While you won’t see a press release that says, “Kings and Chopping Block have lowest carbon footprint of any new shows in 2009 after three weeks,” I love the imaginary quotes from Silverman and Zucker it would generate.
“It turns out that there is an upside to our pitiful ratings: a very low carbon footprint! We’re delighted with this news and very proud of the achievement,” said NBC programming honcho Ben Silverman.
“I think this is a major coup for NBC,” added Jeff Zucker, “So much of advertising is salesmanship that even with our woeful ratings, we’ll be able to spin things to our advantage in terms of advertising for green initiatives.
“We believe between our sad sack-ish ratings and the upcoming move with Jay Leno at 10pm next fall, we’ll be able to charge premium rates for green advertising not just despite the fact that our ratings suck, but because of it!”***
***Just to be really clear, I made all of that up.
But I’m not making up that NBC is striving to promote itself as the green network. “Green lives here” is NBC Universal’s new slogan.
I won’t burden you with my take on global warming, besides I’m all for consuming less and recycling. What I’m against is all the hypocrisy. Though NBC is certainly not close to being alone in the hypocrisy (or alone in capitalizing in making money by making you feel guilty) they likely burned more energy in this 20 second explosion yesterday than I’ll burn for a good long while.
In fairness this is an NBCU-wide initiative, and not just on the broadcast network. NBCU’s USA Network is typically the dominant cable network during prime-time.
However, if your show’s don’t start making money, advertisers will go away and you won’t be making any ‘green’. Have you guys seen this? Apparently Ausiello is reporting that FNL has just been picked up for 2 more seasons.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/03/its-official-fr.html?xid=rss-ausiellofiles-It%27s+official%3A+%27Friday+Night+Lights%27+renewed+for+two+seasons
Wow, I guess so! Your link literally appeared just before I posted the link…. freaky! You guys are too quick!
But if the big corporations don’t tell us we need to be greener how will we ever know…?
Al Gore would have to visit each of us individually. At least his Prius is eco friendly.
When NBC goes out of business for good, they will probably declare they are at least going out as the Greenest Network ever !!
NBC used to be a powerhouse in the 80s and 90s – its a shame loons like Zucker have run that once great network into the ground.
That volcano in Alaska is probably spewing more CO2 and methane than all of the networks combined. God (or Gaia) has a twisted sense of humor.
Yeah but Sean we all know Gore would use his private jet and not a a Prius…
Powered by prayer and helium right? There’s no way that Al Gore would do that to the environment, not after An Inconvenient truth….
This means more Green Week, doesn’t it? I think about the Survivorman episode of The Office, and I shudder. Truly terrible, and all NBC’s fault for forcing shows to be about the environment.
The Green Week ep of 30 Rock was pretty bad too, by 30 Rock standards. Meaning it was still better than anything on TV that week.
Environmentalism is just a new religion for bored, rich white people. Global Warming is their Rapture. Recycling is their penance. It’s a doomsday cult for people who feel guilty for breathing.
Now people should be able to have whatever crazy religion they want — but the eco-nazis impose their nuttiness with the long arm, and jack-boot, of the law.
CW is green too and they are both sucking!
This is hilarious! NBC’s parent company is the company responsible for how many energy consuming products that we need for life? Sorry – but I just don’t think this is anything that will make me tune in. Offering a strong PSA campaign is one thing but come on! GE- you make good things come to life including MRI machines and PET SCans which we see on House every week- and guess what? These things use as much electricity in a month as the average family who doesn’t conserve at all uses in a year…..