OK, are you ready for a HUGE CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT?

I was trying to think outside the box. I wanted AD fans to do something bigger than a magazine ad in one of the Hollywood trade magazines. Bigger than a "Save Our Show" billboard. Something that hasn't been done before... so here's what we're going to do.

At 11 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, a plane will be flying around NBC Burbank with a banner saying, "NBC - KEEP AMERICAN DREAMS!" Kevin Reilly's office has been alerted. Jeff Zucker just happens to be at NBC Burbank this week having meetings with Mr. Reilly. The plane will fly from Orange County to Burbank, (advertising our message all the way... over 40 miles) and circle around the NBC offices for one hour.

I have sent press releases to all Los Angeles Media Outlets, such as People Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, local tv news, local radio stations, etc... I talked to many people at these agengies personally, and they seem very interested in the story.

Here are excerpts from my press release to these agencies...

Fans Flying High to Support NBC’s “American Dreams”

Los Angeles, CA – May 3, 2005 - On Wednesday, May 4, 2005, fans of the NBC drama “American Dreams” will be demonstrating their passion for the show by flying an aerial ad above NBC Studios Burbank. NBC will be deciding this week whether or not “American Dreams” will return in the fall. Fans are determined to make their voices heard regarding quality programming they can share with their families.

The coordinator of the campaign says, “I’ve had fans write to me from every demographic. A twelve year-old girl wrote to say that she watches it with her mother and grandmother. A father wrote to say it’s the one hour of television each week that his whole family enjoys together. Everyone who contacts me is distraught that the show they love may not come back next season. “American Dreams” sparks a unique passion in viewers. People who have never thought to write to a network to save a show have been writing, calling, and emailing NBC about this show. Watching “American Dreams” is not a passive experience, it makes people connect- both with the show and with each other.”

According to our government, Americans want to return to morals and values. According to the FCC, viewers want programming that is appropriate for the whole family. NBC achieves both of these goals with “American Dreams.” We think quality family programming is worth fighting for, and we hope you will help us.

Our aerial banner will be flying over NBC Studios Burbank, at 3000 West Alameda Ave. Burbank, CA 91523. It will fly for one hour beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What you can do to magnify the effect of this aerial banner:

Tomorrow, (and until the end of the week,)

CALL NBC BURBANK and tell them why American Dreams MUST be renewed!

818-840-4444

I will have photos up tomorrow night of the plane and banner on the "Keep the Dream Alive" section of my site. (www.americandreamsfanclub.com/dreamalive.htm)

Also, if you are interested in making a small donation to the aerial banner part of our campaign, you can go here for more information:

www.americandreamsfanclub.com/donation.htm

Thanks for posting this! :D

Leigh,
That sounds so awesome! I hope it works. I can't wait to see the pictures from this event. I wish I was there to see it in person.

I do admire your devotion! Sounds expensive. I hope it works!

First of all... I hope I speak for everyone who loves AD, to say we DEEPLY appreciate the effort "ADFanclub" is making to maybe still save our beloved show by getting a plane to fly over NBC.

NOW... IT'S UP TO EVERYONE ONE OF US to help in our way... in what is most likely the last possible effort to hopefully save our show.

I'm writing now... to detail my experience today, same day as the plane flight, when I called NBC Burbank at 818-840-4444.
This in hopes of giving you all who also call some GUIDELINES on what to expect.

I called 818-840-4444 in Burbank at 12:30 Pacific time... just shortly after the plane finished circling NBC. I first got NBC's general switchboard operator... and asked to be connected to KEVIN REILLY's office.

I was, indeed connected to a woman who was obviously Kevin Reilly's assisant. I began to tell her my name... AND what city I live in, which is Boston.
After that, I began to QUICKLY but cordially tell her that I wanted NBC to reconsider it's decision to cancel American Dreams.
At that point, she transferred my call to another woman... who I assume has been designated to "field" our calls as part of this phone call effort to save AD. I quickly, AGAIN told her where I lived... and quickly WHY I wanted our show to be on the Fall schedule.

I directly asked her if our calls were being considered. While she fell short of detailing what effect the calls were having... probably because I was one of the early calls... she DID admit she had already received a number of calls... and thanked me for my support.

That's how the call went down... and it gave me an idea to relate the following suggestions about calling NBC. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND... I work in the television industry for another major cable network... and have experience on how the beaucracy sometimes deals with campaigns like ours.

First... ADfanclub is SO RIGHT! The only effort now in these last days... and I mean LITERALLY there are only DAYS left before everything is announced and revocably set in stone about NBC's Fall schedule.

THAT IS WHY... YOU MUST, MUST, MUST TELEPHONE CALL NBC Burbank...NOW, NOW, NOW during their BUSINESS hours!!!!
So make the appropriate calls according to California time.... calling after 5 or 6 p.m. Los Angeles time is a WASTED call... because the excutives have left for the day.

Second... when you get the initial switchboard receptionist... sound ADULT and authoritative and ask to be connected to "Kevin Reilly's Office". If you sound wimpy or unsure... they will assume you are, indeed, a fan and maybe transfer the call to some lower level "flunky".

WHEN you are connected to Kevin Reillys office... state your name, what city you live in ... and QUICKLY state your desire for NBC to KEEP American Dreams on the air.
You need to talk FAST... because these people, especially Reilly's assistants, are busy... and will quickly transfer you to the "flunky" if you stutter or hesitate. Be cordial but firm in your plea of renewal.
Stating the CITY you live in is important... so they know this effort is NATIONWIDE.

Finally... it is my guess that, if HOPEFULLY... many people DO call in... Reilly's office might instruct the switchbord to ask any callers... who you are, and "the reason for your call". They might be instructed to do that to sidetrack the calls from flooding Reilly's office.

Again... to hopefully avoid this tactic... when and/or IF asked what is "the nature of your business" with Reilly's office.
... say "you are calling to reach Reilly's ASSISTANT on some proramming business... or a programming matter". They'll be more likely to transfer you to her... thinking you are someone in "the biz".

If you sound like a fan... you'll be treated like a fan.

ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.... DO NOT, NOT, NOT bother telling the switchboard operator you're calling to offer support for American Dreams renewal!
The operators are overwhelmed with MANY business calls... and THEY DON'T CARE about fan support. Their ONLY job is to transfer calls... and any pleas to the switchboard operator will be met with a simple "Thank you"... and be forgotten... and you've made a wasted call.

YOUR OBJECTIVE is to get to Reilly's office and/or assistant... don't bother asking to speak to Reilly himself. THAT WON'T HAPPEN!
... but every call that gets to his assistant... even if she then transfers you to "the lower level associate"... takes up her time... and she will tell her boss who's desk is only a few feet away that, "Kevin... I'm getting flooded with calls from these American Dreams fans".

I hope these tips help... and ITRULY hope we ALL will call ASAP and through the end of the week... to VERBALLY make a statement.
E-mails can now be deleted... phone calls take up NBC's time and cannot be ingnored... as well as the plane hat flew over. plus... East Coast chief Jeff Zucker is there to perhaps influence Reilly's cancellation decision to change.

remember there is a 3-hour time difference between East and West coast... so quitting time in Los Angles at 5 p.m. there ... is 8:00 p.m. on the East coast
SO CALL NBC in LA during business hours.... 9-5 p.m.

At the very least... we went down TRULY fighting!
SO CALL NBC at 818-840-4444 NOW!
KEVIN REILLY's OFFICE and/or ASSISTANT

ADfanclub, I saw the pic on the website. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. You're awesome. It was such a great idea!! I really hope it works!! Thanks so much for all you've done to "keep the dream alive"!!!

:thanks:


props:

I am a member of the A.D. fan club and have been reading the posts on here for a long time however, I have never written anything. I just want to say I am proud to be a part of such a great fan club. I have been so down about the show but after reading about the plane message today it has given me hope. What an amazing idea that was. Even if the show is cancelled I want to thank Leigh for doing that and I want to thank all the people who helped try to save the show. I know I will keep my fingers crossed.

I, like many, have been reading here a long time, but am just now posting for the first time. Thanks to all of you who are staying so spoitive, and trying your best to KEEP THE DREAMS ALIVE!

We all have to remember, we can still do good things - nothing is official until we see that Fall schedule posted. Even if the show is not saved, we have to know that we gave it all--even after we recieved word that American Dreams was cancelled.

DO NOT GIVE UP YET!! Call Kevin Reilly, and follow the directions previously posted EXACTLY. The assistant will be very short once she hears why you are calling--make it known who you are FIRST, then why you are calling. She was very abrupt with me yesterday and directed me to NBC.com. I politely thanked her and asked for her to give Mr. Reilly my message.

Also, for those of you who can--donate towards the plane flight. It was amazing thing to get the fly-by, and we all should help, IF YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO. 160 fans donating $5 each will pay for the cost of the initiative.

Let's keep it up--keep calling and directly e-mailing at this point--those will be the fastest, most noticeable ways before the final decision is made.

Thanks for all of your hard work!

A huge AD fan,
Jonathan

This just makes me so proud!!!! I was at the store the other day, and they played "Wishin' and Hopin'" and also after that a few other songs from the 60's period, and I immediately thought AD and started tearing up! :( I know, I'm a sucker, but it just reminded me of the possibility of the show's end! I so don't want that!!! I really appreciate everyone's efforts for trying to save the show!!!

Especially the head of the AD Fan Club. I read about your trip to Burbank because I am a part of a Yahoo AD fan group, and I was so happy to hear about your experience watching the aerial balloon!!! I am feeling pretty optimistic! :)

The two best photos can be found at:

www.americandreamsfanclub.com/dreamalive.htm

and

www.americandreamsfanclub.com/donation.htm

thanks!

Those are great!!!! :D