WWTBAM Bored

I was perusing the web today, and I read a story on msnbc entitled "YouBoom", about everyday people whose video blogs went viral on YouTube, and then they turned them into moneymaking machines.

The little blurb mentioned two of them.

One was a woman named Michelle Phan whose makeup tutorials became a sensation, and she was able to sign deals with Lancome and also a Hollywood talent agency.

I figured "OK- that makes sense- the lady is offering a service to people, and I can see her becoming popular. kudos to her".

But the other "YouTube star" they mentioned was a family who started a video blog called "The Shaytards" in 2007. A million people watch them regularly, and they've signed ad deals which bring in $15-$20K a month.

To put it bluntly, their "vlog" is nothing more than the family just doing a bunch of silly shit.

Why in the WORLD would a million people find that compelling?

Are we THAT bored today?

One word: Kardashian

We are in a world where fame is valuable. For whatever sick reason, once somebody becomes famous then whatever they do (even nothing) is of interest. With the availability of instant exposure to millions of 'fans' it doesn't take much to get the ball rolling. Millions of fans means huge amounts of exposure - and that kind of exposure is valuable. Once it reached this point, it doesn't matter if the fame is based on anything - it's popular, just because it's popular.

The K's are a perfect example of how easy it can be. It started with Kim being 'known' since she was a hanger-on to Paris Hilton (Another nobody who is famous, but that's another rant). Kim does an amateur porn flick and since she is already known to millions it goes viral. She has arrived. She is famous. Millions of the sheepeople will look at whatever she does - making whatever she does have a huge value to advertisers. It doesn't matter that she has never done anything, she is famous. By attrition, her family is famous. Now the whole clan can generate millions of dollars of income even though only Bruce Jenner and the now deceased Mr. K were the only ones who have ever really done anything of value.

Let's face it, If Kim K. had never hung out with Paris, or if she had never done a sex tape, she would just be another short, pretty girl with a fat ass.

But Hey! She's FAMOUS! That has GOT to be worth something. Right? The only talent I can award to the entire Kardashian clan is that they do have the ability to manage their 15 minutes of fame into a long-term run. I guess that's worth something.

A test: How many of us reading this thread will now look up "The Shaytards"? Every click will make them that much more famous.

jaybee wrote:A test: How many of us reading this thread will now look up "The Shaytards"? Every click will make them that much more famous.

I've managed to resist that temptation so far. --Bob

Jeemie wrote: To put it bluntly, their "vlog" is nothing more than the family just doing a bunch of silly shit.

Why in the WORLD would a million people find that compelling?

And why do 2,000,000 people follow the Shitards while only 2,000 people have seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzYWNkMRDyI

silverscreenselect wrote:And why do 2,000,000 people follow the Shitards while only 2,000 people have seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzYWNkMRDyI

Because people like you are posting a blind link to the video without one word about what it's about or why we should watch it, and people like us know people like you?

Jeemie wrote:I was perusing the web today, and I read a story on msnbc entitled "YouBoom", about everyday people whose video blogs went viral on YouTube, and then they turned them into moneymaking machines.

The little blurb mentioned two of them.

One was a woman named Michelle Phan whose makeup tutorials became a sensation, and she was able to sign deals with Lancome and also a Hollywood talent agency.

I figured "OK- that makes sense- the lady is offering a service to people, and I can see her becoming popular. kudos to her".

But the other "YouTube star" they mentioned was a family who started a video blog called "The Shaytards" in 2007. A million people watch them regularly, and they've signed ad deals which bring in $15-$20K a month.

To put it bluntly, their "vlog" is nothing more than the family just doing a bunch of silly shit.

Why in the WORLD would a million people find that compelling?

Are we THAT bored today?

Call it the re-democratization of the mass entertainment market.

I haven't seen any of these, because I'm not a habitual Youtube watcher, but I can see why such a niche market would arise. Why is watching a family do silly shit somehow more condemnable than watching Wipeout!, or Survivor, or Millionaire? Even some of today's most popular scripted series, like, say, The Walking Dead, have little to redeem them other than high quality production values and polished acting. I'm sure there are those who can explain to me the deeper themes of these shows, but even when I do see ones that seem worthwhile, they seem like repeats of series I've seen before.

Penny dreadfuls, dime novels, pulp fiction, comic books, fanfic, soap operas, telenovelas, pornography, true crime, gossip mags -- just a few of the things that predate the web that probably got the same indignant response from people who didn't "get it."

mrkelley23 wrote:

Jeemie wrote:I was perusing the web today, and I read a story on msnbc entitled "YouBoom", about everyday people whose video blogs went viral on YouTube, and then they turned them into moneymaking machines.

The little blurb mentioned two of them.

One was a woman named Michelle Phan whose makeup tutorials became a sensation, and she was able to sign deals with Lancome and also a Hollywood talent agency.

I figured "OK- that makes sense- the lady is offering a service to people, and I can see her becoming popular. kudos to her".

But the other "YouTube star" they mentioned was a family who started a video blog called "The Shaytards" in 2007. A million people watch them regularly, and they've signed ad deals which bring in $15-$20K a month.

To put it bluntly, their "vlog" is nothing more than the family just doing a bunch of silly shit.

Why in the WORLD would a million people find that compelling?

Are we THAT bored today?

Call it the re-democratization of the mass entertainment market.

I haven't seen any of these, because I'm not a habitual Youtube watcher, but I can see why such a niche market would arise. Why is watching a family do silly shit somehow more condemnable than watching Wipeout!, or Survivor, or Millionaire? Even some of today's most popular scripted series, like, say, The Walking Dead, have little to redeem them other than high quality production values and polished acting. I'm sure there are those who can explain to me the deeper themes of these shows, but even when I do see ones that seem worthwhile, they seem like repeats of series I've seen before.

Penny dreadfuls, dime novels, pulp fiction, comic books, fanfic, soap operas, telenovelas, pornography, true crime, gossip mags -- just a few of the things that predate the web that probably got the same indignant response from people who didn't "get it."

Some people just never will "get it".....

lb13

littlebeast13 wrote:Some people just never will "get it".....

lb13

Found it!

littlebeast13 wrote:. . .

Some people just never will "get it".....

lb13

This avatar will last a very short time because it is so awful, not to mention it will not win.

SportsFan68 wrote:

littlebeast13 wrote:. . .

Some people just never will "get it".....

lb13

This avatar will last a very short time because it is so awful, not to mention it will not win.

I rest my case.....

lb13

MarleysGh0st wrote:

silverscreenselect wrote:And why do 2,000,000 people follow the Shitards while only 2,000 people have seen this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzYWNkMRDyI

Because people like you are posting a blind link to the video without one word about what it's about or why we should watch it, and people like us know people like you?

OKay:



If you watch, here's a spoiler:

Spoiler

Nine