When Networks Tried: The WB

[impy]

Was lurking elsewhere and someone linked to one of the WB's farewell videos and after taking a moment to weep like a little girl, I then lost the next hour to looking at the various WB upfront/image campaign/back lot videos.

I'd ask if you remember them, but dude, we go through this at least once every two years so odds are good you probably do. :P I'm just miffed that I can never find semi decent quality versions on YT, though I suspect it's because of copyright issues.

Say what you will about the content of any given WB show (some we'll rumble over, some we'll agree on, and some we'll probably say, "oh yeah, that was a thing, wasn't it?") but their image campaigns were usually brilliant.

1999 is particularly fabulous. Everyone involved in this deserved a raise. And possibly a pony, if that's what they wanted. I loved the whole idea this thing was selling, even though I know I was being sold an idea/story, but who doesn't want their favorites from one show hanging out with their favorites from another? Who didn't want to believe the WB was running one super awesome party behind the scenes at least for a little bit? Just me? Fair enough... because I already know that's not true. There's too much love for these things even after more than a decade.

2000 continued the trend of hello, we are awesome.

At the same time, the WB was really good at making their lineup for the week a Big Friggin' Deal. Which is something I miss. You'd curl up in front of the tv for a good two hours (because the WB only did two hours of programming) and they'd let you know what you were in for the first hour, then tease you for tomorrow and the next hour and basically it was a night of television, even if you didn't watch both hours.

WB Network Promo from Steve Purcell on Vimeo.

I freely admit to romantacising this a bit since I now work at night and thus do not get to do this anymore and I miss it more than I thought I would.

2001's song was unfortunate then and even moreso now.

2002 kind of missed the memo on "inter-lot bts party!" that came before but times, they change.

2003. I still remember the way people were torn about this. On the one hand, it's really pretty. On the other hand, it's not really like the others. Also, this was the one that I have on DVD somewhere because it was when Fearless was picked up though the show never made it past the pilot stage. I still want to see the pilot for that, come to think of it.

2003 Upfront presentation with the Fearless cast.

2004: The First Decade. Also, the last. Too soon? :P

1997. Savannah! Buffy! Otherwise...

The WB Family Campaign - June 1998 by fleurinka24
1998-ish.

2005.

Also:

I think 2005 had their video on a mini disc you could get if you bought Clean and Clear. And it was a rip off because the interaction between the actresses and actors from various shows is what made the image campaigns awesome.

A retrospective. Good times.

Oh, look. The CW wants you to like them, too. Only... no.

I might still have something in my eye, all the way from back in 2006, okay?

Comments

[irishgypsie.livejournal.com]

Aw, man. I loved the WB! I think the late 90s and early 00s were their best. I still remember loving shows like Popular, Grosse Pointe, Nikki, and early seasons of Dawson's Creek before it got too schmoopy for my taste. I loved all that backstage stuff they'd do during ad breaks and between shows. You didn't see that on any other network. Good times.