Learn the Math Behind CBS Show Numb3rs Dan Koelsch, February 21, 2010 There are a lot of procedural shows on right now, shows in which a problem is introduced, investigated and solved all within the same episode (think CSI, Bones, almost every one hour show other than LOST). Many have gimmicks to try to separate them from the bunch (his partner is a psychic!), and one of my favorite gimmick procedurals is Numb3rs on CBS. There’s a nifty website created to supplement the show. The show centers on the Los Angeles branch of the FBI, where agent Eppes (rob Morrow) has a brother who is a math genius and professor at Cal Tech. Each episode has Professor Eppes (David Krumholtz) using advanced mathematics to help solve a case. For us regular folk, this stuff goes over our head, but if you are interested in the math, Wolfram (makers of software Mathematica) have teamed up with the show to help you out. Wolfram’s Numb3rs website goes through each episode and explains the mathematical principals the characters are using or talking about. The well designed site is meant to look like a case file being opened, and you can watch videos that show the math. For a much more detailed look at the science, each concept has a link to it’s own Wolfram page. It’s nice to know that the characters aren’t talking gibberish, and this kind of stuff can actually work. Numb3rs airs Fridays at 10/9c on CBS. Viral Marketing CBSNumb3rsNumbers
Mysterious ‘It Starts With the Flu’ Countdown Ends In One Week, What Is It For? August 31, 2010September 2, 2010Over a year ago, a mysterious website was found by Unfiction members called It Starts With The Flu. On the simple one-page site, a countdown has been running, with the time ending at midnight on the morning of September 8th, just over one week away. The question “Will You Survive?”… Read More
“Muppets Most Wanted” Viral Marketing Campaign Launches Constantine BadFrog.Me Viral Site March 13, 2014March 13, 2014The viral marketing campaign for Muppets Most Wanted has appeared on Super Bowl spots, parodied Spy-genre movie posters, campaigned for Awards they are not eligible for, mocked the internet, even spited Adele Dazeem. Now the marketing team has launched a whole new site to help promote the upcoming movie before… Read More
New Muppet Movie Details and Viral Video February 10, 2010February 10, 2010The Muppet Movie is one of my favorite movies of all time. While some of the later Muppets film lost the edge and humor of the first few, the characters have stayed with me (and the rest of the world) ever since. With the recent surge of viral videos from… Read More
The show’s “Chain Factor” ARG is still my favorite example of integrating the viral with the tv show. Took the premise from the Primacy and extended it seamlessly (which is pretty difficult, after watching the episode’s resolution) onto the web and into the real world.