7 ms·

Bravo now casting Silicon Valley reality show

26 points by jamesjyu 15y ago

rdl 15y ago
This kind of thing never goes well for the companies profiled. Earth Class Mail, a Seattle-based postal to digital mail interface, did another reality show ("Start-Up Junkies"), and I heard nothing good about the process from them. It might be a good choice for someone who just wants to be known as a "personality", vs. actually doing anything (Paris Hilton style), but nothing good would come of every up and down at a startup being documented (and distorted).
- dmor 15y ago
  It would also be tough to keep secrets about any deals, launches, etc
naner 15y ago
Kevin Rose also posted a full copy of the letter a couple days ago: http://twitter.com/#!/kevinrose/status/121724449551687680 http://twitter.com/#!/kevinrose/status/121724449551687680 http://twitpic.com/6vp80w/full http://twitpic.com/6vp80w/full
swanson 15y ago
This sounds pretty groan-worthy - I'd be much happier to see more shows like Bloomberg's TechStars reality show or a software-focused Dragon's Den/Shark Tank than "The Real Silicon Valley Young Professionals".
- hristov 15y ago
  Those are not good examples either. They both suffer from the reality show disease: they try to set up artificial conflicts and show "larger than life personalities", i.e., try to get people to act like melodramatic idiots.
- sek 15y ago
  The irony is, the core of reality TV is not to show reality. Everything is exaggerated, every prejudice about "Startup Junkies" will be exploited until there is nothing left.
chopsueyar 15y ago
...and the bubble goes -pop-. Like eDreams or Startup.com?
jQueryIsAwesome 15y ago
- "What are they doing this week?" - "Coding" - "You mean like sitting all day in front of the computer?" - "Yep" - "Ok... we are going to put some music and a lot of green zeros and ones like in matrix... for half an hour"
PStamatiou 15y ago
It appears there is a separate network casting for a different (competing?) show. A casting director got in touch with me: "I'm currently casting a show which is a Nerd/geek/intellectual competition based show, designed to showcase the passions and knowledge of nerds/geeks/intellectuals. It will be hosted by 2 of the original cast members from Revenge of the Nerds." It seems these things come around and fizzle away. In ~2008 I had a meeting with a director trying to pitch an idea to CBS/Sony about a potential pilot for some kind of reality show following around 6 entrepreneurs/startups in their daily life. I think they quickly realized how mundane startup life is and decided not to go through with it. They were going to pay to have a camera crew follow me around. I quickly told them that there would be no following around as I only ever worked at home in my apartment all day.
- jamesjyu 15y ago
  It's 2011. I think the world is now ready for the Stammy show.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
rmason 15y ago
There's already a reality show about startups: TechStars NYC http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/techstars/ http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/techstars/ Its not too bad but they're trying real hard to amp up the drama in the editing room. But with partners quitting and pivots galore it's not really needed. Willing to bet that pg has already turned down (wisely imho) attempts to bring the cameras into yCombinator.
epicviking 15y ago
Real Housewives of Silicon Valley? Sign me up!
- dmor 15y ago
  now THAT i would watch
felipemnoa 15y ago
Considering that a lot of time is spend in front of the computer not sure how much drama they can create. Plus, people in reality shows become diminished in my humble opinion so not so sure it would be a good idea for any serious entrepreneur to do this. You need to really focus on your startup and the cameras would only be a distraction. It would probably be a strong signal for investors not to invest in you.
j_baker 15y ago
I'm reminded of this SMBC cartoon: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1898 http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1898
mkr-hn 15y ago
Penny Arcade TV is a good model to look at for this.
joshu 15y ago
Hah. I got this and just assumed it was crap.

26 points by jamesjyu 15y ago

rdl 15y ago

This kind of thing never goes well for the companies profiled. Earth Class Mail, a Seattle-based postal to digital mail interface, did another reality show ("Start-Up Junkies"), and I heard nothing good about the process from them. It might be a good choice for someone who just wants to be known as a "personality", vs. actually doing anything (Paris Hilton style), but nothing good would come of every up and down at a startup being documented (and distorted).

dmor 15y ago
It would also be tough to keep secrets about any deals, launches, etc

naner 15y ago

Kevin Rose also posted a full copy of the letter a couple days ago: http://twitter.com/#!/kevinrose/status/121724449551687680 http://twitter.com/#!/kevinrose/status/121724449551687680 http://twitpic.com/6vp80w/full http://twitpic.com/6vp80w/full

swanson 15y ago

This sounds pretty groan-worthy - I'd be much happier to see more shows like Bloomberg's TechStars reality show or a software-focused Dragon's Den/Shark Tank than "The Real Silicon Valley Young Professionals".

hristov 15y ago
Those are not good examples either. They both suffer from the reality show disease: they try to set up artificial conflicts and show "larger than life personalities", i.e., try to get people to act like melodramatic idiots.
sek 15y ago
The irony is, the core of reality TV is not to show reality. Everything is exaggerated, every prejudice about "Startup Junkies" will be exploited until there is nothing left.

chopsueyar 15y ago

...and the bubble goes -pop-. Like eDreams or Startup.com?

jQueryIsAwesome 15y ago

- "What are they doing this week?" - "Coding" - "You mean like sitting all day in front of the computer?" - "Yep" - "Ok... we are going to put some music and a lot of green zeros and ones like in matrix... for half an hour"

PStamatiou 15y ago

It appears there is a separate network casting for a different (competing?) show. A casting director got in touch with me: "I'm currently casting a show which is a Nerd/geek/intellectual competition based show, designed to showcase the passions and knowledge of nerds/geeks/intellectuals. It will be hosted by 2 of the original cast members from Revenge of the Nerds." It seems these things come around and fizzle away. In ~2008 I had a meeting with a director trying to pitch an idea to CBS/Sony about a potential pilot for some kind of reality show following around 6 entrepreneurs/startups in their daily life. I think they quickly realized how mundane startup life is and decided not to go through with it. They were going to pay to have a camera crew follow me around. I quickly told them that there would be no following around as I only ever worked at home in my apartment all day.

jamesjyu 15y ago
It's 2011. I think the world is now ready for the Stammy show.

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]

rmason 15y ago

There's already a reality show about startups: TechStars NYC http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/techstars/ http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/shows/techstars/ Its not too bad but they're trying real hard to amp up the drama in the editing room. But with partners quitting and pivots galore it's not really needed. Willing to bet that pg has already turned down (wisely imho) attempts to bring the cameras into yCombinator.

epicviking 15y ago

Real Housewives of Silicon Valley? Sign me up!

dmor 15y ago
now THAT i would watch

felipemnoa 15y ago

Considering that a lot of time is spend in front of the computer not sure how much drama they can create. Plus, people in reality shows become diminished in my humble opinion so not so sure it would be a good idea for any serious entrepreneur to do this. You need to really focus on your startup and the cameras would only be a distraction. It would probably be a strong signal for investors not to invest in you.

j_baker 15y ago

I'm reminded of this SMBC cartoon: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1898 http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1898

mkr-hn 15y ago

Penny Arcade TV is a good model to look at for this.

joshu 15y ago

Hah. I got this and just assumed it was crap.