Would you believe a solitary real world incident would significantly change the programming of an entire network? This morning on “X” a.k.a. Twitter, I noticed this post, recalling the misfiring of a publicity stunt on February 1, 2007:
TRAFON(s Backup Account)
@RiseFallNickBck
3:30 PM • Jan 31, 2024
•
191.6K Views
The Adult Swim “Boston Incident”, when Aqua Teen Hunger Force lite-brites were put up all over Boston overnight were mistaken for a Bomb Threat, happened 17 years ago today This event would essentially change Cartoon Network and the entire channel for a very long time.
This opened up the following thread:
Zack Friedman
@Xtitan92
We got CN Real because of this incident.
TRAFON(s Backup Account)
@RiseFallNickBck
Sadly we did… and cancelled series like Underfist
jirmy
@jeremystewart9
I really don’t think Underfist would have lasted that long anyway
TRAFON(s Backup Account)
@RiseFallNickBck
You may have a point but it was still cancelled due to this so it’s something you can say!
Taffy
@CandyOSC
I don’t understand how anyone would see this as a bomb threat
TRAFON(s Backup Account)
@RiseFallNickBck
It was unknown devices put up all over the city overnight that caused panic. I guess they should have also thought the PR stunt through a bit more
S0mecallme
@FEObsessive
Also it was the 2000s and bomb fears were still EXTREMELY prevalent. I remember in school every month we’d have a bomb drill
Taffy
@CandyOSC
I don’t understand how anyone would see this as a bomb threat
TRAFON(s Backup Account)
@RiseFallNickBck
It was unknown devices put up all over the city overnight that caused panic. I guess they should have also thought the PR stunt through a bit more
S0mecallme
@FEObsessive
Also it was the 2000s and bomb fears were still EXTREMELY prevalent. I remember in school every month we’d have a bomb drill
Kenny Mulvena
@kennethmulvena
The lost episode posted online (while was shelved unfinished) is legit one of the funniest episodes I ever saw.
LTisFine
@TodayImCalm
I can’t wait for the 6 part Hulu documentary on CN and this incident
Av
@MarioEmmet
We lost Fridays, Miguzi & Toonami because of that.
MegamanNG
@MegamanRA
And not for the better because the moment when Stu Snyder took over, everything went to hell. To be honest, CN should have at least gotten in touch with the government of Boston to at least ask for permission in doing this campaign and letting the public know.
Masterge77
@Masterge77
Cartoon Network would go downhill after this incident, and never really recovered. The fact the 2008 Writer’s Strike happened shortly afterwards didn’t help matters.
Hertion333
@DevinCr87019475
Sad this caused the downfall of Cartoon Network over the years, makes you wonder if they didn’t do this and what CN would become
SoggaWater2
@SoggaWaterCup2
My favorite part about this is how even after the police were told directly by the people responsible for the entire stunt that they weren’t bombs is that they then went on national TV and doubled down on how they were bombs and claimed that they were bombs for years
mr.banana
@piemantis
Sad
Zak Wolf (a.k.a. Sam Valentino)
@wiley207
I feel Jim Samples had already done quite a bit of damage to Cartoon Network with the “City” era. But then Stuart Snyder made things much worse.
SparktDog #FUGASWEEP
@SparktDog
We never recovered from this Thanks boston
Ryan (CEO of Perseverance)
@LilKingofHado
Yep, they overestimated ATHF’s recognizability and reach. No one was going to recognize a Mooninite if they hadn’t watched the show.
Bex Niccals
@BexNiccals
The Older Boston Folks At The Time Should Have Been Aware What Was Going On At That Time And Been More Aware Of The Marketing Behind The Signs. Other Cities Had Those Lights And There Wasn’t And Panic And Fear Happening In Those Places
[See Daily Press, February 2, 2007, “Where Boston Panicked, New York Merely Shrugged,” page A10.]
Brian Miller, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank from 2000 until 2021, gave this response to the posting of TRAFON(s Backup Account):
Brian A. Miller
@bfredmuggs
9:32 pm. January 31, 2024
True!
