TVSquad

In the last month, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Michael Bublé have all appeared and sang on The Oprah Winfrey Show. All three have had number one albums. Coincidence? No. Good promotion (although Whitney had already reached number one by the time she warbled on Oprah). Therefore, I have to wonder why Jon Bon Jovi has entered an exclusive "artist in residence" deal with NBC Universal? For two months, Bon Jovi will promote the new Bon Jovi CD, The Circle, only just on NBCU channels.

You'll see him on Today, The Tonight Show, The Jay Leno Show, Saturday Night Live, a segment of the NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams and a sit down with James Lipton on Bravo's Inside the Actors' Studio. When The Circle is released on November 10, you'll know all about it... if you've watched NBC and Bravo.

Bon Jovi knows he's risking alienating other shows. Letterman could do a Top Ten List on reasons why Bon Jovi should have done his show instead. And, as I pointed out, how many people are buying CDs after hearing a song or two on Oprah? How many opportunities to promote this album on other shows is Jon letting pass?

Sure, there's something to be said about synergy, but NBC is the anti-ratings network these days. Every one of the shows listed above on NBC, except the Nightly News, are down in the Nielsens. What good will appearing on Leno if TV viewers are watching scripted series on the other networks?

It'll be interesting to see if quantity -- massive exposure -- trumps quality. Bon Jovi could have picked three or four or five key appearances and selected prime outlets. Oh well, coulda, woulda, shoulda...