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wow, first post maybe?

lol mdn mw: race, as in its a race between dell apple m$ for product placement.

I suspect Apple will never let this see the light of day.

MDN word: theres - There's another lawsuit waiting to happen.

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).

I don't think thats going to be a big issue. Whenever Hollywood needs a computer for a scene, they more likely than not choose a Mac.

Its a style issue with them,

Besides, I don't think the show will be so much about stupid customer questions, as it will be about the goings on behind the scenes, interspersed with stupid customer questions. It'll be a platform for all the computer jokes ever written.

But I could be wrong.

of course this opens up a huge possibility for sterotyping and giving people preconceived ideas about what its like to work and go to a genius bar. than may not fly with Apple if it appears to be negative.

Then again, if they don't reference Apple at all, then Apple really can't do sh1t about it.

This sounds like a horrible show. Truly, truly horrible

I suspect Apple will never let this see the light of day.

Why not?

Apple should approach the networks with an ultimatum to the effect of "Either we can beat each other bloody in the courts, or you can have the Genius Bar can be an actual Apple Store, with placed products and prominent Apple logos".

Any chances?

Anybody interested in stupid customer questions might like to check out:

http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/

To quote the index page:

"The following is a large collection of stories and anecdotes about clueless computer users. It's a baffling phenomenon that in today's society an individual, who might in other circumstances be considered smart and wise, can sit down in front of a computer screen and instantly lose every last shred of common sense he ever possessed. Complicate this phenomenon with a case of "computerphobia," and you end up with tech support personnel having phone conversations that are funny in retrospect but seem like perfectly valid motives for wild machine gun shooting sprees at the time. You will read stories in this file that will convince you that among the human race are human-shaped artichokes futilely attempting to break the highly regarded social convention that vegetables should not operate electronic equipment. And yet, amidst the vast, surging quantities of stupidity are perfectly excusable technological mishaps -- but that are amusing nonetheless. After all, even the best of us engages in a little brainless folly every once in a while.

Most of these stories are true. Some happened to me personally. Some happened to friends of mine. Some are considered urban legends, but even most of these are more likely to have happened in some form or another than not. Skeptics look at such stories and doubt their truth. But reason, common sense, and experience tell me that if you sit someone who isn't computer literate (even a smart someone) down in front of a computer, you're bound to accrue anecdotes no less outrageous than these. You'd be surprised."

...in case anybody feels like a laugh.

Just to be clear... the above mentioned website isn't mine, I just stumbled across it.

of course this opens up a huge possibility for sterotyping and giving people preconceived ideas about what its like to work and go to a genius bar. than may not fly with Apple if it appears to be negative.

Hmm...

Imagine texbook nerd geeks.
Or the Seinfeld Soup Nazi.
Or Steve Jobs wannabe's in black turtlenecks.

Then again, the Abercrombie & Fitch-type next door could feature stylish-but-stupid Gen Y Britney sluts. Stereotypes work both ways here...

You know, forget A&F;. There should be a Victoria's Secret next door! =) But if SJ gets in the middle of things he'll probably demand a GAP.

Geeks are "in" ----'bout time!

Nothing good can from associating Apple or its stores to a sitcom, which odds predict will fail in the first season. Apple should make sure the name is NOT Genious Bar, and their products should not be involved. Let's face it, with a title like "Genius Bar" you know that the characters are going to be anything but geniuses. Probably more like a cross between "Slackers" and "Clueless".

MDN: cant you do something about these "first post" idiots, i.e. pzarker? thats the last thing people want to see on your site.

pzarker - "wow, first post maybe? " wow, who gives a crap? a speedy 10 minutes after article was posted.

One of our Apple stores in suburban St. Louis is directly across the mall from A&F;! The fun part of the show could be making fun of the dorks at the Dell kiosks.

I always feel like a genius when I'm at a bar...

First Post Suck

And a beautiful day to you too idiot.

You want the forum to be only for people who think just like you? Are you sure? It must be nice to be perfect. If it makes "pzarker" happy to stumble onto first post place how is that taking anything away from your life.

Grow up, learn to play with others.

70's connection-every time they make a Dell joke, they could say "Burn!"

Jewish connecion-Genius Bar Mitzvah

my hometown-Genius Bar-B-Q
Gay connection-Genius Bar Nothing
Chili's connection-Genius Bar&Grill;They need to have a Zune detector so everyone else in the store can point and laugh.

I hope they have a Steve look alike who ends up being the janitor. Would freak all the Mac Head customers out.

first post:

arent you failing at your own rule of growing up and playing with others? you seem to be an idiot also just like the other guys. everyone should have a wonderful day!

Speaking if the 70's and "Burn", having been that age during that period myself, I never haeard that phrase used. Until the TV show.

me either, except for "burn, baby, burn. Disco inferno"

Apple should make sure the name is NOT Genious Bar

What would you watch? "Microsoft Windows Vista Zune Media Player Experience Center"?

If the show's been pitched, the first several episodes have already been taped.

We'll see what actually gets aired. Network TV sucks anyway, the last sitcoms I bothered to watch were Night Court and Cheers.

This sounds to me like a complete disaster waiting to happen. Is the Eye network really going to let ABC become the highest rated network this easily?

MW "Provide" - Meaning it would be incredibly hard for this proposed series to provide me with one laugh.

Who cares what about the show is about? Apple will get publicity anyway.

I get tired of MDN's typical paranoid response to any article that doesn't slaver over anything Apple. If Apple is stupid enough to try to stop the show, it will just be another bit of bad publicity, like trying to trademark Podcast, which wasn't even their own name for it. The free publicity from that name sold iPods. If people stop using it, it will only hurt.

The same here.

Grow up!

Mel:

Apple might stop them because Apple has registered a "service mark" (same thing as a trade mark but for a service, not a product) for "Genius Bar".

If there is no agreement between the show developers and Apple to allow them to use the service mark, Apple really has no choice but to force them to change the name.

For instance, if the show is a hit and they start selling merchandise saying "Genius Bar", who gets the profit?

If the show portrays the people who work at the Genius Bar as idiots and tools, what does that do to the money and time Apple has invested in establishing the brand.

Contrary to popular opinion, all publicity is not good publicity.

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?