BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!!

[Agent Richard07]

Lost has gone into daily syndication and I see ads for the show every now and then. What do these ads contain? Clips from the first four seasons of the show (stop here if you don't want to be spoiled). These clips include the new characters and all the Dharma stuff. I think that doing that is a huge mistake. Remember how most of us reacted when we saw that something was burried under the island, or that there were other people there besides the crash survivors? These were big things. Now thanks to these ads that show everything, that element of surprise will be gone for anyone who hasn't seen the show and might want to embark on the journey. If they want to promote the show, they should only use shots from the first few episodes, that way, every little development will be a surprise.

 

[Mallet]

I agree, but let's be honest the show is so big even non-watchers must have heard some of that stuff by now. Heck, Ben was nominated for an emmy last night. Anyone who read about or saw the emmy's would then know he was a "new" character on the show and the description on him being the "leader of the Others" would give away some plot points unintentionally. I imagine it would be way to hard to stay spoiler free of such a popular show 4 years into it. Even watercooler talk at work would ruin some of the surprise.

 

[Starbreaker]

I think the cat's out of the bag that this isn't just a survival on an island type of show. I do agree with you though.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Yeah, I agree with both of you. It's pretty much impossible that most non-watchers wouldn't have heard anything about new characters or Dharma or this other stuff. Just being around family or out in public on Thursday mornings without hearing about last night's episode of Lost is like trying to avoid spoilers for the new Harry Potter book the day after it comes out (though it can be done, if one gives up the Internet and going outdoors until you've finished reading the book). Of course some people may have groups of friends, family, and co-workers that don't watch the show, but then they have likely seen commercials for upcoming episodes, information about it online, or even just the cover of TV Guide.

But then you do have some people who choose to remain oblivious to this sort of thing. In Gen. TV & Media I have seen a couple of people bring up Lost who clearly have no knowledge of what the show is really about. However, these are usually people who automatically disliked the show because of it's popularity and have been avoiding information about it for that reason, so they aren't likely to start watching the syndicated episodes anyway.

But, I still think that the commercials for the syndicated show should only show clips from the most recent syndicated episode aired, like the new episodes do. Friends does a good job of this - you will see commercials for the upcoming syndicated episode containing only clips from past episodes and the one about to air. As for advertising watching the syndicated episodes in general, I really do believe they should stick to clips of the first one or two, maybe three episodes. That's what got us original viewers hooked in the first place, isn't it? I only needed to see previews of the pilot and I knew I wanted to start watching it.

 

[broberfett]

Lost has gone into daily syndication and I see ads for the show every now and then. What do these ads contain? Clips from the first four seasons of the show (stop here if you don't want to be spoiled). These clips include the new characters and all the Dharma stuff. I think that doing that is a huge mistake. Remember how most of us reacted when we saw that something was burried under the island, or that there were other people there besides the crash survivors? These were big things. Now thanks to these ads that show everything, that element of surprise will be gone for anyone who hasn't seen the show and might want to embark on the journey. If they want to promote the show, they should only use shots from the first few episodes, that way, every little development will be a surprise.

I also notice that they put the reruns opposite of Heroes and the Sarah Conner Chronicles. I record a few other shows, so there was no room on the recorder since I only get two channels at once. I've never seen it, but I'm missing it again. I have also heard that they string you along, never really revealing the secrets in satisfactory way.

 

[Starbreaker]

That's not entirely true. The show has evolved and is constantly revealing things while asking new questions. There are a few mysteries that have been held since day one, but the rest is entertaining enough that you can look past it. I think I can wait two more years for answers.

Anyway, I do believe that all four seasons are available for streaming (even in HD) at ABC.com

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I agree, but let's be honest the show is so big even non-watchers must have heard some of that stuff by now.

Yeah. The producers want to make sure that viewers don't bail due to the phenomenon that we all experienced - either personally or reading the complaints of others - while we were watching the episodes in first run - the suspicion that they're going nowhere with this stuff. Since that suspicion did not pan out, why should they suffer just because viewers are impatient. "Here, it goes somewhere, so just frakkin watch!"

I have also heard that they string you along, never really revealing the secrets in satisfactory way.

No, they're revealing plenty of stuff, while increasing the complications, so it's a mixed bag. But there's a good reason why Lost S4 got another Emmy nomination for Best Drama - it's definitely as good as the season they won for, and I think it's better (frakkin Mad Men ).

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

This is one of those things where it sounds logical to say "preserve the secrets"..... except that it's been proven time and time again, that showing people secrets and twists actually gets people more interested in the properties.

There are a lot of movie trailers which you can deduce the whole main plotline and twists just by watching the trailer.... and a lot of these movies do WELL. People like to know what they're getting into and get a good reasonable asumption that they're going to enjoy it. Most of time, if you're vague, the general audience won't even give you a chance to begin with to learn the secrets.

It's a balancing act, but hardcore fans put way way way more stock in preserving secrets.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

There are a lot of movie trailers which you can deduce the whole main plotline and twists just by watching the trailer.... and a lot of these movies do WELL.

It constantly amazes me the kind of garbage movies that do well. Financial success proves nothing. If a movie has worthwhile plot twists, I want to see them as the writers intended me to. I don't want the marketing monkeys spoiling the writers' hard work before I even have a chance to appreciate it. If the writers are any good, it's an insult to them.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

On the other hand, "show the secret, but you don't know how important a secret it is, or even if it is a secret" sometimes is effective, if only subconsciously (see also the first 4 minutes of Season 2 for a great example).