[ad_1]
Picture: Cult of Mac
An unintentional collaboration with Apple saved NBC sitcom The Workplace from cancellation throughout its second season.
A fifth-generation iPod took a starring function in an episode of the comedy collection. Then, the unlikely cameo spurred gross sales of reruns of the present on iTunes. And the remaining is historical past.
This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks. Cult of Mac might earn a fee whenever you use our hyperlinks to purchase gadgets.
How Apple, iTunes and the iPod saved The Workplace
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin tells the background story of the manufacturing of The Workplace. Mashable took a deep dive into the just lately launched ebook and located that Apple performed a surprisingly giant function in maintaining the present on the air in 2005.
The collection was near being canceled when the episode “Christmas Celebration” aired. It’s in regards to the turmoil that outcomes from Michael Scott (the dunderheaded workplace supervisor performed by Steve Carell) mixing a brand new iPod video into the corporate’s Secret Santa alternate.
The first iPod able to enjoying video debuted in October 2005. Shortly afterward, Apple started providing movies by iTunes.
“That yr, everybody acquired everybody a video iPod for Christmas. And whenever you acquired a video iPod and set it up and went to the iTunes Retailer, the very first thing that you just noticed was The Workplace and the Christmas episode,” stated Mike Schur, who wrote the episode. “It was the primary watched factor on iTunes for 30 consecutive days. So everybody spends your complete break watching that episode after which different episodes of the present.”
Not a paid product placement
Apple didn’t pay to get the iPod featured spot within the episode. However the Mac-maker did finally present free computer systems for the set. And it marketed through the present.
Somebody on the firm was apparently an enormous fan. In Welcome to Dunder Mifflin, Brian Baumgartner (who performed Kevin Malone on the present) recollects going into an Apple Retailer and seeing posters for The Workplace.
The recognition of the collection on iTunes satisfied NBC to maintain the present on the air. “We turned successful due to iTunes, and we’re being found by a brand new era right this moment due to streaming providers like Netflix,” stated Baumgartner.
Through: Mashable
[ad_2]
