Author Topic: TV Show Promo Sparks Bomb Scare In Boston (Read 3278 times)

Foxy Brown · « **on:** February 01, 2007, 06:38:11 AM »

More than 10 blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a publicity campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. Police later said they made an arrest.

Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.

"It's a hoax -- and it's not funny," said Gov. Deval Patrick, who said he'll speak to the state's attorney general "about what recourse we may have."

Boston police said Wednesday night that one person had been arrested, and authorities scheduled a news conference later in the evening to provide details.

Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc. and parent of Cartoon Network, said the devices were part of a promotion for the TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball.

LaJon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2007, 06:55:27 AM »

Very nice. They should promote Harvey Birdman by unleashing 100 disgruntled eagles or hawks on a crowd of people. o_o

madambaster · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2007, 09:06:11 AM »

As many as nine suspicious packages found throughout the Boston area were part of a marketing campaign for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim program, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," according to Turner Broadcasting.

I saw this on the news and the newscaster said something like, "The show is about a box of fries, a milkshake, and a meatball."

And I guess two guys got arrested and charged with "one count of placing a hoax device and one count of disorderly conduct."

I should search next time.

Shumatsu Samurai · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2007, 10:11:18 AM »

I saw this on the news - The way it was presented, one's gotta think that (american) police are going paranoid, overreacting like this. One police spokesman said that this had the entire Boston police working hard on the matter (= detonating blinky things). Pretty disturbing if you ask me...

But I guess Cartoon Network can be happy - Free (for now) advertising.

sicness · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2007, 11:06:54 AM »

Advertising is a massive thing in todays society and their interesting and creative ways of marketing didn't see much success with the world we live in. Everything is thought to be a terrorist attack, which in this case is relatively understandable.

Though the fact that someone was arrested is pretty crazy..

maliciel · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2007, 01:31:12 PM »

I think the whole "it's unacceptable in a post-911 world" is quite a stretch. I think they just didn't want to admit that they don't have a sense of humour. Seriously, it's a viral marketing campaign ( a good one too, might i add ) about a tv series.

Lights + Batteries = FBI?

A1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2007, 05:40:19 PM »

StreakInTheSky · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2007, 07:03:16 PM »

I saw this on the news, was just like WTF?! and then laughed at how stupid this all is. I guess they did look like sorta like bombs because of the battery packs... If they were to be paper posters I doubt anything like this would happen... but paper just isn't ass bad ass as a bunch of lights.

Asmodai · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2007, 02:50:29 AM »

Yeah, screw ups on both sides here.

If terrorists were going to bomb the subway, why would they attach light-up signs giving people the finger to the bombs?

LaJon · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2007, 02:54:12 AM »

Hillarious press conference after the two were released from jail:
http://wbztv.com/video/?id=28369@wbz.dayport.com

I can't even ruin it for you. Just watch. o_o

Mikitty-saikou · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2007, 09:35:59 AM »

^Lol.. Classic.