Blog: The Movie
I wasn't going to write about the new Arianna Huffington blog, Huffenpuff (or whatever, it's new, I'll get the name down eventually), for a few basic reasons:
1. Everyone else is already doing it.
2. Arianna only interests me as an Zsa-zsa-esque fabulously famous personality with a lovely aristocratic accent. But none of that is likely to be present in a blog.
3. I had no intention of reading it. Only so many hours in a day, and mine are already pretty full.
But reading Michelle Malkin's take on it, something struck me that I really do find interesting. I think it came from Michelle's comment:
...coupled with this followup comment...
And this is when it hit me. This isn't just another blog. It's like a movie about blogs. With famous actors filling the roles filled by far less glamorous people in real life.
Arianna will do her best to make it look and feel like the real thing, like any good movie production would do. But far more important is the star-appeal, because Michele is right - that's the real reason people will read it.
And this is a viable business model. Only it's not the model of the New York Times, or New Yorker. It's the model of a star-studded blockbuster; something like Ocean's Eleven, because it's a remake of the original, only with today's hot stars to draw people in.
All Arianna's blather about how this will be a site of serious commentary, and it will bypass the MSM filter, and how it will shape the future political scene - that's just the script. That's what the actors are supposed to say to make it sound like the real thing.
This is a freaking brilliant business stroke incidentally. People love movies and stars and Arianna is tapping into both of those vibes. She's going to become even richer. And since I'm a Republican, that doesn't offend me. I'm suddenly a big admirer.
I'm still not planning to read it though.
1. Everyone else is already doing it.
2. Arianna only interests me as an Zsa-zsa-esque fabulously famous personality with a lovely aristocratic accent. But none of that is likely to be present in a blog.
3. I had no intention of reading it. Only so many hours in a day, and mine are already pretty full.
But reading Michelle Malkin's take on it, something struck me that I really do find interesting. I think it came from Michelle's comment:
Face it: Many of us will go to the site and crane our necks to see who's making an ass of himself in Huffington's virtual living room, who's passed out in the powder room, who's plotting in the library, and who's kissy-kissing in the foyer. Much of the time it will be stultifyingly boring, but some of us will keep going back in hopes that we'll get to see Walter Cronkite trip or Ellen DeGeneres belch or Maggie Gyllenhall start dancing on the blog table in a drunken stupor.
...coupled with this followup comment...
In addition, I'm sure Arianna will be mining Al Franken's research groupies for original reporting and political scoops to add some cred to the party. Her blogroll (as fascinating for its inclusions as its omissions, ahem!) sends a signal that she wants to be taken seriously as a blogger and that she wants the right side of the blogosphere to pay attention.
And this is when it hit me. This isn't just another blog. It's like a movie about blogs. With famous actors filling the roles filled by far less glamorous people in real life.
Arianna will do her best to make it look and feel like the real thing, like any good movie production would do. But far more important is the star-appeal, because Michele is right - that's the real reason people will read it.
And this is a viable business model. Only it's not the model of the New York Times, or New Yorker. It's the model of a star-studded blockbuster; something like Ocean's Eleven, because it's a remake of the original, only with today's hot stars to draw people in.
All Arianna's blather about how this will be a site of serious commentary, and it will bypass the MSM filter, and how it will shape the future political scene - that's just the script. That's what the actors are supposed to say to make it sound like the real thing.
This is a freaking brilliant business stroke incidentally. People love movies and stars and Arianna is tapping into both of those vibes. She's going to become even richer. And since I'm a Republican, that doesn't offend me. I'm suddenly a big admirer.
I'm still not planning to read it though.
Posted by Doug on
Monday May 9, 2005 at 1:59pm
