Tag Archives: FOX

Can Charlie Get Back His Sheen?

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Charlie is Still Driving His Messaging, But Now in a Good Way Credit: Ian White

Can you “win” too much?

In the case of Charlie Sheen, he’s gulping a tall glass of mea culpa and eating humble pie right now for he’s done just that – except his winning wasn’t that, it was the opposite…losing. And now after not being able to handle being fired from a $1.2 million dollar a week paycheck on CBS’ “Two and a Half Men,” he is trying to mop up after himself and doing a PR about-face.

Do you think Charlie will be able to rebound after his unstable recent past?

I know I don’t need to explain Charlie Sheen’s predicament and what led him to start his own crisis management. You all are too well aware of his podcasts, tweets, live shows and contentious battles with his former employers, Warner Bros. TV.

However, all of a sudden Sheen has apparently seen the light. I don’t know where and when the light bulb went off and he started realizing that he was a tornado that was destroying everything and everyone in his path. But, I’m glad he did and I’m happy that he’s trying to make amends wherever and whenever possible.

As a PR practitioner, Charlie Sheen has been an amazing case study to follow. From being a train wreck taking his own PR into his own hands last March, to now, publicly pleading for forgiveness, we all can learn from his mistakes. Sheen is on the Good Ship Lollipop PR train doing whatever he can to be self-deprecating about his past and trying to move forward so he can be perceived as a stable employee, father, son and well, human being. But is that enough?

From firing his longtime publicist early last year, he’s now employed one once again.  And although, he was allowed to be a presenter at the Emmys for ratings, you have admit that it was smart strategy to use that platform to publicly apologize and try to save your face. Can you think of another venue that would allow you to be in front of over 12 million viewers in one swoop?

PR WHIRLWIND

The PR profession is alive and well and in full operation with the triad surrounding Sheen. Not only is Sheen trying to stay in the message, publicists for “Two and a Half Men” are trying to keep their message in the trend whirlwind as well. For no matter how you slice it, when Sheen speaks, the media and public listen. When someone from “Two and A Half Men” speaks…they have to speak loader to get noticed if Sheen is not recognized. He is a news magnet.

With that, have you noticed Ashton Kutcher making the rounds to talk shows? Did you see Jon Cryer get a star on the Walk of Fame? CBS’ PR team is on high alert to succeed this year without Sheen.

Who will get the last laugh? Well, if you tuned into Comedy Central’s Roast of Charlie Sheen Monday night  (another perfectly timed appearance), Charlie would tell you he’s already won.

And who could argue that! He’s now allegedly getting a $25 million settlement and doesn’t have a financial worry in the world. However, with this new Charlie we are seeing, he has a conscious and an awareness that his behavior was in poor judgement. I just hope he starts the healing process toward finding that peace that passes all understanding.

Time does heal all wounds…and the viewing public will come around once he consistently proves that he on the stable train to wellness. That’s the best PR he can buy.

Don’t take my word for it. Here’s Charlie’s view from his recent roast.

Roast of Charlie Sheen Mon, Sept 19 10/9c
Charlie Sheen – Charlie on Mars
www.comedycentral.com
Comedy Central Funny TV Shows Roast of Charlie Sheen

 

 

Current TV’S Olbermann Hire is a Game-Changer

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Current TV hits a home run with Olbermann.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Current TV will become more successful with the hire of left-wing political journalist Keith Olbermann. This type of business move, bringing a large brand or entity to a smaller one, is a tried and true formula that has worked for a number of similar situations and companies.

BIG FISH IN SMALL POND WORKS

Television and cable networks have employed this philosophy numerous times to raise ratings and profiles and to gain subscribers. That’s why NBC invests in the Olympics. CBS, FOX and ESPN the NFL.  ABC and the Academy Awards.  NBC with the Golden Globes.  Exclusive events such as these always draw massive crowds (i.e., Super Bowl 45 broke ratings records as the most-watched television program of all time, averaging 111 million viewers on the Fox network..)

The above are franchises, but this also applies to people with big profiles and followings.  CBS News lured Katie Couric to its network.  TBS nabbed Conan O’Brien.  And now Keith Olbermann switches to Current TV.  These transaction occurred for the same reason – to increase subscribers and ratings. This exchange also is reminiscent of when Howard Stern jumped from traditional radio to satellite.  Sometimes this big-to-small ploy does not work.  But, in this case, it makes total sense.  It’s like putting a lemon in water. One enhances the taste of the other.  Whereas, while Olbermann was at MSNBC, his views and MSNBC’s views became more like oil and water.  The two just separate.

PREDICTIONS

Will Olbermann bring more viewers to Current TV? Yes.

Will the audience stay with him? Yes and No. It all depends on the quality of the content.

Will Olbermann have more freedom to express his views? Definitely yes.

Will Current TV provide Olbermann with a platform to express his big ideas without corporate pressure? Yes.

Olbermann will make Current TV exciting and as such, this move is a real game changer that the network desperately needed.

This was a great strategic business move by both parties.

I can hardly wait until the Spring.

Treat Celebrities as Equals

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Why Can’t They Play Nice Together?

Dawn C. Chmielewski and Amy Kaufman’s article “Is Nickelodeon going to give rival Disney the brush off at Kids’ Choice Awards? “in the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, March 27, reminded me about an ugly practice in our business — excluding celebrities from events or shows just because they belong to another company not currently owned by the “said” media conglomerate. For those of you who haven’t experienced this yet in your PR practice, this is a common reality in the world of entertainment PR.

Here’s how it works.  Let say, Ed O’Neill from ABC’s hit comedy “Modern Family” was pitched to be on NBC’s “The Today Show” – well, this pitch wouldn’t have happened, because “The Today Show” only wants NBC celebrities and plus, ABC has their own morning show “Good Morning America.”  The same holds true for late night celebrities.  Seldom, if ever, would you see a non-CBS celebrity on “Late Show with David Letterman” or an non-NBC’er on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”  And the pockets go much deeper – this also stretches into the programs of their cable sisters.  Even if Ed O’Neill was in a blockbuster movie by an independent studio, he would be seen as ABC’s goods and would guest non-Grata anywhere else.  It’s a fraternity if you will and the Networks run their own private country clubs. They take care of their own and believe me the system is well aware of it.

So if I was given the keys to the media kingdom, here’s the first change I would make – its revolutionary – but I’d open my companies doors and let everyone in – no matter what competing show they were on or rival network or for that matter parent owner.  If a person is in the media, they are allowed in – no questions asked.

Just imagine – MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow could be included in a “60 Minutes” piece.  Or “Dancing with the Stars” celebrities could appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” or Jay Leno could guest on “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel.”  Or for that matter, Craig Ferguson could visit with the gals on “The View.”  Better yet, the stars that the kids love would be welcome on the red carpet at the “Kids Choice Awards!”

I really don’t understand this industry insecurity.  It’s dysfunctional and has to go.  The TV industry needs to embrace social media’s world-wide philosophy of sharing your knowledge with others — not holding on to your tools and hoarding your wares.  The open source system has been life-changing.  One cannot but appreciate Google and Wikipedia. They’ve brought so much into our lives.

Even Bart Simpson Gets It!

So if I was Media King for a day, that’s what I’d do. I’d remove all network celebrity restrictions and would not fear that I would lose tune-in by doing so. In fact, I think I’d gain audience share by practicing good will and trusting that I am producing a good product.  Life is about competition. That’s a certain.   But, why do companies have to remain in fear and paranoia of not providing their customers with the best content possible?

Wouldn’t the world truly be a better place?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about these restrictions. Also, tell me what celebrity would you like to see on a competing network show.

One can dream.

Cindy