I've noticed that CBS has been airing ads for Leverage and other TNT series lately. I wonder if the package that has them sharing the NCAA basketball tournament includes a rider for cross-advertising.
If so, that's way cool.
Thinking outside the box.

Could very well be, though it usually involves the same product. Like ABC plugging Verses when ABC is broadcasting a IRL race because they both have coverage. I could be wrong but I think TNT did something like this a few years back and it did involve a deal for some shared coverage. It does make sense.

The first time I saw it was a few years ago when Battlestar Galactica was the big hit on Sci-Fi (now Sy-Fy, go figure). But that's mainly because NBC/Universal owns or owned Sci-Fi.
Still, it makes good sense.
With so many specialty channels, the networks have to think outside the box in promoting their shows.

There is is so much to choose from, it only makes sense to cross promote. I make use of netflix and their free streaming and along the way have discovered shows I had not been familiar with, so it does make a lot of sense to make use of whatever means one has to promote your product.

Put down the remote control and pick up a musical instrument.

I can't make up my mind. Got any suggestions?

Ah, sadly to say I am damn good with a remote, but would be lost with a musical instrument. Love music but I will have to be satisfied with just enjoying the work of others!

I would say to get yourself a good used acoustic guitar and a good book on the guitar from the library. The point here is to gauge you interest without spending a lot of money while learning a new activity which engages your mind in new ways. Look at how sharp these old musicians are compared to the old dudes who sit around watching the television.

I used to attribute the drugs to preserving the Stones but I think it's the fact that they play instruments. Keith Richards ain't watching TV!

True about the old guys. When I see bands play at clubs and festivals, I've noticed that I spend a lot of time watching the guitarists and drummers.

Eh, by the way, you NEVER watch television?
If not, what drew you to this discussion?
Just asking.

I don't watch enough TV to notice any special trends, et cetera!

What drew you to the discussion?

Et cetera

Television Viewing Time and Mortality

Television viewing time independently pr...C Norfolk Study

I do know of one summer TV trend. It's the re-run.

So did you look those up before or after I asked the question?
Not that I'm disagreeing with anything said in those reports. I am quite well informed on the subject. I do find it fascinating, sometimes amusing, when people are asked questions and, instead of answering, they post links to published materials that appear to support the point these people try to make. Although I do recall one instance where such a person posted an article that had one line that supported his point of view, but the rest of it contradicted other things this young man had said. He conveniently dismissed the parts of the article that disagreed with him.
Honestly, it doesn't take a person spending several hours per day with a hand gripped to a remote to have a clue about what's on TV. You may be surprised with what a person can absorb simply by observing, having a decent memory and listening once in a while.

I'm one who believes that gadgets such as TVs, smart phones, video games, and even computers are leading to the actual demise of observing, having a decent memory, and listening once in a while.

I respectfully disagree because people are tuning in to their gadgets and tuning out to reality.

It's not the gadgets. It's the people.
Just because the tech gurus make a new device that does everything short of butter your toast doesn't mean everybody has to rush out and get one, or that those who do get them have to have them plugged into their ears 24/7.
Too much time spent on any one thing is not good for anyone.

You're not lying about people's fascination with their gadgets. It seems like everyone on the VRE train is playing with their iPads on their commute to work.

To say nothing of the idiots who text while driving.
And my music producer friend who had a Bluetooth in his ear during the entirety of a Dreamgirls rehearsal (he had the role of Jimmy). He almost forgot to take it out before one performance.

I think specifically teenagers (and many adults) are FAR too pre-occupied with their gadgets and texting. And I get tired of hearing parents say "I don't care if my kid has 15,000 texts per month, she gets good grades so she can do what she wants." Such a lazy cop-out. I'd rather have a kid that got B's and C's but was more prudent with their time and a better face to face communicator. It can't possibly be healthy to spend 80-90% of one's waking hours in front of some sort of media device.

Our gadgets are really just like anything else we do, when used in moderation and for the right purpose that can be helpful even useful. When over used and abused they become a danger.

I am with you on the texting issue, but I will admit I do text a great deal myself. I probably use my cell to text as much if not more then I use it to actually talk on. But having said that I do think that we in the danger of losing the art of conversation if we are not careful. Our kids at work are on the phones all the time because of the east of sending a text, but that does get to be a problem when the texting begins to replace working. Again it is the abuse of the gadget that gets in the way, not the gadget itself.

I have a question that perhaps someone out can answer or an least over a point of view. In this day and age of digital television and complaints from some of the cable networks of fees they must pay to get on the various systems, why not make the jump to over the air TV? Each local station is allotted several channels now with the conversion to HD. In our own local market four of the stations have added additional programing.

I wondering what benefit if any would come to a network like TNT, USA, or any assortment of cable only networks if they were to approach over the air stations and offer their networks to them on the additional channels. ABC could offer ESPN to all of it ABC affiliates. Not sure what the legal issues would be, but just seems to me to a big waste of mandating all this digital upgrade and then not doing anything really constructive with it.

When will the reality TV show trend run its course? There's a new reality show featuring Khloe Kardashian and her NBA basketball playing husband. She's the Kardashian no one wants to see and he's a bench warmer on an over-rated team. The L-bloggers may tune in but I'm thinking they have better things to do with their time.

I wouldn't call Lamar a benchwarmer as he does get a decent amount of minutes.

Dave--I agree with TR8 about the whole `reality`show craze. I was never a fan of them for one minute in the first place. From the start they all reek of "scripted reality" Then there is the neccessity to accentuate the negative-even to- in a sense-manufacture conflict+drama. Result-rude-selfish people.Just t cite an example: Real Housewives of-what was it-OC or NJ? Just seem to be inner-directed selfish over-sexed gold-digging sluts-at least from the parts of 3 or 4 episode I watched. Maybe they got better later in the series-but I doubt it. I imagine that the rude selfish slut angle is the whole of the appeal for some-the whole "can you BELIEVE what happened/what so+so DID/SAID on last nights episode?"type thing and all. Operation Repo+Dog The Bounty Hunter-3 or 4 episodes of each-both feature gross ugly morbidly obese women who compensate for their unattractive-ness by being so rude ya just want to slap em-metaphorically of course. ON THE OTHER HAND- TR8O8-could not contain his anti-Laker jealousy.(cont`d)

(cont`d)- TR8 made a pledge weeks ago to stop posting his jealous anti Laker rants in the NBA thread. He could not contain his anti-Laker jealously for long though-LOL!!! Though he promised to keep away from the NBA thread until playoff time-his jealousy re: the Lakers popped up at least twice on the March Madness thread-and now here. The jealousy still intact in the Lamar is a bench warmer comment-Odom is having his best season yet. Averaging near a double-double this season-very good %age from 3pt territory. He has avoided the inconsistent play that kept his value down in past seasons. And when LO shoots now- I expect it to go in! RE:Lakers OVER-RATED? ROTFLMAO! How a team that is the back to back repeat world champions with 3 straight Finals appearances can be over-rated-well only in the mind of a jealous+wounded anti-Laker fan who has had his heart broken by the Champs many times-5 game losing streak due to 7 games in 12 days not withstanding.

It says a lot about where his mind is at. I almost feel sorry for him. What a lonely life a person must lead to hate a team so much, and for no better reason than because two guys in this forum are fans of that team, to focus so much mental energy toward coming up with one ridiculous comment after another.
Think about it.
In 2 non-NBA threads, he's attempted to diss the Lakers.
A sign of mental illness?
How many people do you know hate something and spend all their time talking about it? Even going so far as to look for opportunities to talk about the thing they hate in conversations that have nothing to do with the object of loathing.

Back to television, I'm no fan of so-called reality TV. Never have been. At best, they're boring.

I don`t for even .4 of a second think it comes close to mental illness. It`s more like-like immaturity. I got to the point where the uniformly jealous nature of all comments Kobe+/or Lakers just made me laugh. It got that ridiculous. It was a grace from God that only the humor of the posts affected me. Like Candid Camera+Punk`d-ridiculous rules the day-and there is humor when the punk-er ups the ante+the punk-ee buys it. It also recalls the old Lite Beer commercials where the guy sitting in middle gets a kick out off egging the taste great/less filling debate on.

He is a versatile bench player so Coach Phil Jackson can use him in multiple positions. In my opinion, he's the best bench warmer in the game. Every team needs good bench warmers to step in and do their jobs.

Back to the topic, I think the reality show business is turning to second stringers and D-list celebrities and it's easy to see why these people aren't tops in their fields.

Backpedaling looks funny.

I was watching SNL the other night and saw the teaser for next week: "Jessie J."
I thought it was a typo and got excited.
Then I found out there really is a Jessie J.
Disappointment - heavy sigh.

I saw the same thing only did not catch the spelling. So while I usually pass on SNL these days I tuned in and was I surprised! Oh well it was too much to think that some Cjazz could actually make it to a show like SNL.

Well, at least they're moving forward with some of the original actors instead of retreading old plots:
"Dallas" on TNT in 2012

I had heard several months ago that they were going to do this and pick it all up in the correct time frame and let us see how family fared over the years. Figures that someone like TNT would be the one to do it.

I have been spending the summer rerun time catching up on shows that are on cable stations. Since I do not have cable or dish service at the moment it is like seeing a whole batch of new shows. Burn Notice, Leverage, White Colar, & Damages to name a few which are available to me on Netflix.

Will have to wait a while for Dallas of course, but have hopes since it is in the hands of TNT.

I agree, Dave. It definitely looks interesting.
I know earlier in the year I lumped "Falling Skies" into the "Please, no more movies with" category because we seemed to have a glut of aliens invade Earth movies/shows. But I fell into it after the NBA Finals and the summer doldrums hit full force. It's a pretty good show.

That is one I have not seen yet. Being a sci fi nut guess I will check it out.