Cartoon Network boss quits over bomb scare
Jim Samples is taking the fall for the marketing debacle at Turner Broadcasting.
via CNNMoney.com
The head of Cartoon Network resigned Friday after the network’s guerilla marketing scheme for one of its shows went bad last week and led to a bomb scare in Boston - a fiasco that cost its parent company $2 million.
In a letter to employees, Jim Samples, the general manager and executive vice president of the network, wrote: “I deeply regret the negative publicity and expense caused to our company as a result of this campaign. As general manager of Cartoon Network, I feel compelled to step down, effective immediately, in recognition of the gravity of the situation that occurred under my watch.”
Turner Broadcasting System and Interference Inc. agreed to pay $2 million to make amends for last Wednesday’s bomb scare in Boston, the Massachusetts attorney general said Monday. TBS is the parent of the Cartoon Network, which initiated the marketing scheme. CNN, CNNMoney.com and TBS are all owned by Time Warner Inc. (Charts), the world’s largest media company.
Samples had been with Atlanta-based Cartoon Network for 13 years.
In the marketing scheme, battery-powered cartoon advertising signs were placed around Boston and other cities for Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a show that’s on the Cartoon Network’s late-night Adult Swim programming. The signs led to a massive security alert around Boston.
![Indy Mogul (alt) poster [comp]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/3027776092_f8c8836fc0.jpg)
![Threadbanger poster [comp]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/3027662798_915b90d3fb.jpg)
![Next New Networks INKY poster [comp]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2878798303_57ff8570d3.jpg)
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On February 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
This is such Bull Sh@!T! Only because the network has gotten more attention now, more than ever because of this. They should pay this guy for the publicity. Not that he didn’t get paid a fist full before. Oh what the hell, he’s probably getting a nice check for stepping down anyway. So never mind. Have fun in Hawaii Jim
On February 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Either a marketing debacle or a brilliantly executed marketing campaign. And the price tag was about $2 million. Gee, that’s not bad. That’s about the same amount a half-minute Superbowl commercial goes for - And Cartoon Network hasn’t had this kind of publicity in years. A bargain at twice the price. Yes, you can bet Mr. Sanmples is stepping down? He’s more than likely “stepping down” to some other prominmnet position at Time Warner, Inc. to see if he can work the same kind of magic again.
On February 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Ah come on he deserves to be let go anyway… CN has fallen over the last 13 years too. They now have to do live action movies and sitcoms to keep up. they used to be a the head of the game. Bye Jim please don’t go to another studio and ruin that too!
On February 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
i find it poetic justice that Adult Swim, a program that has approved pitches based SOLELY on whether they have a bargain basement production price (Home Movies, Aqua Teen, Squidbillies, 12 Oz. Mouse), must now pay $2million for the hairbrained promotion of said shows.
maybe if they took some risks and invested money in quality content instead of series after series that are basically an After Effects puppet show, then they wouldn’t need a guerilla marketing campaign or all of that tiresome snarky content.
On February 11th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Come on man. They green light what is pitched to them. IF all they get is crap they will put crap on TV. They have to put something on the air. How about if u guys think up some good ideas and then pitch it to them and then we wouldnt have to watch the crap thats on tv now instead of whining that u dont like whats there.
On February 11th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I need to put in a good word for Jim Samples, a good man who stood up with the judgement that he’d been responsible for something he felt crossed the line for his company. Jim and I have never done business together, but we’ve often shared a friendly cup of tea or a meal together. He was a tireless advocate for his networks, his management team, and his artists. Do we like all the decisions he made? Hell, I don’t like all the decisions *I’ve* made either. But I’ve got to say, he tried, with all authenticity, to do his best with humility and dedication. This [adult swim] thing was a big mess for everyone, and he took the hit. Give a guy a break.
On February 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
i have worked for Cartoon Network in Atlanta and still have numerous longtime friends in the Adult Swim department there.
they approve pitches based on the cost it takes to produce. period.
lets look at teh Adult Swim slate:
Sealab 2020
Home Movies
Aqua Teen
12 oz Mouse
Squidbillies
(the above which has the wonderful distinction of beng brought to a local production company and them being told “we want the characters to be designed really badly so that our writers can do the artwork”)
and a host of other properties they bought and rebroadcast.
in short, the only show that has a budget is Venture Bros - and thos folks work their fingers to the bone for little or no pay to make that show - i lived in NYC and know people that work on that show as well.
add to all of this that Korgoth, one of the best pilots that has come out of telvision animation in decades was not approved as a show and there is ample and irrefutable evidence to support my allegation and discard yours.
i’m sorry, but whgat i stated is the state of things at Adult Swim. its ridiculous.