My Lifelong Infatuation with Television

I don't remember the first television show I ever watched, or even the last one I watched...wait a minute...false I'm watching Parks and Recreation as we speak now. But for my whole life I have been addicted to television borderline an actual problem. I love television in all its forms. Television brings us joy, drama, and distractions from our everyday lives and allows us to escape into a different world. Whenever I'm feeling down and need a pick me up I watch my favorite sitcom at the time to cheer me up.

One can call me the definitive couch potato but I would like to call myself a TV savant. I have seen every episode of Cheers, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and countless others. To some that might seem like a wast of time but I have seen it as not only entertainment but research into human life, what we find funny as humans, and research for my dream to be a TV writer.

Television is what theater was during Shakespeares time, it is the common man's art form and serves humanity as entertainment and information. TV is great and I hope to see it continue to get better and surprise me with new wacky characters and shows to fall in love with.

If you want to be my friend sit down and shut up and don't block the tube! If you touch the remote I will eat you....

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Superbowl 2012: Battle of the Ads

The Superbowl is just around the corner and people from all over the States, are getting excited-about the advertisements, that is. Already, there has been buzz around several advertisements that are set to air during the big game this Sunday. As a student of marketing, the Superbowl is more than just an exciting game (Go Giants!) but also a study of the advertisements-and I'm not the only one. According to a survey conducted by Hanon Mckendry, more than half of viewers tune in to watch the famous Superbowl ads. Personally, I have not yet watched any of the commercials that have been released. I like the excitement of seeing which brands paid exorbitant amounts of money for 1 minute commercials. I am already anticipating the car, beer, and food commercials but I am looking forward to seeing what other unique retailers will be featuring their products and the tactics they will use.

This year, be on the lookout for three major trends among ads:
1. The Journey for the Inner Child: Marketers will be using this tactic to tap into the minds of consumers and bring them back to a simpler time. It helps consumers to regress to a simpler time (keep this in mind when watching the Matthew Broderick "Ferris Bueller" commercial)
2. Adorable Animals: It was the year of the HoneyBadger and other adorable animals ruling YouTube. Marketers took notice and implemented this into their blockbuster advertisements. Research has found talking animals captures the attention of the general consumer. Be on the lookout for animals ranging from dancing monkeys to swarming bees.
3. Sex: There's no other explanation-Sex Sells

My greatest interest lies in whether or not these advertisements actually work. Sure they are viewed by millions of potential consumers but what is the actual ROI? With the implementation of social media so it should be easier to track and monitor ads through statistics regarding the success of the overall marketing effort.

What do you think? Is Superbowl advertising worth the millions of dollars?
Also vote in this poll from TV Guide: Are Superbowl Ads Running Too Early?

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