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Television network admits it lied about unauthorized biography (Sci Fi Channel-Shyamalan-Village)
CNN Website ^

Posted on 07/17/2004 8:50:22 AM PDT by Jalapeno

Television network admits it lied about unauthorized biography

Saturday, July 17, 2004 Posted: 12:37 AM EDT (0437 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Sci Fi Channel admitted that it lied last month in claiming it was at odds with filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and was making an unauthorized biography about his "buried secret."

The hoax was part of a "guerilla marketing campaign" that went too far, network president Bonnie Hammer said Friday.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: medialies; scifichannel
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"This marketing strategy is not consistent with our policy at NBC,"

Yeah right. This is also out of th Moore playbook. People eat this stuff up.

1 posted on 07/17/2004 8:50:22 AM PDT by Jalapeno
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To: Jalapeno

Next thing you know, someone is going to say that the Blair Witch Project wasn't really made by three college students who disappeared in Maryland.


2 posted on 07/17/2004 8:55:55 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (You can lead a liberal to the facts but you can't make him think.)
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To: Jalapeno

And this surprises who...?

They did the same thing with a faux documentary about the Blair Witch Project and backstory like 5 years ago.


3 posted on 07/17/2004 8:56:33 AM PDT by Gefreiter ("Ignorance is king. Many would not prosper by its abdication.")
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To: Jalapeno

How is this different from other Hollyweird hijinks? Hey a rapper can make lyrics talking about abortion babies and get fired from his radio station (his CD coming out soon). Paris Hilton's sex tape,etc.


4 posted on 07/17/2004 8:59:11 AM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Jalapeno

I just got the Sci Fi channel after wanting it for a long time.

It was perfectly obvious that the promo was a spoof; I can't imagine anyone thinking otherwise.

But, hey, more pub for the movie.


5 posted on 07/17/2004 9:04:02 AM PDT by altura
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To: cyborg
You know, slightly unrelated, but there are people who absolutely can not believe that the audio portion of the Macy's Day Parade is taped...they will argue with you how 'they' would never do that. If you've been to Herald Square on that day, you will see that even the speaking portions by the actors are taped.
6 posted on 07/17/2004 9:07:36 AM PDT by Jalapeno
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To: Jalapeno

Sheesh! Now what am I going to do with all this popcorn and beer? Next thing ya know they'll be saying that wrestling is choreographed. Oh, the heartbreak of it all . . .(slaps head)


7 posted on 07/17/2004 9:09:21 AM PDT by Eastbound
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To: Jalapeno

I was a balloon handler at the parade once. The announcer dude directing the floats cussed a blue streak *LOL* Glad I wasn't there when Sonic the Hedgehog took out a lamppost.


8 posted on 07/17/2004 9:09:52 AM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Jalapeno

I saw previews for this movie. There is a Village surrounded by woods that no one can leave because of an agreement with mysterious creatures that live in the woods. Let me go out on a limb and conjecture that everyone is the Village turns out to be dead--they only think they're alive. Wouldn't that be totally unexpected? (wink, wink)


9 posted on 07/17/2004 9:19:56 AM PDT by rbg81
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To: cyborg; Eastbound
Seems to me Sonic smacked the lampost on CPW near Columbus Circle. I liked siting on the park wall near there, but not that year. Quite a tragedy that was.

And I assure you wrestling is real. No way "The Rock" could be faking so much raw emotion in those interviews....

10 posted on 07/17/2004 9:28:48 AM PDT by Jalapeno
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To: rbg81
That movie was called The Others, with Nicole Kidman.

At least, I hope that's not also the idea behind The Village. I've been looking forward to it, and if that turns out to be the secret, I won't know who to be madder at - Shyamalan for ripping off The Others, or you for spoiling it... ;-)

11 posted on 07/17/2004 9:30:25 AM PDT by Dr. Frank fan
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To: Jalapeno

hehehe I think the Rock is the real deal unlike that steaming pile of jabroni Effing Kerry ;-)


12 posted on 07/17/2004 9:31:03 AM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Dr. Frank fan

Truthfully, I have no idea what the twist will be (or if there even will be one). But I was ticked since I thought the Others has basically the same surprise ending as the Sixth Sense (which meant the "surprise" had lost its punch). I would hate to think he would have the gaul to use the same twist a 3rd time (but who knows). I was also disappointed with Signs (aliens who've mastered interstellar travel can't seem to figure out door knobs). Unless The Village gets really great reviews, I will likely wait till its out in DVD to watch it.


13 posted on 07/17/2004 9:37:39 AM PDT by rbg81
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To: altura

It was obvious it was a spoof when the Raven flew out of the room when they opened the door..

But I could easily see dense people (and there are a lot of them) believing it was a "real" documentary.


14 posted on 07/17/2004 9:38:13 AM PDT by Strategerist
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To: rbg81

Oh, there's a twist.

I have a feeling this one will simply PO people rather than amaze them.


15 posted on 07/17/2004 9:39:24 AM PDT by Strategerist
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To: Gefreiter
My husband and I saw a program on the "Blair Witch Project" before we realized it was a movie, and we thought it was real.

As soon as the program was over we ran to the Internet to find out more on the back story only to find out it was a movie. I thought it was an extremely good marketing campaign.

16 posted on 07/17/2004 9:40:20 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: Jalapeno

You know this is really funny, last night I was commenting to my wife about how much this "documentary" is nothing but hype to build this Shyamalan guy up. Get his name out there and what do you know.. all of the sudden he releases a movie.


17 posted on 07/17/2004 9:41:32 AM PDT by eXe (The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war)
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To: Jalapeno

Well!

How disappointing.

If you can't believe TV, what can you believe any more?



18 posted on 07/17/2004 9:45:45 AM PDT by TomGuy (After 20 years in the Senate, all Kerry has to run on is 4 months of service in Viet Nam.)
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To: rbg81
It's Shyamalan so it's a pretty safe bet there will be some twist ending. :) However, I'd be really surprised (not in a good way) if he were to pull "they turn out to be dead!" out of his hat again. I have to admit though, based on the previews - and assuming there will be some twist - that's as good a guess as I can come up with. It actually does make some sense... the village turns out to be a historically preserved site, it's actually present day, and they turn out to be all ghosts who still haunt the place and don't understand who's "outside"... If 6th Sense and The Others hadn't already been made, this would have been a pretty good plot for a freaky horror movie.
19 posted on 07/17/2004 9:50:01 AM PDT by Dr. Frank fan
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To: Dr. Frank fan; rbg81

Shyamalan was behind "The Sixth Sense". He's already done the "dead-thinking-they're-alive" thing. I doubt he'd do it again.


20 posted on 07/17/2004 10:04:36 AM PDT by 4mycountry ("Change?" "Yes, I think I did!" - 'Monk' TV show)
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