I was watching television tonight, on one of my new HD channels on DirecTV (no, I didn't get paid for that, but I wish I had). If you want to understand this concept, and unintended consequences, go no further than to watch The Producers (either version).

They deliberately picked the worst play, the worst playwright, the worst director, the worst cast, and it turned into a hit. And things like that can happen all the time.

[Morning update]

Sorry some found this post cryptic. Let me rewrite. I was watching "The Producers" (movie version of the musical) last night, on one of the new DirecTV HD channels (a fact that was incidental to the real point, which was that I was watching The Producers). The unintended, and undesired success of their musical was an emergent property of their attempts to make it a failure, by choosing the worst of everything, which somehow resulted in a hit. I was not slamming HD--I was plugging DirecTV for being the first to offer a large number of HD channels.

"They deliberately picked the worst play, the worst playwright, the worst director, the worst cast, and it turned into a hit. And things like that can happen all the time."

Sounds like the basis for the Hillary Campaign.

I was watching television tonight, on one of my new HD channels on DirecTV (no, I didn't get paid for that, but I wish I had).

Okay. You're watching HD TV. I'm with you so far.

If you want to understand this concept, and unintended consequences, go no further than to watch The Producers

No doubt throwing back a few brews while you're watching it as well. Concept? What concept? Whose concept?

They deliberately picked the worst play, the worst playwright, the worst director, the worst cast, and it turned into a hit.

I liked the Swedish babe best in that movie. Who's "they"?

And things like that can happen all the time.

Sure Rand. Sure. I'll check back again tomorrow when the Nyquil has worn off.

I'm with K. What's the concept? If you are slamming HD, I wouldn't call it a hit. Considering it was suppose to be the only form of television about 4 years ago, per government mandate; it is taking a long time to catch on.

The subject, Leland, the post subject. "Emergent properties."

I think Rand is making a subtle case for the potential success of the NASA Constellation program. . .

. . . or maybe not. :)

The Producers was written (and occasionally directed) by Mel Brooks, an excellent director and script writer. And the versions you cite all have impressive stars: Uma Thurman, Gene Wilder, Matthew Broderick, etc. I don't know about the rest, but I fail to see the "worst" appear in these movies or plays.

Ummmmmm...Karl? I'm talking about "Springtime for Hitler," not "The Producers." The original movie, the stage musical, and the movie remake are all great, and intentionally so.

The opposite case being "Last Action Hero." They got the hottest action star at the time, the hottest action director, etc., etc., and it bombed.