The United States of Consumerism

I can't help but noticing how much product placement is in tv shows these days. On Survivor, the reward challenges suspiciously resemble car commericals. On American Idol, the judges are drinking invisible liquids in red, plastic Coke cups. Dr. Phil & Oprah audiences watch the show while sitting on treasure chests of product placement, from Banana Republic clothes to free breast augmentation surgery from famous Hollywood surgeons. On Sex and the City, Carrie's Apple logo gets more air time than Miranda's baby. My mom actually got mad at me when I tried to explain to her that Oprah doesn't pay for all those "gifts" she gives her audience. This is the funniest Saturday Night Live Skit ever.

I understand that magazines and web sites and most of all television shows rely on their clients to pay gazillions of dollars so that they can produce their glossy paged/neon pixelated flash animated/all-star cast filled pages. Whether it's an episode of Scrubs, People Magazine, or E!online, advertising subsidizes “free” broadcast television and Internet search engines by selling goods via manipulating public attitudes about beauty and status. And of that is shitty, but if you're watching television you should know that you're along for the ride. But now things have gone too far: fake news. Any time you see an actual brand name facing the camera, be weary. What has the world come to when you can't even trust the news? Journalism for the public should be in the public interest, not propoganda for shopping. Gone are the days of truth and here are the days of the new, improved new Swiffer CarpetFlick.

"I'm Ted Koppel and for all of us here at ABC News, remember folks, the Swiffer CarpetFlick has a convenient transparent window, so when you see that the cartridge is full, simply throw it away and insert a new one."