“CBS has committed to shoot a comedy pilot called ‘Genius Bar,’ written by two former producers of ‘That ’70s Show,'” Nellie Andreeva reports for The Hollywood Reporter.
“Based on an idea by consumer marketing expert Krishnan Menon, the project explores the interactions between people who work at a place similar to the Genius Bar at the Apple stores and the cool, hip and beautiful employees at a nearby Abercrombie & Fitch-type store,” Andreeva reports.
Andreeva reports, “The pitch, from writers Josh Sternin and Jeff Ventimilia, drew strong interest from ABC, CBS and NBC and — after some spirited bidding — landed at CBS.”
Full article here.
If they have a “Genius Bar” show inspired by Apple Retail Stores and they end up “selling” Dells and Zunes due to hefty product placement checks from Dull and Mafiasoft, we will…
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Phew! Okay:
Listen, all we have to say (for now) is that they had better be selling Macs and iPods in that store. Apple should do whatever it takes to make sure they are “selling” Apple products in this show (especially in case it’s a hit).
Related articles:
Wired’s Kahney: Apple’s retail stores are genius – May 02, 2006
Mac Geniuses are the soul of the growing network of Apple retail stores – January 27, 2005
Apple SoHo morphing into Genius Pickup Bar? – November 17, 2004
Lame. The show is too premise-based already, suggesting they’re going to have to get dumb and/or hoakey to stay alive. Dumb and hoakey doesn’t last. And dome and hoakey doesn’t do Apple any good– this is not the sort of brand that seeks affiliation with the latest gag.
Of course, with the way Apple legal is lately, they will probably hit the show with a bunch of cease and desist letters and restraining orders demanding that they call they show something else and don’t show apple products.
The company had better start watching that dumb a$$ed legal tactics or they might start blowing their good PR and public acclaim. They might have gotten away with that ten years ago when they were the underdog on the verge of extinction, but these mafia$oft legal blustering will cost them public goodwill in a few years when they come out numero uno.
assuage
Calling people names have never change anyone’s opinion. You had an excellent point but the idiot bit blew.
B-Sabre. I understand how it works. I was in advertising for years.
But, it may not work when used as a name for a Tv show. There are several reasons. One is that a satire is allowed. If this show can be presented as being that, which is certainly could be, then Apple can’t do anything. As long as the name Apple isn’t used, then there might not be a case.
Don’t forget that entertainment laywers are VERY aware of copyright, and trademark violations. If this is even true, then it was likely vetted first.
Actually, it doesn’t matter how the people are presented, as long as they are not portrayed as being venial, it won’t matter.
Besides, the people doing this worked on campains for Apple. It’s unlikely they are intending to do something that will make Apple look bad. It’s going to be about the people Apple wants, the young and beautiful. Even if they are silly.
Apple would probably do well to see that they have product placement here. They might not even have to pay for it.
Sounds like a very boring show, unless there is more to it. Probably won’t make it past the pilot anyway. And IANAL, but I’ll bet they won’t be able to call it Genius Bar anyway, so this is a non-issue.
The only good show on TV! Denny Crane!
At first this sounded interesting to me, from the point of view of yet another ex-Mac genius. But knowing it’s coming from the “70s Show” folks, and that this show highlights the interactions with the young, cool, beautiful employees from Abercrombie & Fitch… well that just exceeded my willing suspension of disbelief.
In an actual Apple Store, the only other mall employees you’ll regularly see are the kiosk folks, who need to use the bathroom, and the food court workers, if you have to eat there. Retail work is, for young and older employees alike, something to be survived. It’s 8+ hours on your feet, dealing with about 10% really nice folks, 10% really nasty folks, and the rest mostly want to be left alone. There are interesting, recurring characters/customers, some of them with compelling or touching stories, who we can get attached to. There are the rare few who threaten our lives (yes, really) because they dropped their laptop in the tub and insist that the warranty cover the $1500 tab.
As far as hangin’ with the cool folks from the cool store, it doesn’t happen. Still, TV is fantasy, and having hot (presumably young–this is TV) women visit for a friendly, flirty chat, and not be turned off by the thick air of geekiness is a nice fantasy. Oh yeah, the writers etter get rid of most of the customers because they’d get in the way of most of those plots. If a customer has to walk in and sign up to talk to me two to four hours later, there’s no way I could take ten minutes and chat with the girl on her break from another store. The people in line are acutely aware who has been waiting how long, and complain loudly if they think they’re being skipped.
As far as the other realities, remember this is just a pilot the network has financed. Even with the producers’ pedigree, the odds of it making air are against it. And really, what’s the story arc for the series? One geek pines for one babe (hello, Ross and Rachel) and we all wait for the series finale when they drive off, married, nearly penniless, in his used Yugo?
I suppose I’m being harsh. A great writing team could make this very interesting, but I believe they’d have to break a lot of stereotypes to do it. You do get a very diverse mix of people in an Apple-like store. Like the time I sold a bunch of equipment to a couple of guys who were starting a porn site. Or the times I helped out plain-clothes men of the cloth. Or the priest/reverend/whatever who came in with his collar on, and still cussed us out. I suppose there is a fair bit of gold to mine in an upscale retail store, when it comes to storytelling. One thing for sure, it won’t be anything like the real thing. Thank goodness.
Hey there, Sweetie! Is this where I can purchase one of them new Banana Jr.’s?
I’m afraid it will end up as a “geeks meet chics” story. Anybody remember Dweebs? “Let’s all laugh at the nerdy guy who has to work with the hot babe and doesn’t know how to ask her out.”
It’s funny a couple of times. That’s about it.
“Let’s all laugh at the nerdy guy who has to work with the hot babe “
In case you hadn’t guessed, the nerdy guys will be on the Genius Bar and the Hot Babes will be from Abercrombie and Fitch…
The story won’t be true to life, because the guys at the fake Genius bar will actually know something about computers, and the hot babes will actually show some interest in them.
sitcom,
You say that there should be a Victoria Secret next door rather than A&F.
In Sacramento, the Victoria Secret is next door.
Do people still watch TV?