Who knew that ABC hired Ben Silverman to consult with their marketing choices? In a move straight out of the NBC playbook (the one called "How to Alienate Viewers and Lose Fans"), the network turned last night's all-new episode of Lost into one long commercial for the return of V. And as if the incessant mentions and the "Anna likes Lost too!" promos weren't enough, ABC decided to place a distractingly large countdown clock in the right corner of the screen to let viewers know how much longer they had to wait for V to start. Because, y'know, fans of Lost would never lose their minds over something like that and take to Twitter to let the world know. After the jump, see some choice reactions and find out who said that the mastermind behind the countdown clock "should be kicked in the nuts, repeatedly." Fun!
Newark Star-Ledger television critic Alan Sepinwall: "Well-done, ABC. Really freaking well-done."
Fox News contributor Andy Levy: "Whoever made the decision to put up the V countdown clock during Lost should be fired, or kicked in the nuts repeatedly until he quits."
ESPN writer Bill Simmons: "To the ABC exec who decided to put the V countdown clock on the bottom of the Lost screen... I hate you. Passionately."
Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof: "Yes, people, I saw it too. :34 minutes until I cry myself to sleep."
Former The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien blogger Aaron Bleyaert: "Hey ABC, here is a great way to make sure I never, ever, EVER watch the show V: put a giant f*cking bright red V bug over all of Lost."
And my personal favorite:
"Masked Scheduler": "What's with this f*cking countdown clock?"
ยท ABC Fail: 'V' Countdown Clock Inspires Backlash [The Wrap]