You've probably seen it on the news, or more likely on the Internet, the story of a promotion for the Cartoon Network's Aqua Teen Hunger Force, that didn't quite go as planned.

Seems someone thought it would be a clever idea to distribute blinking electronic signs with wires protruding from them throughout ten cities, all intended as a promotion for Aqua Teen, a part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup.

It doesn't appear to have caused much of a stir in nine of the cities, but in Boston, things went awry. Someone decided it might be part of a terrorist attack and, suddenly, major roadways and subway lines were shut down and Boston went into panic mode.

Two men hired by Turner Broadcasting, owner of Cartoon Network, were arrested and subsequently released.

Luckily, neither of these guys worked for Zunch, although I've got a concern they may have inspired a few Zunchers to come up with their own off-the-wall promos. All I ask of any Zunchers considering such a move is, don't call me for bail money.

The promo, hysteria and subsequent fallout raises a few questions. Did these guys actually do anything wrong? Why did nine other cities apparently have no problem with the promotion? Does the City of Boston not have a sense of humor?

Okay, admittedly, Boston has good reason to be overly concerned about terrorists since flights out of their airport were part of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Still, once it was determined the devices were harmless, and from what I've read and seen, they really weren't all that sinister looking, why the hysteria?

I'm not real sure where to come down on this one. On the one hand, I have to admire the cleverness of the original campaign, and the fact that with the turn of events in Boston, it's gotten way, way more coverage and publicity than anyone at Turner could have expected (and probably well worth the $2 million that Turner is paying to the City of Boston). 

On the other, I also have to appreciate the concerns of officials in Boston. What if it had turned out to be some kind of terrorist bombing attack? Would we all be laughing at Boston and questioning whether the City has a sense of humor?

Viewing the devices  as part of  a potential terrorist plot is probably giving terrorists credit for being far more clever than they are, after all, terrorists seem to be notoriously lacking in senses of humor. But, who knows? These days, how do you make sure something like this is harmless?

I mean, that carton of fries guy from Aqua Teen looks kind of sinister (although I don't know if he was featured on any of the promotional devices).

But here's an idea-- next time someone cooks up an oddball promotion, let the authorities know ahead of time. That way, when someone who goes to bed before the Adult Swim portion of Cartoon Network airs sees a sinister looking sign and calls the cops, the cops can tell him (or her), lighten up.

Opinions, anyone?

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