Beware Of Prime-Time Entertainment Hoax Called Television Preview
By Beth in TV, business, Drew Carey, Television Preview, unethical business operations, market research scam, Kim Raver, sleazy hoax on August 12 2007
A few weeks ago, I received in the mail four tickets to a preview of pilots for the upcoming TV season. Naturally being both a TV and film junkie, I decided to go. Luckily my husband also seemed game. Before going, I made sure the market research group sponsoring the event was legit and sure enough Television Preview had a website that, while not giving away too much info, seemed real enough. I fully realize that having a website doesn’t make something less of a scam, but all the content in the envelope I received from them seemed to match up with the content on the website. Not to mention when I Googled the works “Television Preview” and “scam,” I wasn’t inundated with any warnings indicating anything to the contrary. Besides, the letter also mentioned something about up to $250 in prize giveaways taking place. While the pragmatic part of me knew that pretty much amounted to getting nothing for my time, it sounded somewhat enticing given the appeal of previewing new pilots.
The event took place on Saturday, August 11, at a hotel just North of Boston. Far enough away that city dwellers might easily be turned off. Sure enough, the majority of folk there were over 60 and most likely not urban folk. The type that still use dial-up, no doubt. As we were waiting in line to get in the conference room at the Holiday Inn where the event was taking place, the man half of the couple in front of us complained that there were no flat-screened TVs - only four huge silver boxes turned towards a series of chairs. Sealing the deal, when that couple got to the front of the line, the slippery man working the event (who could easily have been Drew Carey’s less successful, morally vapid brother) informed them that the entire screening would take over two hours and wouldn’t end till 10 PM. Being wiser than the rest of us, the couple left. Maybe it was the quality of TV that tipped this couple off, maybe it was our enthusiasm over a sneak peak into the new Fall season, but we decided to venture on.
Ladies and gents, our new Price is Right host is none other than unfunny man Drew Carey. Hording all the media attention in the past few weeks, 