Wednesday, June 06, 2012

10184: It’s Time To Pitch The Pitch.

On Sunday, AMC series The Pitch will air its season finale—and probably its series finale.

The program’s complete run is only the result of being on a cable network that even DISH deems unnecessary.

The reality TV show actually reflected a reality in the advertising industry. That is, too many agencies are too quick to agree to bad deals. With The Pitch, participants were given one week—and a mere $15,000—to hatch a “big idea” for mostly small-time clients. The ugliness was compounded by the fact that the featured competitors were predominately small-time shops.

Agreeing to bad deals leads to work that’s half-assed, ultimately making you look like a total ass. Don’t blame the producers and editors for the way the adpeople came off during each episode. The portrayals were accurate. The performances were pathetic. The contestants earned every criticism hurled at them.

It’s a safe bet the shops will argue any press is good press. That’s a standard position for hacks. But the truth is, the advertising agencies didn’t just look bad—they made the entire industry look bad. They disrespected the creative process and cheapened the craft.

The public doesn’t need more reasons to question the integrity and trustworthiness of adpeople. And AMC shouldn’t need more reasons to dump The Pitch.

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