Vanity: What's going on with NBC Entertainment?

self

[Political Junkie Too]

What the heck is going on over at NBC?

First, they bring back liquor ads. Then, last night, their prime time game show The Weakest Link celebrity edition featured a prostitute and a porn star as contestants. These are examples of celebrities nowadays?

Are they going to claim that they are simply mirroring society?

-PJ

[Rodney King]

1. I have no problem with liqour ads. 2. The people who were on weakest link were clearly advertised as being "infamous".

[ArcLight]

So it's all right to feature a porn star on a prime-time game show, as long as you call him or her infamous?

I didn't see the show, but if this really happened, NBC should be ashamed of itself. Somehow, though, I don't think it is.

[Political Junkie Too]

I missed the intro, but does it really matter how they couch it?

-PJ

[hobblemaster]

NBC is strugling to put quality shows right now because they're spending way too much money on average shows (and stars) such as "Friends", "ER", "Frasier" and "The West Wing". They're either have to dump one or more of these shows or risk losing advertisers to high costs of advertising on NBC.

[OldFriend]

Our TV sets still have OFF buttons.........and while I do have my senior moments, I can still think for myself when it comes to what I purchase, drink, or eat.

[Phantom Lord]

I meant to watch it but missed it. Did Ron Jeremy win? Please say yes.

[StoneColdGOP]

So what? Ron Jeremy rules...

[Timesink]

Were the prostitutes and porn stars actually performing sex acts on the air? No. They were standing in front of podiums, fully dressed, being shown up for the brainless morons they are. They were not exactly positively portrayed.

[Timesink]

I meant to watch it but missed it. Did Ron Jeremy win? Please say yes.

No, the Hedgehog lost. It was Rick Rockwell the "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire" guy that won.

[DownWithGreenspan]

Drudge has a link on his site (to TV Guide) which claims that Viacom (big surprise), MTV (ditto) & Showtime (ditto) are planning a "gay channel".

Perhaps they could point out to us which of their existing channels isn't already thoroughly fag-friendly?

DWG

[StoneColdGOP]

Oh, and basically the problem with their entertainment is that all their "must see" shows suck.

Friends, ER, Seinfeld, Frasier... They all suck. I never understood why people went nuts over them.

[Phantom Lord]

Damnit.

[uvular]

Tonight's fare is 'Fear Factor'. One of the segments is about people overcoming their fear of being naked in public.

[GOBUSHCHENEYGO]

To each his own, but Seinfeld? Seinfeld was a classic. As for the rest, they should have walked away like Seinfeld when they were on top. They have been going downhill for the last few years. ER - it died when Clooney and Margulies left. Frasier - sorry, Kelsey, but the plot lines are pitiful. Friends, need to boost ratings? - typical plot lines - marriage (last year) or illegitimate baby (this year). TV writers have run out of ideas.

[StoneColdGOP]

Sorry, I just did not understand Seinfeld. Could have totally lived without it.

And I loved the way Frank Sinatra died on the same night as the final episode of Seinfeld, so the next morning nobody gave a damn, it was all about the Chairman...

[Moleman]

Headgehog bump!

[StoneColdGOP]

BUMP!

[Political Junkie Too]

It's the idea that porn stars and madams are now considered to be "mainstream" enough for primetime television that has me concerned. Is this "pushing the envelope" or "reflecting society?" Both arguments are used by the entertainment industry when confronted to defend their decisions. On the one hand, they will tell you that they are just giving the people what they want. On the other hand, they will tell you that they are trying to provoke, to push the envelope.

Which one is this?

-PJ

[StoneColdGOP]

Damned if I know, I don't work for NBC.

I'd gather most people who watched weren't sure who Ron was in the first place, and once they found out, THEY COULD CHANGE THE CHANNEL IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT.

All I know is that in my book, it was cool. No worries.