Comments on: 99-Cent Salvation http://www.chriskenton.com/2005/09/99-cent_salvati.html Marketing AND Technology AND Society Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:40:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.chriskenton.com/2005/09/99-cent_salvati.html/comment-page-1#comment-534 Chris Fri, 16 Sep 2005 12:51:47 +0000 http://www.cymbic.com/kenton/2005/09/99-cent_salvation.html#comment-534 I'll at least give Mel the leeway of truly believing in his mission--in addition to being diabolically savvy in his technique. What NBC is doing through this publicity firm is cynical and not even remotely savvy. What bothers me is how much this whole affair cheapens the notion of faith and compassion--they become servants to the merchandizing... and for the worst pap of programming in the history of television. Yes, as you point out, the outcome for the lottery winner in each case is positive--or at least it appears to be. And I have no doubt that the producers doling out benevolance (brought to you by...) have a moment of warm hearted grace when they see the lives they've impacted. But, picking up on your point about the unintended consequences of good fortune--do you think for a moment that if a panel of psychologists suggested that it might be better for the network to exchange Extreme Makeovers for Modest Makeovers With a Little Less Publicity that the networks would give up their tv screen drama? Of course not. Because when it comes down to the bottom line, they're not interested in the welfare of their scripted beneficiaries, they're interested in ratings. Period. That's their job. What disturbs me is not the pursuit of market share or ratings, but the apparent inability for businesses to draw the line, anywhere. When compassion becomes such cheap shill for ratings, one person's gain is everyone's loss. Could NBC have not invested the millions of dollars they'll spend on crappy marketing for a little more creative R&D? Are they that lacking in imagination? Apparently. I’ll at least give Mel the leeway of truly believing in his mission–in addition to being diabolically savvy in his technique. What NBC is doing through this publicity firm is cynical and not even remotely savvy.

What bothers me is how much this whole affair cheapens the notion of faith and compassion–they become servants to the merchandizing… and for the worst pap of programming in the history of television. Yes, as you point out, the outcome for the lottery winner in each case is positive–or at least it appears to be. And I have no doubt that the producers doling out benevolance (brought to you by…) have a moment of warm hearted grace when they see the lives they’ve impacted.

But, picking up on your point about the unintended consequences of good fortune–do you think for a moment that if a panel of psychologists suggested that it might be better for the network to exchange Extreme Makeovers for Modest Makeovers With a Little Less Publicity that the networks would give up their tv screen drama? Of course not. Because when it comes down to the bottom line, they’re not interested in the welfare of their scripted beneficiaries, they’re interested in ratings. Period. That’s their job.

What disturbs me is not the pursuit of market share or ratings, but the apparent inability for businesses to draw the line, anywhere. When compassion becomes such cheap shill for ratings, one person’s gain is everyone’s loss. Could NBC have not invested the millions of dollars they’ll spend on crappy marketing for a little more creative R&D? Are they that lacking in imagination? Apparently.

]]> By: nellie lide http://www.chriskenton.com/2005/09/99-cent_salvati.html/comment-page-1#comment-533 nellie lide Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:10:50 +0000 http://www.cymbic.com/kenton/2005/09/99-cent_salvation.html#comment-533 I read that article this morning and I didn't have the same reaction you did. I thought is was okay that NBC was trying new ways to get their message heard. The dollar bill thing seemed kind of silly - but it's a good thing to help people out - if the methods they use aren't quite right - the outcome is still good. If advertising through churches worked for Mel - why not NBC? and there aren't enough shows you can sit down and watch with the whole family. My questions about shows like '3 wishes' or 'extreme makeover: home edition' is this - how do the neighbors feel? - there must be a lot of jealousy stirred up by these shows. And Amy Grant is well-loved, not just a 'spokesmodel of shrinkwrapped Christian consumerism' (though I do love that phrase-it's awesome). I read that article this morning and I didn’t have the same reaction you did. I thought is was okay that NBC was trying new ways to get their message heard. The dollar bill thing seemed kind of silly – but it’s a good thing to help people out – if the methods they use aren’t quite right – the outcome is still good. If advertising through churches worked for Mel – why not NBC? and there aren’t enough shows you can sit down and watch with the whole family. My questions about shows like ‘3 wishes’ or ‘extreme makeover: home edition’ is this – how do the neighbors feel? – there must be a lot of jealousy stirred up by these shows.
And Amy Grant is well-loved, not just a ’spokesmodel of shrinkwrapped Christian consumerism’ (though I do love that phrase-it’s awesome).

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