AP: Sitcoms turn characters' one-liners into actual Web sites

[WeBuyThe.Com]

In the olden days, "555" alerted any viewer to a fake phone number in a TV show or movie. Thankfully, today, there's no equivalent for fake Web sites.

For a show like CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," this has been boon. If a character on the sitcom mentions a fictional Web site or blog, there's no need for the Web address to remain fictional.

In quick time, the domain name can be cheaply purchased and registered. Suddenly, a one-liner has new digital life. The joke Web site becomes a real Web site and industrious fans follow the trail.

Read more here

 

[randomo]

The article mentioned how one particular web address would be used on an upcoming episode of "How I Met Your Mother." But apparently the producers didn't bother to register it before saying that; somebody else has already grabbed that domain and is offering it for sale.

 

[domaingenius]

Hmm, Moderator, why is it that when I posted this very same article you
moved it to Gold Cafe, and yet this thread hasnt been moved ?

DG

 

[cursal]

First time I heard of of this was on the Conan O'Brien Show when he doing his stand-up bit and mentioned the website: www.HornyManatee.com

He came back the next night to explain to the audience that he wasn't allowed to just make up websites names when they didn't exists. And if he did so that NBC was required (by law or contract) I believe to then buy the name.

The night after that he came back on and said his crew went ahead and put something up on the domain/site and encourage viewers to visit the site and send in pictures and art of their own Horny Manatees. LOL

Site is still live, has PR 5, and they use it to link to other ventures that NBC is involved in.

I wonder if these made up names are required or obligated by the networks to own the "fictitious" domain/website before they can use it in a show or skit.

 

[Gerry]

The article mentioned how one particular web address would be used on an upcoming episode of "How I Met Your Mother." But apparently the producers didn't bother to register it before saying that; somebody else has already grabbed that domain and is offering it for sale.

It would be a shame for the writers to have to register every line they write before it airs.

Writers are not domainers. They are writers writting for a sitcom.

Now if someone wants to sit in front of the TV with a laptop and reg everything spoken on TV, well...have at it.

I would say 99.99% of what is said on television has a very short life span.

 

[ServeAd]

I have thought of these exact things with this exact show.

These actors specifically mention websites like BarneysCoolIdeas.com *not an exact domain they quoted* Why someone would not register a domain like this if they are going to write it into a script is beyond me.

 

[Gerry]

I have thought of these exact things with this exact show.

These actors specifically mention websites like BarneysCoolIdeas.com *not an exact domain they quoted* Why someone would not register a domain like this if they are going to write it into a script is beyond me.

My point is they should not have to and why bother.

99.99% of these names/sites would have a very short shelf life until the next catchy phrase came along.

Sure, someone could easily park and taste and throw back.

For the most part, enjoy the show, put the laptop down, and quit being a domainer for an hour or two.

 

[HarveyJ]

It's great to see TV land finally catching on.
Video games have been doing this for ages. Anyone that's played GTA3 will remember the radio ads for petsovernight.com and other great websites.

 

[RegFee]

I don't think this is a "boon" for How I Met Your Mother, don't they usually make Barney's random URLs into functional, money making websites?