Wikis, Forums, Pages: The Virtual Water Cooler

May 6, 2010 | Written by Renee Barone

Remember when a show would leave you such a cliffhanger you couldn’t wait to get to work and chat around the water cooler recapping last night’s events? For some shows this post-episode chatter still exists; for other shows this conversation is happening immediately online. Every week after a new episode of Lost airs, millions of fans online gather online to analyze the minutest details of each scene. I was late to the Lost phenomenon, but now I am in so deep I don’t remember what a Wednesday (or Thursday or Friday) was like without immediately checking my favorite sites for new theories on what could happen next.

These top communities, such as Lost.tv, Lostepedia and Dark UFO, have influenced this show in a way we haven’t seen before. The producers and writers admit to keeping a close eye on the forums and monitoring what fans are saying:

“To that end, Lindelof and fellow executive producer Carlton Cuse say other Lost writers more closely monitor message boards, which attract some of the most devoted fans. Those writers act as a filter, relaying the interests of online fans while reducing the chances that they would overly influence the show’s direction.” (source: USAToday.com)

Viewers have a power over TV that we’ve never seen before. Betty White appearing on Saturday Night Live is another great example of how social media can change the course of a show’s programming. After 500,000 fans advocated for Mrs. White to make her SNL debut Lorne Michaels listened and she will be hosting this weekend.

What do you think about viewers having more of a say on what appears on TV? Do you think executives really listen?

More from RFI Studios

• The Best Way for Families to Keep in Touch – Right Brain
• WTF!!! – Right Brain
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• Twitter as a News Source – Right Brain
• Whatâs the incentive to spin the wheel? – Right Brain

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