NBC ripped off our add campaign (2003)

In 2004 The Hollywood Independent ran this article about how NBC ripped off our “Shoe Show” Ad Campaign. In the days preceding this article we had over 50 friends call us and tell us “You’ve been ripped-off!” Apparently “Celebrity Justice” thought the same thing because they called us a few days later to do a story on it. We never intended on any legal action and were just happy it got us a few more butts in the theatre.

Let’s Hope “Coupling” is more original than it’s ripped-off hype! They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but the ladies from the comedy troupe Tomboys in Fishnets have reason to feel insulted — not to mention ripped off.

It appears that NBC has ripped off the girls’ promotional gimmick — a now familiar photo around Hollywood in which all six scantily-clad Tomboys in Fishnets cast members are covering themselves with only a long sheet they are holding around their torsos.

Well, it seems that the unimaginative promotional people at NBC couldn’t come up with any great ideas on promoting the network’s new show Coupling — so they ripped off the gimmick.

In billboards around town — and presumably around the country — you can now see six Coupling cast members teasing us, au natural, and covered only by a long sheet they are holding around their torsos.

Even the posing of the six Coupling cast members is strikingly familiar.

Copyright? Trademark? Or does NBC simply appropriate as if by advertising eminent domain?

Tomboys producer Edie Magoun, who designed the troupe’s well-known photo calling card, said she wants to be flattered by the apparent duplication — but had not been contacted by the network for permission or even out of courtesy.

NBC officials did not immediately return any calls for comment. Maybe somebody oughta check out the scripts too.