'The Big Bang Theory' sends an exploding gift to Emmy voters
Emmy campaigning has gotten boring lately. Most networks are acting too conservative, either to cut costs during dark economic times or else to be eco-friendly. Most Emmy DVD campaign packages shipped to voters these days are simple, square boxes with little adornment or ballyhoo.
Hey, whatever happened to the good old Emmy days when campaign boxes looked like milk cartons ("Everybody Hates Chris") or tablets passed down from mountaintops (ABC miniseries "The Ten Commandments")? The SciFi channel sent a white globe that opened to reveal Steven Spielberg's miniseries "Taken" inside. A springy snake once popped out of the FYC box that Fox sent out hoping to garner attention for "Mad TV." It worked, but only scored bites in the crafts categories like costumes and hair-styling.
Well, Warner Bros. Television still has the spirit -- and is tapping into the current popularity of 3D entertainment! Encouraged by the three nominations it received last year for "The Big Bang Theory" (including a best actor bid for Jim Parsons), the studio certainly got voters' attention recently by shipping a pop-up book full of scenes from the CBS sitcom. The box contained a DVD (with episodes "The Creepy Candle Coating Corollary" and "The Large Hadron Collision") and these instructions reflecting the scientific theme of the TV series:
1.) Witness amazing physics in action! The book you are holding has two small but powerful MAGNETS inside the front and back covers.
2.) Harness the ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD by opening the cover all the way until the front meets the back.
3.) There you have it! The invisible force of ELECTROMAGNETISM will hold your pop-up book open for you.
The magnets in my box didn't work, but I locked the two sides together utilizing another powerful scientific force: paper clip. (Do you think we should alert Sheldon and Leonard to this amazing discovery?)
If you'd like to see a larger view of one of the photos below, click on the image. Most (but not all) offer an expanded view.
Photo credits: "Big Bang Theory" (CBS / Warner Bros. TV); Emmy campaign book (Tom O'Neil)
RELATED LINKS:
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Inside the A&E and BIO. Emmy campaign box
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Let's peek inside HBO's Emmy campaign box
Again, Showtime ships the first campaign box to Emmy voters
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I would like to know if you guys will be selling this book in store or online ???? I would love this book for a nerdie geekie person as my self.This show was meant for all us geeks and nerds,sc-fi lovers and comic-book fans in mind thanxs
Posted by: Genesis Sainz | August 26, 2010 at 11:50 PM
Oh man I really, really want to get one of these! Too bad I'm living outside the US =(
Tom, do you know anyone who's willing to sell this set? I am so willing to pay for the postal fee and all. By the way, thanks for all the updated news, Tom!
Posted by: Greg | June 13, 2010 at 07:06 AM
wow.. didn't know Emmy voters got sent stuff either.. Guess its like the "goodie bags" at the Oscars everybody talks about
Posted by: Crystal Clifton | May 26, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I guess it's normal for emmy voters to get sent stuff, but I am not an emmy voter but I want one of these!
Posted by: Grace | May 25, 2010 at 09:47 AM
Sorry, but I still just can't change my mind about it. It's not a bribe, a blank check or whatever, but there's just something icky about it to me. Like that kid in school who holds the door for the teacher. Like that. My dad would call it apple polishing. ^^
Posted by: janey | May 24, 2010 at 07:56 PM
I wanna know how I can maneuver one of theres into my posession!
Posted by: Monica | May 24, 2010 at 04:43 PM
What an interesting way to present their submission! This show is great!
Posted by: jason park | May 24, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Wow people, chill. It's just a little something to catch the voters' interest. It's not like they sent them a blank check and are trying to bribe them.
It's not wrong to distinguish oneself from the rest.
Posted by: Pan | May 24, 2010 at 12:41 AM
Fantastic packaging of a great TV Show!
TBBT is my favorite show on TV right now. It's intellegent, nerdy, and fun.
Who do I have to kill to get one of those packages?
Can someone mail me one when they are done with it?
Jim Pook
Box 326
Tahsis, BC
Canada V0P 1X0
Posted by: Jim Pook | May 23, 2010 at 10:24 PM
Emmy voters are used to receiving this kind of stuff from studios. It is part of the game.
Posted by: jc | May 23, 2010 at 07:32 PM
Janey / Clare = I'm sorry, but you are not aloud to watch BBT anymore as CBS is instituing a intellectual limitations on all future viewings as the ads they sell are marketed towards a demographic that understands basic concepts such as, the letter is more important then the envelope. The people that actually do the voting for this are educated enough to understand that they are voting on the series and not pretty boxes... It's sort of like a jury only declaring guilt when the person is guilty, not just because they are ugly.
GBS = That is TOO CUTE! Should make a little doll version of her to scale and get on a magnet (check staples, the print department could prolly make)
Posted by: Steve | May 23, 2010 at 06:58 PM
I. WANTS. ONE.
Who do I have to bribe to get one of these? Seriously.
Posted by: Love Bug | May 23, 2010 at 06:03 PM
My hubby received it last week and my 3 year old daughter was giddy and captured it when she saw what it does. It is now sitting by her Calico Critter's Dollhouse and won't let anyone touch it. I guess she likes to play with Sheldon.
Posted by: GBS | May 23, 2010 at 05:13 PM
This is supposed to be for the best TV show, not the best marketing. I love the Big Bang Theory but I have to agree with somewhat with Janey. If I were a voter this book would make me think twice about voting for the show. This kind of stuff should definitely not be allowed.
Posted by: Clare | May 23, 2010 at 04:42 PM
If I were an emmy voter I would cross this show off the list based on this "gift box" alone.
Posted by: janey | May 23, 2010 at 02:04 PM