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Local News Sweeps Scare Tactics

In case you were unaware, we are in the May sweeps time that help determine local TV ad rates.  If you hadn't noticed, you may have noticed the scare tactics that some news stations have been pulling.  For example, tonight on KMOV-TV St. Louis (local CBS Affiliate – Channel 4), they are running an investigation on how dangerous the ice is at local restaurants.  They had hidden footage of the fast food joints and lab reports and everything.  Mind you I haven't seen this report, but I've seen a thousand commercials for it and heard ads on the radio.  So, this is apparently big news which will likely kill me.  Funny how I haven't heard anything about it before now. 

The other one that was teased was how someone can hack my cell phone and track every text message, email and conversation I have on my cell.  Nice. 

Thanks local TV for trying to scare me into watching your news program.  I'll pass.

SNL + NBC Character Involvement = Boring Skits

Here's the other trend I've noticed lately.  My wife and I DVR Saturday Night Live.  I usually skip through most of it on Sunday after church, but I've noticed that every episode has a skit or two featuring a personality from one of their other stations (CNBC, Bravo, etc.).  Most of them are people I know nothing about:

• Suze Orman
• Jim The Shouting Stock Guy
• Some dude from Top Model
• Brian Williams and MSNBC

As a result of knowing nothing about them the skit is pointless to me.  Why does this matter?  Because it seems like this is trend is being forced upon SNL writers from the higher ups.  I doubt that they would just always choose NBC property cast members over other funny trends (like American Idol or any other reality show nightmare).   Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like cross-promotion is winning out over entertainment that may be funnier.