Bon Jovi Doesn't Need A Prayer To Make It On NBC
Andrew Wallenstein - Andrew Wallenstein is an editor at
It all started with an announcement on the Today show, where host Matt Lauer welcomed the group's leader, Jon Bon Jovi.
That was just the beginning. Over the course of this month and next, Bon Jovi will have spent more time on NBC than the peacock logo, with appearances on The Jay Leno Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and Saturday Night Live, to name a few. That doesn't include the band's time on cable networks owned by NBC Universal, like USA Network and Bravo.
Bon Jovi was even featured on Inside the Actors Studio, which is kind of weird considering he isn't exactly Meryl Streep. A rock star on a series for master thespians — that's right, folks, Bon Jovi can be shoehorned into any show. NBC calls him an "artist in residence." "Shills on the shelf" is more like it. I know: It's just TV. But the problem is that it doesn't stop at entertainment.
NBC has even booked Bon Jovi on the evening news for a segment about the band's charity project. I'm sure it's a swell cause, but it makes me want to take up a collection for the preservation of traditional news values. A slot on the evening news should not be for sale. But if this marketing arrangement tells us anything, it's that the rules of old no longer hold.
The days when a band looked to TV as a place to buy a 30-second ad have been replaced, where the content and the commercial are one in the same. The least NBC Universal could have done was try some interesting integrations. I'd like to see Bon Jovi flip any one of his luxury homes on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, or at the very least stand trial for crimes against decent music on Law & Order.
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ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.
Bon Jovi is at the top of the album charts this week, riding a giant publicity push. Jon Bon Jovi's record label struck a deal with the conglomerate NBC Universal for an exclusive presence on their many TV networks. It includes appearances on morning, primetime and late-night shows on NBC, USA Network and Bravo. Commentator Andrew Wallenstein tries to explain the media frenzy.
ANDREW WALLENSTEIN: It all started with an announcement on the "Today" show, where host Matt Lauer welcomed Jon Bon Jovi.
(Soundbite of TV show, "Today")
Mr. MATT LAUER (Host): Let's bring in Jon Bon Jovi, shall we?
(Soundbite of cheering)
WALLENSTEIN: And that's just the beginning. Over the course of this month and next, Bon Jovi will have spent more time on NBC's air than the peacock logo. They'll be on "The Jay Leno Show," "The Tonight Show," �Saturday Night Live,� just to name a few. Jon was even featured on "Inside the Actors Studio," which is kind of weird considering he isn't exactly Meryl Streep.
(Soundbite of TV show, "Inside the Actors Studio")
Unidentified Man #1: VH1 has named "You Give Love a Bad Name" the 20th greatest hard rock song of all time. How did you all feel when the song hit number one on the Billboard Top 100?
Mr. JON BON JOVI (Musician): You know, a number one single and then a number one album�
WALLENSTEIN: A rock star on a series for master thespians. That's right, folks, Bon Jovi can be shoehorned into any show. NBC calls them artists in residence. Shills on the shelf is more like it. And I know, it's just TV. But the problem is it doesn't stop at entertainment. NBC has even booked Bon Jovi on the evening news for a segment about the band's charity project.
(Soundbite of news broadcast)
Unidentified Man #2: We are back. And it's time now for our Making A Difference report, and tonight we begin with Jon Bon Jovi. He is one of New Jersey's favorite sons. He also�
WALLENSTEIN: Look, I'm sure it's a swell cause, but it makes me want to take up a collection for the preservation of traditional news values. A slot on the evening news should not be for sale, but if this marketing arrangement tells us anything, it's that the rules of old no longer hold.
The days when a band looked to TV as a place to buy a 30-second ad has given way to an age where the content and the commercial are one in the same. The least NBC Universal and Bon Jovi could've done was try some interesting integrations. I would've liked to have seen Jon flip any one of his luxury homes on Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing" or at the very least stand trial for crimes against decent music on "Law & Order."
(Soundbite of TV show, "Law & Order")
(Soundbite of song, "We Weren't Born to Follow")
Mr. BON JOVI: (Singing) This one goes out to the man who mines for miracles. This one goes out to the ones in need.
SIEGEL: Andrew Wallenstein is an editor at The Hollywood Reporter.
(Soundbite of song, "We Weren't Born to Follow")
Mr. BON JOVI: (Singing) This ain't about no apology. This road was paved by the hopeless and the hungry. This road was paved by the winds of change. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
