Big O= Sexual marketing?

<\:/> 10-30-2003 04:22 PM
It has been alleged in an article by Television Week (seen here ) that The Big O's name is a sexual reference and therefore a marketing ploy. Here's the quote:

"The name is an obvious play on a sexual reference that might be controversial on network prime time, but here seems like clever marketing. "

How many people here started watching the show, honestly, because they found a sexual reference in the show's title? I'm just wondering.
A Clockwork Tomato 10-30-2003 04:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Nicodemus
"The name is an obvious play on a sexual reference that might be controversial on network prime time, but here seems like clever marketing. "


Oh, yes -- another example of that unerring grasp the Japanese have of English slang.
Volt 10-30-2003 04:31 PM
I always think that maybe they could have thought of a better title and main mecha name. :/ Well, seeing as I was 9 when I started watching it, no I did not watch it to see orgasms or something.
...Maybe I should censor out the "o" word?
Surtur 10-30-2003 04:33 PM
I sent an email to that site telling them of the error. I have yet to recieve a response. I sent them this quote from an interview on the DVD:

quote:
Katayama:Is it true that Mr. Satoh came up with the name "Big O" when he was a child?

Satou: That's right!

Katayama: I thought it came from "Heibon Punch Oh!" (an old men's entertainment magazine)?

Satou: No. It is actually from "Daitetsujin 17" (Great Iron Giant 17).

Katayama: The one that goes "Oh! Oh! Oh!...."

Satou: Yes. Yes. Yes..ha ha ha!


I started watching because during the summer i would stay up past midnight and there was nothing on but infomercials and things about STDs on MTV. And I was watching AS weekday nights because of Futurama and Family Guy, so when they said "Big O is backl!" I decided to check it out.

I actually got hooked because of two things: The intro, and the post-apocalyptic feel to the show. The name Big O did strike me as odd, but the sexual Big o never crossed my mind initially.
Darth Nat 10-30-2003 04:42 PM
I didn't know that Big O was a sexual reference until I searched "Big O" on Amazon to find the collector's edition DVD's.
K the Wanderer 10-30-2003 04:45 PM
Yeah...I had no idea that it could be a sexual reference. Weird. Now I guess I see it... Confused
Zola 10-30-2003 04:55 PM
quote:
Originally posted by K the Wanderer
Yeah...I had no idea that it could be a sexual reference. Weird. Now I guess I see it... Confused


LOL! I was talking to a dude I know, telling him how good the show was and he said something about his wife liking the Big O and it took fully 5 minutes for me to get it! Laughing Laughing Laughing

Until that day, I didn't see it at all. Smile
"Yeah, but..." 10-30-2003 04:59 PM
I'm so sheltered. I had no idea about the sexual reference until I started looking for Big O merchandise. Imagine my surprise... Shocked
Gummibear 10-30-2003 05:01 PM
LOL! I first found out what the other Big O was when I typed it in my search engine. I got a whole bunch of sex related sites!LOL! My graphics teacher thought I was being perverted once because he told us to make business cards( I go to a technical school) so I made one for The Big O army website. I showed my teacher and he asked me what kind of website I was running!!LOL!
Name Of God 10-30-2003 05:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by "Yeah, but..."
I'm so sheltered. I had no idea about the sexual reference until I started looking for Big O merchandise. Imagine my surprise... Shocked


I go to a public school so I can't say that I've been "sheltered," but the fact is that 'Big O' is 20+ year old slang. No one uses that word anymore, at least not in Cincinnati. :/

quote:
Originally posted by Surtur
I sent an email to that site telling them of the error. I have yet to recieve a response. I sent them this quote from an interview on the DVD:

quote:
Katayama:Is it true that Mr. Satoh came up with the name "Big O" when he was a child?

Satou: That's right!

Katayama: I thought it came from "Heibon Punch Oh!" (an old men's entertainment magazine)?

Satou: No. It is actually from "Daitetsujin 17" (Great Iron Giant 17).

Katayama: The one that goes "Oh! Oh! Oh!...."

Satou: Yes. Yes. Yes..ha ha ha!


The interview were they discuss that is available here, if you don't have the DVD.
Sixfortyfive 10-30-2003 05:43 PM
My friend leaves the same away message on AIM every Sunday night at 11:

"My Big-O face: Shocked "
Muninn 10-30-2003 05:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Name Of God

I go to a public school so I can't say that I've been "sheltered," but the fact is that 'Big O' is 20+ year old slang. No one uses that word anymore, at least not in Cincinnati. :/


Oh, they use it in Cincinatti, but not to refer to sex.
They use it to refer to long-time Cincinatti Royals player Oscar Robertson. http://www.thebigo.com/News/NewsIndex.html
Name Of God 10-30-2003 05:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Muninn
quote:
Originally posted by Name Of God

I go to a public school so I can't say that I've been "sheltered," but the fact is that 'Big O' is 20+ year old slang. No one uses that word anymore, at least not in Cincinnati. :/


Oh, they use it in Cincinatti, but not to refer to sex.
They use it to refer to long-time Cincinatti Royals player Oscar Robertson. http://www.thebigo.com/News/NewsIndex.html


Ehh. I wouldn't know. I don't follow basketball.
I do know that I've never heard the term at my school, except in reference to large robots.
C.R Foxhound 10-30-2003 06:10 PM
sexual marketing?

they coulda changed the title

it gave me a few chuckles at first, but Big O kinda doesnt fit the theme of the show...

...well, maybe it does, i dunno, Sure Promise i think is what makes it legit, with its bombastic sound and whatnot
Black Phoenix 10-30-2003 06:26 PM
I knew about the "other" Roll Eyes meaning of Big O, but in this case I strongly suspect that the similarity is a coincidence.

We all know that Japanese->English translators have a history of doing some strange things (all your base), and although the translations/adaptations these days are usually far better than they once were, occasionally some funny stuff still slips through. I think that's the case for Big O . . .

But if the "provocative" name gets more people to watch it, then hell, no complaints here . . .
Freelancer 10-30-2003 06:37 PM
The best thing the article has stated...

"If the series succeeds in the Adult Swim rotation, the network has the option to order 26 more episodes.# "
Adrenaline 10-30-2003 06:43 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Darth Nat
I didn't know that Big O was a sexual reference until I searched "Big O" on Amazon to find the collector's edition DVD's.


quote:
LOL! I first found out what the other Big O was when I typed it in my search engine. I got a whole bunch of sex related sites!LOL!


I'm gonna have to agree with these two people...I found out the exact same way...I even had to laugh...but I eventually found the site I was looking for. I didn't think there was a coincidence to it or anything...just a mere happening. But now that you mention it...it does seem a little odd...
YZEtc 10-30-2003 08:32 PM
Oh, suuuuuure I did.
You know the old saying:

A BIG O a day keeps arthritis away...

Actually, that never entered my mind.
In fact, when I first saw the title
THE BIG O,
the only thing that I was wondering was if that was a letter O or a number zero.

I also liked the heavy guitar parts in the opening theme song.
CoCoaPuFF CatX 10-30-2003 08:53 PM
what a shame so many dirty minded ppl in this world!! itz sad really! lol ok but seriously i thought the name was different but nothing else brcause i know there are wierd named animes so i jus thought it was another wierd one!
Zopwx2 10-30-2003 09:37 PM
I am one of those dirty minded people...

My brother is a jackass and heard the theme song and can't help but sing the theme song in a really bad voice and ask me if "I am getting big o's from big o"

What a jackass, I gave him a real good bruise.