I’m running an experiment over the next hour, while I watch my tv news for the day. I’m on streaming from YouTube (aka Google) and I watch MSNBC. So that’s my primary platform. Here’s my question: How much of the advertising is spent during the high volume period of 5 – 6 in Austin, Texas?

Big Pharma has several challenges:

They have hit drugs (Viagra) and they have new drugs. Now that most ED pills are available in a generic form, the big pharma marketers and sales teams need new drugs (new expensive drugs) to add to their portfolio. The criteria to get a new drug approved is for it to have a novel (differentiating) effect or treatment. For example, the newest anti-depressants are now marketing their drugs that manage the “high” part of bipolar depression. And if the drug wins approval and gets approved to enter the market, we see the pharma porn on tv.

All the beautiful people are made more beautiful and healthier by drugs. The real story is that drugs are often a result of us (most people) not paying enough attention to their diet, their weight, and their sleep. We are addicted to bad food and hope that a pill is going to fix us. Does the Ozembic injection allow me to eat Taco Bell and still not gain weight? Um, perhaps. At what cost?

The side effects they can’t tell you about is most of them. They don’t know much about the long-term effects of their drugs. If they do have the research (Like the Sackler family did about Oxy) they may choose to hide it and lie about it. In my days on an SSRI, I was concerned about weight gain. The side effect might have caused additional depression, about my weight. The catch-22 is I’m happy but fat. Or unhappy and less fat. The fallout from Ozembic being used for weight loss (off-label) is that there may be some additional and undocumented side effects that are dangerous. We’re going to learn about this harm, WHILE tons of people are asking their doctor for the injectable.

How are pharmaceuticals less harmful than hard liquor? 

The US outlawed liquor ads back in the 90s. Why can’t we outlaw the “ask your doctor” pharma porn of these new (potentially dangerous) drugs with funny names?

Let’s restrict pharma. Sure, the streaming news business is going to have to find another cash cow, but I think that issue will take care of itself. What isn’t going to take care of itself, is the public taking the time to learn about a new drug BEFORE their doctor writes the script and hands them a bag of shiny sample boxes. And finally, when is Amazon Pharmacy Sevices going to provide access to Canadian drug prices?

Ad Mix (MSNBC/GoogleTV)

Break 1

Balance of Nature (the cheesier the better – terrible ads littering all channels – for expensive vitamins) Full 60-second break.

Break 2

Verizon / NFL Package
Advil Dual Action
Chase Bank (debit card for kids)
Neuriva
RAM Trucks
Lifelock (by Norton)
Rinvoq (Excema)
Voltaren (pain relief)
Verizon Business
PODS moving and storage (kids heading to college)
Timberland (clothing)
Vtama (plaque psoriasis)
Rooms to Go (labor day sale)

Break 3

Trelegy (COPD drug)
Neuriva Ad #2
Skirizi
PODS moving and storage Ad #2
Caplyta (across bipolar depression – the one that treats the “highs” too)
Earth Breeze
Knix (bras)
Lume deodorant that lasts forever
Google Fiber
Subway (sandwiches)

Break 4

Prevagen (memory supplement)
FreeStyle Libre 2 (diabetes blood sugar monitor)
VW Atlas
Mr. Clean Sheets/Magic Eraser
Verizon Ad #2
Citi Bank credit card
Shingrix (shingles doesn’t care)
Balance of Nature Ad #2 (man, these ads are as bad as my fake ad)

Break 5

Nucala (asthma)
Botox (chronic migraine)
Chase (kid debt card) Ad #3
PODS Ad #3
Vtama Ad #2 (same ad)
Rooms to Go Ad #2 (labor day sale)

UG. Let’s move on this. Maybe we can get Musk to weigh in on this.

John McElhenney — let’s connect online
Facebook & LinkedIn & The Whole Parent

Please check out a few of my books on AMAZON. 

Especially this one, about living a creative life of intention and joy. No mention of tv or pharma