The word is out. The Twitter account ShitMyDadSays is going to broadcast. And it’s not the first Twitter sensation to land a TV show. In May, we reported that networks might be developing a series based on Twitter. And back in September it was announced that Texts From Last Night is being picked up by Fox.
These account holders are selling out. I don’t think their followers will follow them over to the boob tube. Here’s why:
1. Censoring. How are they going to get away with saying the F-word on prime time? Maybe they’ll take lessons from Battle Star Galatica and make up a new word. Frak? Uh, not so riveting anymore.
2. Lost in translation. Voice to text then back to voice again. Yeah, both ShitMyDadSays and Texts From Last Night originated as something that supposedly happened in real life. But the humor is in the short tweet delivery. Build a 23-minute (I’m giving them a 7-minute commercial break) story around things like, “she sang that ‘this little piggy song’ to my balls. and somehow made it work, with me only having two balls instead of five.” That alone is funny. I really don’t want to know the whole story around it. Or, “If mom calls, tell her I’m shitting… Son, marriage is about not having to lie about taking a shit.” Are you laughing? I am. But I wouldn’t be watching an old man walking into a bathroom. TMI.
3. Too much of a good thing. These accounts have a ton of followers because people get a good laugh once a day or so. Cram it into a half-hour segment every week and it’ll get old fast.
4. Wrong audience. Who’s reading this on Twitter? The largest users are 30-plus-somethings. Who’s watching TV? According to a study on the big networks released last year, it’s 50-plusers. I’m not sure my dad would think someone of my generation making a mockery out of what he said is funny.
5. Wrong message. Sure, most sitcoms are simply a bunch of one-off jokes somehow wrapped into a short story. I can’t think of many interesting stories around a guy living with his dad. Seems pretty depressing to me. Texts From Last Night isn’t any better. It’d be like one big party. A bunch of kids going out every night. What kind of message does that send our youth?
Will Justin keep tweeting quotes once his show airs? I would think he’s save all his material for the show. So all those 742,593 readers (as of today) will have to find something else to laugh at. Or maybe he’d still tweet and save the best material for TV, turning his Twitter stream into a second string. In either case, both ShitMyDadSays and Texts From Last Night have jumped the shark.
How long before you stop following?
Update: The link and quote for Texts From Last Night above were originally posted incorrectly. They have now been corrected.
Sarah Jo Sautter
Comments
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I think the show will be a huge flop. In my eyes, it’s just an [yet another] example of the big corporation trying to be apart of “what these young kids are doing.” They’re going about it all wrong. As you mentioned, 140 character tweets will not translate into a sitcom, especially being censored.
As far as when I’ll stop following? Who knows, it depends on if/when the tv show sucks the genuine appeal out of Twitter content.
When my dad saw this he said “fuck off”.
It appears that Ms. Sautter does not have the correct information in regards to her referencing Texts From Last Night in her article. Not only does she link the incorrect Twitter account for TFLN, it appears that she is misinformed as to the purpose of their REAL account (twitter.com/TFLN). Texts From Last Night operates their own website which not only publishes an abundance of content but attracts hordes of viewers daily. Their Twitter account is merely a social networking presence that highlights one of the daily texts published.
For accuracy’s sake, I would hope that the author and/or website issues a correction for this article.
To set the record straight for those who might be misinformed as a result of this article, here are the proper links for Texts From Last Night:
http://textsfromlastnight.com — website
http://twitter.com/TFLN — Twitter
Phillip: Thanks for pointing out the correct URLs. They have been corrected above. The imposters got me.
It’s like “rude tube” – c4 in the uk, a feeder fish around the big shark that is youtube – producers will make their money on the back of big websites, but they will never be a roaring success. Trying to recreate humour and phenomenon rarely work, but they will more than break even in a business sense.
It’s all just the merging of the internet culture with the tv, give it 10 years and they will be two of the same thing, or at least more synchronous.
Woody: I agree with your prediction. We’re already experiencing it with being able to watch shows online and with shows producing web-only exclusives.
No doubt it will only increase!
Youv’e been framed is a nice example – would think itv would have pushed this more though…definately deserves its own domain at least!
Will this last longer than the Geico caveman show?
Matt: I predict not, but the fans will be the ones to judge. I don’t think it will sit well with the current followers. So, they’ll have to work hard to pick up a new set for broadcast.
.Sarah Jo