One of the advantages to being 31-year-old show-runners is that you can utilize your intimate relationship with the internet to effectively promote your show. That's what Carter Bays and Craig Thomas have been doing with How I Met Your Mother. First, it was Barney's Blog. Then it was the MySpace page for Robin Sparkles, complete with music video. Now, according to The New York Times, Bays and Thomas will be using MySpace again tonight, showing viewers scenes of Marshall's bachelor party that are too "racy" to be shown on TV. The deleted scene will be shown on the program's own MySpace page.Bays and Thomas are using the internet because, as Thomas put it, "We're more like an NBC Thursday night comedy... but we happen to be on CBS. So how do we let young people know about our show if they're not watching the other shows on the network?"
Fair enough; the show, which is very much on the renewal bubble, needs as much audience as it can get. And, according to the article, it gained a million viewers after the Robin Sparkles page was passed around MySpace, starting minutes after portions of the goofy video were shown on the classic "Slap Bet" episode last November.
In other Mother news, Matt Webb Mitovitch of TVGuide.com has a pretty good interview with Bays, and he asks the inevitable question about the show's renewal prospects. "Oh, I feel very good about it. I'm not worried," Bays told him. "It is nerve-racking, like waiting to get asked to the prom, but I think this show has such a strong fan base and it's been getting such good responses...." I sure as hell hope Bays is right. HIMYM has been one of my favorite shows this season, and it deserves another shot, just to see how the guys execute the plan they have for the show, something Bays talked to me about in January. I mean, when CBS is coming up with dreck like Rules of Engagement, they have no excuse to cancel something as fresh and funny as Mother, do they?
[Times article via CNET... thanks to dinges for the tip. TVGuide.com article via Pop Candy.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-09-2007 @ 12:50PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Thanks Joel,
I now AGAIN have Lets Go To The Mall stuck in my head.
Reply
4-09-2007 @ 1:51PM
Darren said...
HIMYM better be renewed, it is so fresh, funny and worthwhile. I can't imagine what CBS is thinking if they do cancel it. Even if they say next year is the last year (already) that would be OK, but as long as we get closure for the show.
Please watch and keep this show alive
Reply
4-09-2007 @ 2:25PM
mike m said...
all I can say Akbar is....
"Everybody come and play, Lets go to the MALLLLLL today!"
These guys sure have a way of making entertainment that is memorable.
Joel, a question for you: If HIMYM doesn't get renewed, any chance Bays' comments about the whole NBC thing is him courting the other networks?
Reply
4-09-2007 @ 5:42PM
KMF said...
I tell ya Mondays are liveable for the sole reason that it means I get to see HIMYM. I think because of the ages of those running the show, it hits on culture points I understand more than any other show.
Reply
4-09-2007 @ 4:19PM
Nick said...
THis show is the highlight of the week for me. THe only reason I like monday nights is because of Barney. I don't get why peopel don't watch this show.
Reply
4-09-2007 @ 7:56PM
Ryan said...
"Come on Jessica... Come on Tory..."
If it were possible, I would have this show's babies.
Reply