We expect E! to ingest every single shred of promotional fluff that publicists set on its plate, but do Oscar audiences really hunger for a behind-the-scenes look at M. Night Shyamalan's new American Express commercial? And are celebrity endorsements as clumsy and blatant as this one by Naomi Watts really worth it to the sponsoring company? What did Watts get in exchange for this awkward mention of the Lexus hybrid, and will her inaccurate statements (20 mpg is the gas consumption of a non-hybrid Lexus RX 330) result in a deduction in pay? Or is she the responsible sort of shill who reads product reviews on Cnet.com?
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