Network television programming isn’t known for being pro-active or high-brow. Focus groups gather input from viewers to determine our interests and preferences. Apparently, we have a sweet tooth for quasi-reality programs about fierce competition, deception and random sex. Apparently we enjoy watching people being humiliated. (Don’t send me hate mail, all you Survivor, The Bachelor and I Love New York addicts.) Since the 70s, at least, it has been widely reported that sit-coms are written at a third-grade level. Networks give us what we want…and can easily digest.
Occasionally a specific program – even a sit-com – will take on a controversial topic. When Ellen DeGeneres’ character on the self-titled “Ellen” admitted she is gay, speculation intensified about the real-life Ellen’s sexual orientation. Entertainment circles worried that Ellen’s career would be damaged – at that time there were no openly gay characters on primetime network TV. Fortunately, Americans embraced Ellen – the comedienne as well as the character. The popularity of her daytime talk show with average American housewives proves her sexuality has not impeded her success.
But when was the last time an entire network made sweeping programming changes in order to tackle a hotly-debated issue? Especially one that affects all of us, regardless of who we are, where we live, how much money we earn or what we believe?
NBC, America’s National Broadcasting Company, kicked off its “Green is Universal” campaign November 4th with a week of programming aimed at “entertaining, informing and empowering Americans to lead greener lives.” Green Week, which includes approximately 150 hours of green content, was launched during Football Night in America. Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth and Keith Olbermann – perhaps unlikely harbingers of eco-consciousness – turned out studio lights as the matchup kicked off between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Costas explained the lights would remain off during their half-time report. By turning them off, Costas elaborated, the Football Night in America studio would conserve enough energy to power an average home for one month. As part of their continued commitment to conservation, for the remainder of the season Football Night in America will illuminate their studio only when they are on the air.
Matt Laurer of the Today Show made a cameo appearance from Greenland inside the Arctic Circle to preview his program’s “ends of the earth” reporting. He and colleagues Ann Curry and Al Roker have traveled to areas where the effects of climate change are most evident. Visit the Today Show website (http://www.todayshow.com) for reports filed from Greenland, Antarctica and Ecuador.
Recently CNN aired a similar program titled “Planet in Peril.” Reporters Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Gupta were joined by Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin as they visited five continents and thirteen countries. This four-hour special presents remarkable footage of the urgent problems confronting our planet…and us.
During Green Week, all your favorite NBC shows – game shows, sit-coms, dramas, and sports – will profile environmental issues. Daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” will showcase a green wedding. “Journeyman” and “The Biggest Loser” take on recycling. “Bionic Woman” explores the cultural constructs of living green, while “Life” focuses on socially responsible investments.
NBC has recolored its logo; the peacock feathers are now shades of green. The background of the main corporate website (http://www.nbc.com) is green, too. Follow the Green Week link (http://www.nbc.com/Green) to find easy-to-follow tips for greening up your home and office. A visit to the Green is Universal campaign website (http://www.greenisuniversal.com) scores you more in-depth green tips, blogs and links to greened-up websites of other brands within the NBC family.
Impressively, NBC has coordinated their programming content with their Green is Universal campaign. Meshing diverse formats and genre (not to mention staff!) to convey a singular message is no small feat. And to discern that message to people of all ages and backgrounds through their favorite (non-news) programs is just short of genius.
To effectively combat climate change, we need everyone’s help.
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Christy Ilfrey |
| About the author: |
| Christy Tinsley-Ilfrey is an entrepreneur, gardener, eco-goddess; a wife, mother-to-be, daughter, sister; but mostly she sees herself as a writer. Someday, she hopes to become a really good one. Read more about her and by her at http://greenqueendom.blogspot.com or contact her at
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