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Before I get going here, I’d just like to say a few words about the latest change in the time slot for AMC’s The Pitch. Whhhhattt??? I can’t believe it’s on Sundays now at freakin’ 10 o’clock at night! That really stinks!
I can’t exactly blame AMC, since the ratings haven’t been very good. Actually, they’ve been pretty darn lousy! My guess is that they decided to try for a hail Mary bump from Mad Men. What did they have to lose? One live podcaster unfortunately. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still watch it, just not live.
So, here’s my rallying cry:
Almost all of the people I’ve interacted with are in advertising, marketing, sales, etc. So, we are the absolute best people to get this show the bump it needs! We can do it people!
However, if that doesn’t happen, what about changing the format? I have to admit, there is way too much time spent getting to know new characters for every episode. I’d love to see the same couple of agencies on a more regular basis. Now that’s what we want to see. Less chop, less characters, more depth of story. Come on “Story Matters”, right?
End soap box…
Whatever you think of this episode of The Pitch, you probably won’t soon forget a few things:
BooneOakley (cool name)
PopChips (also a cool name – cool idea)
The Conversation (strange name – founder that has an ego bigger than the company)
Now, I hate to be too critical of anyone in particular, especially anyone that has had bits and pieces of their “conversation” sliced and diced into a 45 minute tv show. So, I’ll take it easy on Frank. He’s actually much less of an evil-doer than what we’ve seen in previous episodes. However, he has created a culture that makes me cringe at the thought of it. I really feel bad for the employees at Conversation.
So, let’s talk about what he has done right. He’s clearly employed a dedicated and talented team. He’s also got a strategic & creative mind that is able to lead that team in a clear direction. That’s all good stuff!
The problem we see on the show lies more in his attitude than anything else. He tells his team right away what direction they are going in. And, when his team clearly doesn’t understand, he says he can’t wait to see what they come up with. Then, to top things off, he says, “it’s a dope idea that I came up with”. Wow! This guy has a lot to learn about leading people.
Let’s just hope, that as usual, the airing of The Pitch will enlighten him to his weaknesses as a leader. Please oh please, don’t put your head in the sand Frank!!!!
With all that being said, we have the complete opposite with BooneOakley. An organization that has clearly focused very hard on their people and the culture they provide. Maybe even to a fault? Maybe not? I know that I’d kill to work there; assuming Greg Johnson is on hand for all strategic meetings. 
Once again we see a situation where the best ideas may not have won the day, but instead the ability to listen to the client, conceptualize ideas that meet the clients needs, and present those ideas in a way that hits the home run.
