This trend is essentially a more crass, ham-handed version of what was done regularly in the early days of TV. If you ever see old episodes of "What's My Line?" or "I've Got A Secret" (on YouTube--good luck finding them on the Game Show Network), the show's sponsor is prominently displayed in front of where the panel sits. Same with the Dodge or Geritol logos above the orchestra on Lawrence Welk. Sponsors were also incorporated in the closing credits of many sitcoms and dramas (Dick Van Whatzismane, The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, and more)...In fact, the reason the original opening animation sequences on "I Love Lucy" weren't shown for years until TV Land revived them was because they included sponsor logos. Everyone has seen the Fred and Barney cigarette commercial...it was a very common practice until as late as the early 70's for castmembers of tv shows to actually do commercials during the show. Could you imagine Grissom, Sara and Nick talking about how when they have to pull an all-nighter in the lab, they always brew a fresh pot of Maxwell House Coffee? Or Earl reminiscing that back when he still robbed convenience stores, he always made sure to grab a handful of Slim Jims?