "Can't Lose" our Friday Night Lights.

I think we have a WINNER !!!!!! If we each got and packaged these items together and mailed them off to NBC, I think it would get some attention !

I know you can find coupon codes for Oriental Trading at CouponCabin.com. If this sounds like a go, I'll post the code and item #'s together from Oriental Trading tomorrow.

I'll give it tonight to see how people respond.

Now all we need is a name and address of whom ever is in charge of prime time programming at NBC, anyone know the answer to that one ?

[pixystixy99]

OK, from the NBC Universal Media page for FNL, the contact listed for the show is

Jamie French
Director - NBC Entertainment Publicity
Phone: (818) 840-6587
Fax: (818) 840-4943
Email: jamie.french@nbcuni.com
Division: NBC Entertainment

From the contact page, same site, there are way too many to chose from. I'm not sure...is Jamie French who we should contact? Or Tom Bierbaum the VP of ratings and program info?

I've never done this before, so I'm clueless.

And I swear, only this show could have distracted me from watching my beloved hockey team winning in a shootout!!!!

ETA: Still looking online and I found more little footballs. I was thinking that a padded envelope, with one bottle, a football with the message "Can't Lose Our FNL!!" and full of cutout hearts would be the most cost effective, especially if our goal is to maximize the number of items sent to NBC. We could even just print out the "Can't Lose" message on a piece of paper with a football on it, not unlike a homemade game-day flyer, so that these can all be mailed in envelopes, rather than having to resort to boxes. Comments, anyone?

Edited by pixystixy99, Feb 8, 2007 @ 10:06 PM.

[hakirby]

US TV isn't about the programmes per se. It's about the advertising. Rather than bombard NBC with mail -not a bad idea, because I'm told by folk in the industry that they do listen - why not all pick a product that's advertised during FNL, write to the company adoring the product and tell them where you saw it.

That's what the Promote_SPN campaign is doing, along with a postcard campaign to each TV listings mag each month. Send in a ton of postcards a pre-chosen mag each month complaining that they aren't covering the programmes you want to see.

[litlcatfeet]

I've never campaigned for a show before, but I like trying the sponsor/advertiser track. What if people took pictures of themselves and their friends eating in Applebees, maybe holding up signs that say "Save Friday Night Lights" or a slogan of your choice, and sending those pictures in?

[heymama]

i've never done anything like this before, but i also have never been so emotionally invested in a show. so count me in. i think the clear eyes/football/hearts/can't lose package is a great idea.

also: i know that the woman who writes dooce.com is an fnl fan, i could email her and see if she'd post something on her site about the campaign, she has a huge audience....

[pixystixy99]

I think that all the ideas posted here are great. Anything and everything we can do to drum up support, whether it is through advertisers, mailings or ads will only help us. I did some more checking and I think I've found the correct contact at NBC. (I've been looking at other websites encouraging letters and emails in support of various shows.) Letters (and anything else, I would assume) should be sent to Kevin Reilly, NBC Entertainment president and the person responsible for all programming decisions. One site recommends writing letters by hand if possible; they are of the opinion that a hand-written letter is a rarity these days and would receive more attention.

Letters should be addressed to:
Kevin Reilly
President
NBC Entertainment
3000 W. Alameda Ave.
Burbank, CA 91523

Emails can be sent to FNL's publicist, Jamie French (I posted his contact info earlier). Additionally, you can go to NBC's contact page, pull up ‘Friday Night Lights’ ( from the pulldown menu) that's about halfway down the page, right after this wording:

Questions not found on FAQ page about NBC Entertainment programming? Email us using the pulldown menu below:

Leave your comments on the form that appears.

I'm not sure if these are correct, but from everything I can find, these seem like these might be the people whose attention we need to attract. I've also found a few other sites with petitions and such in support of FNL; one is trying to get 1045 real, live fans to each donate one dollar to the United Cerebral Palsy fund in FNL's name. So there are definitely quite a few of us out there, we just need to make ourselves heard and hopefully, NBC will respond.

[moonvine]

One site recommends writing letters by hand if possible; they are of the opinion that a hand-written letter is a rarity these days and would receive more attention.

Do they mean actually hand-written, or printed out and hand signed? Because if I actually wrote it by hand, I'm not sure anyone could read it. Sometimes I can't even read my own writing.

[mmcdonald64]

I was just thinking it was too bad that they didn't use TGI Fridays instead of Appleby's. Then they could use the slogan, Thank God it's Friday Night Lights on Wednesdays.