Television commercials that are spoilers

We all know commercialsare a necessary evil. Most of the time we look for ways to avoid

Not all of the cast from The Closer will be back for the new show Major Crimes. HOLLYWOOD, CA – AUGUST 07: (L-R) Producer Michael M. Robin with actors Michael Paul Chan, Phillip P. Keene, Jonathan Del Arco, Raymond Cruz, Anthony John Denison, Jon Tenney, James Duff, Corey Reynolds, and G.W. Bailey attend the special fan screening of TNT’s ‘The Closer’ series finale held at The Roosevelt Hotel on August 7, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

them. We record shows just so we can fast forward through them or we use the time they are on to do other things. In fact about the only time anyone really cares about commercials is during the Super Bowl.

Now we have a new reason to find them annoying. Networks have always used part of their commercial air time to promote upcoming shows on the network.  They think it’s a way to keep you from changing the channel or to come back to see special programs.

Lately though they are so busy using them to win your viewership the commercials themselves are becoming spoilers so you don’t want to see their shows. For example there have been times during NBC Olympic coverage when they have promoted interviews with winning athletes but the actual competition hasn’t aired yet. It takes away part of the audience who will decide there is no reason to watch a race if you already know the winner.

It’s not just NBC either. Recently TNT has been promoting their new show Major Crimes which is due to replace The Closer when that show wraps. The Closer is finishing because star Kyra Sedgwick has decided to leave, but the rest of the cast still wanted to stay. They have reworked the show to use the remainder of the cast except in all the commercials you can see that actor Corey Reynolds who plays Det. David Gabriel isn’t in any of the commercials. If you watch the Closer and knew there has been a long running storyline as to who was a leak in the police department, it didn’t take long to figure out whom that would be and who wouldn’t be staying for the new show.

I understand the need for commercials but networks need to do more due diligence to protect the integrity of the shows.

Do you agree; have you seen commercials that gave away too much for upcoming programs?

You can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and mc.sandymiller@gmail.com

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