Post by maggiethecat on Jan 24, 2006 17:03:47 GMT -5
Am I the only one who found ABC’s Blind Justice promos a tad dreary? Did anyone watch them and think, “Wow, that looks great!” Yeah, me neither. No humor, no sense that the show was as lively as it was. If I had to describe them in one word, that word would be grim.
So let’s play around here. Call it a combination of What If and Why Not. I’ve always liked the ads that don’t show clips from the show itself, but come at it sideways. Like the black & white promos TNT runs for Law & Order, where the major players talk into the camera about drama, and what makes the show so watchable. Had I been Queen of ABC (sigh), I would have stressed three elements: the New York flavor, the Bochco track record, and the fact that Blind Justice was different.
So let’s play in the sandbox and be advertising copywriters. Hey, we're all creative and have attitude (and opinions) to spare. Here’s my idea for a 30-second spot:
Scene, a New York City neighborhood bar: Yankees memorabilia, 9/11 pictures, the usual. Ten o’ clock, and the crowd has thinned a bit. Two working class guys are at the bar, drinking beer. Blind Justice comes on the TV over the bar.
GUY 1
Hey, Blind Justice. You seen this thing?
GUY 2
Nah. What’s it about?
GUY 1
Blind cop. Detective.
GUY 2
You’re kidding.
GUY 1
I know, it sounds hinky, but it works.
GUY 2
Yeah?
GUY 1
Hey, it’s Bochco -- you know, NYPD Blue. Great cop stuff. Kick-ass writing. And you should see this guy’s partner. Not that he can.
GUY 2
Babe City?
GUY 1
And then some.
The bartender comes over; a woman, young and attractive.
BARTENDER
Ooh, Blind Justice. I love this show. It’s so emotional.
GUY 2
Gimme a break, Maureen.
BARTENDER
What do you want from me? I like the guy . . . and the dog’s cute, too.
They all turn to the screen.
GUY 2
So turn it up already.
VOICEOVER
Blind Justice. It’ll surprise you.
So let’s play around here. Call it a combination of What If and Why Not. I’ve always liked the ads that don’t show clips from the show itself, but come at it sideways. Like the black & white promos TNT runs for Law & Order, where the major players talk into the camera about drama, and what makes the show so watchable. Had I been Queen of ABC (sigh), I would have stressed three elements: the New York flavor, the Bochco track record, and the fact that Blind Justice was different.
So let’s play in the sandbox and be advertising copywriters. Hey, we're all creative and have attitude (and opinions) to spare. Here’s my idea for a 30-second spot:
Scene, a New York City neighborhood bar: Yankees memorabilia, 9/11 pictures, the usual. Ten o’ clock, and the crowd has thinned a bit. Two working class guys are at the bar, drinking beer. Blind Justice comes on the TV over the bar.
GUY 1
Hey, Blind Justice. You seen this thing?
GUY 2
Nah. What’s it about?
GUY 1
Blind cop. Detective.
GUY 2
You’re kidding.
GUY 1
I know, it sounds hinky, but it works.
GUY 2
Yeah?
GUY 1
Hey, it’s Bochco -- you know, NYPD Blue. Great cop stuff. Kick-ass writing. And you should see this guy’s partner. Not that he can.
GUY 2
Babe City?
GUY 1
And then some.
The bartender comes over; a woman, young and attractive.
BARTENDER
Ooh, Blind Justice. I love this show. It’s so emotional.
GUY 2
Gimme a break, Maureen.
BARTENDER
What do you want from me? I like the guy . . . and the dog’s cute, too.
They all turn to the screen.
GUY 2
So turn it up already.
VOICEOVER
Blind Justice. It’ll surprise you.
