# First Time I Ever Rethought the Hulu "Watch One Longform Commercial" Option! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006 "2011-10-27T21:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/1 "2011-10-27T21:22:16Z")
I just LOVE it when Hulu gives me the option to watch one long commercial before starting the episode I’ve selected, then watching the episode commercial-free. I have always chosen this option when given the chance. Just now, wanting to watch The Daily Show, I was given the choice to watch with regular commercial interruptions, or to watch one long opening commercial from . . . . . . The Church of Scientology. Ooooh, did I hover over the choices before finally clicking. Gave me pause. Happy to report that I am still healthily ready to toss my integrity and convictions to the wind when they are inconvenient. I let the ad play in a different tab as I started this Thread. Thankfully, the only audio in the ad is music. The message is all in text presented on screen. So, yeah, Scientology got a little compliance out of me today. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/2 "2011-10-27T21:46:24Z")
Ooh–you may have subconsciously picked up some icky Scientology memes. Fortunately, I have this “meme-meter” that I can use to “clear” you of all that. For the low, low price of… ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/3 "2011-10-27T21:59:32Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Just now, wanting to watch The Daily Show, I was given the choice to watch with regular commercial interruptions, or to watch one long opening commercial from . . . [aside]If you’d like, [Comedy Central](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-october-26-2011-lisa-randall)has full episodes (including extended interviews) of TDS and TCR. I don’t know if they stopped providing the archive, but you used to be able to watch older episodes as well. YMMV if you’re out of the country. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/4 "2011-10-27T22:06:41Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [aside]If you’d like, [Comedy Central](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-october-26-2011-lisa-randall)has full episodes (including extended interviews) of TDS and TCR. I don’t know if they stopped providing the archive, but you used to be able to watch older episodes as well. > > YMMV if you’re out of the country. Thanks. Well aware of the episodes on their own website. Over the past year, I’ve come to prefer Hulu. More and more frequently I was having problems with the player on the other sites and their commercials were getting longer. Since I’ve by now abandoned those websites (except when there’s an extended interview I want), I don’t know whether or not they’ve gotten better or trimmed the commercials. I found another option that works for me and I haven’t looked back. ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/5 "2011-10-28T03:43:28Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I just LOVE it when Hulu gives me the option to watch one long commercial before starting the episode I’ve selected, then watching the episode commercial-free. I always read this option as “Do you want to take one long, bladder-emptying leak now, before the show starts? Or would you rather dash to the restroom for three intermittent squirts over the next 30 minutes?” I always choose the former, regardless of the advertiser. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/6 "2011-10-28T03:52:25Z")
Could’ve been worse, you could have had to sit through [He Carried Yellow Flowers.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSlC7BxmSqY) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/7 "2011-10-28T04:17:25Z")
You don’t mute it and surf the Dope until the the sound starts again? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/8 "2011-10-28T04:28:02Z")
I’m not usually paying attention so I just leave the cursor where it is and go with the default. That backfired on me when the default “ad” was some stupid _game_ I had to interact with to make go away. I ended up reloading the screen and getting a different ad. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/9 "2011-10-28T05:16:36Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You don’t mute it and surf the Dope until the the sound starts again? Or use it as your “Pre-show pee and or Pepsi” errand? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/10 "2011-10-30T07:46:33Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Thanks. Well aware of the episodes on their own website. Over the past year, I’ve come to prefer Hulu. More and more frequently I was having problems with the player on the other sites and their commercials were getting longer. Since I’ve by now abandoned those websites (except when there’s an extended interview I want), I don’t know whether or not they’ve gotten better or trimmed the commercials. I found another option that works for me and I haven’t looked back. Last I checked, they still had the five commercials between everything, despite all the complaints. It’s funny how what we accepted on television we reject online. Then again, I’m worse. I use adblock. (Hence why I don’t use Hulu as much: you can block the ads, but you still have to wait the time allotted.) I don’t know why I hate ads so much more than I used to, but I do. I don’t even watch standard TV anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/11 "2011-10-30T08:07:15Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’m not usually paying attention so I just leave the cursor where it is and go with the default. That backfired on me when the default “ad” was some stupid _game_ I had to interact with to make go away. I ended up reloading the screen and getting a different ad. What’s really sad is I end up spending 15 minutes figuring out how to get the damn cat to the maze exit with 5 fish because I’m that sort of person. I love the long ads. I wish there was a way to tell Hulu I only ever want the long ads. I hate it when I have to choose from three different ads because they’re always car commercials. I don’t care, I’m not buying anyo fhte cars anyway so you may as well save your time and play the video. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/12 "2011-10-30T08:24:06Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [aside]If you’d like, [Comedy Central](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-october-26-2011-lisa-randall)has full episodes (including extended interviews) of TDS and TCR. I don’t know if they stopped providing the archive, but you used to be able to watch older episodes as well. Yeah, but Comedy Central’s player is, bar none, one of the worst I’ve ever used. ---
**Author:** ![Kylede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kylede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kylede)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/13 "2011-10-30T20:00:10Z")
I love the choice of one long commercial…and I always choose it. I understand the need for commercial in free entertainment ( I worked for over a year in television ad sales). I just wish HULU would use better targeting on my ads. I am willing to let HULU know all sorts of stuff about me ( it know I am a 39 year old single man from a major metropolitan area on the east coast). So wh, when I watch “Desperate Housewives” or “Revenge” I get feminine hygine ads??? I would be willing to share many things in my life (I am gay, I like travel, I dont own a car, nor plan to own one) if they would tailor and target ads for me. As much as I find the “Mayhem” ads from Allstate funny, I am never again gonna be in the market for auto insurance. All those commercials are wasted on me, so isd every FORD or GM commercial. HULU is in a great place to sell very targeted ad ( and charge advertisiers a SUPER PREMIUM for them). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/14 "2011-10-30T20:59:44Z")
Yeah, people say that they hate targeted advertising, but really, it’s the untargeted (or targeted so poorly it might as well be untargeted) ads that are the most obnoxious. I’ve had some targeted ads I was actually _glad_ to have gotten. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/15 "2011-10-31T02:34:12Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Last I checked, they still had the five commercials between everything, despite all the complaints. It’s funny how what we accepted on television we reject online. > > Then again, I’m worse. I use adblock. (Hence why I don’t use Hulu as much: you can block the ads, but you still have to wait the time allotted.) I don’t know why I hate ads so much more than I used to, but I do. I don’t even watch standard TV anymore. Agreed, I get a kind of perverse enjoyment in watching the “begging screen\*” for the allotted ad break time and saying “No” - “Sorry, we’re unable to load a message from our sponsors, please contact us so we can help bombard you with useless ads for crap you don’t want and doesn’t apply to you” ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-time-i-ever-rethought-the-hulu-watch-one-longform-commercial-option/601006/16 "2011-10-31T02:59:22Z")
I honestly don’t mind watching Hulu’s ads at all. I understand that it’s annoying to be subjected to advertising, particularly for things one has no desire to purchase, but: (1) even if you _might_ be someone the ad could influence, you still wouldn’t want to watch the ad; and (2) those who don’t want to watch ads would avoid doing so if it were easy; so (3) they have to try their damnedest to make sure everyone watches the ads; or else (4) all these nice free toys go away. So I roll with it. Although I really do hope that, someday, targeting algorithms become good enough that I’m not forced to sit through ads for SUVs and whatnot. (When I used to listen to Pandora I tended to receive nothing but insurance commercials. I don’t know what that says about my musical tastes, at least according to Pandora …)