Pet Peeve of the Day: The CW Network has taken to doing large bugs at the bottom of the screen to promote future shows. On non-widescreen standard def showings, I assume the bug is in the bottom right corner, like normal bugs. Although it’s bigger and more obnoxious than normal bugs. But on widescreen/HD showings, the bug ends up being away from the edge and closer to the center. Take this example from last night’s Smallville (click to enlarge):
At least this one isn’t as bad as some of them, since the advertised show Supernatural is not that long a title. You should see what it looks like when the promo is for Farmer Wants A Wife or something like that - the bug reaches up near the vertical center of the screen.
The most obnoxious thing is that the bugs are up there for the entire running time of the episode! And it’s not just Smallville - they’re doing it with all shows. I can’t believe how much of the picture these things obscure and how much screen real estate they take up. Or that someone thought this was a good idea. Die, CW, Die!!
Latre.
Jogged Today: Yes (@ 36°F)
Songs That Came Up On The iPod While Jogging:
- “Jimmy Jazz” (The Clash)
- “Armed Resistance” (The Information)
- “Doin’ It Again” (The Feelies)
- “Blues Inside” (Mighty Lemon Drops)
- “Worlds In Collision” (Pere Ubu)
- “Knock It Down” (Fastball)
- “Remember David” (A Flock of Seagulls)
7 responses so far ↓
1 InfK // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:09 am
If you think about it, CNN is running promotions for car bombings and political shenanigans across the bottom of all its shows, too. I think it distracts you from the celebrity interviews and jokes about the weather, but I guess they have to make a buck somehow.
2 Sue // Apr 25, 2008 at 12:08 pm
NBC has been doing this for months now. I’ll be watching, say, Law & Order and the bug will be advertising The Biggest Loser or something, through the whole show. For some reason it’s never on SNL — maybe Lorne Michaels has pull — but it is usually on during Jay Leno, so it’s not just a prime time thing. I hate it!!
3 DMR // Apr 25, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I hate it when the show I’m watching is putting up info - subtitles, displaying a person’s name and credentials and such - and the damn bugs cover the entire thing. This happens on Discovery, Science Channel, TLC and such. Maybe I should stop trying to “educatify” myself by watching those channels?
4 2fs // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Obviously, they want you to download all your TV shows, or wait till they come out on DVD/Blu-Ray/whatever.
I haven’t had one moment’s regret since dumping all our TV entirely six months back or so. Okay, maybe one - in that I regret having to wait like a year to watch new eps of The Office, 24, and Battlestar Galactica (to name the three currently airing shows (or about to be airing - whatever) that I actually am interested in seeing. But if I were watching them and that kinda crap was obscuring half the screen, would I be enjoying it? No - I’d be saying, screw it, I’ll wait till the DVD comes out.
5 yellojkt // Apr 26, 2008 at 9:35 am
I hate the ones that bounce all around the screen that totally distract you from the show you are trying to enjoy. Television executives are determined to drive away any viewers they have left.
6 Flasshe // Apr 26, 2008 at 11:43 am
Obviously, they want you to download all your TV shows, or wait till they come out on DVD/Blu-Ray/whatever.
Yeah, I’m getting closer to thinking that’s the only way to go. I just have trouble waiting that long.
7 Flasshe // Apr 26, 2008 at 11:45 am
I hate the ones that bounce all around the screen that totally distract you from the show you are trying to enjoy. Television executives are determined to drive away any viewers they have left.
Those have been getting more obtrusive for a long time now. But these CW ones really bug me more than most because of how huge they are. It’s like the networks are sacrificing viewership for the current program in some misguided attempt to make you watch the next show.
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