At its upfront presentation yesterday, NBC Universal had advertisers and media buyers experience a high-wattage walk through, with a HD theatre, photo stations with NBC reality stars, Saturday Night Football announcers offering autographs, food from Bravo’s Top Chef, and the talking car from Knight Rider on display, all culminating in a huge cocktail party with Jeff Zucker offering a brief welcome and Conan O’Brien delivering a brief standup comedy routine.

“In general, the goal was to impress on media buyers just how many ways there are to advertise with NBC and NBCU, with television just being one way. For example, an actual gas pump with TV screen that NBC is using for both messaging and programming shorts at selected gas stations around the country was on display as well as sections hightlighting train car and arena advertising.” [MW]

So did it motivate clients, who feed NBC’s bottom line, to spend “with NBC and its wide ranging media platforms?”

“Most buyers said no. Even the those who praised the event said it might help NBC more in the long run than in the short run. One major media agency executive, who asked not to be named, said, ‘I think NBC is doing this for its own vanity and to impress the people in the Hollywood community. I think they are in trouble.’”