I didn't think anything could out dumb the red carpet show that FOX puts on for the MLB All Star Game, but I think NBC's "Super Suite" with Al Roker has stolen that title away from them. So far you've had great celebrity interviews from Hayden Panettiere (She's a Jets fan! Who knew?), Chuck and the always annoying, Jimmy Fallon!

Other than that nonsense, NBC is jumping around like crazy during the pregame, and the sheer number of people is borderline maddening. You've got Bob, Cris, Dungy and Holmgren on the ship. Dan and Keith running around the locker rooms and the parking lots. All while Peter King, Alex Flanagan and Andrea Kremer, stalk the team's hotels. Oh and don't forget the Top Chef competition underneath the outdoor set! 5 hours of plugs for NBC shows is exactly what I wanted!!!

I know the Super Bowl is all about hype, but this pregame show is taking that just a bit too far.

Sparty and Friends came across a little bit of a goof up on Hulu last night, and has what appears to be Lebron's "Big Announcement" that was supposed to come on January 18th. Yes, it does have to do with the photos you saw of him in the Cleveland Browns jersey. No, he is not joining the Browns. Unfortunately the big announcement is just a new commercial for State Farm Insurance. Here are some screenshots of a Browns inspired dream sequence....


Oh that clever Lebron! It actually looks like a great commercial, there are ten more photos at Sparty and Friends for you to view, but the whole "announcement" thing already has me hating it. Keep your eyes peeled on Sunday for the first airing of the whole spot.

The Next Piece of the “LeBron 011809″ Puzzle Revealed (Sparty and Friends)

We discussed this the other night during Monday Night Football, but the Toyota "Saved By Zero" ads are starting to drive the Sports World crazy. So much so that Esquire and the AP have both taken notice and have stories on the ad. The Associated Press even has an interview with Toyota's marketing spokesman. Via With Leather....

The ads will continue airing nationally through Sunday, Toyota marketing spokesman Joe Tetherow said. After that, dealers will have the option to continue airing the ads on a local level.

Tetherow said the campaign has been a hit with dealers, and whatever the reaction from the public, it has been effective in getting the program's message across. Toyota is even extending the incentive to a 12th vehicle, the subcompact Yaris, he said.

"I think the fact that it's being talked about is good, because the message is out there," Tetherow said. "The dealers like the program, and customers do too."

Tetherow didn't know how much negative feedback the company has received, and he declined to say how much the ad campaign cost. According to the media agency TargetCast tcm, however, a season's worth of advertising on ESPN's Monday Night Football alone likely would have cost Toyota $8 million to $10 million.

What is it with these execs and their commercials. Both the Toyota and Frank TV people seem to think that annoying the hell out of people will make them buy their products. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills, but isn't that the exact opposite of how customer relationships work? Maybe I'm wrong, but this can't be working. Can it?

Gent Bent, Toyota (With Leather)
Save us from 'Saved by Zero,' TV watchers complain (AP)
The Inside Story of "Saved By Zero," the Toyota Commercial That's Keeping You Up at Night (Esquire)

I'm really enjoying the mainstream media pieces about how the can't stand the Frank TV spots on TBS during the Playoffs this year. It's almost like they didn't watch last season, or got the press release that said they were going to be doing the same thing again this October. I've personally learned to change the channel (surprising I know), but if you've tried to endure, just know that Frank Caliendo feels your pain. From the Boston Herald via TSB....

“I say to those people, ‘I’m sorry, but watch the show and maybe TBS wouldn’t have to promote it as much,’ ” said the impressionist, whose sketch-comedy show’s second season - with an expanded cast - premieres Oct. 21.

“I think I’m on TBS as much as ‘Law & Order’ is on TNT,” Caliendo told the Track yesterday morning as he chowed on scrambled eggs, bacon, wheat and white toast and Diet Coke at a Back Bay hotel.

And, baseball fans, all the Frank fun continues during the World Series on FOX, when he joins five other celebs - along with the animated Stewie from “Family Guy” - as part of the MLB’s “There’s Only One October” campaign.

Where have you gone, Dane Cook? “I think I have to go into hiding soon,” laughed Caliendo, who appears on the TV spots as a blogging President Bush and NFL loud mouth John Madden.

At this point, their marketing strategy just has to make you laugh. If Caliendo is admitting that no one is watching, doesn't that tell them that they are just annoying the crap out of people? Guess not. I have nothing against Caliendo personally, but his fifteen minutes are up. Hopefully TBS realizes that soon so we don't have to be berated with Jim Rome impressions for another Baseball season.

At Least Caliendo Knows He's Insufferable (The Sporting Blog)
Frank Caliendo makes pitch to fans (Boston Herald)

I have no idea why ESPN News decided to get a soundbyte from Stephen A. Smith in regards to Brett Favre, but thank god they did. Watch as S.A.S. slowly starts to lose his mind when talking about the Packers' QB....

Is ESPN serious? This has to be some sort of cruel joke right??? "Hey, let's get the most ridiculous person in Sports Media to talk about the most annoying story ever! No way this could go bad!!!"

The coverage is definitely overkill mode, but good lord you have to settle down Stevie. If you think the coverage is bad now just wait until after the All-Star Break.

NY TIMES reports that Wendy's, in conjunction with Visible World Corp., has created interactive commercials for use with this Sunday's NFL telecasts.

The Wendy’s commercials, to be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports this weekend, are one of the earliest national examples of an emerging TV technology that allows advertisers to vary their message at the last minute. The Wendy’s ads will reflect events in the football games, creating what ad executives call a reverse product placement of sorts. Instead of putting Frostys or Wendy’s fries into a TV program, the company will incorporate a show’s content in its commercials.

So you want to know what the commercials are going to be like?

SPORTS commentators will not be the only ones remarking on Sunday’s National Football League games. Animated raccoons will also give instant feedback in advertisements for Wendy’s International that will be shown at the start of commercial breaks.

If the score is 0-0, an ad might start with a Wendy’s raccoon standing in front of an overturned trash can, saying, “I may be nocturnal, but this game is putting me to sleep.”

If there is a touchdown just before a commercial break, another raccoon might say: “Touchdown. These fans are as rabid as we are.”

The report also states that fans could see up to 17! different versions during a broadcast.

You know what? I was sort of pissed about this, but the more I think about it......I'd probably rather have Raccoons telling me the score than Joe Buck.