The Afternoon Report, December 8, 2008

This information, called The Afternoon Report, is provided by a daily email blast from the publicity firm of Boneau Bryan-Brown, which maintains this blog. This feature doesn't run daily but whenever The Afternoon Report seems to point out articles of interest.


More Spam? Python website relaunched
Chortle, the UK Comedy Guide
“Eric Idle is reviving the Monty Python website to exploit the group’s back catalogue. As well as news and forums, the relaunched Pythonline will offer clips of old material which fans can use to make ‘mash-up’ videos of their own. The move follows the recent launch of a YouTube channel to showcase the group’s work, which has attracted 1.1million views. Idle, who was behind the Spamalot musical and even dubbed his own live tour Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python, is the driving force behind the site. The other Pythons will not be taking an active role, although they will benefit from the royalties. He told the New York Times: ‘What we have is a brand, a franchise. We created this name that exists, and everyone knows what it means and we should be grateful to our younger selves that we own it all. Idle, who is also working on a book about Python’s touring days, intends to officially relaunch Pythonline later this month, although it has already gone live."
So smart. They'll live forever because they're just genius.


Case Study: Social Networking
Strategist.org.uk
“It’s an interesting discussion about how the Broadway musical, First Wives Club is using social networking to build a fan base, and an audience for the musical. What I learned? For the right target market, making the effort to build and manage a social network absolutely makes sense. [Included in this article] is the case study in its entirety.”
This is fascinating -- here is a selection from the story:

The venture began when Jonas Neilson and his partner Paul Lambert acquired the rights to produce a Broadway musical based on the 1996 film “First Wives Club.”

In the process of reinterpreting the movie for the stage, the duo ran a series of focus groups with divorced women. Unlike typical focus groups, champagne was served.

“It was really kind of interesting, because they were more like cocktail parties,” says Neilson, it wasn’t long into each session before the ladies were laughing, crying and exchanging business cards. “There was an unspoken bond between the women. They had a commonality which immediately created a sense of belonging to the group.”

There was a real need there that wasn’t being met online, says Neilson, for women to connect with other people who were going through the same experience.

Over time, the site morphed into a destination for divorced women to find networking, resources and entertainment, such as “Hot Flashes,” a fictional blog by Mimi Schmir, a writer who has written for “Grey’s Anatomy,” that take a humorous look at failed marriages.

‘Shrek the Musical’ Has Fresh Website and New Social Networking Site, “Shrekster”
Playbill.com – by Kenneth Jones
“In addition to the website proper, the there is also a comic (but real) social networking site for theatre fans, Shrekster (a spin on Friendster or Facebook) at shrekster.com. Shrekster was launched on Nov. 7 in association with BroadwayWorld.com. Shrekster "allows fans to build their own profile, connect with other people who love the theatre, and find out more about the characters and story of Shrek the Musical.”
Not ugly at all, I guess.

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