Green is Universal: NBC Kicks Off Green Week with Sunday Night Football
Last night marked the start of NBC's 2nd annual green week entitled "Green is Universal," where the network attempts to weave a green theme into as many programs as possible -- even their football broadcast. Last year, the network got downright lampooned for their classically lame candle-lit halftime show. Thankfully, this year they reigned it in a little, opting for a more subdued format where the hosts traded stories about how they've greened their daily routines.As it goes with superimposing a mandatory theme from the top down, their are going to be some hits and misses as each group of writers tries to figure out how to subtly work their green mojo. After last year's straight-forward, hit you over the head approach was widely viewed as greenwashing, it seems that NBC is trying a different tone that Americans can relate to: moderate discomfort.
As I watched each of the hosts of last night's Cowboys vs. Redskins halftime show explain their green routines, if felt pretty forced -- like talking about religion in a crowded elevator. When Dan Patrick admitted that he has been driving a hybrid for the past 5 years, it was as if he had just confessed to being a closet Scientologist or something.
If that had been the case, I'm willing to bet the ratings would have been a lot better. Instead, it seems pretty safe to say that America channel surfed while Chris Collingsworth shared how he walks to work each day, Tiki Barber revealed how he only rents hybrid cars, and Keith Olberman admitted to giving up bottled water.
In a way, it's like watching a group of addicts at a support group meeting -- which, I guess, might be strangely representative of the US at large.
[via Ecorazzi]
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