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Posted by Cory Bergman on April 2, 2007

Starting next week, Fox will begin testing a new way to try to retain viewers through commercial breaks. The network will run short animated clips of a taxi driver named Oleg in between ads. “It’s something that pops up that is unexpected and the viewer says, ‘What the hell is that?’ It may keep them around for a while longer,” says Jon Nesvig, Fox Broadcasting’s president of sales. In less than two months, Nielsen is rolling out its commercial ratings service. (WSJ sub. req.)

WSJ has a video report with a couple of the clips (runs after an ad.)

Adds Michael in comments: “Time and effort that could be funneled into creating better programming, which has a better chance of keeping me around. Or if I’m watching a show on TiVo, it’s just one more blur as I fast forward through the break.”

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  • http://www.xanga.com/weedyweedyweed skitzoAlfred

    I saw those commercials between trying to hear the shittiness of sunjaya, and i must admit, fox was right when they wanted people to go “what the hell is that?”
    but no. NO!!!! It is a rip off of borat! Now from those short clips i don’t know if there’s something else going on, but they are making his first impression just like borat. The LAST thing i want to see is a rip off of something I love. Now if Borat had never been made, then yes, i would think it was a funny idea and would want to watch it. BUT – i cant stand godddamn rippoffs. I will watch the first episodes of the show to actually see what it is though, and then decide if i like it or not. Is Oleg russian? This one time I had a cab triver named Osama. but he was such a nice guy.

  • dingo

    I think the cartoon is spot-on. Go easy, Alfred. I’d guess Oleg is like Borat ’cause both of them are somewhat like so many actual Central Aisian blokes. The world is only so big, mate. I’ve had a hundred Olegs drive me through American cities. They’re good natured mostly. Seems like Oleg is a rip off of real life, then. Funny ol’ thing, that!

    I like the cartoon. I read where they’ve got other characters. So, bring ‘em on! I’d like to see downloads for the whole episodes. Maybe they can give Jib-Jab a run for their money. Cheers, big-ears!

  • C.

    I agree with #49-Linda Harris…these commercials seem to have no point other than to make fun of someone who…after all…is doing what many Americans bitch about…he is trying to learn our language. While I am SICK TO DEATHof being bombarded with advertisements EVERY where I turn…an animated clip making fun of someone tryint to better themselves to

  • C.

    I agree with #49-Linda Harris…these commercials seem to have no point other than to make fun of someone who…after all…is doing what many Americans bitch about…he is trying to learn our language. While I am SICK TO DEATH of being bombarded with advertisements in every area of my entertainment life…T.V…radio…internet…mail…ENOUGH ALREADY!….an animated clip making fun of someone trying to better themselves to get along in our county is many steps in the wrong direction to keeping me interested in anything other than the T.V program I am watching. All I can say is THANK GOD I can skip through them since the standards of what is acceptable keeps getting lower and lower.

  • Charles W.

    I think it’s well-done…funny. Much more entertaining than the normal interstitial bits I see.

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