"i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th

[demosthenes2k8]

My neighbors came over to watch it with my family - everyone loved it, except for the Bieber commercial...this was fantastic for publicity!

Funnily enough, my mom asked me during one commercial break "Matt, why aren't they talking about Gracious Professionalism? It's such a huge part of FIRST!"

[galewind]

I think that the rationale here is that in order to bring FIRST into the spotlight, and to have people pay attention, FIRST has to hitch on to popular people in a mainstream setting to be initially recognized. In this capacity, it was very successful. will.i.am's quotes were pretty spot-on, and things that FIRSTers could appreciate. I honestly felt that every other celebrity talking was absolutely fluff, but to associate them with a special about FIRST brings FIRST a bit more street cred.

I agree with many posters that I wish that there was more about FIRST, but look at your key elements -- they talk about coopertition, they demonstrate how FIRST can transform peoples' lives, they demonstrate why it's important, and they showed that science and technology can be fun. In that regard, I believe that they accomplished their mission.

While it may not have been the special that hardcore FIRSTers would have wanted -- it really wasn't made FOR us, and was a good step to try to change the culture into accepting how important it is to promote science and techology education.

In that regard, I am absolutely satisfied, and I hope that it opens some minds. My father, who is technology-challenged, called me from vacation in Florida to tell me about the show and how much he was enjoying it. Now, there's one... imagine how many other people enjoyed seeing it?

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

If you have a single negative thought towards this special it is because you are not the target audience for it.

I understand what your saying, but if if the biggest reason I'm involved in FIRST (the competition, strategy, sports-like atmosphere) isn't really highlighted at all, I think they may have missed getting people like me interested in FIRST. Dean has been saying for years that they stole the spots model to get people hooked on FIRST. I don't think this special properly utilized or highlighted that advantage or aspect of the FIRST program. It was a great special, but I think it could have been more effective at getting people interesed if they spent some time on the actual competition by showing some match footage.

Again, the special was great and is likely a huge sucess, but I think they have things they could do better next year.

[mikedeggy]

Just curious did anyone record this where I can show it to team members that missed it?

Thanks

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by galewind

In that regard, I am absolutely satisfied, and I hope that it opens some minds. My father, who is technology-challenged, called me from vacation in Florida to tell me about the show and how much he was enjoying it. Now, there's one... imagine how many other people enjoyed seeing it?

I totally agree. This program was definitely not aimed at us (current FIRSTers) at all, which is great. We're already involved.

Thanks to will.i.am and everyone else who made this happen.

I even liked the Bieber commercial.

Andy B.

[emtwo]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

Hard to complain about an hour of primetime TV for FIRST.

Dean conveyed it best when he said that "by most standards outside of science and technology...virtually nobody knows about FIRST..."

Tonight, that changed.

[dodar]

If I could get anything out of this, maybe someone should try and get the ratings and # of households that watched this special.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by mikedeggy

Just curious did anyone record this where I can show it to team members that missed it?

Thanks

My understanding from the powers that be is that the program will run a few more times in some odd time slots, then be made available to FIRST.

So sit back, enjoy, watch for other time slot assignments, then wait for the release.

That is my understanding.

[EricH]

I like how they focused on the message. However: I wasn't a fan of that much music. I have no problem with putting music in; it's a "hook" for the general populace. Just use some slightly shorter songs.

If I had to offer an overall critique: It was a good show for a first time doing it. If this is done again (and I do hope that it is), I would put in a full match or two from FRC (say, when explaining the game, and use a good match or two--Einstein semis maybe), and show more of the FTC match with will.i.am driving. Maybe go a little more with the "sports show" format used in the beginning. Oh, and spread out where the teams are from a bit; maybe hit up a few HoF teams about why they're in the HoF.


[reflection]
You know, thinking back to all that annoyance over the fields in the pits because of a concert, I think that the disruption was worth it. This was the final product of that. I only wish that there had been some hint of this back when the announcement was made, so there would have been no tempest in a teapot back in April.

[Tim Delles]

Originally Posted by emtwo

Dean conveyed it best when he said that "by most standards outside of science and technology...virtually nobody knows about FIRST..."

Tonight, that changed.

I think it will be interesting to see what Nielson ratings say.

[KHall]

I was rather pleased with the introduction before the show started. How many organizations get such a glowing endorsement from the leader of the free world?

This might be something to start in a new thread, but I thought it would be a good idea to start collecting the messages that were delivered during the show. I'll start.

Wil i am pointed out that all young people love science -- they all use cell phones, iPads, big screen TVs -- they just have not been educated that these things are all based on science.

Loved the show!!

Keith Hall
Mentor
2171 Robodogs

[GCentola]

Originally Posted by KHall

Wil i am pointed out that all young people love science -- they all use cell phones, iPads, big screen TVs -- they just have not been educated that these things are all based on science.

Science and technology! We cant forget that part.

[Cyberphil]

Originally Posted by EricH

You know, thinking back to all that annoyance over the fields in the pits because of a concert, I think that the disruption was worth it. This was the final product of that. I only wish that there had been some hint of this back when the announcement was made, so there would have been no tempest in a teapot back in April.

You bring up an excellent point. I agree. I think it was 100% worth it.

[Barry Bonzack]

Originally Posted by Joe G.

Overall, I thought it was very good. A bit much of the concert for my tastes, but then, die-hard FIRSTers aren't exactly the intended audience.

Originally Posted by stundt1

There was way to much music in it.

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

I think the TV special was great for promoting FIRST, Will.i.am and science/technology, but I was a little disappointed with how the show was put together. My biggest complaint is that it was just a bunch of segments and songs for an hour with no real structure or progression.

Originally Posted by Kusha

WAY too much music in it, I wish it was more robotics based than music. But then again, like others said I'm a FIRST junkie, this wasn't intended for me.

Originally Posted by Chris is me

but a friend who I told to watch the program called me after the show. "I really wish they showed us more of the robots. Those looked really cool. I didn't care about all the celebrities and music."

Originally Posted by thefro526

I hope the next time Will.I.Am and FIRST partner it's less about Music and more about Robots.

Originally Posted by EricH

I like how they focused on the message. However: I wasn't a fan of that much music. I have no problem with putting music in; it's a "hook" for the general populace. Just use some slightly shorter songs.

First, let me apologize to all of you for highlighting only this one point in your posts when many of you went on to say many positive things, but I didn't want my reply to be huge.

Yes, there was a lot of music, and that time could have been used instead to talk about other things. How many of us turned off the TV Immediately after the special was over? Realize what came on immediately after, The County Music concert something or another which featured an hour of just music and was advertised by what celebrities were participating in it. If we want to be on primetime, then we have to meet this format to receive views from the general public.

Don't like it? Then lets change the culture.

[Gir_450]

I liked it but I would most like to see it again (i missed the first half hour) and i need to show my team what they missed...both on t.v. and in St. Louis...btw any tips on getting a team more motivated?