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
The Next “Battle: Los Angeles” Viral Stage? December 7, 2010January 19, 2011While it was just the other day, we wrote about the hidden sounds on the new interactive website for Battle: Los Angeles, we now have what could be more of an unannounced placeholder for a future viral campaign. While the site does nothing, and yet again has Sony’s name all… Read More
David Fincher’s “The Social Network” Gets an Interactive Trailer, Breaks Down Facebook September 15, 2010Interactive trailers are becoming more popular lately, and its probably due to the fact you can cramp a lot of interesting stuff into the same package as a regular online trailer. Movies like Scott Pilgrim and Avatar have plenty to fill that space with, usually behind the scenes footage are… Read More
Fan-Made “Hunger Games” ARG Launches June 14, 2011June 16, 2011A few days ago, we posted an article about what looked to be an official ARG for the upcoming film The Hunger Games, which comes out next year. We deleted the article after a Lionsgate rep told us that it was not official and possibly a scam to collect user… 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.