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Michael Bay walks out of CES after fluffing Samsung TV presentation Michael Bay walks off CES stage after autocue fails at Samsung TV talk
(about 7 hours later)
Michael Bay is a director of action films known for big explosions, but when Samsung chose him to promote its bendy televisions he was not supposed to bomb on stage.Michael Bay is a director of action films known for big explosions, but when Samsung chose him to promote its bendy televisions he was not supposed to bomb on stage.
He strode into the spotlight of the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday to praise the company's ultra-high definition curved TVs as a technology whose time had come.He strode into the spotlight of the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday to praise the company's ultra-high definition curved TVs as a technology whose time had come.
Hundreds of journalists and industry professionals, gathered in a Las Vegas hall for the world's biggest gadget expo, watched Bay take his position in front of a 105-in screen with bright, hyper-sharp images.Hundreds of journalists and industry professionals, gathered in a Las Vegas hall for the world's biggest gadget expo, watched Bay take his position in front of a 105-in screen with bright, hyper-sharp images.
Who better than the director of the Transformers franchise to convince us of the transformative power of a television designed to wow consumers and help safeguard Samsung's future?Who better than the director of the Transformers franchise to convince us of the transformative power of a television designed to wow consumers and help safeguard Samsung's future?
The plot swiftly went pear-shaped. The teleprompter appeared to malfunction and Bay froze. Cajoling from Joe Stinziano, Samsung's executive vice president, did not work. “The curve? How do you think it's going to impact how viewers experience your movies?”The plot swiftly went pear-shaped. The teleprompter appeared to malfunction and Bay froze. Cajoling from Joe Stinziano, Samsung's executive vice president, did not work. “The curve? How do you think it's going to impact how viewers experience your movies?”
Bay quailed, hunched his shoulders and scuttled off stage. “Excuse me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”Bay quailed, hunched his shoulders and scuttled off stage. “Excuse me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”
An excruciating silence descended before Stinziano, marooned, asked for the audience to applaud. A few clapped. Then the executive resumed the presentation solo.An excruciating silence descended before Stinziano, marooned, asked for the audience to applaud. A few clapped. Then the executive resumed the presentation solo.
Twitter duly trended, and not in a kind way. “Haven't cringed like that since Transformers 2,” said one commentator. “I've often wanted to walk out of a Michael Bay [in] embarrassment too. Can't blame him for seizing the opportunity,” said another.Twitter duly trended, and not in a kind way. “Haven't cringed like that since Transformers 2,” said one commentator. “I've often wanted to walk out of a Michael Bay [in] embarrassment too. Can't blame him for seizing the opportunity,” said another.
More charitable souls expressed sympathy, saying Bay suffered stage fright, if not an anxiety attack.More charitable souls expressed sympathy, saying Bay suffered stage fright, if not an anxiety attack.
The Hollywood A-lister subsequently posted an explanation on his blog. “Wow! I just embarrassed myself at CES. I rarely lend my name to any products, but this one is just stellar. I got so excited to talk, that I skipped over the Exec VP’s intro line and then the teleprompter got lost. Then the prompter went up and down – then I walked off. I guess live shows aren’t my thing.”The Hollywood A-lister subsequently posted an explanation on his blog. “Wow! I just embarrassed myself at CES. I rarely lend my name to any products, but this one is just stellar. I got so excited to talk, that I skipped over the Exec VP’s intro line and then the teleprompter got lost. Then the prompter went up and down – then I walked off. I guess live shows aren’t my thing.”
Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment but there was no disguising the speed with which some executives left the hall after the event.Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment but there was no disguising the speed with which some executives left the hall after the event.
“It's too bad. I think it looked worse for Michael Bay than it did for Samsung,” said Brian Blau, a research director at Gartner who was in the audience.“It's too bad. I think it looked worse for Michael Bay than it did for Samsung,” said Brian Blau, a research director at Gartner who was in the audience.
Once the flap blows over the South Korean behemoth, the world's biggest maker of smartphones and televisions, is likely to be more concerned by a sceptical response to the curved TVs.Once the flap blows over the South Korean behemoth, the world's biggest maker of smartphones and televisions, is likely to be more concerned by a sceptical response to the curved TVs.
In addition to the 105-in, a range of 55-in, 65-in and 78-in curved UHD sets is due to hit the market later this year. Samsung, which needs to reassure skittish investors that it can continue to grow, hopes curved TVs will become must-have elements of home entertainment. It compares the devices to 3D and Imax and says they immerse viewers deeper into the action on screen.In addition to the 105-in, a range of 55-in, 65-in and 78-in curved UHD sets is due to hit the market later this year. Samsung, which needs to reassure skittish investors that it can continue to grow, hopes curved TVs will become must-have elements of home entertainment. It compares the devices to 3D and Imax and says they immerse viewers deeper into the action on screen.
Prices have not been announced but analysts are already questioning the value. “I wasn't too impressed,” said Blau, an expert in visual computing. “I think it adds only a small percentage of immersion.”Prices have not been announced but analysts are already questioning the value. “I wasn't too impressed,” said Blau, an expert in visual computing. “I think it adds only a small percentage of immersion.”
TechCrunch was blunter and labelled it a gimmick. “Totally useless.”TechCrunch was blunter and labelled it a gimmick. “Totally useless.”
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