That’s Advertainment!

Tom Shales rightly bemoaned the blatant exploitation of Elizabeth Taylor’s Black Pearls fragrance on CBS’ Monday night sitcoms (“CBS Follows the Scent of Missing Pearls,” Feb. 28). The timing couldn’t be more disturbing, for the next night “Roseanne” on ABC did a relentlessly unfunny 30-minute travelogue on Walt Disney World. The entire Conner clan mingled with Mickey and Goofy like a lobotomized Snow White and the Dozen Dweebs, pitching everything from the great food to the exciting rides to the classy hotel accommodations.

This advertainment trend is not only distressing, it’s disgusting. And here’s a thought that will really cheer your marrow: Disney’s newest and most lovable character, Roseanne, frolicking through the Happiest Place on Earth on a daily basis! Can the toys, videocassettes, Broadway musical and Burger King tie-ins be far behind?

Don’t laugh, it can happen!

BOB CANNING

Burbank