Broadband Content Bits: Whedon's Sing-Along; Hulu HD; Bebo Series; 'Scary City'; 'Tropic Thunder'
This story was written by Amanda Natividad.
-- Joss Whedon's 'Sing-Along' resurfaces on Hulu: Now you see it, now you don't, now you see it again. Sci-fi director and writer Joss Whedon's web series, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, is now available in its entirety on Hulu for four months. A few weeks ago Whedon released the "vanishing" project online in three parts before taking it down completely after three days, with plans to eventually releasing the DVD with special features and commentary.
-- Hulu expands HD gallery: Hulu expanded its HD offerings this week, featuring a total of 27 documentaries, sports and movie clips (including Whedon's Sing-Along), and full TV shows such as The Office, 30 Rock, Heroes and 24. The gallery, having launched last December with movie trailers, does not offer embed codes but is streaming ad-free, at least for now. In June, CBS Interactive (NYSE: CBS) announced it added HD embeddable clips on its video player, while ABC began its HD offerings in May, in addition to new navigation and embedding features.
-- Bebo premiering new series: After the success of Kate Modern and Sofia's Diary, Bebo has launched another interactive series dubbed The Secret World of Sam King. Produced with Universal Music Group, the show follows Sam King, a mailroom worker who starts his own record label and features guest stars including tween sensations the Jonas Brothers. VideoEgg will host the 3-5 minute webisodes and Virgin Mobile (NYSE: VM) and Sony (NYSE: SNE) Ericsson (NSDQ: ERIC) have signed on as integrated product sponsors.
-- LonelyGirl15 exec creating mystery series: Yumiko Aoyagi, an exec producer on LonelyGirl15, is gearing up for the U.S. launch of her Japanese murder-mystery web series, The Scary City. Beginning Sep. 15, viewers can tune into five 2-3 minute episodes and embed them onto third party sites. Aoyagi plans to eventually distribute the show to mobile phones and adapt it as manga graphic novels, with ultimate hopes of turning the venture into a full-length film.
-- DreamWorks removes 'Tropic Thunder' promo site: Apparently, they didn't think "once upon a time there was a retard" would be offensive. After disability rights advocates hit out at simplejackmovie.com, a promotional website for Ben Stiller's upcoming comedy Tropic Thunder, for featuring that tagline, DreamWorks closed the site Monda night. Paramount Pictures developed the site which was meant to be an homage to Stiller's actor character to take a satirical jab at Hollywood for often portraying mentally challenged characters.
By Amanda Natividad