TVSquad

There will be an interesting guest checking in with The Doctors today -- Barbra Streisand. No, the singer/actress/director won't be talking about dry throat or stage fright or even tinnitus, an ailment she suffers from that causes an unending high-pitched ringing in the ears.

Barbra Streisand is calling in to The Doctors to discuss heart health awareness for women... and even though I've never watched The Doctors, I will today. I guess that's why and how celebrity helps causes like this. It draws attention and, presumably, I'm going to get something of value out of tuning in. I've already had my eyes opened.

TV syndication upfront ad sales are brisk, with syndicators expected to sell higher levels of ad inventory, similar to the broadcast networks.

Sales are more than 50% complete, with one syndicator, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, more than 70% sold out of its 2008-09 ad inventory, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

What's it all mean? It means that syndication upfront totals are expected to be around $2.4 billion, up 4.5% from last year.

Maybe one reason is that syndicators are incorporating more product integration into their packages, especially with talk and entertainment shows. Strong categories include packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, movies, and fast food.

Hmmm ... I wonder what they're saying. That TV viewers sit around eating Big Macs, doing drugs, and woofing down Cheetos? Yeah, that can't be right.