Via TiVo the Campaign Dirt is Still Slung
Via TiVo the Campaign Dirt is Still Slung
To Begin, a discussion of TiVo:
The other day I decided to peruse the list of programs stored by
TiVo. On my machine there are a bunch of shows that Susan
likes, and can only watch over here, on TiVo. Unless the user
indicates otherwise, TiVo puts a use-by date on each show, and will
delete programs in order to make room for others. TiVo does a lot
of thinking on its own. User beware! Get in there and
change those delete dates or save to VCR (or DvD, which can't be done
on my TiVo but can be done on later models).
I often capture (TiVo doesn't tape, although it would feel so right to
say it does) the local late news, mostly for the weather and the
sports. At 11Pm I might be on the phone or be in the midst of
reading something or perhaps I'll want to watch the 11PM showing of
Seinfeld. And if Letterman or Leno has a musical guest I'd like
to see (like Santana on Letterman, Neil Diamond with Brian Wilson on
Leno) I usually TiVo the show, and fast forward to that segment, watch
it and then delete it. If the news of the day has been
particularly interesting then Countdown with Keith Olbermann is almost
a guarantee on TiVo, too. I capture Olbermann the way many
capture Jon Stewart.
For both my children I am storing some cable programs they wanted to
see but couldn't get to. I captured an entire series for each of
them. More than anything, this makes me wish my TiVo box had the
USB port working (it just sits there, taunting me) so I could download
the shows to a CD or DvD and send it to them. And that would free
up all sorts of time and space on the TiVo hard drive.
And Now to the Dirt:
Going through the recent newscasts and other recently captured programs
I did the exact opposite of what many advertisers fear will occur with
time-shifted TV viewing. I stopped fast-forwarding and watched
some of the ads. Sadly for those who expended those ad dollars,
the time has passed. But I was so happy to see, once again, what
I've been missing since last Tuesday: those mud slinging filthy
mean-spirited NJ Senate Race campaign ads!
What excellent entertainment!!! This was top market ad production,
slick, easy on the eyes, with powerful voice-overs and exquisite video
adbiz cinematography. And, intentionally or not, sources of great
humor.
When the campaign was over I'd commented that I was going to miss the
Corzine vs. Forrester ads. I found that I also missed the "Keep
Mike in Office" NYC Mayoral race campaign ads, as well. The NY
Times, despite endorsing Mike Bloomberg, chided him on what the paper
characterized as "obsene campaign spending." Bloomie spent over
$40 million on TV spots. But what's $40M to a billionaire?
And for this billionaire to spend that money to keep a job he likes --
what's the problem? The Times wanted a level playing field, so
challenger Freddie Ferrer would have battled on an even campaign
spending basis.
Phooey on that. If I voted in NYC then Bloomie would've had my
vote. It is the rare Republican that gets my vote. Way back
when a zillion years ago I voted for Bill Green for Congress, a
Republican who served the city and his constituency quite well.
Bloomberg's outrageous spending (doesn't outrageous sound better than
obsene?) struck me as a public service. Phooey on The Times, and
phooey on Pherrer, er Ferrer. The city is better off under
Bloomberg for another term.
So as I went through recent captures on the TiVo box, my good fortune
was to view a few more of those entertaining and engaging dirty Jersey
Senate ads, and a couple of the "keep Bloomberg on the job" ads, too.
A hidden benefit of TiVo: watching enjoyable ads after their flight is gone.
