‘Anatomy of a Rumor,’ or ‘Why Fansites Rock’
Well, a lot of folks chiming in via email and IM this morning saying ‘Sheesh Doc, you got slapped by EW. Thought you and Jensen were friends?’ Well, let’s look at the situation for what it is just to calm everybody’s anxiety.
This is the rumor, as Doc Jensen reported:
RUMOR: ABC is moving Lost to the notorious ”death slot” of broadcast television — Friday night, 9 p.m.
SOURCE: According to thetailsection.com, Damon Lindelof himself suggested that the show was on the move during his recent appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego.
THE PRODUCERS SAY: ”I cannot imagine in a zillion years that ABC would do that,” says Damon Lindelof, who can’t recall saying anything at Comic-Con that would justify this rumor.
The situation has been resolved as EW has published an update that I feel confident corrects any unintended connotations and fairly represents our point of view.
The comment was something to the general effect of…
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thanks for making Wednesdays the best day of the week
DARLTON: I am pretty partial to Fridays myself
Made people think they were trying to drop a hint that things were moving to Fridays
Comment by amy — August 8, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Honestly, Doc, it didn’t read to me like he was taking a swipe at you…
Comment by bigmouth — August 8, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
So somebody makes a comment, it gets misinterpreted, that misinterpretation gets speculated about, and pretty soon it’s a full-blown rumor than gets squashed. So, with no firm name attached to it, the biggest one in the chain of events gets the “credit.” In some weird way, it’s almost a compliment. All us TTS fans know what happened, and that’s all that really matters.
Comment by AC — August 8, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
We’re with you Doc. Blow it off, if you can!
Sadly enough, I think the entire Friday thing was about him (Damon) being Jewish (as I am) and that is why Friday night is important to him (the beginning of Shabbat) and certainly not because he was trying to hint or even slyly infer that Lost might move to it. Just prior to this comment, Damon had made some sort of reference to being Jewish and that was it. Nothing more nothing less.
Comment by Jarred — August 8, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
while i agree that you shouldn’t take any blame for this friday-night rumour (which, to be honest, i haven’t seen anywhere onlind), i don’t think any of you should be blaming darkufo for anything. he put the stormare and whitaker comment in the RUMOUR section, where it says ‘this info is most likely untrue’.
Comment by ack — August 8, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
I agree with JohnLocke.
This isn’t going to cost you any of you’re existing fans, and might gain you a few more from the exposure. Sticking to your guns is one thing, but don’t paint yourself too far into a corner so that you can’t get out. I’m sure everything is just fine.
M
Comment by Mike Walshe — August 8, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
ACK! “you’re/your” - what a dum dum - I should learn to use preview.
Oh well.
M
Comment by Mike Walshe — August 8, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
All hail Doc J. AND Doc A.
Nice work as always, both of you.
Is it February yet?
Comment by gusteaux — August 8, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
I have to be honest, I only started following this website somewhat recently in the grand scheme of things, and I thought DocArzt and Doc Jensen were the same person. I now feel foolish, but not any more foolish that two different people in the Lost fansite community both going by the name doc. its very confusing.
Comment by jimmy — August 8, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
um…I…am home?
Comment by jimmy — August 9, 2007 @ 12:43 am
To The Doc’s of Two Worlds (seperate beings born of the kasmir effect?)…
I think this has been a great mini-epic. Both of you are noted journo’s in the LOST world and have broken the virtual forth wall by engaging the differences in practices between each camp (Camp EW? Camp TS?) which to me, is a vindication of each of your sincerity. Dunno if any of what I just wrote makes sense, but rock on, docs.
Comment by Dusk — August 9, 2007 @ 4:56 am
In my opinion, silly squabbling like this is more likely to drive readers away, at least this one. Honestly, some of the “personal” issues that come up on this site would lead new readers to suspect it’s maintained by emotionally turbulent teenagers.. Sheesh. Again — just a (totally amazing mind-blowing never-to-be-equaled) tv show.
Comment by IMO — August 9, 2007 @ 6:23 am
JohnLocke said: you seem to think you have to explain yourself to everybody. Personally, I think Jeff Jensen giving you a link, and nobody else, means your site is the only one he would consider giving air time to.
So the rumors were debunked. Anyone clicking that link from EW would see how you originally posted about the rumors and the people to busy to read them aren’t really potential readers anyway.
Every time you post one of these rants or big posts to explain yourself you do yourself a disservice. Let your site speak for itself. Or post a SHORT comment if you’re just trying to stop the emails from coming. But for the love of god try not to let them sound so emotionally invested.
Comment by TrillianM — August 9, 2007 @ 6:35 am
Doc,
All publicity is good publicity. You have a great Lost fan site, and most readers take all the rumors and speculation with a grain of salt anyway. I would just let this rest.
Airk
Comment by Airk — August 9, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Doc,
IMO…It doesn’t really rip on this site. He was merely going on about the rumors that are out there and had good info on the realities of those rumors and gave it out. This is a show where rumors and speculation are part of the fun. The Friday thing was pure speculation…How could it not be? No one knows what the TV schedule will look like in Sept…let alone Feb. And it’s not like this rumor was harmful or viscious nor did it lead everyone down a bad path with the show.
This site is a good source of information…news, spoilers and rumors. It’s almost all one in the same to me.
Comment by downthehatch — August 9, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Didn’t take it as a swipe at the tail section. I enjoy both sites and didn’t take it as harmful to the tail section. It just may let more Lost Fans know there is another website to take advantage of.
Comment by Dave — August 9, 2007 @ 11:17 am