Several years ago, some NASCAR Busch Series races were carried on the FX cable television network. That company had an adult comedy that was called Son of the Beach. That is the cast pictured above.
The show was loaded with sexual references, bathroom humor and lots of ladies in very little clothing. There is nothing wrong with that, it is a part of the entertainment landscape in this nation. Unfortunately, when the NASCAR Busch Series met the Son of the Beach crew, there was a very big problem.
On a Saturday afternoon, following a breathless pit reporter detailing that some team had only taken two tires and gas, a TV moment of a very different sort began to take place. It was time for a commercial break in the Busch Series race and FX chose to promote Son of the Beach.
Clustered around America watching NASCAR on TV were a lot of youngsters. They were joined by families who religiously watch the sport, record the races and know the up-and-coming drivers in the Busch Series. From Mark Martin driving for Winn Dixie to Jeff Gordon in the Baby Ruth Ford, it seems almost everyone got their start on Saturdays.
FX opened their broadcast promotions with thirty second spots that featured the bikini-clad actresses and their out-of-shape middle-aged male lifeguard leader. The promos joked about male and female sex organs, the size of women's chests and often made fun of homosexuals.
The language was rough, but that was because FX was trying to find-out how far they could push the limits in the type of programming they wanted to show in prime-time. Late in the evening, Son of a Beach found an audience for three seasons. The show was cancelled in 2003.
On message boards across the Internet, NASCAR fans were screaming about this TV series. It was not the acting or the language or the content that they were concerned about. It was the fact that this content was being relayed to viewers through broadcast promotions early on Saturday afternoon in a NASCAR race.
The response came back loud and clear from FX. The network did not care. The response came back loud and clear from NASCAR. This was not their problem. Parents who continued to allow their children to watch the Busch Series on FX did so with the remote control in their hand and their finger on the MUTE button.
Now, several years later, NASCAR fans have once again experienced a situation that has them chatting and complaining. This time, the TV series in question is called Saving Grace. Promoted by TNT as the chronicle of a hard-living female detective, Saving Grace makes Son of the Beach look like SpongeBob Square Pants.
Veteran actress Holly Hunter plays a police detective who has a male angel that guides her in times of crisis. Hunter is sometimes nude or partially nude and there are graphic scenes of sex that have involved everything from bondage to adultery. Hunter spent 20 minutes of one episode naked and tied face-down to a bed with markings on her back and rear-end in lipstick.
This was the television content being promoted by TNT in the NASCAR Sprint Cup races.
One website even joked about the troubles of trying to promote this TV series in NASCAR:
Can you imagine an ad like this on cable TV? (Imagine this in the "voice" of an announcer for a NASCAR race ad):
"Monday night at 10 p.m. TNT is proud to present the most intense, dramatic hour on television as Holly Hunter gets naked for some (reverb and echo effect) NUDE SEXUAL BONDAGE!!! That's right, Holly Hunter, star of stage, screen and television will get (echo effect) NAKED and (reverb efffect) TIED HAND AND FOOT for YOUR viewing pleasure! Never before has any cable station submitted such (reverb and echo effect) SALACIOUS, EXPLICIT, NUDE SEXUAL BONDAGE for your viewing pleasure! Don't miss this (reverb) EXCITING presentation!"
I would provide the link to the site, but it contains nude still pictures of the episode and goes on to speak in rather graphic terms about the type of sexual treatment Hunter's character received in this program. Here is a season one video recap link that also contains adult content but is available to any Internet user.
The Daly Planet also received many emails about the repeated promotion of The Bill Engvall Show. Most referenced the rather twisted moment where he picks up his daughter's thong from the laundry basket. Other viewers felt if they saw Kyra Sedgwick one more time they would lose their sanity. "We know she is The Closer," they all said.
But nothing shook the fans like the reality of Saving Grace. While the promos on TNT featured Hunter drinking beer and aiming her gun, there was only a brief moment of her partially disrobed and engaged in sexual activity with a man. It was when the "brand loyal" NASCAR fans followed the advice of TNT and crossed-over to actually watch Saving Grace that this strong reaction began.
Where NASCAR is concerned, TNT is here and gone. There is no NASCAR programming on TNT before they arrive and there is none now that they have left. Essentially, this was an opportunity to use the high-profile Sprint Cup Series to promote as much TNT programming as possible.
Well, they certainly accomplished that goal. The questions are, did you really know what they were promoting, did you watch the shows or did the repeated promos make you vow to never watch them?
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94 comments:
Well at least they retired the really annoying Bill Engvall show thong commercial for the final race. So it could have been worse.
Gosh! I had no idea this was such a racy show. Never watched it, never cared to. The music last year turned me off to song I always loved (Amazing Grace)
Gotta admit, I do like the Closer. But then again, if I had kids, I would loathe and detest the "E.D" drug adds, alone but I can see that is not an issue for anybody online except for a couple of folks.
But yea, NASCAR can't have it both ways..family and promote sleazy shows or adds..or IN race promos featuring "Viagra movement of the race" imo. Just some of us are old fashioned, I guess. Not to digress but do the folks hate the E.D adds or just TNT show promos? Both can be tasteless at times. Glad I have no kids.
I must have been typing during S Grace adds and missed the sexual innuendo.
sophia said ...
I must have been typing during S Grace adds and missed the sexual innuendo.
Well, if you watched the show, she was a very bad girl, if you get my drift. Exremely uninhibited. Maybe slutty is a better word.
I really like the Closer, but I like crime shows no matter what.
Bill Engvall, never watched it, never will.
My local ads on Speed are for an adult video store and I'm talking a three-hour show, 20 commercials for this crap.
They only brought the Closer into the picture eating a cookie a couple times last night while there was green flag racing that I noticed as opposed to last year when that's all there was; that and Saving Grace.
The ads went over my head. As soon as they came on, I turned my attention to something else. I occasionally glanced at the screen, and noticed what may have been something a little "racy". But, I was paying so little attention that it didn't really register, and cause me to look closer. I never watch, or watched anything on TNT except the race, or sometimes the pre-race.
The Engvall ads essentially fell into the same category, although I do remember more of the panties teaser, (good word choice, eh?), than I do any of the others. And, I didn't find the ad particularly offensive. In fact, I can imagine that this kind of conversation taking place in a normal home. Of course parenting daughters may be a prerequisite to identifying with this situation. The ad just got boring after the first few airings.
I do remember the Son Of The Beach ads, and do remember thinking they were inappropriate for the time of day, and the venue, (family programming), when they were aired. They didn't generate any curiosity in me to watch the program.
I have watched both Saving Grace and the Closer, really like the latter. SG is kind of raunchy for me and I remember thinking the first time I saw the add during a race that this really does not belong here. I did not have the same thought with the Closer but I think that's because of the show itself and that they didn't beat us over the head like SG and BE. I was not offended by the BE commercial but then I wasn't watching the race with my son in the room or with a mixed gender group and I most likely would have had a different response. What I will say was that I did not try watching the shows until they were in reruns because I was so annoyed after last seasons TNT races and the constant promos. I think what TNT needs to understand is that more is not better and on the whole Nascar fans are a somewhat more conservative family oriented group. Not that we are all prudes but we don't need sex mixed in with Nascar the drivers and cars are enough for most of use especially with the children in the room, it belongs somewhere else and by our choice not via a commercial.
I don't watch either of those TNT programs because I don't care for them, though I believe The Closer has won a number of awards. Nor do I watch Bill Engvall. The popup ads that take up part of the screen during a program are sadly becoming the norm on network and cable TV.
Personally, I'm more bothered with the Viva Viagra presence during the TNT portion of the season and also in recent weeks on ESPN in the Nationwide Series. As some people have commented during live race comments, having to explain ED to your kids is not the greatest thing in the world.
The explicitness of a couple of the the side effects explained in Viagra commercial voiceovers in the ads is just as inappropriate (or more) as Saving Grace ads (which I didn't notice), in my opinion.
I wonder why no one is getting upset about or noting the omnipresence of Viagra ads the past several weeks on NASCAR TV. It's quite obvious the company has purchased a lot of ad time in recent weeks. Perhaps because they are aimed at males, they are more acceptable than Saving Grace ads?
This is a column about network promotions for TNT programs.
There will be a subsequent column about additional commercial elements run within NASCAR races.
Any additional comments about ED products or other commercial elements will be deleted.
Please hold those comments for the upcoming story. Thank you.
JD
Anon 9.52
Amen to THOSE ADDS and being show in the race and during the race.
I am stumped those don't get more gripes.
Oh, and by the commercials last year and the hymn "Amazing Grace" being used, I thought the Saving Grace might be a religous based show. HA. So very wrong...I really tune the commercials out but it's hard to IGNORE the 4 hr side effects and ad nauseum for those 'medical adds.' Disgusting and I worked in the medical field and come from a family that did..and they think those adds are tasteless and offensive to all ages.
Can't imagine watching those adds with my father were he still alive or any other late older relatives.
Back to the TNT promo's.
I have watched both shows, but even I got over exposed to the ads. Beating people over the head isn't usually a good way to win fans, in my opinion. I guess, with races being run during 'prime time' instead of Sunday afternoon, they feel justified in promoting shows that aren't exactly family friendly. Maybe the fact that so many of us are so over exposed to so many repeated commercials says something about the difficulty of attracting new sponsors to buy air time during Nascar races? Seeing the same commercial for anything many times during the same race is extremely annoying.
Since we fast forward so much, "Saving Grace" promotion didn't affect us. I can't blame TNT for promoting their shows, it's not an all sports network so they're going to try to get eyeballs to their primetime shows where they can. If they get two or three new viewers who stick around and continue to watch for every one who is disgusted by the content and turns it off, they'll probably take that, I'll bet. I've seen "other commercial elements" on during the afternoons and even the mornings during racing programming when watching live and they probably shouldn't be on the air either.
But...If any NASCAR promo people are out there, FYI we don't choose television shows to watch based on what we see during races. We choose shows based on word of mouth and reviews at the online sites and newspapers. If we see show promos on ABC during the Chase, we're not going to watch it because ABC shows the promos three times a race. We'll watch it if we've heard or read good things about it.
^^^Nicely said brrrn rubber.
To all TV networks, stop promoting shows during a race or sporting event.
WHAT - EVER.
At least the commercials for Saving Grace were tame. I don't think kids are going to stay up to tune in to watch the "hard working, hard living detective" This is way different than putting the T&A into the commercial.
I mean, one of the drivers drives a McDonald's car. Are you going to complain that it's fattening and kids should be learning to eat healthy?
Puhleaze.
Although thinking that some of the ads were risque, I never paid much attention except to the fact that they were interfering with the race.
As for watching the shows being promoted by TNT, they don't interest me in the least. I just get tired of seeing the promos repeatedly.
JD
You and I must have been posting at the same time THUS my mention of banned subject after your note.
:)
I thought I remembered angels in SGrace last year as well..thus my surprise to read here how race it was. I was busy watching RBuddy last night for the most part.
Folks,
I understand you have issues other than the one we are trying to address. If you could take a moment to talk to us about the TNT promos, if you went and watched those shows and how you felt about them being repeated many times in one race we would appreciate it.
As I mentioned earlier, the other commercial sponsor issue will be the topic of an upcoming column once the facts are all in. Thanks.
JD
I've never seen the saving grace show, and I had no idea that was the subject matter. After hearing 350 promos for the thing over TNT's 2 years, I made it a point to permanently avoid watching the show. I guess this proves it's possible to be sick of a show you've never seen.
My remote control allows me to do two wonderful things: turn the TV off or change the channel.
If TNT made me curious enought to watch a Saving Grace show because of the annoying ads during a race and I didn't like the show, I'd do one of the above. No harm no foul, other than a few minutes wasted.
It doesn't matter to me if they were promoting Saving Grace during NASCAR, NBA on TNT, or the TNT movies. I wouldn't feel tricked or misled by NASCAR if I watched it(if that's what you're asking). When I see an ad for a TV show during a race I don't consider it NASCAR-approved or that TNT or NASCAR is giving me sincere advice on what shows to watch. I know they're advertising and Larry Mac has a Saving Grace cutaway car because TNT paid a nice price for TV rights to have it.
My brand loyalty to NASCAR doesn't extend to exploring anything it broadcasts TV ads for if I don't like or need the product. I don't like Pepsi but I like the Pepsi driver, and and I like the Office Depot driver but Office Max is closer and cheaper.
when I am watching the race on TNT, I would usually switch to a hotpass channel and turn on the driver audio during the commercials...or i would ff the commercials if i was a little behind. Therefore, I couldn't repeat one word or whistle one note from any of the tnt commercials
That's why God invented Tivo and DVR's...LOL! I have no desire to watch any of the shows promo'd on TNT. Like others I start getting aggavated that they show them ad naseum. There are so many offensive or just stupid ads/promos these days...many, TV shows and movies, besides ads for products...that I just FF through all commercials. If I happen to see an ad/promo with a driver or something looks interesting I'll stop and check it out. The interesting thing is because of few ads we miss most of the other ads therefore those sponsors lose out. What I don't understand is how NASCAR touts itself as a family sport yet they don't seem to care about the families watching a race together not having to do so with a remote in hand.
It's obvious that Nascar doesn't care about the content of their commercials, or they would have stepped in by now to put a stop to some questionable commercials.
Sure, TNT has their own agenda, but if a 30-second commercial isn't violating the FCC rules, then Nascar is going to keep looking the other way.
Also, I wonder how many of the nascar people in power even watch the broadcast? I would assume they travel to the track each week and watch from their luxury suite. I bet they watch the action on the track or from a Closed Circuit television that doesn't have the regular commercials. Maybe Brian France and Mike Helton haven't even seen the overload of TNT promos?
Oh give me a break! Saving Grace is a very good show if anyone ever took the time to watch it. I'm of the school that it's parents responsibility to monitor what their kids watch on TV (even the commercials), not societys. Hey, I mute the TV when any commerical comes on or flip the channel. Other people have the ability to do that as well if they don't like the ads. I read on an audio-visual forum a couple years ago that ALL TV networks only pay for sports rights so they can promote their primetime line-ups. That's all TNT is doing. Where was all the righteous indignation when Fox promotes the Simpsons or other shows that offend ME with their stupidity? It's okay since it's only a cartoon making obscene remarks, etc?
I had no idea from the promos that Amazing Grace was anything but yet another dreary show about a personally dysfunctional cop whose lack of professionalism would get all the cases thrown out in court.
For the most part the network promo commercials make me happy that my DirecTV package has the full lineup of Discovery and History family channels. As a rule the show promos turn me off. I can't think of a single one that has actually tempted me to check out the network's offerings.
So what do you propose? That NASCAR preview ALL ads (including network promos) that will be aired during the race telecast? And who's going to be the decency judge? Maybe you all would be happier if they only showed ads for televangelists?
Last time I checked, every TV has a volume control and an on-off button. If the ads and promos really bother you then TURN THE TV OFF. That is the only thing that NASCAR would pay attention to.
Watching the promo's has accomplished one thing for me - I can choose what programs NOT to watch without ever having to view the programs themselves.
Given the promo's that TNT has shown, my thinking is that TNT is trashy and just another indicator of what direction our morals are going.
It is clear to me that TNT's primary reason for buying NASCAR was to have a platform for promoting its shows to a large audience.
Unfortunately, I believe the constant promo bombardment has had the reverse effect and will do nothing so much as drive NASCAR veiwers away from the shows TNT was promoting.
If the ads and promos really bother you then TURN THE TV OFF. That is the only thing that NASCAR would pay attention to.
IF you have a Nielsen meter or diary.
Otherwise, no one will know you turned it off.
"So what do you propose? That NASCAR preview ALL ads (including network promos) that will be aired during the race telecast? And who's going to be the decency judge? Maybe you all would be happier if they only showed ads for televangelists?"
It's worse than that IMO. This column seems to be implying NASCAR should judge or monitor the content of the actual TNT show, not simply the promos popping up in the races or the commercials - because NASCAR fans might watch and get upset with the show content.
The column says: "While the promos on TNT featured Hunter drinking beer and aiming her gun, there was only a brief moment of her partially disrobed and engaged in sexual activity with a man. It was when the "brand loyal" NASCAR fans followed the advice of TNT and crossed-over to actually watch Saving Grace that this strong reaction began."
I don't follow any network's "advice" on what to watch on my own TV. I wouldn't have known what Saving Grace was based on solely on the in-race ads and I did not find the ads offensive. I only know what the show's about because it was described in this column, in very explicit detail. If I watched and didn't like the show, I wouldn't connect not liking Saving Grace with NASCAR at all.
And don't all those TNT shows have a "viewer discretion advised" warning at the beginning? I'm pretty sure they do because I hear it sometimes at the end of a race. Common sense, people. Just use common sense.
I don't care for the promos for The Closer (good grief how many times can they show it), Saving Grace or the Bill Engvall show. I like Bill Engvall's comedy a lot, but I watched the tv show 2 or 3 times when it was on last year and it didn't tickle my funnybone, so I quit watching it. I've tried watching the closer, but I just can't get interested and the whole premise of Saving Grace just doesn't attract me. I'm an adult and have no young children in the house, so it isn't an issue for me but I can see where others would be upset by it. Like a lot of others here, I am either using my DVR to watch the race (so I fastforward through whatever I don't want to watch) or I'm only partially paying attention to the TV set with the sound on mute and following the race on my computer. So the ads annoy me from the point of view that they break up the race too much, but that is a problem with all of the network broadcasts, it doesn't matter whether it is Fox, TNT and I imagine ESPN will have the same deal going on. That stupid Son of the Beach show looked so awful from the promo that I never even turned it on once and based on the ads for The Closer and Saving Grace, I wouldn't choose to tune in because of them.
TV networks are going to push whatever shows they want to push when they have broadcast time to push them. That's just the way it is, and I doubt that any comments will change anything.
What TNT fails to realize is that "less is more." Being constantly bombarded by promos for various programs leads me to be resistant to watching the program because I am so sick of having the program "force fed" to me. Thus, I change the channel at promo time for these programs.
Fewer, but more thought provoking promos, may actually interest more viewers. Watching the same promos over and over and over and over and over only tends to make me go more "brain dead" than I already am.
Bill Engvall may actually be a funny guy with a good program. My reaction to his network's "cramming him down my throat" while watching a race is to purposely not watch the show . . . or any other that TNT suggests.
Real simple: TNT shows something else besides the Nascar race?
Not kidding there, when TNT took over I had to go to the guide on my DirectTV to find the channel, I knew they were somewhere around the SciFi channel (which I promptly forgot when they screwed up the 1st 5 minutes of their first race and I ran to the PC to order HotPass).
BillWebz
here's the thing for me: i can decide for myself and my family what to watch or ignore on tv. i don't rely on commercials or nascar to make that decision for me. as a fellow poster said, my loyalty to nascar doesn't always overlap into my choices in life! while dale had the bud sponsorship, i didn't drink bud and i don't drink amp and haven't joined the national guard this year, either.
i, too, am stunned at the implication that nascar should somehow screen the commercials that show during a race broadcast. nascar can barely handle the job it is supposed to be doing! and screening or "directing" the content of the commercials is just not it's job. the network has full responsibility for that, not nascar. i can hold nascar responsible for a whole lotta dumb moves but this just isn't one of them.
as for ad content being inappropriate for commerical airing during a race: let's not go down that path. there are many ads that i personally dislike for a wide variety of reasons. but i have no expectation that nascar will somehow "protect" me or my family from those ads. that would be MY job: my remote has both a mute and a channel button and i am an adult. if someone truly feels offended by the content of an ad that is aired during a race, that person should contact the network and raise the objection there. that might raise the issue in the network's collective mind and someone may look at it -- but i wouldn't hold yor breath.
when i watch the race with my 4 year old buddy, i simply change the channel or TALK WITH HIM during the commercials about the race. we often re-enact what he's curious about with his cars or we look at a nascar book and talk about that. we don't just sit and watch the tv.
i wonder, jd, if the emails you received about the bill engvel ad were a result of constant repetition that drummed that scene into viewers' minds? perhaps if it was not the sole commercial for that show that was aired, folks might feel differently. as for the ads for saving grace, you make the point that the emails started when fans TUNED IN, not b/c of the ads. so the complaint, presumably made by adults, is that the content of a show they chose to tune in was offensive. and they want nascar to do something about that?!? hmmm.
nascar isn't trying to "have it both ways" in my mind. they are responsible for ensuring that the content of THEIR product -- the race and the participants in that race -- are "family friendly." the network is responsible for what they air outside of the racing. and i, as a fan and viewer, have several easy and efficient options to exercise if something either body does that annoys or offends me. i do not want either to assume responsiblilty for my life and try to "protect me."
speedcouch,
No one is implying that Saving Grace might be a bad show. The topic is the repeated promos of exactly the same spots for six weeks and the adult content of one of the promoted programs.
To try and imply that this issue has something to do with the program itself is off-base.
As I said in the column, this type of program is part of the entertainment landscape in this nation.
Anon 8:25AM,
Every network wrestles with what product to promote in high-profile programming. TNT has a wide amount of programs, yet they chose three shows to repeatedly promote in NASCAR events.
One was a family comedy and one is a person who "closes" tough cases. The third is a very adult show that asked NASCAR fans to come and watch. The issue on the table is if those promos affected you or if you went and watched the show.
JD
That "Son of the Beach" was a product of the disgusting shock jock Howard Stern, whose radio show is now available only on Sirius. Never liked Stern.
And speaking of conflicts, remember there was a #1 song a decade ago called "Saving Grace" by a certain female quartet (now trio) from Arkansas that I've met more than a fair share of times. With Heather Payne's departure, that song is stuck in my head all of a sudden with the promotion discussion!
And as I've learned especially with ESPN, they are willing to bump races off the ESPN Broadcast Network (which reverts to ABC after the ESPN show ends) to ESPN2 or CLassic if the time reaches a point that Disney wants to protect certain entertainment properties that I refer as "franchise tags". The "franchise tag" shows include Desperate Housewives and other raunch-laden programming.
The MRN radio station in nearby Columbia is worse. All the sports stations and rock stations when airing sports run adult nightclub or strip joint ads during morning and afternoon hours during sporting events not suited for children. I've fired off a few letters to the FCC each time because of this type of advertising in front of kids.
And don't all those TNT shows have a "viewer discretion advised" warning at the beginning? I'm pretty sure they do because I hear it sometimes at the end of a race. Common sense, people. Just use common sense.
I was highly amused to see that the "Saving Grace" car's paint scheme included a TV-MA graphic!
Daly Planet Editor said...
Every network wrestles with what product to promote in high-profile programming. TNT has a wide amount of programs, yet they chose three shows to repeatedly promote in NASCAR events.
Based on the TNT website, TNT has exactly two original shows on its network right now, both of which were going to premiere this summer while the network had NASCAR: Saving Grace and The Closer.
All remaining TNT shows are reruns (Law and Order, Charmed, Without a Trace). TNT has two more original series which don't premiere until Labor Day or later. Promoting those shows heavily now would have been a waste.
TBS has three comedies: Bill Engvall; My Boys (aimed at young, big-city professional people in Chicago); and House of Payne (aimed at African-Americans). The latter two groups are probably not, in general, known to be huge NASCAR fans.
So...What other shows was TNT supposed to promote during races? A Law and Order marathon? TNT promoted the only two TNT shows it had available to promote and one TBS comedy. I don't see why they would wrestle with that decision.
I'm sure they know some NASCAR fans might not like Saving Grace - but just like mentioned above, some NASCAR fans might not like the Simpsons or Family Guy - a show which can really be out there in matters of taste. Doesn't stop FOX from promoting it and won't stop ABC from promoting some of the shows they have. And several of those 10 PM shows can be raunchy and might offend some fans.
The issue on the table is if those promos affected you or if you went and watched the show.
JD
July 14, 2008 9:34 AM
Thank you JD,
Until I read this post I had no idea what SG or BE was about. I can say that I did not know what those programs were about til I read about them in your columns/previous posts. Yes, I did read the panty issue on previous posts for the BE show. And I still not watch the show. And overnight I did click on the link for AG seasons one on Aol for AG that you gave us. I had no idea that was the theme of the show. So I can say the promontions for those shows had no effect on my viewing habits. But as others have posted, I use HotPass and multi task. I feel for those who do not have the options that some of us have if it effects them this much.
Nothing to add except I agree with the comments written by Red @ 9:29. He put my views across very well (thanks!)
Especially agreed with this
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as for the ads for saving grace, you make the point that the emails started when fans TUNED IN, not b/c of the ads. so the complaint, presumably made by adults, is that the content of a show they chose to tune in was offensive. and they want nascar to do something about that?!? hmmm
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Neither NASCAR or TNT should worry about this issue of the content in the program. The commercials themselves apparently didn't bother people except for their frequency.
The points I was trying to get across were
1. The more you shove it down my throat the less likely I am going to watch. As someone said Less is More.
2. They are barking up the wrong tree promoting BE in that manner (other commercials works fine).
3. They may have misjudged their target audience with SG and the commercial doesn't help. The Closer makes sense to me most likely because I am a Nascar fan who likes that show too, although it took me a while to watch because of the commercial overload.
Anon 10:05AM,
You continue to miss the point. I know all those facts, what we want is your opinion on the issue.
I have communicated with the TNT bunch during this whole NASCAR package. They are professional and responsive, even to a little blog like this one.
How about your own opinion on the matter?
JD
I want to just add from my comment @1025am that when commericals come on, that I usually go to team audio on hot pass and keep an eye on race buddy or check on current points standings, catch up on comments on TDP. So as I look back that maybe why I can not recall the constant commericals that TNT gave that I missed.
Let's forget about the content for a minute and talk about the amount of these promotions plus the shameless plug-away car that Larry Mac used.
Is it possible that if they sold more paid commercial time for product sponsors, yes even the taboo ones, we wouldn't have to listen to so many self promotions for shows.
To be specific; did they really need to cut away from Kyle Busch's burnouts and the fan reaction we were dying to see to run 3 TNT commercials and 2 NASCAR.com commercials (which Turner runs) to come back to see it on replay?
There is a backlash and it has nothing to do with content but quantity.
As far as the content of the Saving Grace promo; You see just as bad when you take your kids to a movie and can't screen the previews and just as much pops up on network TV when you don't know it's coming.
There is time to be a censor and editor and then there is time to be a parent. Explaining the SG promo if queried by my 8 &10 year olds just comes down to parenting.
I am personally not offended by the ads.
I love my DVR. No need to watch ANY commercials.
I don't watch any TNT shows.
If NASCAR cuts a deal with Lifetime or BET, I'm watching. Otherwise, it's not on my "favorites" list.
Sex sells. Maybe HBO or Showtime could do a "family friendly" show featuring the infield debauchery at Daytona or Talladega?
Shayne
ed,
Very good points and well said.
Shayne,
Do you record all the races and then join-in-progress like many fans or do you just watch them later? Obviously, the problem most fans have is they are watching live and can only change the channel or mute the audio.
Anon 10:53.
You tactic is called re-directing. It is used a lot by salesman. TNT has the ability to promote not only entertainment series but topical promos for movies or any program because the races do not re-air. They could choose to promote the Monday TNT line-up in a Sunday race. Nothing limits them to series. Sorry for your frustration. If you would like further clarification about why your comment was deleted, please email me at editor@thedalyplanet.tv anytime.
Thanks,
JD
Not to cause any problems here, but - TNT is already promoting its Monday night lineup during NASCAR. (Note: I watch a lot of TV and usually learn the schedules for shows I don't watch while I look for shows I do watch.)
The real Monday night lineup on TNT is indeed "The Closer" and "Saving Grace". Mondays is the regular night for a two-hour bloc of new episodes of those shows and all other airings are repeats. Perfect to promote during Saturday night and Sunday NASCAR races.
Expecting a network to spend the bulk of advertising money on repeats of old series bought from other networks or all the older movies it shows repeatedly probably isn't reasonable, when there are new programs the network owns and is currently investing millions of dollars in.
JD,
I start the DVR and hit "pause" prior to the green flag dropping. Go kill an hour and a half, then resume watching. Typically, I end up "live" near the checkers.
Shayne
I am a regular viewer of The Closer. I tried Saving Grace for a couple of episodes because I like Holly Hunter. Saving Grace just isn’t my type of show. I’ve never watched the Engvall program.
The amount of times that TNT chose to air these commercials didn’t matter to me. A commercial, is a commercial, is a commercial.
The advertisements during TNT’s race coverage did not influence my viewing of the TNT programs.
How’s that for staying on subject, JD? :)
brrrrn,
Stay with me now. The point is that TNT could promote anything.
To have the topic work, you have to keep it narrow. They chose three shows, repeated the exact same spots for six weeks and basically drove a lot of fans nuts.
Shayne,
We have to develop a term for that because so many fans are doing it. That is the number one thing I think NASCAR is not getting. Fans recording the event specifically to fast forward through the commercials and promos.
We have to think up a name for that.
Lisa,
You rock...as always. I was hoping to hear from some families with kids who watch to see their reaction as well.
JD
We could call the practice of skipping through all the commercials and promos "Saving Sanity", in honor of the show "Saving Grace".
The point is that TNT could promote anything.
Why would they? If they make more of a profit from viewers tuning in to a new show created/owned by TNT or TBS instead of an old show or movie they don't own, why would they not promote the new product? Why promote "anything"?
TNT is a business. You could argue they overpromoted, but who doesn't these days? But I don't think you can argue they promoted the wrong shows. If I owned something new and it was the only new product I had, I surely would promote it over something old I didn't own and didn't create.
and one other "turn of phrase" that's been nagging at me. jd said: "One was a family comedy and one is a person who "closes" tough cases. The third is a very adult show that asked NASCAR fans to come and watch."
my point of departure with that statement is that i don't see the ad as "asking nascar fans" to do anything. it's an ad, a commercial, and it isn't targeted at nascar fans. by that, i mean it has no racing content at all. it's a general ad that the network created to promote a program to a viewer of that network. i'm pretty sure that they run that ad at other times and not just during a race. this board is discussing it from the perspective of nascar fans but that ad was certainly not created FOR nascar fans at any level.
perhaps, jd, my discomfort is simply with the word choice of "asked." i don't see any ad in that way. in fact, i view ALL ads -- whether for saving grace or the nascar series east -- as trying to SELL me something. it could be entertainment, it could be lifestyle, it could be financial. advertisements exist to sell a product to a viewer. the viewer has the choice of whether to buy -- in this case, watch the promoted shows -- or not.
so, it may be a small point of departure, over the word "ask" but for me, it gets to the heart of what an advertisment or commercial is intended to do and how that purpose drives when and where it's placed. as my dad, an ad man himself, used to tell us: the ad is only successful if you can remember the name of the product. his point was if you can't remember the name of the product, what are the chances you're going to buy it (or, in this case, watch it)? if that's the standard, then the ads for these shows are successful.
if that's the standard, then the ads for these shows are successful.
The only standard that matters in this business is ratings.
You can remember the names of the shows all you want--but if the ratings don't go up, then the endless promos were a waste of time.
red,
You don't think six straight weeks of the exact same promo for the exact same show and then a full length music video with a country star is asking?
As I mentioned in my post, old school NASCAR fans were brand loyal and NASCAR was always aware of the brands. This column is a measure of the brand loyalty and the reaction of the TV viewers.
Right now, it seems that most of the brand loyalty is gone and that is what you are saying. If NASCAR fans had not responded with brand loyalty a while back, the sport would not be where it is today.
If the new "three TV slice pie" of the Cup Series and the COT have combined to remove that brand loyalty, it sure is going to be an interesting path that NASCAR will have to travel.
JD
I really like TNT and it's one of our most watched, well actually recorded, channels for the movies on TNT. We don't watch the TNT dramas. I taped two movies on TNT in the past few days, The Recruit and also Deep Impact yesterday afternoon. Both movies had the EXACT SAME ADS for the dramas shown duruing NASCAR. Including the moving ads that take over a big part of the TV screen. I hate those! As the poster said, the ads were NOT specifically aimed at NASCAR fans. They're the same on all TNT programs. TNT isn't asking anything special of NASCAR fans they they aren't asking of their movie fans.
Whoa, JD. Brand loyalty is a whole different subject. Do you want that discussed here or is there a column coming up???
Perhaps the best way to get rid of all the upsetting promos would be to have NASCAR change to pay-for-view. For a mere $24.95 or so every Sat or Sun we would be happier.
I do find the hand-wringing about content matter of the SG ads to be somewhat an abrogation of personal responsibility. I think the ED commercials are in poorer taste, frankly.
I suppose I'm fortunate that I'm sufficiently entertained by the SG promos not to have to waste an hour or so every week actually watching the shows. Their relentless repetition does become quite tedious by the end of the race.
I agree with the general thought here that brand loyalty among NASCAR fans it dying fast. The goose that has laid the golden egg for so long now is being done in by the media and the advertisers.
We've become so desensitized by the relentless onslaught of advertising material that we either tune it out, leave the room to relieve ourselves, hit the mute button, or fast-forward through it all.
In five years, the manufacturers will be out and there'll be the "Number 5 Kellogg's Cornflakes Nascar Special" Toyota will cut their budget by 75% by simply buying the rights to be the engine provider of name ("The Nascar Sprint Cup Powered by Toyota") for the series and lease sealed engines to the teams.
At which point we can turn out the lights and go outside and play.
Anon 12:30PM,
I think they key point from your post is that despite all the exact same promos that TNT hit NASCAR fans with, you and your family do not watch any of the TNT dramas.
That should get TNT's attention, especially since you are a brand and channel loyal TNT consumer.
Lisa,
Brand loyalty is a big pie. We are only talking about a little slice. No one here has said that the TNT promos in the NASCAR races made them go and watch the shows and they liked them. Some already watched and some watched and left.
Not one person has said those promos turned me on to a new entertainment show that I now watch every episode. That is amazing.
As I mentioned earlier, there is going to be another column up in a while talking about the changing dynamic of the NASCAR ads on TV. I am waiting to see if the same series of ads runs in The Brickyard race on ESPN.
Anon 12:37PM,
The guys at World Sports tried it a while back. I think Dave Despain was the host. If flopped miserably because viewers have already been trained to the fact that if they deal with the commercials they get the race at no extra charge.
JD
By the way, there is a new update posted because Ryan Burr is stepping in for Allen Bestwick tonight on NASCAR Now.
To see all the details, just click on the Daly Planet header at the top of the page to refresh your browser.
JD
Anon 12:52PM,
That is where the issue started and my column will address the products by category. Please contact me prior to posting link information. Thanks.
JD
No, the ads did not make me watch the shows, because they appear to be shows I would not like. However, if I had found them interesting, I probably would have tried the shows. I think it is wholly appropriate for a network to promote its own programming. Perhaps TNT went into overkill mode because it did not have enough other corporate sponsors?
I am a mother of a 7 yr. old girl and 10 yr. old boy, and I did not find the ads particularly offensive. We largely use ad time to talk or do quick tidy-ups of the playroom anyway!
Now, when you do the column on ads that do not promote network shows, especially during Wide Open Coverage, when you can't escape, I will have lots to say about that!
JD,
Frank Caliendo does a great commercial for Dish Network impersonating George Bush. He uses terms like "divver" (DVR), "recordificate", and "recordify".
Since some NASCAR broadcasters are making up words like "co-opetition", please refer to me as a:
"Recordificator"
Shayne
An excellent set of additional points by Mr. Daly at July 14, 2008 12:19 PM. Before I get to those, let me respond to the original question.
No, I did not watch any of the shows promoted by TNT during their NASCAR telecasts. I have in the past seen bits of each one previously and found them all to be poorly written, badly acted, and filled with nothing but the same ol' same ol'. I am not against these shows because of their content per se or because of how much they were promoted (although it was irritating). I don't watch them simply because they, shall we say, "inhale heavily." ;-)
I want to stress that I am not a "prude" nor an old fuddy-duddy (at least in spirit). Having just turned 43, my favorite two shows these days are The Venture Brothers and Metalocalypse. If you have never heard of those shows (shown on Cartoon Network's [adult swim] block), just ask your kids. ;-)
As for Mr. Daly's latest response...I have mentioned a few times before here that I have lost all of my brand loyalty when it comes to NASCAR. In fact, I seem to recall being roundly criticized a couple of times by other readers about how I intentionally avoid NASCAR products these days (especially anything claiming to be the "official whatever of NASCAR"). Of course, that is fine -- I can do what I want and others can do differently, and I don't at all mind differences of opinion here as long as they are conducted in a civil manner (which is almost always the case).
In and of itself, sponsorship and promotion of all kinds are good for the sport and all involved. However, I feel that much of it through this part of the decade has been overdone and with no respect shown towards the "family values" crowd. While I don't personally subscribe to that type of "traditional" life for myself, my heart really goes out to all of those moms and dads who want to keep their sons and daughters away from sexual or violent content, especially since NASCAR has IMO both outwardly and subliminally promoted itself as a "family friendly" and even downright "conservative" enterprise.
I too wonder as JD does what path this will send NASCAR upon, and I worry that it is not one that is good for the sport over the long term. "Return on investment" or not, constant sponsor mentions and promotions blasted at an American public -- no matter how used to commercial saturation they are -- can still reach a point of overkill and frustration. Combined with all of NASCAR's other recent problems and decisions that have irritated and even driven away a portion of fans, I think that it's well past time that they get together with their broadcasting partners and try to find some way to show a little more sensitivity and respect to the audience. Yeah, I know...that's about as likely right now as seeing a race where Kyle Busch doesn't win. :-) But, eventually, I think NASCAR will either have to go there or just give up the farce that they care about their older and more tradition-based fans.
JMHO
shayne,
So far I have "lap skipper" and "adcoholic" by email but I like yours better.
His commercial was hilarious.
JD
I have not and don't have any intentions of watching any of the programs promoted on TNT. As another said, I have to seek out TNT's channel # when it's their season.
I don't like some of the promo's content, but, what can I do, I ignor them the best I can.
Watching the race, racebuddy, pit command and TDP pretty much keeps me busy during the race.
Other times it's checking the web for NASCAR and news.
Networks don't get to much from me.
HAPPY RACIN'
daly planet editor said...
red,
You don't think six straight weeks of the exact same promo for the exact same show and then a full length music video with a country star is asking?
nope. i just see an ad campaign and not a particularly creative or imaginative one: it has pissed off too many viewers. a better example of "asking" for me might be the ads for stepbrothers.
that ad immediately connects with the nascar fan by saying "you remember us from talladega nights" and closes with the "shake and bake" fistbump. that ad DOES ask the nascar fan to tune in by directly tying the co-stars into a movie that nascar fans know. in esssence, it asks the fan to "trust us" that the new show will be funny to him/her b/c the movie was funny and was heavily nascar. so that ad takes the good will (or at least passing knowledge of) the movie generated in a significant part of the nascar fan base and is leveraging it to get those same fans to watch the new show. that i do see as "asking."
as for brand loyalty and nascar and the tnt program ads. there's a disconnect here for me as well. brand loyalty in nascar is tied into something IN nascar: the driver, the team sponsors, the historial connection between a sponsor and a driver or team, something the driver uses or promotes or talks about. these programs are in no way connected to that environment: they sit outside of it (cutaway cars notwithstanding!) and are not a part of the fan's loyalty to the sport. simply placing the ads during a race broadcast does not give them "standing" for nascar fans. they are seen as what they are: ads that help pay the bills incurred in bringing us the race.
you can't build brand loyalty in a nascar fan uness you have a connection to the sport. just running ads during the race for your programming won't do it and i question if it ever has. the fan rewards an authentic connection and committment to the sport.
Hi gang - just back from NYC, and this struck a chord big time with me.
The appropriateness of advertising in time slots when kids will be watching is one the industry has to take on with brass knuckles. Consumers who say "I'll never buy XYZ because of their ads" probably won't get far with the networks who get paid to run these, ahem, whatever the product is. Complain directly to the networks. Say you won't watch a specific show because of the salacious nature of the ad in the wrong time slot, then copy the FCC (I think?) with your letter. For every letter they receive, they know a thousand people at a minimum think the same way.
Have to say, I watch Saving Grace. Not because of any ads or in spite of the same, and I never knew it was on TNT until a friend said I had to see it - the character reminded her of one in a book I'd written. BTW, there's a HUGE billboard for the show in Times Square - no nudity, however. Even though I like the show, the sexual nature of the advetisement on TNT in a time slot when kids will be sure to see it is enough to make me protest directly to the network.
Consider it done.
Mr. Daly: I would appreciate knowing how many years it has been since you worked fulltime in a TV network setting, cable or broadcast. I ask because I currently work in that setting. I find your thoughts posted in the comments section either naive or somewhat - in my view - uninformed as to the true inner workings of contemporary network advertising and sales strategies.
While I sincerely enjoy your comprehensive reviews of race broadcasts, when you talk about current business practices in an such an authoritative manner, I have some concern. I really believe readers should follow caveat emptor in buying your thoughts on this case because current business practices do not seem to be your strong suit. I have read every comment and I am particularly disturbed by the comment that TNT could "promote anything" during a race and this comment:
"TNT has the ability to promote not only entertainment series but topical promos for movies or any program because the races do not re-air. They could choose to promote the Monday TNT line-up in a Sunday race. Nothing limits them to series."
I don't even know how to respond to this, it's so not in touch with network ad sales reality. TNT's motto is "We Know Drama." Why, then, wouldn't they put all of their advertising muscle behind the original programs upon which that motto was built several years ago?
"Promoting anything", without thought and strategy about how it will benefit the network, doesn't appear in my list of good business practices. Finally, unless you have access to TNT's complete research and its marketing plan, you have no way of knowing if the saturation of ads during NASCAR races and other programming met the networks' goals. It very well may be considered a successful campaign when the first week ratings for Saving Grace and The Closer - both of which have season premieres tonight- are released.
Red, I think you hit all of my points.
I will add that I buy Juicy Fruit gum for the office treat bowl because they sponsor a car and the commercials are clever, funny, and feature a driver. :)
like many, I look forward to the column on ads, which I find far, far more annoying...
I've seen the Closer, and thought it was well acted and well written, and I like any number of 'types' of shows (ie, not just 'cop shows' or whatever.) But any show appeals to some and not others, hence the variety we have today. But like many, I didn't see any of the ads for that or SG or BE as 'offensive'; mostly I just found them repetitive and kind of 'tuned them out' after a while. I do not have children, but like others, I believe those can be 'teaching moments' for parents. *However*--there is absolutely no difference to me between those on TNT and those promos done on other networks--whether it's Fox shows from an NFL broadcast, or X Games promos from ESPN. I just don't care. To be honest, I find promos for pointless reality shows like 'Wipeout' more annoying than dramatic shows meant for adults. I won't say a promo never made me curious about a show (although SOTB certainly didn't), so they can do their job, and I don't blame the networks for doing it. (The only thing that irks me doesn't apply to NASCAR, and that's the squeezing of ending credits.) But I don't see what else TNT is going to promote, other than paid ads. They don't have news or many other sports. I do think it's a bit of overkill because there obviously ARE people who say they purposefully won't watch.
Anon 2:45PM,
It is always fun to hear from sales and marketing types. They drive home points by extracting one word or a sentence and using it completely out of context.
Let me say it to you again very clearly, TNT can promote anything they choose. How does that upset you?
Our conversation was about one TV network pounding NASCAR viewers with the exact same promo spots for six consecutive weeks.
They have the perfect right to do just that. They have the perfect right to produce whatever TV programs the choose.
During the time that Fox is a Sprint Cup TV partner, viewers get one brand of promotion. It is spread across several Fox companies and uses both sports and entertainment shows for content.
This is the second year of the current TV contract, and once again TNT chose to pound viewers with the same three promos over and over again. As a marketing professional, do you think it did any good?
We are about to transition to ESPN and ABC, which is the reason I held this column until TNT was done. It should be interesting to see if ESPN has a mix of sports programs and ABC entertainment shows in their NASCAR promotional package.
BTW - I spoke with several top TV creative services folks and promo managers before offering this topic. One thing is for sure, it certainly has made me re-think the Anon comments.
JD
I don't think we can compare the networks though--TNT has a handful of original programming and ESPN/ABC and Fox have volumes--naturally they can spread it around more. But frankly, I'm already sick of 'Darkmane'. And hopefully I'm not veering too far off subject, but SPEED runs its own promos too--I get *just* as tired of the Pinks promos, yet the '101 cars you must drive' intrigued me enough to watch (great show...) Yet he mentions 'pimps' in one ad. I suppose others might find it offensive.
glen,
As you can see from the comments, it is a touchy subject that many people have strong feelings about.
JD
Yes...and don't forget that ABC has already been down the 'inappropriate' promo road--remember the MNFootball/Desperate Housewives debacle? Might make them more sensitive to these issues, but it doesn't mean 'not repetitive'....
TNT overkill of oversized graphics offend me period. If they do this in primetime with the Closer tonight, I will just wait until end of season and get the DVD from the library like I did the first few seasons.
Yes, SPEED's over kills the same old same old commercials as well. but late night repeat of S Report last night had some phone sex line where you could meet new "friends with benefits and adventurous girls." This ran on EVERY BREAK for the SR. (yes I know it was a local commercial) I found that offensive and yes you can mute the tv or whatever, but fact is, you get ambushed easily if the remote is NOT in your hand. while I realize one can find "escort services" in many yellow pages, I have to look for such things in the telephone book as opposed to being "surprised" by said commercials.
anymore I keep the remote in my hand due to such ambushing..sometimes it's disturbing "Local news video" shoved in our faces in a benign tv moment/show.
No add shoved in my face prompts me to watch anything. I do my own homework to watch a show but find most things distasteful in today's coarsening culture. I do watch some shows with adult humor but find it sad there is little intelligent above the belt writing...in shows and Advertising..
TNT shoots themselves in the foot in this house as we don't BUY the DVD's to the CLOSER but borrow from library. I must say I have been told the adds are bigger and more intrusive this year on TNT but every tv station is guilty of these 'moving adds'playing over a tv show or movie and it can spoil a close up or critical part of a show/race.
Thus I use my library a lot!! :) I watch no movies on TNT for same reasons ..huge promos.
I watched SG once and couldn't understand a word she said -- she sounds like she has a mouth full of marbles.
Trashy show with misleading title.
We will all be longing for Saving Grace commercials when the political ads start running during the general election season.
Some of the comments made after my first post made me think about the idea of "brand loyalty". For me, that has just about gone away. There is a generic car out there and it's hard for me to be loyal to a decal.
There is so much self-promotion among all of the broadcast partners that I feel takes away from the race broadcast itself and that turns me off.
The large number of commercials, promotions, the stupid digger thing from Fox and selling t-shirts for heaven's sakes, all result in my watching NASCAR live on TV less and less and using my recording device more and more. I usually watch the green flag, the first 10 laps (because by then they've gone to the first commercial or promo), then hit record and let it go, go off and do something else and come back and watch the last 30 laps when there might possibly and I do say possibly, be some exciting racing. Otherwise, it is simply wasting 3-4 hours of a nice day to be inundated with commercials.
It is already a problem for NASCAR and the networks, they just don't know it since as one other poster mentioned, I don't have a nielson box. I do have a DVR, a remote, a sirius radio and a computer. I use all of that technology to keep my sanity and continue to sort of follow the sport I once upon a time NEVER missed.
Diane said:
First, my issue with the promos or ads that I find offensive is "time" and "audience" related. I have no problem with "adult content", just when it's in the day time on a show which we know children will be watching. I will educate my children in my own manner and do not need TV ads/promos to "assist" me in that manner.
Second,
Anon 12:42 said:
"I really believe readers should follow caveat emptor in buying your thoughts on this case because current business practices do not seem to be your strong suit".
I think this blog has a very intelligent group of individuals who can think on their own! JD provides the topic and a great forum (no garbage/offensive responses) giving us an outlet to share our thoughts, opinions, frustrations, positive feedback, etc. Since "The Daly Planet"'s inception we have seen some very positive changes in the coverage of NASCAR races.
Thinking on her own....Diane
The ads for other shows do not get me to watch nor cause me not to watch. I pay little mind to them, they were racy, and language is at times racy as is the subject matter. I get sick of the trashy stuff during races - or any sports event.
Amen, Diane!!!!
I love the Closer. That being said, the promos are excessive. Can't they find real commercials with NASCAR drivers in them? In any case, I'm posting to say I decided never to even give the Bill Engler show a chance because of the race where they practically cut off the end of the race to get in an extra episode of the Bill Engler show.
The promo's haven't made me want to watch any of the shows. I did try BEs show because I love his comedy but the show didn't keep me.
When I do watch without FF the ads didn't make me want to tune in. Like 3KB, it takes a lot for an ad to pull me in and even more for it to be on my SP.
@gina-I also gave BE a chance but didn't like it although I do love his comedy :). I miss the TBCB :(
@shayne--I often do something similar. I watch the 8 hour prerace shows on delay and depending on my timing I start the race about an hour in.
@anon 5:15--I think Political Ads are banned here...I swear I very rarely see them. Which is a huge change from Cali where every other one was an ad. Heck, unless I'm going near the old courthouse I don't know we're having an election. I don't get stacks of mail piled taller than me every day like I did in Cali :).
TNT paid the big bucks for the rights fees, more power to them in making a return on that investment. Rather than just letting Lowes, or a summer blockbuster getting the exposure through ad time, might as well funnel it back to yourself.
I haven't watched the shows they promoted quite frequently during the races, though I'm sure plenty of people have. I, frankly, don't care what types of ads are shown, realizing we can watch the race for free because of them, rather than the alternative of a $50 PPV.
Guess i"m late to the party here but I have a couple of observations.
First - The constant repetition of the very same promos for the same two or three shows caused me to zone out whenever they came on after the second race.
Second - They weren't compelling in the first place. I had no idea that Saving Grace had an angel or that she was a "social" kind of gal. As far as Bill Engvall it looked like every other family sitcom except he's not fat.
Except for these six races I never watch TNT. When I think of original programing on basic cable I think of FX and for premium HBO and Showtime.
The ads didn't make me want to watch the shows at all. I got sick of seeing the ads every week, and even though I use the mute button for all the commercials, it got on my nerves watching them all the time.
More racing and fewer commercials would be wonderful, but we all know that will never happen.
Wow. I had no idea that the promos for these two shows had so many people getting their knickers in a knot. I do agree that the promos were definitely overdone in terms of frequency. As for the nudity and sexual content, it doesn't bother me as I don't have little kids but if I did then I would definitely be switching channels during the commercials.
I have been watching both of these shows since their debut on TNT and really like them. The fact that they are different from the generic shows aired on regular network television is what keeps me watching. I don't want squeaky clean, all-the-time-PC shows and TNT delivers that.
I haven't liked having their commercials shoved down my throat at ALL...not to mention banners on screen during action and things like the hood of the cutaway car marked with them too!
Overkill. WAY too much overkill.
And as for programming (of the commercials') content, what in the world's wrong with the "this preview is suitable for all audiences" type of thing that you see in the theater before the movie?
I watch The Closer weekly. I have watched the other two shows ONCE each and won't watch them again, and it's not because I'm a prude or don't laugh at redneck comedy (when it's good comedy).
If their creating network wants to plug them some, that's understandable. But for heaven's sake, don't beat the viewers over the head with a lead baseball bat and expect them to go "DUH!" and let it go.
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