• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, April 3, 2013

In my perfect fantasy TV world, Discovery Channel's new "Pot Cops" should be a lead-in to Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." Maybe Showtime's "Weeds" would come afterward.

Think of the promotional possibilities -- with humor included. Even if you don't have a prescription for medical marijuana, who doesn't get the munchies while watching a lot of TV?

Which got me thinking about other combinations or promotional linkages. Surely CBS' "The Mentalist" and USA Network's "Psych" go together. Outside freelance criminologists Patrick Jayne and Shawn Spencer, respectively, could surmise -- either by closing one's eyes, putting two fingers to the forehead, or giving a sly wink -- the reality of a criminal situation, bringing bad elements to some quick justice. (For some time now  "Psych" writers have been making a number of mentions of "The Mentalist.” )  

All TV networks could play this game -- even for blood-sucking humans. How about HBO's "True Blood" and CW's "Vampire Diaries"?  (Half of CW's ownership has the same parent company as HBO -- Time Warner).

Pulling in new potential viewers to sample the best of competing networks is the benefit here. Every network would have to work harder. Own up to it, network executives: Your viewers watch shows on other networks.

Digital video providers -- Netflix, Hulu Plus, even YouTube --  already do this. They make "suggestions" for TV programming, usually around the same subject matter. Surely, we could lump a few courtroom-based, office-filled-with-lawyers shows together, such as  USA's "Suits," CBS' "The Good Wife" and NBC's "Law & Order: SVU."

But opposites could attract as well. Bravo's "Real Housewives" franchise could meet up with those goofy reality dads of BET's "Real Husbands of Hollywood." Or maybe TBS' "Cougar Town" -- even if that show's premise doesn't now amplify from the show's title.

CBS and Turner -- through their combined deal with the NCAA -- cross promote basketball games on their respective networks. Other networks have done this from time to time with select sporting events.

Many executives have talked about how broadcasters need to work together to curb continued and expected ratings erosions. Broadcast networks should take a page from the cable networks’ playbook. But this activity should actually go a step further. All broadcast and cable need to explore different promotional combinations.