I’m sympathetic to the plight of advertisers: everyone has DVRs or they pirate their shows or stream them over the net.  As a result, no one watches commercials anymore.  Advertisers still need the ad revenue, but how can they get it when viewers are fast forwarding through commercials or skipping them entirely?

That said, I’m not happy with the intrusive tactics of the new era.  For example, I spend some time with 30 Rock and what happens? An ad for Tina Fey’s movie Baby Mama comes tripping across the screen--in mid scene. From the looks of it, five minutes of 30 Rock is ten times funnier than that entire movie.  And even if it was a comedy classic, I don’t need to hear about it when I’m enjoying Kenneth’s comedy antics.

Then there’s my TIVO.  I finish watching Battlestar Galactica and I try to delete the episode.  Immediately, I get yelled at:

TIVO: Would you like to download more Battlestar Galactica?!?!

ME: Uh, no thanks. 

TIVO: But you can catch up on all the episodes from past seasons!  Only $1.99!

ME: Uh, I’m pretty caught up. I just want to watch the current season and find out if Starbuck is a cylon, and stuff.

TIVO: Then you can download classic episodes of Battlestar Galactica from the ‘70s!  Again, only $1.99!

ME: No thanks. That show sucked. At one point they went to like this space heaven and their uniforms turned white and it was really lame.

TIVO: I have that episode! Only $1.99!

ME: What did I just tell you?  No classic Battlestar Galactica.  Which, by the way, is a contradiction in terms.

TIVO: No problem!  Hey, listen, find out about a new Lexus!

ME: Do I look like I can afford a new Lexus?

TIVO: Then find out about a new Kia!

ME: Look, I’m going to work.  I’ll see you later.

TIVO (following me out the door): Comparison shop for wool socks! Get more out of your shampoo!  Buff and polish your abs with the Abflexor Flexis!

ME: Get back in the damn house now.

TIVO: I can get you the phone number of the actress who plays Boomer on the new Battlestar Galactica!

ME: ....wait....really?

TIVO: HA made you look.  Now back to business. Download Michael Bolton’s entire discography!