Even a show as beloved and hilariously subversive as MASH can be understood to exemplify what Marcuse described as the kind of opposition that actually perpetuates the status quo. … At the same time, MASH kept tens of millions of Americans, would-be counterculturals among them, faithfully tuned to commercial television during prime time. If the contest really was, as Leary and others proposed, for the minds of the people, it was lost when America renewed its contract with the attention merchants. The broadcasters had adjusted the terms: now it was free, relevant entertainment in exchange for attention. But in the end, everyone would remain easily accessible to advertisers.

Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, loc. 584