From Broadband to Broadway

November 14, 2006 5:03 AM

From Broadband to Broadway Video bloggers are the newest phenomenon to go from online to the mainstream. For example, Amanda Congdon, former host of Rocketboom, has a new gig as an ABC contributor. In fact, major movie and TV studios are increasingly looking to the Web for new talent for both on and off-line projects. Here's a list (with pictures) of the up and comers.
posted by PreacherTom (19 comments total)

Interesting. I thought Rocketboom would crash without her but they're doing OK.

And without a daily show her traffic is rarely comparable. (Most recent spike: interview with Atrios.) Though she'd do better, but this is better, I suppose.
posted by dhartung at 5:53 AM on November 14, 2006

The word "cewebrity" makes baby mefi cry.

I never understood the appeal of Rocketboom. The few times I've tried to get into it it seemed like a version of Headline news for the web. I could imagine wanted to tune in once in awhile, but not every day.

Ze is the interesting story in vlogging to me. He has made over ten thousand dollars from his viewers - just by asking. I think he has only had the program up for a month or so. He just started asking for "candy", and in exchange contributors get a duckie logo on the page for one day with a message -- 10k in a ~month. Not too bad.

Not to mention his show is completely awesome.
posted by rsanheim at 6:17 AM on November 14, 2006

Actually, rsanheim, ze's show has been going for about six months, if not longer - I first discovered it through this site in May.

I'm also interested to see if he breaks out of the internet medium. I know he's done some TV voiceover work, but nothing that capitalizes on his ze frank/The Show brand.
posted by sarahsynonymous at 6:35 AM on November 14, 2006

month after month i see things from EPIC 2015 coming true. this morning we are beginning to see that people who can create great web content reliably will get paid. EPIC predicted this would happen sometime after 2010.
posted by localhuman at 6:39 AM on November 14, 2006

sarah: I realize that, but he only started asking for outright donations (the "gimme some candy!" link in the right sidebar) about a month ago.
posted by rsanheim at 6:41 AM on November 14, 2006

Ze Frank has moments when he's working at the same level of brilliance as the very best "Proper TV Writers" - and the rest of the time he's merely the most talented man on the internet.

I honestly cannot rate his show highly enough.
posted by Jofus at 6:53 AM on November 14, 2006

Yes Ze Frank is excellent ! The guy acting him , I wish he doesn't crash as he seems to be a good writer as well.

Amanda I had an instant massive crush on ! I don't think her warmness is only a stage mask.
posted by elpapacito at 7:19 AM on November 14, 2006

NYT magazine article from Sunday on the same subject.

Anybody know how they made the "photomontages" that go with this article? (and the others that are in the same issue) They're super-badass.
posted by fungible at 7:38 AM on November 14, 2006

I have Ze's page on my startup tab bar (along with about 10 other sites, just so you don't think I'm a psycho stalker), but I only just read the "About" page. It says he started doing his video blog in March, and that he will stop doing it in March, 2007.
posted by crunchland at 7:43 AM on November 14, 2006

Interesting. I thought Rocketboom would crash without her but they're doing OK.

Butt is spelled with two t's.
posted by hal9k at 7:50 AM on November 14, 2006

Please use the New York Times Link Generator for nytimes urls.

The Online Auteurs - New York Times
posted by gen at 7:51 AM on November 14, 2006

oops. once again...

The Online Auteurs - New York Times
posted by gen at 7:52 AM on November 14, 2006

Anybody know how they made the "photomontages" that go with this article? (and the others that are in the same issue) They're super-badass.

I don't know what his setup is, but the photographer is Zachary Scott.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:05 AM on November 14, 2006

Did Ze ever get that sandwich he wanted?
posted by mkultra at 8:13 AM on November 14, 2006

If you're talking about his Earth sandwich, then yes, he did. He showed a short film during his appearance at Poptech last month. Some guys in Australia and I forget where else, did it.
posted by crunchland at 10:12 AM on November 14, 2006

"cewebrity" : even though I looked it up, it still makes no sense.

The word should die a rapid death.
posted by PreacherTom at 10:44 AM on November 14, 2006

Please use the New York Times Link Generator for nytimes urls.

Or you could just use false as both the username and password. That's been working for me for so many years now I can't recall where I first got the tip.
posted by JaredSeth at 10:57 AM on November 14, 2006

Remember the old cliché of the girl working as the waitress in Fargo or Deluth? She gets discovered by a side-tracked agent who missed his bus. He sees her! He envisions her in a gown, with a stem cigarette holder, coyly rejecting the suave advances of Clarke Gable. Over night she is transformed into the next Jeanne Harlow or Gretta Garbo.

Now you — nor your agent— don't need to even leave your basement to get "discovered?" Are we sure we really want this?

PS. I'm 6ft, in shape, know tap, can play 10 years younger AND do accents.
posted by tkchrist at 11:10 AM on November 14, 2006

Am I the only one who first heard of Rocketboom when there was some uproar about this Amanda person being booted from it, or something to that effect? I read somewhere else that she has some sort of upcoming HBO contract, and today it's ABC. Great! Now, why do I care?

I find Ze Frank amusing and watch the show fairly regularly, and he addressed this -- Rocketboom had "amazing" viewer numbers yet he's regularly eclipsed them. Maybe he just needs some more drama to draw attention, or he's cleverly making the point that popularity for some time, especially if it's in terms of internet popularity, doesn't mean all that much. The proof is in the pudding?
posted by mikeh at 3:03 PM on November 15, 2006