CBS and CW Ate My Brain

This week is the Television Critics Association Press Tour, where the tv networks try to hook our favorite critics (such as TV Guide's Michael Ausiello and E!'s Kristin Veitch) on shows by giving them face time with stars and feeding them sugar all day. I've been reading a number of critic blogs lately and they have helped me realize that for the head honchos of tv networks, numbers are the only thing that matter at all.

• When the CBS President was asked about the number of serialized shows that are cancelled before the big mysteries are solved, she said she didn't think viewers minded: "I don't think audiences approach their programming that way."
• The head of the new CW network (UPN and The WB combined) unveiled the new company logo. It's a green "CW." When asked about the new logo she said, "Green is a happy color."

Ugh. Not that I thought network heads were altruistic braniacs who wanted to cultivate creativity, but give me a break. Sure, Lost is on another network, but could you imagine the outcry if it ended suddenly and we never found out anything? And about the CW logo, I'm sure it's not just a coincidence that it looks more than strikingly similar to MTV's "10 Spot" graphics. Anyway...it's not going to keep me from watching, but it sure makes me pickier about what shows I decide to follow.