Attn: Publicists: Save the 'Earth Day' Releases

Not to sound inordinately cranky (nah, actually, I'm fine with that), but here's a plea to all the publicists inundating us with "Earth Day" programming-related releases: Bully for you, but I really, really don't care.

To be clear, I'm all for saving the planet, and I'm not one of those wild-eyed "Global warming is a lie" types. I'm not even opposed to designating a day to get people to think about the environment.

What I don't really buy into is the idea that this arbitrary date must be marked by scores of TV specials and programming devoted to the "Earth Day" theme, a bit like producing "very special" Christmas or Halloween-themed episodes. At least with those you'd occasionally get to see one of your favorite sitcom stars dressed up like a slutty nurse or something.

PBS and National Geographic are both weighing in with Earth Day fare. As for educating the next generation that will be left cleaning up our messes, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon are also all over related tie-ins. Nickelodeon alone has sent along a parade of "Earth Day" missives (via email, so at least they're not paper-wasting hypocrites) in the last few days. Just to prove I have a heart, they include:

-- "Nickelodeon celebrates Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, with new green-themed premieres of hit series iCarly, True Jackson, VP, The Wonder Pets!, OLIVIA, and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy. NOGGIN, Nick’s 24 hour, commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers, will also premiere new eco-friendly episodes of preschool favorites Yo Gabba Gabba! Toot & Puddle, and Pinky Dinky Doo!"

-- "Nickelodeon celebrates Earth Day with a new installment of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: A Kid Off The Grid premiering Sunday, April 19."

OK, we get the picture. Despite being big profit-driven corporations, you love the planet, and want your viewers -- including those obese, screen-hypnotized kids that already watch too much TV -- to love it, too. Just wondering, though: Wouldn't one way to commemorate Earth Day be to encourage people to turn off the tube for a few hours and stop using all that damn electricity?