Lost, Jack Bauer and Simon Cowell: the End of TV as we know it | MarketingInProgress.com by Brett Duncan

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What No More Lost, Jack Bauer or Simon Cowell Really Means

On May 25, 2010, in Uncategorized, by Brett Duncan

Pardon me if this seems a bit off-topic.

It’s just hard to not reap something out of the end of one of the most significant events in pop culture which is happening before our eyes. Since Sunday, we’ve seen the end of Lost, 24 and Simon Cowell‘s spot on the American Idol panel.

Seriously, think about this.

24 changed the way to think about what’s possible with a full season. Lost completely revolutionized the idea of what a “cult following” can truly mean. Simon Cowell showed us the importance of being a real prick.

And now they’re all gone.

It’s just amazing that it’s all happening at once. It truly feels like the end of TV as we know it.

Now, if I have to apply some marketing lessons to take from all of this, consider these, and add your own in the comments:

Before Lost and 24, watching a full season on DVD really wasn’t a smart option. It was available, but it was little more than archiving. The storylines and formats of these shows not only made it a good idea to get the DVDs, but in most cases it’s actually preferred. The shows were produced with sales of the DVDs and, later, the iTunes downloads in mind. Watching it on programmed TV was just icing. These shows pioneered how to mold your show to the growing trends.
Simon Cowell showed us how leadership really works. Randy and Paula and Kara and Ellen are all just preambles to whatever Simon says. And why did we listen to him? It’s not cuz we knew any songs he’d ever played, or produced, or thought he was good looking, or anything like that. It’s because he spoke with authority and unapologetically. People will follow that (and their votes will follow).
Ignore conventional wisdom. None of these shows followed the status quo. They all took risks. They all did things that led to raving fans, and they also did things that pissed off their fans. And that’s what happens when you push the limits.

I said goodebye to good music about 8 years ago. I’m now bidding adieu to quality TV.