Comcast Fires TechTV Staff

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Posted by CowboyNeal on Thursday May 6, 2004 @03:42PM from the no-one-left-to-save-the-screens dept.

Bocaj writes "Looks like it's curtains for TechTV staff. A Leo Laporte article says that Comcast has let the entire staff go. 'Per the WARN Act (governing plant closings) all the employees of TechTV have been given 60 days notice. The San Francisco operation will be shuttered by July. 100 of the existing jobs will be posted for those willing to relocate to LA.' No word on what will happen to all the shows or the channel."

50 of 664 comments (clear)

The important question... by David+E.+Smith · 2004-05-06 15:43 · Score: 5, Funny

... so what will become of Playboy's proposed "Women of TechTV" photo shoot? I'm still waiting for Morgan b00bies.
1. Re:The important question... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-06 15:47 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Hey, if you still look at Playboy, you need to discover the wonderful world of porn, turn off that SPAM fitler, click a few links and wank away!
2. Re:The important question... by Curtman · 2004-05-06 17:23 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  For those of us who have no idea who Morgan Webb is, click here. I don't even want to know what that fat naked guy with the teddy bear ( http://logic_net.tripod.com/bachelor.jpg ) is doing there though. I didn't link, becuase of some referal denying of some kind.
3. Re:The important question... by Roger+Keith+Barrett · 2004-05-06 17:44 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  The be sure to find one for him. Someone who has a healthy interest in girls and boobies.
  
  --
  
  Why don't you embrace your slashbotness instead of living in a dreamworld?
4. Re:The important question... by Tackhead · 2004-05-07 02:09 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  > Hell, if I were out of work and someone *wanted* to pay me to take some pics of me naked, I sure as hell would do it!!
  >
  > Thank you for publicly proclaiming your moral illness. Unfortunately, you've left out your address, so I can't tell my kids who to stay the heck away from.
  Why would you have to tell your kids to stay the heck away from him, unless you believe your kids would pay money to see a Slashdotter naked? And you're calling him the sick fuck?
  (There was a line in here about pots and kettles, but why bring the interracial kitchenware fetishists into it?)
Welcome to TechTV... by Morganth · 2004-05-06 15:43 · Score: 5, Funny

Direct from Bangalore!
1. Re:Welcome to TechTV... by Aqua+OS+X · 2004-05-06 18:50 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  They'd probably have fake Californian and Texan accents just like tech support. :/
  
  --
  "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
2. Re:Welcome to TechTV... by JamesKPolk · 2004-05-06 19:06 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  "What do you say we take a relaxed attitude toward work and watch the baseball match? The NY Mets are my favorite squadron!"
Comcast weenie has a great idea... by gleepskip · 2004-05-06 15:44 · Score: 5, Funny

"Let's buy a great channel and fire everybody!"
1. Re:Comcast weenie has a great idea... by gantrep · 2004-05-06 15:45 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  What channel is that?
2. Re:Comcast weenie has a great idea... by .com+b4+.storm · 2004-05-06 17:02 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Let's buy a great channel
  
  Yeah, but they also bought TechTV. Try to keep on topic here. :)
  
  --
  "Wow, you're like some kind of superhero able to ward off happiness and success at every turn."
  -- Ryan Stiles
3. Re:Comcast weenie has a great idea... by Epistax · 2004-05-06 23:26 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  It's not all THAT bad.
  It's not like there are other useless channels out there.
4. Re:Comcast weenie has a great idea... by gamgee5273 · 2004-05-07 02:09 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Damn... you mean I have no luck of winning the portable record player that hangs off my belt?
  Dude, you just ruined my day. Little Jimmy (now big Jimmy) and I are gonna have to track you down and pelt you with trackballs from Centipede.
Its a good thing comcast didn't buy disney.. by cybrthng · 2004-05-06 15:44 · Score: 3, Funny

I'd hate to see them fire everyone and relocate it.
1. Re:Its a good thing comcast didn't buy disney.. by cujo_1111 · 2004-05-06 16:19 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Anime didn't own auto industry market in the 70s...
  
  --
  If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
2. Re:Its a good thing comcast didn't buy disney.. by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-06 16:23 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  Yeah it did. Speed Racer kicks ass.
3. Re:Its a good thing comcast didn't buy disney.. by fenix+down · 2004-05-06 16:32 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  It did until Ralph Nader proved the whole line of Transformers blew up if you kicked them in the ass too hard. That meddling kid.
Won't someonebody think about the clueless?! by jesse.k · 2004-05-06 15:44 · Score: 4, Funny

Dammit, now where are all the clueless newbies going to learn about the all the cool hacker tricks covered in Kevin Rose's Dark Tips?

Looks like The Man has won yet again!
1. Re:Won't someonebody think about the clueless?! by gooberguy · 2004-05-06 16:03 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Hey, the taser project was a good one. I made one and had lots of fun burning the chrome off of my screwdriver. I don't want to shock anyone because it looks pretty painful.
  
  --
  
  Karma: Meh (Mostly from meh.)
2. Re:Won't someonebody think about the clueless?! by mcpkaaos · 2004-05-06 16:39 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Dammit, now where are all the clueless newbies going to learn about the all the cool hacker tricks covered in Kevin Rose's Dark Tips?
  
  Welcome home.
  
  --
  It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
Nooooo! by Faust7 · 2004-05-06 15:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Not Cat Schwartz!

Oh well, she will live on Photoshop.

--
The coolest voice ever.
Guess I'll have to get my news somewhere else by Fubar411 · 2004-05-06 15:48 · Score: 2, Funny

http://www.nakednews.com
because as far as the execs are concerned... by j3ll0 · 2004-05-06 15:48 · Score: 2, Funny

...the only place for technology in TV is coming up with better encryption schemes to stop those pesky sat pirates !
Maybe it went something like this? by Spazholio · 2004-05-06 15:52 · Score: 4, Funny

Comcast drone #1: Geeks already don't like us, right?
Comcast drone #2: Right.
Comcast drone #1: Something to do with the DMCA, no?
Comcast drone #2: Most likely.
Comcast drone #1: But they all like this TechTV show, right?
Comcast drone #2: Seems like it, yes.
Comcast drone #1: I have an idea....let's let the entire cast go and relocate to LA!
Comcast drone #2: Brilliant!
Re:Press Release by nomadic · 2004-05-06 15:53 · Score: 2, Funny

Direct from the G4 press release [g4tv.com], it looks like the only TechTV originals surviving are Anime Unleashed, X-Play, The Screen Savers, Fresh Gear, and Robot Wars.

They have shows other than that? News to me...
Re:Replacement: Slashdot Channel? by AvantLegion · 2004-05-06 15:56 · Score: 2, Funny

A Slashdot Channel would actually be pretty informative

So it wouldn't involve any actual Slashdotters?
Re:what I don't understand is WHY!!!! by the_2nd_coming · 2004-05-06 15:56 · Score: 2, Funny

remember last year when Leo was making fun of Kevin's dark tip of the day and Sarah said "hey, I like his dark tip!!" and everything went silent and kevin had this weird look on his face :-)

I was rolling on the floor with that one.

--

I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
Morgan Webb has been offered a new position... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-06 15:57 · Score: 3, Funny

...on all fours, on my bed!

Come on, Morgan, I'll throw in comprehensive healthcare! Whaddaya say? :-)
1. Re:Morgan Webb has been offered a new position... by Methuseus · 2004-05-06 19:17 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  stupid AC
  
  He deserves the funny mods, seeing as just about any single male here (and many who aren't) would love to say the same thing. Oh, and lesbians, I haven't counted you out, I'm just not part of the group so I don't feel comfortable making blanket statements about your sexual desire for Morgan.
  
  --
  Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, though I'm not yet sure about the universe. - A Einstein
Re:Replacement: Slashdot Channel? by nomadic · 2004-05-06 16:02 · Score: 5, Funny

A Slashdot Channel would actually be pretty informative, covering lots of different aspects.

Oh, god, I can just see it now. Bad grammar, no fact checking, and of course the announcer constantly breaking in with "THIS JUST IN!" 10 times a day for the same duplicate story.
Finally, more bandwidth for World's Scariest... by potus98 · 2004-05-06 16:02 · Score: 5, Funny

Finally! More broadcast bandwidth for the World's Scariest Reality Midget High School Survival Makeover Elimidate Police Fear Mini-series.

Now if we could only wipe out those damn persistant channels of informative crap like PBS, Discovery, and that other "high-brow" crap. Maybe we'll finally get a whole channel dedicated to quality shows like "The View" and "American Idol".

--
This one gang kept wanting me to join cause I'm pretty good with a bo staff.
Re:Replacement: Slashdot Channel? by cujo_1111 · 2004-05-06 16:09 · Score: 2, Funny

Who would watch a channel where they continually replay the same stories over and over again?

--
If I point out that you are incorrect, making me a foe does not make you any more correct.
This is horrible! by lifebouy · 2004-05-06 16:18 · Score: 3, Funny

I didn't like Leo at first. He's got the whole Chester the Molester thing going, and at first glance, he seems to have a kind of superior attitude. But after a while he grows on you, like a fungus. The whole crew (Leo included) is awesome. I would have liked to see more geeky shows on techtv, like the GNews with Richard Stallman, or a nice studio production of The Linux Show, where you could see them bantering ala the Howard Stern show (but for geeks). I am really sad that they are getting such a bad shake.
I tell you the truth. If Stargate gets canceled, I'm giving up on TV.
Next someone will be telling me that Slashdot doesn't really run news, or that they got bought by OSDN. I'd be downhill from there, for sure. Oh, wait...

--
Drop me a line at:
Key ID: 0x54D1D809
1. Re:This is horrible! by lifebouy · 2004-05-06 16:41 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  whooooooshhhh.....
  
  --
  Drop me a line at:
  Key ID: 0x54D1D809
Re:Replacement: Slashdot Channel? by Talez · 2004-05-06 16:25 · Score: 5, Funny

Just what we need. Another FOX News.
Re:and if Morgan declines... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-06 16:54 · Score: 2, Funny

If Morgan accepts, will you still make an offer to Sarah?

I know I would.
Grannies and goats by Craig+Ringer · 2004-05-06 17:18 · Score: 2, Funny

I mean seriously - I'm glad my mail client has the option to supress the loading of remote images. I've had spam that makes my eyes burn :-(

Click... Click... Click... *ARRGGHH!* *thump*

I'm learning to love MimeDefang, as I no longer have to field complaints from embarrassed and irritated staff asking how the hell they make this stuff _go_ _away_.
Re:Lets just hope by Grakun · 2004-05-06 17:25 · Score: 3, Funny

So like Jerry Springer, but with geeks?

Linus! Linus! Linus!

That would be an interesting show.

"I have something that I have to tell you... Remember that week I said I went on vacation to Vegas? Well, the truth is I installed Windows..."

I wonder what they would do for the PPV-Only Uncensored episodes.
Re:Boy was that weak by Anonymous Coward · 2004-05-06 17:26 · Score: 5, Funny

Yah so what? I was told once, that there are two kinds of women in this world... There's the kind of woman you'd do, and then there is the kind of woman you'd do when you're drunk.

Right now I'm drunk, and I'd definitely do her, but that doesn't answer the question which category she fits in to.
Re:Lets just hope by nate+nice · 2004-05-06 17:34 · Score: 4, Funny

I want to see Gerhaldo host a show with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Linus Torvalds. Linus is youngest so he may be able to move quicker...Jobs has a bit more mass than the others and Bill has...well, he's kind of like the Mario from Super Mario Bros. 2...well rounded?

I got my money on Linus...he's crafty.

--
"If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer ..."
Re:Adam's the only reason I watch... by baywulf · 2004-05-06 17:44 · Score: 1, Funny

Adam and I are from the same graduating class from highschool. We kind of knew each other but didn't really hang out or anything. It kind of pisses me off that his job is to play around with video games.
Re:Lets just hope by Grakun · 2004-05-06 18:14 · Score: 3, Funny

and Bill has...well, he's kind of like the Mario from Super Mario Bros. 2...well rounded?

I too would like to see Bill Gates trying to jump on everyone's head.
Youre welcome! by gad_zuki! · 2004-05-06 19:12 · Score: 2, Funny

>I'm sure it will be replaced with something highly mediocre.

Marketing: "Can't you see, we're in the middle of a paradigm shift, we're being proactive and pro-consumer! We've got to get more eyeballs on the screen. Imminetize the Eschaton!"

Customer: "Umm, what the hell does that mean?"

Marketing: "More religious programming and infomercials."
To paraphrase South Park by Zenmonkeycat · 2004-05-06 19:29 · Score: 3, Funny

"Where were you, when they fired the TechTV staff? Did it make you wanna cry, or did you think it was kinda gay?"

--
*****
Dear Mary,
I yearn for you tragically,
A.T. Tappman, Chaplain, U.S. Army.
Re:Enough with the overreactions by Baloo+Ursidae · 2004-05-06 20:53 · Score: 2, Funny

Still, does anyone think that Comcast is so stupid as to spend all this money on a network, and then get rid of everything that makes people watch it?
Was that rhetorical? If not, the answer is "Yes."

--
Help us build a better map!
Re:Too bad... by markhb · 2004-05-07 00:08 · Score: 5, Funny

...imagine how betrayed you'd feel [if] Rob Malda started doing a TV show directed at the non-tech savvy in which he stated nothing but obvious crap.

Wouldn't that just be Slashdot on TV?

--
Save Maine's economy: write stuff down. All comments are exclusively my own, not my employer.
Unpublihed picture by omega9 · 2004-05-07 00:53 · Score: 4, Funny

I found a picture of the new TechTV staff

--
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
a typo... really, Lucknow, Avadh, India by slew · 2004-05-07 01:37 · Score: 2, Funny

Some additional information:

LA == Lucknow, Avadh, India...

Sorry about any confusion. Nothing to see here, please move along and continue your offshoring/outsourcing, nothing to see here...
Re:Enough with the overreactions by autophile · 2004-05-07 03:00 · Score: 2, Funny

Some of you can apply for your old jobs back, but the descriptions may change, andy you will have to move to LA. It's been great working with you

Man, I hate when they only offer the relocation package to one guy named Andy.
--Rob

--
Towards the Singularity.
Re:My fifteen minutes... by chrisd · 2004-05-07 03:39 · Score: 2, Funny

What you don't feel like you're winning? I thought G4 was all about winning! Sorry...good luck with your job, this kind of thing stinks.

chrisd

--
Co-Editor, Open Sources
Open Source Program Manager, Google, Inc.