Posted 8:46 AM by Gene

This story further reminds us of our impatience with show-biz news coverage. All these two hacks can talk about is "branding." They quote from some Home Depot marketing honcho who can't wait to shred his customers' money on whatever "critically-praised" dreck he can. They bring in Fred Silverman, who thinks GOODTHINGS is doing a GREAT thing, the scribblers oblivious to the fact that he lost his final chief programming job at the old NBC precisely for his brilliant ideas. (Remember Supertrain?) In typical show-biz news-hack fashion they say people are watching less network television because of all the choice, neglecting to think (as is such hacks' wont) why people may have wanted more choice in the first place. And their editors sweeten the deal with this chart:



Notice something peculiar? This is a trick with an asterisk. Plus Brooks spends 1,306 words in another story about the GOODTHINGS' Network's alleged self-deprecation, the sign of a writer who watches too much TV. We'll have such stories until hell freezes over -- and that's when TV will improve.

P. S. RUPERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! calls GOODTHINGS' moves "draconian." He never had a job. He also says this involves a menage a trois. Just remember guys, you hate the public, and then you'll love one another.

(Both also via MediaBistro. If Philips can, for the time being, make the Journals available on Fridays, why not have other sponsors do the same thing Mondays through Thursdays? Why do they insist on walling themselves off?)