WrapUp: Social Media & The Presidential Election
November 1, 2008 by Bill Sobel · Leave a Comment
Mike Germano of Carrot Creative and Rachel Sterne of GroundReport (a Howard Greenstein photo)
Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in our event on Thursday night “Social Media & Presidential Politics” the first one in a series of programs NY:MIEG will be producing in partnership with The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York. Read more
ScribeMedia: How the Web Has ‘Democratized’ the Comedy Business
October 28, 2008 by Bill Sobel · Leave a Comment
Thanks to the folks at TrylonSMR, ScribeMedia.org, an online media production company with an editorial section that covers events across a broad range of subject areas, featured an audio podcast on the comedy breakfast featuring Sarah Bernard, President of 236.com from our “Comedy & Media Breakfast” last week at Samsung.
“Dying is easy, comedy is hard.” Sir Donald Wolfit, British actor and director, was reputed to have said these words on his deathbed. Who knows if dying is easy? But in a digital age comedy is getting easier, what with the countless outlets online for existing comedians to build an audience and aspiring comedians to find one. Read more
From NYConvergence: “What’s Funny Online”
October 23, 2008 by Bill Sobel · Leave a Comment
- Jane Borden, Sarah Bernard, Sam Reich, Fred Graver, Lou Wallach (photo courtesy of Bill Cammack)
Panelists Discuss What’s Funny Online
This morning at the Samsung Experience in the Time Warner Center, Fred Graver, best known for his role in the creation of VH1’s Best Week Ever, Sarah Bernard, president of 23/6, Sam Reich, director of original content at College Humor, and Lou Wallach, senior vice president, original programming and development at Comedy Central, discussed comedy and media on a panel moderated by Time Out New York’s Jane Borden for the New York: Media Information Exchange Group (NY:MIEG).
The panelists covered a number of topics such as Sarah Palin’s selection as John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate and how the selection has benefited comedy writers, how comedy works differently on the Internet, and the age demographic of visitors to online comedy Web sites.
All of the panelists agreed that Palin’s selection has been “comedy gold.” Reich noted that College Humor’s first forway into political humor was a trailer about a fake Disney movie based on her life to date. Bernard called her the “story that keeps on giving.”
Graver emphasized how the Internet has changed the rules and Wallach said that there’s no barrier to entry into getting your comedy in front of audiences thanks to the Internet. Reich noted that Internet audiences and television audiences are very different though. Apparently, focus groups for College Humor’s upcoming show on MTV found the skits based on their office more appealing than anything else in the original pilot.
There was some controversy when Reich talked about how it’s hard to appeal to women with online comedy Web sites. Bernard quickly shot him down, pointing out that his Web site doesn’t make the effort with its regular feature highlighting scantily-clad, college-age women.
(Editor’s Note: NY:MIEG is a client of Trylon SMR.)
“Pencils Down: An Evening with America’s Funniest Writers” on Oct 20th
October 17, 2008 by Bill Sobel · 1 Comment
My new friend, Sarah Bernard of 236.com will be speaking on our panel on October 23rd “Comedy & Media” However, she wanted me to invite you to an event they are producing on Monday night, October 20th
23/6 and Indecision2008.com present…PENCILS DOWN: an evening with America’s funniest writers
23/6 and Indecision2008.com are teaming up to present a special night of comedy and conversation at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in New York. Please join us on Monday, October 20 for “PENCILS DOWN: America’s Funniest Writers Talk Seriously About Politics,” a panel discussion featuring writers from 23/6, Indecision 2008, the Onion and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and moderated by MSNBC’s Dan Abrams. For one night, these writers will step out from behind their laptops for a lively conversation about their work and their own political views. Read more
