So the 2008-2009 season is just about over, booo. Once jaceface catches up on “Glee,” we’ll probably post about that. We aren’t going to have anything to say about American Idol, because the only episode we watched was the one we live-blogged, and you can clearly tell how much we enjoyed that.
But in other TV news, upfronts were this week! I’ll admit, I had no idea what upfronts were before this week. But I’m learning. Basically, the major networks are officially introducing their upcoming schedules to advertisers, which means this week, everyone in the blogosphere can bitch about what shows were dropped, what shows were added, and how much they hate the idea of Jay Leno at 10pm.
Most of the reporting was pretty standard, except for this story that came out yesterday about Jimmy Kimmel blasting the networks and the advertisers.
“…In a “Jerry Maguire”-like moment of clarity, Mr. Kimmel said, ‘Everything you’re going to hear this week is’ nonsense. ‘Let’s get real here. Let’s get Dr. Phil-real here. These new fall shows? We’re going to cancel about 90 percent of them. Maybe more’..To the ABC advertisers, Mr. Kimmel said, ‘Every year we lie to you and every year you come back for more. You don’t need an upfront. You need therapy. We completely lie to you, and then you pass those lies onto your clients.’”
And everyone went, “Oooh! Jimmy Kimmel is so ballsy! I can’t believe he said that! He’s speaking the truth right to their face! Wow! Exciting!” Except…not.
Well, maybe Jimmy Kimmel is ballsy. I don’t know. I’m not doubting him. But after everyone posted about this, it finally came to light that he’s done this every year. This, apparently, just happens to be the year that all the reporters are blogging and twittering about their every move. The only real news-worthy thing that ever happened at upfronts was when Johnny Carson abruptly announced his retirement in 1991.
I doubt ABC is really mortified of Jimmy Kimmel right now. His late-night image is the casual, former-Man Show, blunt host, and this is just him being that guy. All the advertisers laughed at his little roasting of them anyways, just like the politicians all laugh at the White House Press Correspondents dinner every year. Besides, the ridiculousness of upfronts is probably well-known by all parties involved. Of course a lot of shows won’t make it past the first season, and every year the networks will be so proud of their new shows and how excellent they are and how awesome they’ll do in ratings. That’s the business. And I’m sure Jimmy Kimmel is fully aware of it too.