Max Gladwell

Media conglomerate NBC Universal will air a week’s worth of “green-themed content” across its 42 NBCU brands and 28 websites, all under the aegis of “Green is Universal”. It’s quite the double entendre. Festivities start this Sunday, April 20th.

This will mark the network’s second “green week”, and if memory serves the first one often came across as forced. It seemed as if execs went to the producers and writers with a mandate to inject green angles into shows like “My Name is Earl” (well after the script had already been written) and channels like CNBC. So the writer asks, “How does a spoofy red neck like Earl go green?” And the CNBC reporters ask, “What’s the profit motive in going green?” I recall that the CNBC hosts were none too natural (even skeptical) in exploring many of these topics. It’s just not their bag. So what you inevitably get are cliches that annoy regular viewers by forcing green on them in uncomfortable and even discordant ways.

According to the company, “Raising environmental awareness and making a real impact is not something that happens overnight, which is why ‘Green Week’ is more than just a one time event for us,” said Lauren Zalaznick, Chair of the NBC Universal Green Council. “We are extremely encouraged by the number of viewers, community members, advertisers and NBCU employees that are engaged in ‘Green.’”

We agree that media attention is key. We applaud legitimate and sincere efforts to cover green issues and to even think up original programming that integrates green issues as a natural part of the story lines and characters, as long as they aren’t cliches. We applaud NBCU’s efforts and its dedication. But every program, channel, and website doesn’t have to wear the green veil. Sometimes we just want to watch a funny TV show.

In any event, the lineup looks pretty good on paper (after the jump). But parent-company GE was still ranked as the nation’s seventh largest air polluter. Perhaps GE execs will be watching this week and get inspired at how Earl Hickey goes green. If he can do it, so can GE.

NBC News- “Dateline NBC” kicks off the week on April 20th with a segment on the melting snow in the Bolivia Mountains. In addition the newsmagazine will examine and compare the presence of a variety of chemicals in two families, one, which is completely green, and another that eats and uses more conventional products. “TODAY” will feature daily segments on different sources of renewable energy. The show will also launch a “Green Screen” drive in New York, encouraging consumers to recycle their used electronics. In addition, “TODAY” will broadcast a special live “Earth Week” concert by Alicia Keys on Monday, April 21st. MSNBC will report on the presidential candidates’ positions on environmental issues.

CNBC will broadcast a variety of green-themed programming, including an all green episode of “High Net Worth,” “Green Stocks to Watch,” and a full episode of “The Big Idea,” dedicated to green business. In addition, CNBC’s “Mad Money” will feature discussions with CEOs of green companies and profiles of green stocks. CNBC will also air “Green Collar Economy,” a special report on the green movement, and green opportunities for job seekers and investors.

CNBC Europe will conduct interviews throughout the week with CEOs and other senior business leaders, focusing on various green issues including water management.

Late Night- NBC’s top-rated late-night talk shows will incorporate comedic green themes throughout the week. “Green” comedian Ed Begley Jr. will be a guest on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” “Last Call with Carson Daly” will feature guest Darryl Hannah. The segment will focus on organic skateboards and surf companies, midnight gardeners and other ways young people are getting involved in green.

Cable Entertainment- USA Network will change its popular “Characters Welcome” tag to “Environmentalists Welcome” for the week, and will broadcast a variety of green-themed character-driven and eco-friendly programming vignettes, including “Character To Watch: The Color Green,” and “Character With a Cause.” Bravo will re-broadcast an episode of “Real Housewives of Orange County,” which features “Green” pop-up tips, as well as Tim Gunn’s “Green” PSA’s. In addition, “Top Chef” will also have “Green” tips throughout the week. Bravo will also air the Sundance Channel’s “Ecoists” vignettes and an episode of “Big Ideas for a Small Planet.” Oxygen will feature “Green” tips from some of the network’s talent and will extend its “Go Green” message to the Oxygen website. SCI FI will broadcast cautionary natural disaster-themed movies throughout the week, with a block to run throughout Earth Day.

NBC Sports will air a green-themed segment focusing on a unique green partnership between the David Suzuki Foundation and the NHL Players’ Association, which have partnered to encourage players to become more eco-friendly.

Telemundo will extend the “Green is Universal” effort through its own green campaign, “Alerta Verde,” in “Al Rojo Vivo.” The theme will also run throughout network programming during the week in “Cada Dia,” “Al Rojo Vivo Weekend,” “Nitido,” “12 Corazones,” “Caso Cerrado” and “Titulares y Mas.” In addition, Telemundo will air a green-themed “The More You Know” PSA featuring Maria Celeste, which will also be available on Yahoo!Telemundo.com. Also, mun2, Telemundo’s youth-cable channel, will air a news special titled “Toxic City: This is Where I Live”.

Local Media- The NBC owned-and-operated stations will incorporate environmentally-themed stories throughout their newscasts and on the web. The stations will also air a half-hour special on “Greening the Earth,” that explores many of the green projects currently being conducted in cities around the country (check local listings for more information).

“The More You Know,” NBC Universal’s award-winning public service campaign, will run environmentally themed PSAs across all platforms. The messages will focus on global warming, pollution and recycling, and will provide viewers with ways to make a positive impact on the environment.

iVillage’s iGoGreen channel will launch “Your Life Recycled,” which will feature content from across the site to help users apply the three R’s (reuse, reduce, and recycle) to all aspects of their lives, from vintage clothes shopping to teaching kids how to be kind to the environment to waste management 101. “Your Life Recycled” will also highlight tips from the first and largest community of women online, including resourceful ways to extend the life of household items, creative ideas for reusing plastic bags, and the iVillage community’s “Top 10 Dumpster Discoveries.” In addition, supermodel, mom and TV personality Emme will blog about her own green efforts throughout Earth Week.

The Sundance Channel will broadcast episodes of “Big Ideas for a Small Planet,” the 13-part series that features the innovators and innovations on the cutting edge of the environmental revolution, and will have “Green Documentary Day” on April 21st. The channel will also air “Mayoral Moments,” profiling ten mayors who are at the forefront of innovative thinking and action on climate change, hosted by Robert Redford. Additionally, Sundance will broadcast “Green” interstitials throughout the week.

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s talk and magazine shows such as, “Access Hollywood,” “The Martha Stewart Show,” “Lyons & Bailes Reel Talk,” and “Maury” will feature various green storylines and segments on-air and online.

Universal Pictures- A “Green” premiere of BABY MAMA will be held April 23rd at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. All of Universal Pictures’ premieres are as ecologically mindful as possible, including the use of recycled paper and soy ink for all printing, recycling of all trash, the use of environmentally-friendly china and glassware, and transportation provided by as many hybrid cars as possible.

Universal Pictures International will hold a green-themed media event forNim’s Island on April 20th.

Universal Studios Hollywood will celebrate the week with incentives for park guests and employees, including free parking for hybrid vehicles and the launch of a new employee carpool program. The week will culminate with a free eco-fair on Saturday, April 26, featuring celebrities, interactive exhibits and more than 30 participating organizations. The park will also host a collection of hazardous waste materials with the city and county of Los Angeles.

Universal Orlando Resort will celebrate Earth Week with a concert by Earth Wind & Fire, in which all participants will receive a complimentary bag of seeds. The park will also hold several eco-friendly volunteer efforts, including a recycling project at the Ronald McDonald House and Keep Orlando Beautiful. In addition, the park will incorporate daily “Earth Week” activities for both visitors and employees, including Green Transportation Day, where all hybrid vehicles will get free valet parking.

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