Earlier this week, fans of the TV show Glee were rocked by an extra’s Twitter feed that SPOILED a plot point of an upcoming episode.
Extra Nicole Crowther tweeted out details about the prom-themed episode coming up, including the big revelation of who wins prom queen and prom king. News of the SPOILERS existence swept the Internet like wildfire. And it’s created a storm of controversy in Hollywood and for Fox.
On a website for the show, producer Brad Falchuck fired off this response to Crowther, ““Who are you to spoil something talented people have spent months to create? Hope you’re qualified to do something besides work in entertainment.”
Crowther responded, “They are not doing reshoots because of my careless mistake so shut up haters and leave me alone. Grow up and get a life.”
She was also terminated as an extra on the show and will probably have a difficult time finding a job as an extra in the near future.
(And no, we won’t tell you the SPOILER here…if you look around a bit you can find it).
So why bring this up on Slice of SciFi, you ask. Because of the fallout from it. It appears that Fox is looking at new ways to clamp down on SPOILERS and keep fans from finding out too much before episodes air.
An insider at Glee producer 20th Century Fox Television said the studio is considering amending all of its talent deals — from series regulars to day players like Crowther — to include strict punishments for blabbing online.
That wouldn’t be the only Hollywood studio to crack down on leaks via social networks. A growing number of studio deals contain new language aimed at plugging leaks of disparaging or confidential information about productions via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the rest.
In October 2009, a Disney contract came to light with a clause forbidding confidentiality breaches via “interactive media such as Facebook, Twitter, or any other interactive social network or personal blog.” At the time, ABC had recently issued guidelines for tweeting while working on network shows, rules that included seven prohibited actions (including revealing spoilers).
There isn’t much Fox or the Glee producers can do in the short term. Day players for shows aren’t required to sign non-disclosure agreements, so legally Crowther can’t be sued.
Someone spoiled “Glee” those monsters… oh wait, it’s just “Glee” and not “Lost” or “Twin Peaks”
@Jayson. Don’t be so quick to dismiss a show just because you may not like it. A SPOILER that ruins something for fans is still a SPOILER no matter what show it’s on…
Not a Glee watcher, but I find that sort of behavior unpleasant and unprofessional.
Glee is SCIFI – Kids stuck in a world where they have to sing crappy songs. If they don’t their hearts will stop.
My point was that a spoiler for a show like “Glee” is like a spoiler for “Cops” or “Kitchen Nightmares” It’s a show about school kids singing, how much real drama or large plots is there to really spoil?
This is so silly — I wonder if it is just a ploy to promote the show using twitter?
Spoiler is a spoiler. One reason I don’t watch the Next Week’s previews. Too often the network spoils a surprise or twist while trying to promote the show.