# Summary
The author expresses sorrow over the sale of John Krasinski's "Some Good News" (SGN) to CBS Viacom, symbolizing the pervasive reach of corporate entities into all aspects of life and the commodification of genuine community and positivity.

# Abstract
The article "Why the Sale of John Krasinki’s “SGN” Breaks My Heart" delves into the author's emotional response to the acquisition of the heartwarming web series "Some Good News" by a major media corporation, CBS Viacom. While acknowledging the potential for positive programming, the author laments the loss of SGN's authentic, grassroots connection and the swiftness with which it was absorbed into the corporate world. The sale underscores the ubiquitous influence of large corporations and the difficulty in maintaining genuine human experiences outside of their framework. The author reflects on the homogenization of culture and the illusion of choice, suggesting that despite the good intentions behind the show's incorporation into mainstream media, it ultimately serves as a reminder of corporate dominance over society's narratives and interactions.

# Opinions
- The sale of SGN to CBS Viacom is not criticized as inherently negative but is seen as a symptom of the extensive reach of corporate interests.
- There is a sense of loss for what SGN represented: a genuine, community-driven initiative that provided comfort during difficult times.
- The author feels that the acquisition of SGN by a corporation, despite potentially positive outcomes, diminishes its original spirit of authenticity and community.
- The article suggests that society is under the influence of a few large entities, which dictate cultural norms and diminish true diversity and individuality.
- The author draws a parallel between the current situation and the prophetic message of the film "Network," indicating a long-standing critique of corporate control over media and public discourse.
- The sentiment is expressed that even well-intentioned actions by corporations cannot escape the shadow of their overarching goal to serve their own interests.

Why the Sale of John Krasinki’s “SGN” Breaks My Heart

And what it says about how badly we need to change our world

Of course I love John Krasinski. Who wouldn’t? Talented, generous, humble… I thought he was great even before he launched “Some Good News,” even before SGN floated across the internet like a big bowl of mac n’ cheese when we all needed comfort food the most.

This isn’t a criticism of him. Or SGN. Or of any of the celebrities who joyously donated their energy and talent into a perfectly timed slice of apple pie for us all.

This isn’t even a criticism of CBS Viacom for buying the rights to it. The idea that they want to incorporate something as wholesome and uplifting as “SGN” into their programming is certainly not a bad thing. It’s probably even good. It’s something people have wanted from our giant media conglomerates for a long time now. Something we desperately need.

But…

This is a cry of sadness and deep frustration that there is nowhere in our lives that the tentacles don’t reach. Not as long as we live like this.

Not if it sounds normal to our ears to put words like “comfort” and “apple pie” in the same thought as “incorporate” and “programming.”

Not if we have to pretend that there is no real difference between Iowa and Manhattan because we all watch the same TV shows, know the same celebrities, and choose between the same two barely differentiated political parties offering different perspectives on servicing the same octopus.

“SGN” was one guy and his family and a few friends telling us… hey, we can still be real. We can still be a community. We can still care about each other even when there are billions of us on this same Zoom happy hour we now call life.”

And maybe we can. I don’t know that we can’t.

But this feels like we can’t.

It feels like I just met a really interesting person, and we were talking about some really wholesome things… and only five minutes went by before the octopus butted its slimy bulb of a head in between us and said…

“Hey, you guys like wholesome things? I can do that. Here’s millions of dollars. Now your wholesome thing is mine. I can brand it and market it… it’ll be great.”

It feels a lot like the way Arthur Jensen explained things to Howard Beale 40 years ago in the movie “Network.” And it feels like nothing has changed.

Jensen: The world is a college of corporations, inexorably determined by the immutable bylaws of business. The world is a business, Mr. Beale. It has been since man crawled out of the slime. And our children will live, Mr. Beale, to see that perfect world in which there’s no war or famine, oppression or brutality — one vast and ecumenical holding company, for whom all men will work to serve a common profit, in which all men will hold a share of stock, all necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused.

And I have chosen you, Mr. Beale, to preach this evangel.

Beale: But why me?

Jensen: Because you’re on television, dummy. Sixty million people watch you every night of the week, Monday through Friday.

Even if it’s good. Even if the executives at CBS Viacom are good people too (and they probably are, I’m not saying they aren’t) who just want to have something relevant and decent and kind in the belly of the beast. Even if it becomes a regular segment on nightly broadcasts of CBS News…

…even if it’s good…

It’s a reminder of who’s in charge. Whether the service is provided by John Krasinski or Mitch McConnell, it is a reminder of just who (or what) is served by anything we do, good or bad.

It hurts. It’s awful. It’s heartbreaking.