One of my favorite things about 30 Rock is the sly way the show savages corporate culture — from Jack Donaghy’s title (Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming) to the hilarious Greenzo episode that poked fun at NBC’s Green is Universal initiative. But I’m conflicted about the show’s increasingly blatant product placement. I initially thought the gags were hilarious — remember the scene in the “Jack-Tor” episode where the writers complained about having to do product placement, all the while plugging Snapple? — but recently, they’ve been grating on me.

Unsurprisingly, NBC is getting paid for those placements, even when 30 Rock makes them into over-the-top jokes. The show has had 142 product placements this season — which, interestingly, isn’t nearly as many as The Office, which has had 381 product placements so far. But I don’t notice the advertising as much on The Office, probably because the show doesn’t intentionally draw attention to the products it’s plugging as much as 30 Rock does (the episode where Dwight quits to work at Staples notwithstanding).

With more and more people skipping commercials these days, product placement is probably here to stay. But would you rather have it done in a subtle way or in a direct and over-the-top style like 30 Rock’s? As annoying as it can be, I do respect the way 30 Rock makes it obvious that we’re being advertised to, and it fits the tone of the show — up to a point, anyway. Where would you draw the line? Here is a clip…

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It’s back…the holiday show that sparks a frenzy! Oprah surprises an audience of loyal fans in Macon, Georgia. Macon has had the highest ratings for The Oprah Show since we went national in 1986. So she took her show to her loyal city and gave them ass loads of the things she likes, or is paid to like, the MOST! (looks like this year Samsung, Williams-Sonoma, and Nordstrom footed the bill for Oprahs show)

The list is after the jump,

continue reading "Oprah’s Favorite Things 2007 Christmas List"

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I have been the biggest Ellen fan ever since I used to sneak off into my sisters room when I was 14 and watch the Ellen show after the coming out episode. I followed her after she released her amazing comedy Special ‘ The Beginning”  and then when her talk show started I never missed a-one! Now, I will no longer watch.

Ellen is continuing to film during the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild – but spoke out saying she “loves” the writers on Friday. DeGeneres opened her show sans monologue, instead giving a nod to her writers and explaining the situation to her audience.

I’m sorry Ellen, you shoot 5 shows a week, sometimes 6 when you are doing a special or catch-up episodes. Your writers room (which consist of NUMEROUS people that are now striking) make your show what it is. So when you say you are not going to do the monologue because you are supporting them, THATS BULL, you can’t do it because they aren’t there. You don’t have a choice.

“I want to say I love my writers. I love them. In honor of them today, I’m not going to do a monologue,” she’s quoted as saying. “[But] people have traveled across the country. They’ve made plans. They’re here. I want to do everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show.

Honestly Ellen, I think they will find a movie at The Grove or a few pictures in front of Mann’s Chinese Theater just as entertaining. Get your head out of your dollar-signed shaped ass and support your collegues!

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Michael and Jan are supposed to have Jim and Pam over for dinner. That, my friends, is the hilariously genius Office episode that lies on the other side of the writers’ strike, according to show runner Greg Daniels. Many of the shows actors are also writers, so that means…no show! Also, all the online video blogs and what not that appear on NBC.com (of which daytime Emmys were awarded to!) were all done FOR FREE! None of the writer/actors were paid to do this extra work…. AND, after tonights new episode of the office, there is only one more in the can….that means if this strike is here for a while, this may be our last bit of funny besides 30Rock. Ohhhhh man, my gallbladder hurts just thinking about it.

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