"Toy Guy" paid by companies to pitch goods.

[barbaraann]

By William Sherman
New York Daily News

NEW YORK — "The Toy Guy" chose BTR Transformers as one of his "Picks of the Year."
The Toy Guy, aka Christopher Byrne, appears every holiday season on scores of local and national television and radio shows with his selections of the best and hottest toys.

What parents and children don't know, and are not told by anchors and reporters, is that Byrne is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by those toy manufacturers.

Byrne, 47, a renowned and ostensibly objective consumer advocate, is a paid spokesman for the manufacturers, which have included Nintendo, Mattel, Fisher-Price, LeapFrog and Hasbro.
...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001819952_toyguy20.html

[alfredo]

1. Another reason not to watch TV.

Is there an honest man or woman on TV or the radio today?

[rocktivity]

2. "A whore is a whore is a whore." --Jean Harris

...(Byrne) said...his publicist, Michel Litsky, solicits manufacturers' paid participation in the media tour. He is paid as an employee of Litsky Public Relations.

...Pressed on how much money he makes, he said, "I'm going to pass on that question; I'm paid what a typical spokesman is paid, I guess."

So it's all his mean old publicist's fault! Have you no shame, Mr. Litsky, forcing the helpless, innocent Mr. Byrne to take all that money???

:eyes:
rocknation

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. wheres that insane preacher

who published a list of toys not to buy, i wana know what i'm gettin for x-mas

[PatGund]

4. You know....

There's four types of toys I collect - Lego, GI Joe, Transformers, and Zoids. And I don't know any Lego Fan, Joe collector or Transfan that *likes* the Build to Rule line of toys. And it extends to the kids - the entire line seems to be shelf warmers at the store. Neverless, Hasbro is throwing some major money at this.

I suspect the major reason that Hasbro came up with this line is because they have an almost total lock on Star Wars toys - except for building blocks, which Lego has a rather lucrative licence for. However, I believe the licence comes up for renewal in a year or so - and with an established BTR line, Hasbro can try to outbid Lego for the licence. Here's hoping Lego keeps the licence.

[BiggJawn]

5. More Shills....Next they'll be telling us the Weather Channel's rigged...

"OK, so if you want to get a good forecast for your area, let's see some green comin' under the table.You think Hilo gets those good forecasts for free? And those Lutheran tightwads in Lake Wobegon....you think they get 34 feet of snow every winter because of nature?"

Furkin' TV, it'll be the DEATH of this country yet!

[barbaraann]

6. Well, the big focus of the weather here is the ski conditions.

And I could think of about 5,000 other stories that are more important than the snow at Snoqualmie or Baker.