American Idol Too Popular For The Phone System?

from the the-idol-effect dept

It appears that Fox is feeling the impact of the “Idol Voting Effect.” While perhaps not as well known in techie circles as the “Slashdot Effect” of taking down a website when Slashdot points to you, Fox is trying to talk its way around reports that the company’s phone lines couldn’t handle the rush of phone calls from folks looking to vote in the latest American Idol TV show. Apparently the problem was caused by jammed local phone lines, rather than long distance phone lines. Also, it sounds like the way around the problem was to just use text messaging – since those appeared to go through without a problem. Either way, when you know you have such a popular event coming up, you would think that the show would make an extra effort to make sure such problems wouldn’t occur or come up with simple workarounds in case they do.


Rate this comment as insightful
Rate this comment as funny
You have rated this comment as insightful
You have rated this comment as funny
Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam
You have flagged this comment
The first word has already been claimed
The last word has already been claimed
Insightful Lightbulb icon Funny Laughing icon Abusive/trolling/spam Flag icon Insightful badge Lightbulb icon Funny badge Laughing icon Comments icon

Comments on “American Idol Too Popular For The Phone System?”

Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment
6 Comments
Justin Walters says:

No Subject Given

Either way, when you know you have such a popular event coming up, you would think that the show would make an extra effort to make sure such problems wouldn’t occur

I’m sure they made an extra effort. Just because you’ve succumbed to the slashdot effect doesn’t mean you didn’t try… perhaps they even had a whole team dedicated to avoiding that.

or come up with simple workarounds in case they do.

umm… didn’t you just mention something about them providing SMS text messaging capabilities?

William Hung says:

Re: Re: William Hung

She Bangs

Talk to me
Tell me your name
You blow me off like it’s all the same
You lit a fuse and now I’m ticking away
Like a bomb
Yeah, Baby

Talk to me
Tell me your sign
You’re switching sides like a Gemini
You’re playing games and now you’re hittin’ my
heart
Like a drum
Yeah, Baby

Well if Lady Luck gets on my side
We’re gonna rock this town alive
I’ll let her rough me up
Till she knocks me out
She walks like she talks,
And she talks like she walks

And she bangs, she bangs
Oh baby
When she moves, she moves
I go crazy
‘Cause she looks like a flower but she stings
like a bee
Like every girl in history
She bangs, she bangs

I’m wasted by the way she moves
No one ever looked so fine
She reminds me that a woman only got one thing on her mind

Talk to me
Tell me your name
I’m just a link in your daisy chain
Your rap sounds like a diamond
Map to the stars
Yeah, Baby

Talk to me
Tell me the news
You wear me out like a pair of shoes
We’ll dance until the band goes home
Then you’re gone
Yeah, Baby

Well if it looks like love should be a crime
You’d better lock me up for life
I’ll do the time with a smile on my face
Thinking of her in her leather and lace

Well if Lady Luck gets on my side
We’re gonna rock this town alive
I’ll let her rough me up
Till she knocks me out
She walks like she talks,
And she talks like she walks

Spanglish Version:

La encontre sola en un bar
Sent?? embrujo de su mirar
Y fui cayendo en su trampa de amor
La mentira es su juego

Un sabor animal
Me aguo la boca entre miel y sal
Su veneno se ha enredado en mi ser
Y salvarme no puedo

Y en un rinc??n, ca??mos juntos
En un rito de pasi??n
Y al tocar su piel
Sentir el calor
Yo puse el deseo
Ella puso el control

She bangs, she bangs
Ay mirala, she moves, she moves
Me enloquece cuando baila
Camina, no puedo parar
Esa mujer me va a matar
She bangs, she bangs
La dame de mi ajedrez
Jugar conmigo es su placer
Porque ella es todas las mujeres en una mujer

Me atrapo
No puedo escapar
Entre tortura y sensualidad
Sus labios muerden cuando van a besar
Ella es fruta prohibida
Donde esta la quiero encontrar
Sue?o con ella en ese mismo bar
Dejo su huella esa noche de amor
En mi cuerpo, en mi vida

Y me hundo mas
Sigo perdido
En el desierto de su amor
Quiero calmar mi sed
De su boca beber
Sentirme s su due?o tan solo una vez

thecaptain says:

Re: why

I’m with you there.

I can literally SEE the IQ points leaving the body of my many co-workers who obsess about this show AND survivor.

Coincidence, they all think that e-voting is a huge, cool thing and when we discuss the inherent problems they don’t think its anything to worry about.

Religion is the opium of the people said Marx…well to me that just means he hadn’t seen anything yet…

Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

A weekly news podcast from
Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw

Subscribe now to Ctrl-Alt-Speech »
Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...