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Could You Resist? This Belgian TV Stunt Got Millions of Views in Just 24 Hrs (Hint: It Involves Guns)

Apr. 12, 2012 12:53pm Liz Klimas

TNT, a cable television channel whose slogan is “We Know Drama,” added a little — actually a lot — of drama to an unassuming town square in Belgium as part of an advertisement. It’s an understatement to say spectators were surprised.

It all started with this: a big red button in the middle of the square with the instruction “push to add drama.”

TNT Marketing Scheme Push to Add Drama Surprises Town in Belgium

Who could resist? When curiosity finally killed the cat and a couple residents pushed the button, mayhem ensued. Paramedics dropping a patient’s body. Cyclists running into the emergency vehicle and starting a brawl with the responders. A woman riding by on a motorcycle in her underwear. Cops squealing in for a full on shoot out. And a football team rescuing one of the gunned downed bodies as everyone takes off. That’s quite a lot of fan fare to announce the launch of the channel in Belgium.

TNT Marketing Scheme Push to Add Drama Surprises Town in Belgium

See the drama for yourself by pushing play:

Perhaps more priceless though are the spectators’ reactions, which we’ve pulled together for you to see in these screenshots below.

TNT Marketing Scheme Push to Add Drama Surprises Town in Belgium

Here’s how onlookers felt when they realized it was a marketing scheme.

TNT Marketing Scheme Push to Add Drama Surprises Town in Belgium

So, would you say TNT knows drama? Given that within a day of posting its stunt on YouTube the clip has gotten nearly 4.5 million hits, it is a slogan with which many would probably agree.

[H/T Gizmodo]

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Comments (109)

miamisammy
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:13pm
I recall another big red button sitting on top of a 2700 page pile of paper with
an idiot clown saying “You have to push the button to see whats in the
2700 pages”.

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- McNamara
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 5:30pm
  LOL! Perfect!
  
  Report this comment
- Psychosis
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 6:13pm
  roflmao
  
  freakin priceless !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Al Gator
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 6:36pm
  I love it! But instead of a clown, I’d like to substitute an old Twilight Zone skit.
  
  The devil comes into the house, puts the button on the table, looks at the inhabitants and says “push this button, and you will get one million dollars, but when you push this button, someone you don’t even know will die.”
  
  The woman gets weak, and pushes the button. “Heck, someone we don’t even know will die anyway.”
  
  As soon as she pushes the button, the devil shows up and puts one million on the table, and picks up the button.
  
  The woman asks “What are you going to do with that?”
  
  The devil smiles and says, “I’m going to give it to someone you don’t even know, with the same offer.”
  
  After he left, the two look at each other, and the tension begins.
  
  Priceless.
  
  Report this comment
- Stephen Markovich
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:16pm
  too funny!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Libertarian
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 9:25pm
  That was great! Out of the box thinking, kudos to the brainchild of that.
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on April 13, 2012 at 11:41am
  Nice one Centurian! MIAMISAMMY wins the prize!
  
  Report this comment
- koyettsu
  Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:31pm
  lol that is great!
  
  Report this comment
Tom K
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:11pm
That was like Sugar Frosted Flakes – They’re GREAT ! That gag could work in the good ole’ U.S.A., except for the ” gun play ” because a few Conceiled Carry Folks just might take out the bad guys, ya’ know what I mean ? ! ? ! Ah, what fun !

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isay
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:35pm
I needed that :)

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- txbigfoot
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:03pm
  G R E A T!!!!!
  
  and I will use caps!
  
  Report this comment
- Meyvn
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 5:58pm
  Me too. That was damn funny! hehe.
  
  Report this comment
- Patriot of My America
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 6:20pm
  Most Excellent Dude….ROLFLOL ditto,,,, ditto…..!!!
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on April 13, 2012 at 6:57am
  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bullsht+button
  
  This button will make you an instant office hero. Just use some double-sided adhesive to stick it to the side of a filing cabinet and wait for it. Someone with a sense of humor will push it in less than an hour.
  
  Report this comment
dontbotherme
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:13pm
haHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :D

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- Marci
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:37pm
  That’s fantastic!
  
  Report this comment
Larry E
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:09pm
Okay, a stupid question. Why are the signs in English if this is in Belgium where French and Flemish are the two primary languages? It’s like doing something like this in the USA and having the signs in Polish or German.

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- Red herring
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:20pm
  I lived there for several years. Most educated people there speak english even in some of their smaller towns.
  
  Report this comment
- lilnomics
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:05pm
  You couldn’t pull a stunt like that here without getting everybody to sign waivers because the attorney’s would be afraid of a lawsuit for emotional distress. Kind of takes the fun out of things.
  
  But that was freaking hilarious.
  
  Report this comment
- Snake
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:10pm
  Only in wonderful America do we ONLY learn english, while the rest of the world learns a minumum of the native langauge and english.
  
  Our skewls r awsum!
  
  Report this comment
- Balpit
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:32pm
  Poussoir pour ajouter le drame
  
  Report this comment
- LegionOfOne
  Posted on April 13, 2012 at 4:34am
  Nospiediet, lai draama.
  
  Report this comment
Mainer forever
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:00pm
That was freaking AWSOME!!!!!

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- Xyskalla
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:29pm
  Where can I get a button like that?
  
  Report this comment
- EqualJustice
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:41pm
  Staples and it says.. THAT WAS EASY! hahahaha
  
  Report this comment
PointBreak
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:00pm
Sadly if they tried this in America the lawsuits would never end. All of the brown people who were there would have PTSD and be ‘permanently disabled’. Handicapped placards for everyone!

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- SoNick
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:29pm
  and of course, you’re not a racist.
  
  Report this comment
- garylee123
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:29pm
  Plus a real gunfight from the armed citizen.
  
  Freedom, Justice, Honor
  
  Report this comment
- BluifoxEd
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 5:30pm
  @pointblank. Regardless. You are right.
  
  Report this comment
- FlowerBell
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 5:52pm
  POINTBREAK is not a racist.
  He is a race-realist
  
  Report this comment
tharpdevenport
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:53pm
Reminds me of the late comedian Robert Schimmel’s joke about getting an e-mail with the subject line: Are You Curious?

“Well, I am now!”

Needless to say, what happened in the joke when he opened the e-mail, which he said was based on a real life experience, is not something I can post here. ;-)

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mitchrx7
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:43pm
BANG! I was in fear for my life, sorry about the hole in you……actor!

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JamesLarson33
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:29pm
“This was better than all the 3 Bourne movies!”

More comments from the “Dramatic” Video http://bit.ly/HuJT2Y

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- USAMEDIC3008
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:49pm
  Like watching
  MASH
  Dragnet
  Jersey Shore
  Saints football out takes
  And MSNBC news
  
  Report this comment
karen162
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:13pm
That was freaking awesome!! Why can’t our broadcasters have such imagination?

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- tMC
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:34pm
  Because- it would probably be illegal to do it in the states. It could endanger those people watching… Your govt is protecting you! :p
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:42pm
  I thought that TNT was an American owned network.
  
  Report this comment
- thetreyman
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 8:52pm
  yes, by ted turner in fact.
  
  Report this comment
blazingaway
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:09pm
This is what the Liberal, communistic, socialist, marxist, progressive, race baiting Democratic party constantly does in the drive by media … they just don’t tell you at the end of the show … you’re always left wondering and changed for the worse or moved by The Hegelian Dialectic

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amendment1
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:02pm
They could not do that in the states because the person who pushed the button would be allowed to sue TNT for pain and suffering for being forced to watch such “horrible” acts.

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- Baddoggy
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:19pm
  I was thinking the same thing. If an actor got hurt, he would be the one on the hook. Sad….
  
  Report this comment
searching for the Truth
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:02pm
They are sharp – a lot of free advertizement.

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Snaker
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:00pm
So… the next time there’s a REAL shootout, robbery, assault, or traffic accident, everyone will just stand around with their thumbs up their bazinga and DO NOTHING! … thinking it’s a stunt, and potentially getting in the LINE OF FIRE…
Real cute TNT… How’s about someone blows up your home-office-studios…. ?
NAH, it’s just a STUNT!!!!! Right…..

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- karen162
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:12pm
  Oh for the love of Pete. I’m pretty sure people can tell the difference between fake acting and a real life scenario where you are in the line of fire.
  
  The obvious button and the sign and then things happening as soon as you push it and the obvious staged fight….c’mon. People are just not that stupid to confuse that with something happening in real life.
  
  Report this comment
- Jeff f.
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:22pm
  Only if their is a big red button in the middle of the street.
  
  Report this comment
- THX-1138
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 3:06pm
  @Karen162
  
  “People are just not that stupid to confuse that with something happening in real life.”
  
  People, no. Democrats, maybe…
  
  Report this comment
Master_and_Commander
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:58pm
Haha when they started shooting, I’m surprised people didn’t start running…

That was pretty awesome, well done TNT

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- USAMEDIC3008
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:55pm
  Good thing it didnt happen here
  All the CWP holders join in
  It would be a bloodbath
  The only problem for me would be
  not shooting the babe on the motorcycle
  
  Report this comment
WhiteFang
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:35pm
I would not be able to resist, I would push the button.

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- pschlentz
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:46pm
  If it’s not working for you, go to youtube.com and type:
  A DRAMATIC SURPRISE ON A QUIET SQUARE or
  Belgium TV Stunt
  You’ll find it…
  
  Report this comment
jakartaman
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:30pm
Great imaginative marketing – Koodo’s

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SREGN
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:27pm
If that was NYC no one would have noticed.

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Ruckus_Tom
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:26pm
That’s not drama. All the “actors” should have been modern, honest-to-God gladiators playing for real.

Senetor Gracchus from The Gladiator having lunch with Gauis discussing the new emperer Commodos:

“Rome (in this case Belgium – Belgium? Where the military is unionized? Huh.) is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they’ll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they’ll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it’s the sand of the coliseum. He’ll bring them death – and they will love him for it.”

Bring in live rounds for the gun shootout, have the paramedic actually beat the hell of the cycle rider – maybe pull up a cobblestone and bash his head in – and, of course, have the pretty girl on the cycle riding around fully nude ….

And that will be drama.

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marine249
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:23pm
The new O-BO tv ad if we don;t raise TAXES on the rich

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onetoomany
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:22pm
Funny, very well executed.

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Glenfin
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:16pm
One of us packing heat would have been involved in the shootout had it been done in the U.S.!

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- RightUnite
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:29pm
  Ahhhh… Nah… Someone illegally carrying, ya….
  
  Report this comment
TORCH9
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:12pm
What Funn!!!………..

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KickinBack
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:02pm
Nice advertisement…Yet why did TNT have to do it in BELGIUM…America not good enough for you Mr. Turner??

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- mom4times
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:08pm
  funny stuff :D
  
  Report this comment
- mom4times
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:09pm
  Probably he was worried that someone would take offense to it. : /
  
  Report this comment
- witehous66
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:22pm
  Because you can’t even begin to get all of the permits and permission you would need to do it here…
  
  Report this comment
- s0ck_monkey
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:23pm
  No, I think it’s because in America the following lawsuits would hit the courts:
  
  Caused Mental Anguish for what turned out to be no reason at all
  Alledged hearing loss from being in the proximity of the “police” firing blanks
  Bicycle riders not wearing enough protective gear
  Abuse of a patient (or corpse) by medical professionals
  Reimbursement of used cellphone minutes because people were calling friends to tell them what was happening
  Reimbursement of electricity used to recharge their cellphones after shooting videos of the “drama”
  Reimbursement of internet provider fees because they uploaded the video they took to youtube
  New gun control legislation for guns that only shoot blanks (that way, no one really gets hurt anymore)
  New city noise and fire codes for using pyrotechnics inside city limits (the blanks in the guns)
  Parents of chilfren that witnessed it will need money for counseling for the rest of their lives for seeing a woman in her underwear
  
  I think you get the point by now :)
  
  Report this comment
- Joe Bonham
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:25pm
  He was probably worried one of Zimmerman’s relatives would jump into the shootout with real bullets!
  
  Report this comment
- dblaess
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:30pm
  Most likely because in the U.S. someone with a gun, not knowing this was a put on, would have steped in and there would be real shot persons.
  
  Report this comment
- KickinBack
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:47pm
  Thanks Monkey! Good points…But you forgot one…Union fees and breaks for the actors involved…
  
  Report this comment
- AmazingGrace8
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 1:58pm
  @sock_monkey
  
  Love your response! Funny…and true.
  
  Report this comment
- s0ck_monkey
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 2:27pm
  @Grace…Thanks! It’s nice to know there are people who appreciate humor and sarcasm without calling me a troll :P
  
  Report this comment
- proliance
  Posted on April 12, 2012 at 4:34pm
  TNT did it in Belgium because they are launching the channel in Belgium. You might call it targeting your audience, or even use the word “advertising.”
  
  Honestly, if you can’t figure out why they did it in Belgium, why not look it up instead of making assumptions and telling everyone how dumb you are?
  
  Report this comment

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