Corporate stupidity 101: Turner Broadcasting

I couldn't help but be amused at the furor that swept Boston and a few other cities this week when suspicious electronic devices (above) were discovered throughout the city.

But, after reflecting on it for a moment, I can certainly understand why first responders and city officials in Boston and other major cities responded the way they did.

One would think that in a post-9-11 world, major corporations, with millions of dollars at their disposal, could think of a better way to promote a television program. (Here's an idea - how about television?)

The devices were intended to advertise a show on the Cartoon Network, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball distributed by Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc. But in Boston, the signs, some with protruding wires, sent a wave of panic across the city Wednesday, bringing out bomb squads and prompting officials to shut down highways, bridges and part of the Charles River.

"Just a little over a mile away from the placement of the first device, a group of terrorists boarded airplanes and launched an attack on New York City," police Commissioner Edward Davis said in an interview with AP.

"The city clearly did not overreact. Had we taken any other steps, we would have been endangering the public," he said.

Davis said that as calls were coming in about the electronic signs in rapid succession Wednesday afternoon, police also received reports of two devices that resembled pipe bombs and had a confirmed report of a man walking down the hallways of New England Medical Center making a rambling speech about "God getting us today" and "This would be a sorry day."

Boston officials found 38 blinking electronic signs on bridges, a subway station, a hospital, Fenway Park, and other high-profile spots in and around the city.

In New York, officers went to various locations and found only two of the devices - both attached to a highway overpass. Police said it did not appear it was targeting any landmarks such as the subway, Empire State Building or Brooklyn Bridge.

"People can be smug and say all you have to do is look at this and know this is not an explosive device, but the truth of the matter is that you can't tell what it is until it's disrupted," Davis said.
He's right.

In Boston, two men were charged with placing devices around the city. Above, Sean Stevens, 28, left, and Peter Berdovsky, 27, jump down stairs as they leave Charlestown District Court in Boston yesterday after pleading not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct. The two men, who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city, were released on $2,500 cash bond.

However, I'm not without a sense of humor, either, and I'm not alone. The men had a few supporters outside the courthouse yesterday. Above, Tracy O'Connor (left) and Jennifer Mason, hold signs outside Charlestown District Court in Boston yesterday in support of Stevens and Berdovsky.

In the end, though, I agree with Boston Police Commissioner Davis. Can you imagine if the city had ignored the devices and, heaven forbid, they turned out to be real bombs?

Imagine the outrage then.

People had really ought to be smarter when considering publicity stunts to promote anything.

Sometimes television executives have the common sense of a newborn, and they are people who get paid high salaries to come up with these ideas. This is the best that they can do?

Perhaps I missed my calling.