And so it begins. TNT’s ongoing insult ‘Trust Me’ seems to have started a trend, and this is where I need to record that a regrettable chance for “I told you so!” is now almost certain as part of our future.
The highlight of last weekend, of course, was the football game, which was frankly amazing. A less celebrated, and far less welcome event was when NBC – apparently following TNT’s lead – traded SNL’s faded aura of respect and regard to endear themselves to their only true love – The sponsors.
On Saturday’s show, regular cast member Will Forte was paid to present three blatant commercials for Pepsi. Each one was then made to look like part of the show so people would watch and get sucked into the ad. And he did the same thing during Sunday’s big game.
“What we’re doing is selling entertainment vehicles and marketing platforms,“said NBC’s entertainment Co-chairman, Ben Silverman. “This is where programming is going.”
That last line is a classic! Depressed by their unerring inability to create one single show whose audience might make a phone booth look crowded, NBC decides to insult and exploit what few viewers they already have.
Memo to Ben: If this is where programming is going, guess where your audience will go?
