Amy Poehler’s ‘Smart Girls’ – Um, Not So Smart, Amy…

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I think Amy Poehler is awesome. She’s funny, creative and seems like an all-around good person.  When I read that she was developing a web series for young girls I thought it sounded like a fine idea – maybe a bit high-minded but worth rooting for.

Unfortunately, after seeing the first episode, I am pretty troubled.

For starters, the sponsor is Barbie by Mattel – not exactly a great role model for young girls hoping to make a difference in the world.  Making matters even more confusing, the pre-roll ad is a sort of Barbie nostalgia thing aimed squarely at grownups, not young girls.

Once I watched the video I was even more confused.  The whole thing looks like it was filmed on the set of Charlie Rose, with stark black background, round table and Amy, dressed a bit like a flight attendant doing a very talking interview with a cute little girl who writes ghost stories.  And it’s 7 minutes long.

I guess I just don’t get what will appeal to young girls here. Sure, seeing people like yourself in a video is cool but there is nothing here to hold the attention of a ten-year-old.

See for yourself…

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Strike.TV – Big Names and Big Ideas but Audiences?

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So, Strike.TV launched this week.  Founded during the WGA strike as a place for Hollywood creatives to flex their muscles, the site is now home to a huge list of original short-form web shows featuring everyone from SNL’s Kristen Wiig to TV vet Bob Newheart.

That would be big news except that it isn’t.  Having been up now for over a week I can tell you this much: not one single person in my life has mentioned a single one of these shows.  Why?  They had no idea they existed.

This is the big failure right now in online original video – nobody is bothering with true marketing.  You would never launch a show on NBC without marketing so why does everyone thing they can launch a show online, where it is noisier and more crowded (and one click away from porn!), with no marketing?

Viral is a myth.  Want proof?  Ask your friends if they’ve seen that new show from the people who bring you THE OFFICE (“House Poor”).  Spoiler Alert: They haven’t.

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