Dead Tree Alert: Turn on Your TV, Save the World?
Honky Grandma Be Recycling! NBC Photo: Virginia Sherwood
In this week's newly rebranded Tuned In column in the print Time, I write about TV's sudden interest in green programming, which is rising faster than the global sea levels. Discovery launches an entire environmental channel, Planet Green, next year, while NBC has planned a week of eco-themed episodes in November. As with so many things, you, my favorite readers, got my early take on this last month, but I elaborate on it here:
It's an unlikely marriage of motives. Ad-supported TV is a consumption medium: it persuades you to want and buy stuff. Traditional home shows about renovating and decorating are catnip for retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot. Of course, there are green alternatives to common purchases: renewable wood, Energy Star appliances, hybrid cars. But sometimes the greener choice is simply not to buy so much junk--not the friendliest sell to advertisers.
That said, I can't wait to see what 30 Rock does with this.
-
1
What is "renewable wood"?
I also am looking forward to a week of phillips star energy light bulb commercials.
-
2
@Karma: My confusing and overly abbreviated way of referencing types of wood that can be more easily regrown and replaced. Also, more to the point -- and the column gets into this -- General Electric, which owns NBC, would be more than glad to sell you its own green light bulbs.
-
3
Remember to only use one square of tissue and take two minute showers that week.
- poniewozik Loved the season. Mrs Tuned In wd have put u on the main list RT @boredtodeath Thank u for incl us in Time's Top 10. We'll take hon mention. - 2 hours ago
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 3 hours ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 4 hours ago
Most Popular »
- Best of the Decade: Sci-Fi Movies
- "How Will Dave Ever Make Fun of Sex Scandals Again?"
- Is Harry Reid Burning Out?
- How Will Obama Pay For Stimulus 2.1? (or 3.0, 3.1, whatever you want to call it)
- Why Wells Fargo isn't paying back TARP
- CNN Poll: Man Made Global Warming Takes a Hit
- The Health Reform Abortion Wars, Part Deux
- War of the Supermen: Q&A With Matt Idelson
- Economists Growing More Wary of the Senate Health Bill
- Quinnipiac: Obama Gets Bump on Afghanistan
- The Truth Behind the Leaked Climate-Change E-Mails
- Mexico Witness Protection: Corrupt Program, New Killings
- Tiger Woods Must Face His Fans' Moral Outrage
- Helicopter Parents: The Backlash Against Overparenting
- Taiwan: World's Lowest Birthrate Could Affect Society
- Creating Jobs: Can Obama Government Boost Employment?
- How Strong Is the Evidence Against Amanda Knox?
- U.S. Doesn't Know Where bin Laden Is; Time to Let Go
- Humanure: Goodbye, Toilets. Hello, Extreme Composting
- Study: Parents' Sex Talks with Kids Happening Too Late
Quotes of the Day »
RSS