Turning Down Billy Mays

The government is finally addressing the national crisis of shouting television pitchmen.

Ever notice when the volume of a commercial is vastly louder than the dialogue in your favorite TV show? U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., hopes to do something about it. According to press reports, Eshoo is sponsoring a bill that would require the FCC to "preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than the program material they accompany." The Big Four may already be attempting to address the problem, however. "The major television broadcast networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, are each, individually, implementing policies that attempt to control loud commercials," said David Donovan, president of the Association for Maximum Service Television, or MSTV, a broadcast industry trade group.

Next to be muted: that screaming judge on So You Think You Can Dance....