You’re watching Lidia Bastianich stuff veal chops with fontina. Just as meat hits hot metal, the show cuts to commercial. But this is PBS! That would never happen. Only it would, and it will. This fall, the broadcasting giant known for uninterrupted programming will introduce commercial breaks into favorites like Nova and Nature. Mercifully, we’re not talking about Old Navy musical numbers. It’ll be the same understated promotions you’re used to seeing as bookends to popular programs, unless you’re part of the demographic that changes the channel. And there’s the rub. PBS is losing its chief selling point in an attempt to better sell itself.

Wait ...