A slick little earpiece given to some Comic-Con goers to help them find their way to a screening of NBC's new TV series "The Event."My goal was simple: Get to the front door of the San Diego Convention Center and into Comic-Con without taking a single flier, button or carry-all bag.
I was just about to cross the street at the train tracks and just as my hand swung forward, a poster for AMC's "The Walking Dead" was slipped into my grasp.
When I looked up, I nearly walked face first into a couple of actors made up as zombies.
Well, that marketing worked out perfectly. I certainly wasn't going to forget that someone went ninja and got a poster into my hands without my taking it or the peeling skin and dead eyes of the undead cast members ambling along in character.
All around the Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego, mega-trucks, giant-sized building advertisements and attractive models jockeyed for the attention of the Comic-Con guests.
And why not? Comic-Con is seen as a genuine buzz-building launching pad for new projects and judging by the number of movie and TV events on the show schedule, studios hope it helps potential viewers discover their older, ongoing projects.
"The Walking Dead," however, wasn't my Marketing Award winner.
My award goes to "The Event." Why? These clean-cut guys who were decked in secret service-style suits appear to ignore you at first and then lean in and whisper "The Event is coming," while slipping you a dossier or an earpiece.
The earpiece, pictured above, plays a voice with details on where to find information for a special screening of NBC's "The Event."
My reason for awarding this NBC show starring Blair Underwood, is that I found the style of delivery to be creative, quiet and accessible.
And no, I didn't make it to the screening, but I was intrigued.
While the heavy "Scott Pilgrim" presence was obvious, thanks to massive building and hotel displays, the long lines to get into certain areas made it tough for anyone who had a casual interest to learn more.
At least that's how it worked out for my buddy Dana.
"Scott Pilgrim?" He said. "What's that?"
The whole secret service thing "The Event" went with can hit anyone at any time. Even a guy like me, who wasn't interested in waiting in any lines whatsoever - except to eat - can get an exclusive invite.
As for "Scott
Pilgrim, will I actually go see it? Heck yeah! Did you see that trailer? Who was my Marketing Award winner again?
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