Earth to Michael Dell and Phil Kent

Michael Dell’s Tough Road Ahead

Alright, one of these names is quite familiar and speaks for itself. Michael Dell has a huge challenge ahead of him as he tries to turn Dell Computer around. The comparison to Steve Jobs at Apple is often made, but there’s a key detail missing: Jobs didn’t succeed in his first attempt. It was only later, during his second stint, when the timing was right, that he managed to get Apple back on track. Anyone remember John Sculley?

Phil Kent and the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Blunder

Phil Kent, on the other hand, is the CEO of Turner Broadcasting, which owns The Cartoon Network. Recently, their promotional campaign surrounding the animated show Aqua Teen Hunger Force (yes, you read that right) caused a major scare in Boston. Some light boards featuring the show’s characters were mistaken for bomb threats by local authorities. Kent and Turner quickly issued a lengthy apology, pointing fingers at a third-party marketing vendor who apparently bungled the whole situation. The image of the vendor’s employee being escorted out of his home on live TV pretty much summed it up.

The Bigger Picture

It’s a bizarre situation, but it’s not entirely new. Anyone who remembers last year’s H-P spying case knows how a similar vendor mishandling situation was blamed in that instance. While the outcome here was less severe, it’s still a wake-up call. If Kent’s smart, he’ll head over to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or take to Boston airwaves and own up to this mess. There’s no getting out of this one without some action, sincerity, and maybe a bit of self-deprecating humor.

One last thought: Did anyone think about picking up the phone and calling the Boston police chief to apologize and offer support? Apparently, these “devices” had been up for weeks, according to callers on a local radio show. Incredible…