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Red Bull has pulled a nativity-themed ad from Italian television after a priest from Sicily denounced it as a “blasphemous act.” [Reuters]
television
Jimmy T Pitches The Commodore VIC-20
By 11.30.07
Did you know that before he hawked for Priceline or regaled us with the adventures of T.J. Hooker, William Shatner had another TV career? Yes, he appeared in commercials for the Commodore VIC-20: “Unlike games, it has a real computer keyboard.”
Share Money Problems With Today Show, Get Famous, Buy Gold Mansion
By 11.9.07
NBC’s TODAY show has a new series called “Make Your Life Better TODAY,” and they’re asking viewers to send in their personal finance questions so they can address them on-air: “Whether you’re single or married; young or old, we want to know your concerns about debt, retirement, investments, savings and more.” If you fit one of the following scenarios, they might even want to bring you on the show to find out who your baby daddy is. Or maybe so Ellen can cry at you? Something like that—all that daytime TV sort of blurs together.
Media Consolidation Is Bad For Everyone
By 11.4.07
Bill Moyers produced an excellent segment on media consolidation and its disproportionate impact on minorities. African Americans and Hispanics account for over a quarter of the population, but own just 33 of the nation’s 1,350 television stations, and only 6% of radio stations. According to Melody Spann-Cooper, owner of Chicago’s only black-owned radio station:
Radio has moved from being in the business of empowering and educating people to Wall Street, to making money. And that’s not the big corporate conglomerates, you know, that’s not their fault. They were allowed to do this.
Woman Exploited Bug On QVC Website To Steal Over $400k In Merchandise
By 10.31.07
A North Carolina woman named Quantina Moore-Perry pleaded guilty to wire fraud last week for stealing $412,000 worth of merchandise from television retailer QVC in 2005. She discovered and exploited a bug in QVC’s online ordering system, where she would still receive the merchandise without being charged if she canceled the order immediately after placing it. She would then sell the items on eBay.
By 10.30.07
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Cablevision will raise the cost of its average video package by 4.7% starting in December. It says the cost of its Internet and digital phone services will remain the same through 2008. [Reuters]
Government Wants To Sneak Financial Info Onto Soaps And Telenovelas
By 10.29.07
When we posted about “30 Rock” last Friday, a reader SHOUTED IN ALL CAPS that someone—either NBC, or Tina Fey, or maybe The Consumerist, we’re not sure—is a government shill for basically being paid by the gov to write about financial advice. Turns out Mr. Shouty is right, sort of: the U.S. Treasurer, Anna Escobedo Cabral, was on the radio news program “Marketplace” a couple of weeks ago to talk about how she’s been meeting with the creative teams of soap operas and telenovelas to find ways to incorporate financial storylines into their plots.
NBC Teaches Personal Finance Lessons On "30 Rock"
By 10.26.07
NBC is taking the “workplace comedy” concept to new levels of realism, by including a couple of scenes about a major character’s lack of a savings plan in this week’s “30 Rock” episode. After being awarded a $10,000 “GE Followship Award” for being such a great follower, Tina Fey’s character stuns her boss by revealing she doesn’t have a 401(k)—or, apparently, even a savings account.
Airbrushes Starting To Get TV Stars "HD-Ready"
By 10.24.07
Before going on TV this week, the makeup person used a device with a long nozzle and tube to apply base to my face. When I asked her what it was, she said it was an airbrush, and they “you’re going to see it a lot more with HD.” Apparently an airbrush can get the makeup and smooth cover into all the little cracks and imperfections that would otherwise be exposed with the new hi-definition TV sets. No doubt the makers of Desperate Housewives will be copping the technique. The show saw its ratings plummet after the advent of Hi-Def sets let viewers see the stars wrinkles and age-lines in true detail. Just when you think the veil of magic of is going to be destroyed, TV builds a thicker veil, with more sequins. Thanks, Television, for keeping the dream alive!
By 10.1.07
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Maybe Television Idiot Syndrome (a term we just made up) is reversible: a new study says you can reduce the risk of having an antisocial, depressive child if you reduce his television viewing to less than two hours per day by age 5 1/2. Just make sure you don’t fill up those two hours with Baby Einstein vids. [Reuters]
Consumers No Longer Forced To Lease Decoders From Cable Company
By 7.3.07
As of last Sunday, cable operators will no longer be able to mandate that you have lease their cable decoder box. The industry agreed on a descrambler format, the CableCARD, which can be loaded into a cable box made by any company. Consumers should see equipment price drops, along with a range of new features. However, the CableCARD will probably only be available to new installations and upgrades.
Calling DirecTV President Results In New, Non-Broken, HD DVR For Nearly Free
By 6.18.07
I’ve been a Consumerist reader going on a year now. I haven’t missed an article. Reading my Consumerist RSS feed is a standard part of my daily routine. Come to think of it, maybe I have a problem. Ha ha ha
Airlines And Cable TV Score Lower Than The IRS In Customer Satisfaction
By 5.18.07
We’ve already written about this quarter’s ACSI, but when we saw this headline, we just couldn’t resist: Both the airline and the cable/satellite TV industries have actually managed to score lower than the IRS in customer satisfaction, according to USAToday.
Of the 19 industries the ACSI asked consumers about, only the cable and satellite TV industry, at 62, fared worse. In comparison, the IRS scored 65.
The Cutthroat World Of QVC Host Auditions
By 4.19.07
“Most people show up thinking it’s easy,” said Jack Comstock, the vice president for television sales at QVC. In his 14 years at the network, he has hired 18 of its 23 hosts. “But it’s difficult to find someone that can really talk to the camera as if it was their friend.”
Can Andrew Dan-Jumbo Save Home Depot?
By 3.14.07
Each episode follows Andrew as he searches for people looking to tackle a pesky do-it-yourself home renovation project, but don’t quite know where to start. After identifying the perfect accomplice, Andrew convinces themto take him home so they can work side-by-side to get their weekend projects done right. Once Andrew confirms they’re game, the pair shops around The Home Depot for all supplies and tools necessary to complete the renovation. Then, Andrew loads up his all-new 2007 GMC Sierra and heads to their home to roll up his sleeves and get started!
We did suggest Home Depot hire more helpful staff… This isn’t what we meant. —MEGHANN MARCO
Is That Infomercial Stuff Any Good?
By 11.1.06
Say you replaced your brain with a head of cabbage. You decide gotta have the latest As Seen on TV kitchen knife and label maker combo.
