OK. This is way off topic. But...
It was my turn to take care of the boys the other day. So I got home, started looking into the diaper situation when... Strange, there's a press conference on television. About a book. Hmmm. I am a book sort of guy, so I listen in. But things seem strange. Who are these women? And what's an "Oakdale Confidential"?
I'll tell you what it is: The most brilliant sales pitch in the history of publishing. See, it wasn't a REAL press conference. It was a scene on As the World Turns. From what I gather there is this new storyline about how one of the characters has written some sort of tell-all story about all the people in "Oakdale," where the show is set.
So I didn't think much of it until a few days later when I saw a commercial for the book. Yeah, that's right. It's an ACTUAL BOOK. And it's for sale.
Again, I sort of forgot about it until I was in a Barnes & Noble the other day and there it was. No crap. A huge stack of them. And listen man, I picked it up. I had so many questions. How far would they take the joke? I mean, would the author be listed as the real person who wrote it? Or the character's name on the show?
Ha! That's why I am not in marketing: The author was listed as ANONYMOUS. See? That's just how it is on the show. Adds to the scandal, see? Freaking BRILLIANT! I mean, talk about a built-in audience. I assume millions of people watch the show. And they all know that they will never really understand the storyline unless they get the book. Because the book is not "about" the soap opera. It's a character "on" the soap opera. It's a star. One you can buy and bring into your house.
And maybe there will be a few thousand non-fans who buy the book and read it. Well, what show do you think they are going to start watching? God, it's a perfect storm. AWESOME.
Listen. I am serious. I almost bought the damn book. I mean, how can you not? This might not seem like serious stuff. But whatever it is, it exists in its pure, perfect form. It's like watching an athlete. Does it "matter" if he gets that ball wherever it is he wants it to go? Not really. But the artistry involved in getting it there can be surreal.
Just hit the link to Amazon provided above. The first few "reviews" are from characters on the show. One of whom (spoiler alert!) reveals herself to be the author.
This is surreal salemanship. Commercial perfection. Sweet, tender capitalist bliss.
To the bookstore!
By the way, if you buy one you won't be alone. As of this writing the book is at number 12 on the Amazon sales list. My book is at number 287,545. And that's as high as it has been in a long time, I think. Perhaps I should have thought about a tie-in with One Life to Live or something.
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