Joel Comm was the creator of the very first Internet reality show, The Next Internet Millionaire. It was an absolute huge success and received very warm and promising ratings and reviews from the Internet community, quite the opposite of what Top Affiliate Challenge is receiving. The bad press is so think, even I tried to help on damage control to direct some attention off the negatives of the show and try to allow others to see the light on the positives of the show. That never happened and I am not surprised.
The reviews are in and everyone has it stuck in their head that Top Affiliate Challenge is a complete wash. While I wouldn’t say that is true entirely, I’ll admit that the show indeed has their issues. I tried to defend the show publically and failed. But, what can I do, Thor is a super huge friend, but even I can’t continue to put my own reputation on the line. There are many things that I could critique about the show, but I won’t because everyone else already has.
One great thing that happened this morning is that Joel Comm kicked into gear and released a very nice and thoughtful post about Top Affilate Challenge titled, Top Affiliate Challenge – In Defense To Thor Schrock.
Thor Schrock is catching a lot of heat over his online reality program, The Top Affiliate Challenge.
I remember when Thor first told me about his idea for the show. I encouraged him to do it, but I warned him that it would take a miracle to pull off a quality show on a daily basis.
When Eric and I produced The Next Internet Millionaire, we filmed for two weeks straight and had a two-week post-production period before we released the first episode.
Two weeks was stretching it to get it done and I had absolutely no idea how Thor thought he could pull this off in almost “real time”.
Nevertheless, Thor went through with it as planned and he is now getting spanked all over the web because of it.
I had a conversation with Joel Comm about two months ago and I asked him for his opinions about Top Affiliate Challenge and he had expressed the same thoughts. He felt very excited to see someone follow in his shoes but had some huge concerns for the way the show was going to be broadcast. Overall, Joel Comm’s prediction become true.
It’s really terrible when the team leaders of the show are expressing such negitive feedback about this show. This in many ways is the only channel of communication that the public has with getting information about the show. Top Affiliate Challege has issued out official blogs for each team to use, but the problem is with that is that the teams are not using them. In fact, one of the team’s blog is broke. Here are some of the things that ShoeMoney had to say on his own very popular blog.
throughout the show nothing is ever shown how people are actually doing anything….. I am told that is going to change. I hope it does.
Honestly I think it hurts the show more to show that contestants are ignorant enough to think that calling your affiliate manager and asking for correct tracking is somehow “cheating”. I hate to see what they say when we do more stuff later in the contest.
ShoeMoney a few days prior to the above blog entry provided an update and a mini review of his thougths about Top Affiliate Challenge.
as far as the episode goes I have to say It was a bit disappointing. The one thing I did not like about previous shows and also the biggest complaint I heard from critics before the show started was that nobody was going to show exactly how to make money or what tricks they were using.
John Chow has been communicating the same information and also broadcasting the same negetive vibe about the show. His reviews are not very enthuastic and they are quite negetive.
the contestants of the Top Affiliate Challenge went to a baseball game and fireworks display. This is the first time I’ve ever been to a baseball game. I now know why I have never been to one before. It’s the most boring thing you can do.
In an earlier post entry prior to the above John Chow shared the outage experience with his readers in a very downing way. After ripping apart Top Affiliate Challenge he then provided his readers with his own uploaded snippets from Top Affiliate Challenge and asked his readers to decide on which videos were better.
Here are some videos I made during the Top Affiliate Challenge. Why don’t you watch them and tell me which is more entertaining, my videos or the Top Affiliate Challenge.
It really doesn’t help ratings when the team gurus are communicating such terrible messages about the show on their own blog. I really wish the best for Thor and all people involved in Top Affiliate Challenge. I don’t think that the show is a complete wash. I think with some really basic improvements the show can be a huge success. I have nothing but the highest level of respect for Thor Schrock for taking such high risks in this business. His efforts can only help others become better in the future of online video game production.
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Date/Time: 7-6-2008 13:12:14 Comment #16632
Good insights and good post Garry. It is a very difficult task to undertake…I would have taken more advice from Joel as to the particulars of getting it done. But, anyone who has seen the Next Internet Millionaire, should know that Thor is an All or nothing guy that is wiling to take risks.
Unfortunately this risk is proving to be a difficult one to bounce back from, but Thor is a smart guy, he will learn from this experience and count it up as education. I think people will be able to separate the show from the man himself, so, while this is an ugly situation, I have no doubt that Thor will continue grow from the situation and maintain his status as an excellent marketer.
I wish them and the show the best, and even though we don’t get to see much of the learning aspect, I hope some of the people on the show are learning, if nothing else, I’d be picking the brains of some of the people there, many of whom are experts in their own right.
Date/Time: 7-6-2008 19:34:10 Comment #16636
I think its pretty funny that you praise Tho, then you flame him as to not risk your reputation, then you praise him again.
The world of video is all about on time delivery FIRST and THEN perfection second. So far they have not missed a beat in what has to be a grueling production schedule.
I have no idea what they have to work with, but if I was going to do this I would want at least a 7 person production staff and 5 camera people. I have seen 4 different camera angles on the meeting room so far, and it looks like a live switch between cameras.
That’s a LOT of work. There is always a curve to things like this. Unless something changes in the production side, I would expect the episodes to get better and better each time.
Date/Time: 7-6-2008 19:39:43 Comment #16637
What are you talking about? I never flamed no one. I pointed out that it really doesn’t help when the team leaders are pumping out such negative press about the show. I admitted that I too believe that the show could improve and then on a more recent post, I provided some very excellent coverage on Episode #5.
I think you need to do some reading up on my writing before you stick your foot in your mouth.
Date/Time: 7-7-2008 15:56:38 Comment #16654
Garry Garry Garry…
You’re guilty of not reading your own posts…
If you’re such a positive guy wanting nothing but the best for Thor and the show…publishing all the negative isn’t the way to do it…you’re just getting cheap traffic at the expense of the TAC
You might want to take your own foot out and remove your nose from Thors ass.