I've felt that way for a long time, but still it amazes me. Syndicated television shows are chopped to place more commercials in a half-hour show, but commercials don't have the same effect they used to have. People change channels, fast forward a video-taped copy or simply space off when bad chalupas are hawked. Chihuahuas, Energizer bunnies and 3-D Gap ads may rivet us the first 12 times we see them, but soon they have the opposite effect. The Taco Bell dog was cute the first few times, but everyone's sick of that thing now.
Advertising is like a shark.
It needs to keep moving and growing or it dies, and it has no fear, remorse or morals. Hourlong dramas in the late 1960s were nearly 56 minutes without commercials. That is over 25 percent commercials. Most 30 minute comedies are only 21 minutes ridiculous. So now it seems maybe the outer limits have been reached.