The networks are ruining our shows by running those annoying ads for upcoming shows during the show you are watching.  They started with the "bugs" the small icons that announce what network you are watching.  But now the ads keep getting bigger and bigger. And more animated. It's distracting. 

Some of the networks have included sound effects with these plugs and the effects are louder than some of the dialouge!  >:(

A&E has taken to starting the next show while airing the credits for the previous show are running. So you get a split screen of the credits  (which are illegible now) and the start of the show you are trying to watch. 

This sucks for those of us who like to record things but I guess they do it because we record and they know anal people like me will go buy a clean version of the show off iTunes or wait for it to come on DVD.

The problem is not all shows are available on iTunes or come to DVD. Its nearly impossible to predict these days which shows will be successful so it hard to figure out what to tape and which shows are worth enduring these impunities on our beloved series.

Even TV Land & Nick @ Nite have joined in this negligent act, occassionally they will place an commericial split  screen with credits of "classic" tv shows. This is fine if we're talking old shows which run traditional credits but in the 90's shows started running with tags during the credits so when the network silences the credit to run their own add we miss the final joke or blooper that the producers tacked on the episode for our amusement!

I am annoyed by it also. I was watching a show and the dialog in a scene was done in Spanish with
subtitles at the bottom, but the network decided to advertise the next show in a banner running
across the bottom of the screen blocking the subtitles, so if you don't understand Spanish, you missed
the joke.  >:(

Yeah, during the actual '90s and probably '80s too (I actually didn't start watching TV until early 1991. I'm more knowledgeable on Eighties music as it happened, but not with television so much) I don't remember nearly as much, if any, ads or interruptions during shows. Even on reruns.

I think the networks probably do this because there's so much out there to promote, and because they know people channel surf. So it's like they're trying to squeeze in as much as they can to get the viewers' attention, lol. I agree this can be annoying, but one thing I do like is when they leave a logo up for the entire show (as long as it's not too big). It lets you know what you're watching much quicker. ;)

A&E has taken to starting the next show while airing the credits for the previous show are running. So you get a split screen of the credits  (which are illegible now) and the start of the show you are trying to watch. 


TBS also does this big time.  Also, shows I watch on TBS, they have these giant promos in the bottom corner for "House of Payne", "My Boys" and "The Bill Engvall Show" where it almost blocks 25% of what you are watching.  It's like they REALLY want us to watch these shows to the point where the ads pop up almost every 5 minutes

I can't quite remember when they started doing it but my guess would be about 10 years ago or so. What really annoys me is at the end of a movie or something, as they playing the credits, they will push the picture to the side and start their b.s. I am a credit watcher. I like to know who is in a movie or t.v. show. And it is not just networks that do this-premium channels (HBO, Showtime, etc.) do that, too-which really p!sses me off since it being paid for (which we don't get anymore). I usually don't mind when they have the little icon in the corner of the screen-as long as it is small and somewhat transparent that doesn't really block anything. Using a dish, the t.v. doesn't specify which channel I'm on, and sometimes I like to know. But when it is HUGH and it blocks something-like the opening credits, then it really bothers me. But, I really hate when they have some kind of noise and they flash some kind of b.s. across the bottom of the screen. G-4 is notorious for that. We used to watch TNG on G-4 (until we got the series on DVD). They would flash bits of "news" on the bottom of the screen and the "news" they flashed would be something about Paris Hilton, or some other diva wantabe. If I wanted to know what these brainless chicks are up to, I would just turn on Fox News. Of course news channels also have that constant scroll at the bottom of the screen. Sometimes I will read that but then I would miss what was being said on the screen because I would be reading. I guess all these channels figure that many people are used to "multitasking".  (BTW, if you ever watch Fox News, the bottom scroll ALWAYS says that the terrorist alert is "Elevated"-ALWAYS!!!!!  ::)  But, I must admit that the time when I really want something to be at the bottom of the screen is when I am watching ballgames. I like to know what the scores are for the other games.




Cat

I agreed, pretty soon TNT will start showing the actual program in a little box in the right-hand corner and show stupid promos on rest of the screen
::)

Sometimes the ratings get in the way.  When a show begins, you might see in the upper left corner a little black square that says what the show's rating is ... On an episode of 'Still Standing' TBS aired, this box came up, and in the scene, Judy asks Bill something, and the whole hilarity was the mindless expression on Bill's face, but I never got to see it cause the ratings box was right where his face was >:(

In someways, I have given up watching new Prime Time shows cause of these kinds of things.  As long as someone watches these shows, they will still be successful, which means the seasons will come to DVD, and I'll just get those, that way I will be sure not to miss a thing

I can't quite remember when they started doing it but my guess would be about 10 years ago or so. What really annoys me is at the end of a movie or something, as they playing the credits, they will push the picture to the side and start their b.s..


I hate when they do that because some shows and movies have great end themes. When they push the show up
in the corner they cut the end theme out.

Sometimes the ratings get in the way.  When a show begins, you might see in the upper left corner a little black square that says what the show's rating is ... On an episode of 'Still Standing' TBS aired, this box came up, and in the scene, Judy asks Bill something, and the whole hilarity was the mindless expression on Bill's face, but I never got to see it cause the ratings box was right where his face was >:(

In someways, I have given up watching new Prime Time shows cause of these kinds of things.  As long as someone watches these shows, they will still be successful, which means the seasons will come to DVD, and I'll just get those, that way I will be sure not to miss a thing

I actually noticed that recently too while looking at some stuff I recorded. One way you can distinguish the ratings signs on a show that aired c. 1997 or even in the early '00s from now is that the box was really tiny. Now it takes up a quarter of the screen. ;D

It must have been in the mid '90s when the networks started showing their logos in the corner throughout the entire program.  You'll often see a black bar covering this up on YouTube.  Those logos were usually translucent markers and unobtrusive. 

Some TV buffs were complaining about the end credits getting shrunk for split screen when they started doing that, but IMDb is so comprehensive now, you can find individual episodes of programs with complete credits there. 

It must have been in the mid '90s when the networks started showing their logos in the corner throughout the entire program.  You'll often see a black bar covering this up on YouTube.  Those logos were usually translucent markers and unobtrusive. 



They show the logo so that you know what channel you're watching.

They don't call it the boob tube for nothing.  ;D

They show the logo so that you know what channel you're watching.

They don't call it the boob tube for nothing.   ;D

Oh yeah, it's not which network shows "Everybody Loves Raymond" reruns at 7:00, it's how many!  Heck, you can watch four different "Law and Order" reruns at once, just a question of which network is running SCI, SVU, UFO, GI Joe, I don't know....

It's annoying me too.

Even TV Land & Nick @ Nite have joined in this negligent act, occassionally they will place an commericial split  screen with credits of "classic" tv shows.

Oh, I hate this too! This gets on my nerves all the time, no matter what program it is on TV Land and Nick @ Nite.

It's not as bad as pop-ups on the Internet.  You go to the site and before you can click the link you want, a pop-up jumps up, and your curser come rashing down on it, and then you're on some dumb ad for car insurance!
::)

^ A pet peeve of mine with those ads/pop ups (not sure if you've noted this too), is that on many websites, they seem to commonly put them on the right side of the screen. Next to where the "sidebar" is, so if you're trying to scroll down you might accidentally click on it. Not sure if they do that purposefully, but it can be annoying, lol.

Some websites automatically redirect you to an advertisement page, and at the top, is a small window that says something about click here to continue or wait 15 seconds to be automatically redirected to the page where you originally wanted to go to

Sometimes porno sites pop up and you had no intention of going there, and PORN pop-up is the worst cause with each one you close, another one pops up.  It's endless >:(

Sometimes porno sites pop up and you had no intention of going there, and PORN pop-up is the worst cause with each one you close, another one pops up.  It's endless >:(



'Come clean' Jason (what!?  :o ) ... alright .. 'come dirty!  :D )

YOU  don't like THOSE porno sites 'cause they're taking potential customers away from your porn shop.


























Masquerading as a pawn shop!

http://www.crystalinks.com/pawnshop.jpg
^

As previously revealed in 'the longest thread' !

:D

It's not as bad as pop-ups on the Internet.  You go to the site and before you can click the link you want, a pop-up jumps up, and your curser come rashing down on it, and then you're on some dumb ad for car insurance!
::)



I rarely get pop-ups because my pop-up blocker works GREAT. I get a message saying that "Firefox prevented this site from opening a pop-up window." but it is very unintrusive and half the time I don't pay any attention to it. I go to my local newspaper's website a lot they are the worst with pop-ups. Today, my pop-up blocker stopped THREE pop-ups.  :o :o :o



Cat

Why do I want to know what show is on next NETWORKS??!!!!!!

Hopefully someone can get them to get rid of them!!

EVEN ON THE NEWS WHEN THEY SHOW THE SPORTS SCORES OR SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THE ICON IS IN THE WAY!

If you are trying to read the credits at the end of a movie, you can't because they are so tiny because of the split screen.  >:(

If you are trying to read the credits at the end of a movie, you can't because they are so tiny because of the split screen.   >:(


Oh, I hate that...especially whenever I am trying to wait to see the list of the songs used in the movie (sometimes I like a certain song and I try and attempt to see what the title is and who the artist was that performed it.).

We got a channel in Canada called TVTropolis that airs old (and some new) shows, and as I was watching 'Beverly Hills, 90210' early this morning, this big promo for Family Guy pops up and it took up almost half the screen.  Rather than just have small words say "Family Guy .. coming soon to TVTropolis, they used a big animated pic of Stewie sitting on the couch.  Seriously, what is the need for that anyway?

I like to know what shows are coming, but  like to know during the commercial break, not during the show.  It's maddening why networks do this

The other day, I was watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. The had the logo up there the entire time but I didn't even noticed it until the end of the show. It was extremely light and very unintrusive. I don't mind that.  Why can't other channels do the same?



Cat

We got a channel in Canada called TVTropolis that airs old (and some new) shows, and as I was watching 'Beverly Hills, 90210' early this morning, this big promo for Family Guy pops up and it took up almost half the screen.  Rather than just have small words say "Family Guy .. coming soon to TVTropolis, they used a big animated pic of Stewie sitting on the couch.  Seriously, what is the need for that anyway?

I like to know what shows are coming, but  like to know during the commercial break, not during the show.  It's maddening why networks do this


I love Tivo but I think we have Tivo to blame for this... most of us are skipping commercial breaks and that's probably why they promote during the shows now.. My fear is, especially since we are already getting "this show is brought to you by..." ads, is that they will start airing commercials during the show. No dialogue just images for the product and Buy Nyquil now or something.. That will suck!

I love Tivo but I think we have Tivo to blame for this... most of us are skipping commercial breaks and that's probably why they promote during the shows now.. My fear is, especially since we are already getting "this show is brought to you by..." ads, is that they will start airing commercials during the show. No dialogue just images for the product and Buy Nyquil now or something.. That will suck!



TiVo would be a great contributing factor yes.  Why watch commercials when you don't have to.  This could lead to product placement within shows.  It's Thursday night and CSI is on ...

Greg:  "Uh, Grissom, I found the answer to that evidence, but before I tell you about it, let me ask you this?  When was the last time you had a nice cool refreshing Diet Coke?"

:D

Did you catc h "Love me tender" on TVLand last night?The last part of the movie where the dead guy,played by Elvis,is singing Love me tender was interrupted by an ad for what was on next!This is part of the movie,not even the credits,which would be bad enough!Thbnat's not how the movie was meant to be viewed! >:(

I was watching a movie on AMC a long time ago. In the middle of the movie, they started showing this thing about the history of the bikini. It was interesting but WHERE WAS THE REST OF THE MOVIE?? That thing went on for about 15 minutes and THEN they finished the movie.  >:( >:( >:(  I think that was the last time I watched AMC.



Cat

I was watching a movie on AMC a long time ago. In the middle of the movie, they started showing this thing about the history of the bikini. It was interesting but WHERE WAS THE REST OF THE MOVIE?? That thing went on for about 15 minutes and THEN they finished the movie.  >:( >:( >:(  I think that was the last time I watched AMC.



Cat
was it "how to stuff a wild bikini"???LOL :D

was it "how to stuff a wild bikini"???LOL :D



Um...not quite.  :D ;D ;D  I remember it because I was recording the movie (Raggedy Man with Sissy Spacek). They cut to what I thought was a commercial and they started that short before they finished the movie. It was the most bizarre thing I have even seen a channel do. It could have been a booboo, where it was supposed to go AFTER the movie but someone in the control booth hit the button a bit too soon. I don't know. But, that was when I stopped watching movies on AMC. I used to like them because they were commercial free and uncut. Now, they have commercials and I'm sure the movies are cut. TMC is SOOOOOO much better. They ARE commercial free and uncut.



Cat

I've never forgiven the networks for cancelling "Turn On" after one episode.  :-\\

Um...not quite.  :D ;D ;D  I remember it because I was recording the movie (Raggedy Man with Sissy Spacek). They cut to what I thought was a commercial and they started that short before they finished the movie. It was the most bizarre thing I have even seen a channel do. It could have been a booboo, where it was supposed to go AFTER the movie but someone in the control booth hit the button a bit too soon. I don't know. But, that was when I stopped watching movies on AMC. I used to like them because they were commercial free and uncut. Now, they have commercials and I'm sure the movies are cut. TMC is SOOOOOO much better. They ARE commercial free and uncut.



Cat


I watched an episode of Cold Case that did this. They started in the past with one episode but then cut to an entirely different episode (a rerun) for 10 minutes and then aired the rest of the new episode that was scheduled for that night... weird right

I've never forgiven the networks for cancelling "Turn On" after one episode.  :-\\


I canceled CW because they canceled Veronica Mars.

What about all the other great shows they cancel like
The Nine (ABC)
Related (WB) before they became CrapW
The Inside (Fox)
John Doe (Fox)
Freaks & Geeks (NBC)
My So-Called Life (ABC)

God....I hate TV in general nowadays. Every channel you tune into they go on commercial break for 15 minutes!!! I love watching movies on DVD and VHS because at least then you don't have to deal with commercials. Except for a few movies from the '80s and '90s that started putting PSA's and a few commercials on VHS and now on a few selected DVDs. There are only a few channels in Canada that have remained commercial free and they are the Family channel (the promos of movies and TV shows don't count as commercials), PBS and now TCM. I actually love TCM, they show some pretty great rare movies. I am slowly starting to hate AMC because they go on commercial break every 5 minutes! Luckily, they are short commercials but still!

In short, networks suck the big one!  >:( :P

I also forgot to mention last night, even The Weather Network has commercial breaks in Canada. I remember a time when the Weather Network was commercial-free...and it wasn't that long ago! But in-between weather forecasts now, even they go on commercial break. >:(

God....I hate TV in general nowadays. Every channel you tune into they go on commercial break for 15 minutes!!! I love watching movies on DVD and VHS because at least then you don't have to deal with commercials. Except for a few movies from the '80s and '90s that started putting PSA's and a few commercials on VHS and now on a few selected DVDs. There are only a few channels in Canada that have remained commercial free and they are the Family channel (the promos of movies and TV shows don't count as commercials), PBS and now TCM. I actually love TCM, they show some pretty great rare movies. I am slowly starting to hate AMC because they go on commercial break every 5 minutes! Luckily, they are short commercials but still!

In short, networks suck the big one!  >:( :P


Because there are more commercials now than there used to be they edit the crap out of shows prior to 2000.  Dramas used to be 47 minutes and now they are 40-42 minutes long.  Sitcoms were 25 or 26 minutes but now they are 22 minutes long. That's a lot of editing from the original show.

In Canada, networks really ruin shows unintentionally.  Get this ...

If I am watching a show on a US Network that airs simultaneously on a Canadian network, the cable automatically intercepts the Canadian network.  If the following show is not on the US network, the cable will kick back over to the US network, which means I almost always miss the last minute or so of a show >:(

The big network in Canada is CTV and airs shows like CSI, George Lopez, According to Jim, American Idol and others, and if I forget to watch directly from CTV, I will end up missing the last bit of a show.  This happened to me all the time with the George Lopez show

I canceled CW because they canceled Veronica Mars.

What about all the other great shows they cancel like
The Nine (ABC)
Related (WB) before they became CrapW
The Inside (Fox)
John Doe (Fox)
Freaks & Geeks (NBC)
My So-Called Life (ABC)



Other notoriously premature cancellations were...

Hello Larry
Love Monkey
Cop Rock
Smith

Other notoriously premature cancellations were...

Hello Larry
Love Monkey
Cop Rock
Smith


^ Cop Rock needed to be cancelled.  WTF was Steven Bochco thinking with that one lol

I liked Smith.  I wish I knew why CBS axed that one.  Actually, I know why.  Cause it's a good show, and CBS must only be interested in crappy shows.  Love Monkey was also a CBS series I believe

I liked Hull High.

Ha, I know exactly what you mean.  The otherday I was watching something, and this add for some show came up and took up like 1/3 of the screen >_>  At first it was kinda funny cause it just came out of nowhere, but, it got extremely annoying as they kept doing it like twice before commercial breaks >_>.  I think it was on TBS or TNT or Spike, I cant remember lol.

Cop Rock


Funny thing is, Monty Python did this two decades earlier!

http://www.geocities.com/fang_club/SgtDuckiesSong.jpg
Terry Jones as Sgt. Duckie performing
"Sgt. Duckie's Song"

http://www.geocities.com/fang_club/Sgt_Duckie_Song.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0650976/