I watched network news everyday for years until I realized network news is just newsy entertainment packaged to keep viewers in front of the television until the next medicine commercial. I mean the tidbits of news presented are enough to only superficially inform, and certainly not enough to make me want to watch another pill commercial which are far too frequent. Those commercials are shown over and over, evening after evening after evening. It's sickening.

As purveyors of mostly senior medicines via commercials, network news probably does a fine job influencing the aged population unfamiliar with Google News and other splendid news sources having no commercials at all.

But I'm certain pharmaceutical companies thrive from consumers having branded prescription medicine names at the top of their minds when visiting their doctors. Yet I too think the medicine commercials are far too numerous and influential. Instead, I think there should be fewer medicine commercials where they suggest, "Ask your doctor." Yes, those commercials are very effective.

Where physicians should remain in the objective position of recommending appropriate medical treatment, patients suggesting or otherwise influencing the physician's opinion or choice of medicine and brand is happening widely.

It's clear people still watching their favorite outdated network news when convenient or as a habit are willing victims of a pervasive and very successful pharmaceutical advertising strategy.

I no longer watch network news.

I can't even watch network news live anymore. It's a constant barrage of pharmaceutical commercials. Nowadays I use my DVR to watch the news later, when I can scan thru the commercials.

Love Dr. Weil, and he couldn't be more right about this topic.

22.4% of the budget to advertising, and only 13.4% to R&D???? Are you kidding me?? You're a drug company, your R&D should be WAY more important and larger than your advertising budget. That's mind boggling.

And it's definitely true. My friends from other countries laugh and are stunned when they see these commercials, as they should be. We should be too.

The thing that bothers me is the list of potential side effects always sound worse than the condition that the drug is supposed to treat.

My favorite part is having to explain "natural male enhancement" commercials to my kids - that's charming. Really, is there some reason they can't save those until after 9pm?

Got ya, but you know my problem? Half the time they don't tell you what the medication is for, just ask your doctor.