Blogger Buzz Doesn't Mean Blockbuster Buzz

I said previously that the blogger buzz for Borat would yield similar results to the Soap phenomenon: blue-state bloggers' mouths (such as my own purty flycatcher) get frothy with excitement as red states that often don't get broadband internet access or even cable TV fail to see the hype.

Found this LA Times article (reg. required) via Dead Frog saying the following:

Surveys showed that moviegoers were largely unaware of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," despite well-publicized stunts by its star, Sacha Baron Cohen. His hype endeavors included drawing a crowd of journalists to the White House gates where the British comedian, in character as Borat Sagdiyev, asked to deliver a screening invitation to "Premier George Walter Bush."

"Our research showed it was soft in awareness," said Bruce Snyder, Fox's distribution chief.


Yes, the buzz is at its weakest outside of the big cities.

Fox has had trouble selling "Borat" outside of the big cities and college towns where Cohen's brand of politically incorrect satire has gathered legions of fans.


It seems like a smart move on Fox's part. As I previously stated:

a) many people in non-broadband areas missed the Borat YouTube videos
b) many in those areas don't get cable TV and are thus unable to watch "Da Ali G Show" on HBO
c) perhaps the few in flyover country who do know about Borat are as offended by the film as the Kazakhs are


But the gossip about Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn did make the print newspapers and magazines all across America, which might explain why The Break Up is thus far the top-grossing comedy of '06.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think Borat will even beat Click on the list.