I'll sometimes let the Tivo play through the ads, but that doesn't mean I'm watching them, it just means I got up to get some water. Fortunately, Tivo can't tell the difference! Muahaha!

By the way Denise, I'd still dispute the idea that people worrying about Drive a few days after air are crazy. I'd say in this case they're smart. History shows that networks will dump a show as fast they possibly can if it's well below their expectations -- Drive is, as I'm sure many here are aware not an exception to that rule. That said the only power those people have is to casually say to their friends 'Have you seen Drive? It's great!'. Or start a human rights petition.

Personally, I find it a bit creepy that tivo is tracking *when* I watch a show, how often I repeat it, whether or not I ff commercials, etc. That's a LOT of data to mine.

I stop and rewind to see the new Mac ads. I stop and rewind to see new movie ads that look interesting. I sometimes stop to watch Target ads simply because they are visually appealing.

I think most advertisers wouldn't have to worry about DVRs if they simply would make interesting and entertaining advertising.

I would like to think that a petition helped a little bit in getting the Wonderfalls DVDs. Am I wrong?

Have fan campaigns ever had a serious influence on TV executive decisions apart from the original Star Trek and helping get The Peacekeeper Wars made?

I'm willing to lend a little more credence to influencing TV producers' casting and storyline decisions. I'm fairly certain the re-hiring of Michael Shanks, for example, was decided upon when producers realized how much of an already slender niche audience was up in arms.

Personally, I find it a bit creepy that tivo is tracking *when* I watch a show, how often I repeat it, whether or not I ff commercials, etc. That's a LOT of data to mine.

I seem to recall they announced that Janet Jackson's boobular containment issues at the Super Bowl halftime was the most re-watched clip, maybe ever (at that time).

I've often wondered how the Pam/Jim kiss at the end the s2 finale of The Office ranked.

By the way Denise, I'd still dispute the idea that people worrying about Drive a few days after air are crazy. I'd say in this case they're smart. History shows that networks will dump a show as fast they possibly can if it's well below their expectations -- Drive is, as I'm sure many here are aware not an exception to that rule. That said the only power those people have is to casually say to their friends 'Have you seen Drive? It's great!'. Or start a human rights petition.

Of course it's crazy. If a show is in that much trouble before it's a week old (and although the ratings were disappointing, I'm not saying Drive is, I'm just saying "if"), no campaign is going to "save" it. And why? Because -- history shows that networks will dump a show as soon as possible if its ratings are well below their expectations. It's a business.

Yes, but that's a different reason for being crazy to what I was disputing, Cindy (unless I'm mistaken as to what Denise was saying). I don't disagree that if Drive sinks it'll be impossible to save it.

Have fan campaigns ever had a serious influence on TV executive decisions apart from the original Star Trek and helping get The Peacekeeper Wars made?

Cagney and Lacey was supposedly saved by a letter-writing campaign, at least according to my dad's girlfriend. I don't really know if it made a difference, but it seems plausible to me that it tipped things so that they got an extra season. I'm sure there were a lot of other factors, but still.

Tamara, it was helpful in getting the DVD's released, yes. There was someone advocating for it, and I think he was able to say, "here's an assload of people who want to see it."

I would like to think that a petition helped a little bit in getting the Wonderfalls DVDs. Am I wrong?

There was also the flood of phone calls. That was a fun time. Didn't people send flowers to the lady who answered us all day?