Ray Liotta is a fine actor, but most people still know him for his role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's classic GoodFellas. So, the news that the premiere of his new CBS series, Smith will be completely sponsored by the new Scorsese movie The Departed, with little commercial interruption, makes for a bit of fun entertainment serendipity.

But this is more of a case of corporate synergy and a jam-packed show than the desire to semi-reunite Scorsese and Liotta. Both the movie and the series are owned by Warner Brothers, and the premiere clocks in at close to an hour, leaving little room for commercials. So either the episode had to be severely cut or air in an awkward 90-minute slot; this limited-interruption method helps everyone out. Too bad networks can't do this more often.