LG's 'Scarlet' Hoax Leaves Red Faces
The CE company tricks Hollywood into hearing pitch for new LCD flat-screen HDTV.
By Swanni
You couldn't blame Hollywoodians for repeating Clark Gable's famous line from Gone With the Wind after last night's 'Scarlet' hoax perpetuated by LG Electronics.
Over the last few weeks, the CE company has planted rumors of a hot new TV show called Scarlet that would star model Natassia Malthe as a sexy secret agent.
LG ran ads for the show at several web sites, started a web site, and even bought billboards in Los Angeles and Paris, according to the Associated Press. The company was not mentioned in the online ads or the billboards
Lindsay Lohan at last night's Scarlet 'premiere.'
The secret behind the mysterious show was supposed to be revealed last night at an invitation-only screening at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton packed the venue to catch a sneak peek.
However, as it turns out, Scarlet is actually the name that LG is using for its new superslim LCD flat-screen set. The screening was for a commercial starring the television.
“We’re obviously trying to fool people, but it’s done in a fun and engaging sort of way,” Tim Alessi, LG director of product development and advertising, told the AP.
However, one message board poster at Yahoo! Answers may have echoed the comments of last night's attendees:
“I think that it's terrible to trick people to sell something,” said the poster, according to AP.
Comment on this article!
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
Click
TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
©
TVPredictions.com
____________________________________________
Swanni (Phillip Swann) is president and publisher of
TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of
publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News,
Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press
and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at
swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click
TVPredictions.com
to read more news and features on TV technology.