Thursday, April 27, 2006
Commerical Conundrum
This post is actually from Yna, I have not yet entered into the enlightened TiVo age.....enjoy....Commercials are at best, amusing, and at worst, annoyances. I love my TiVo – love it, love it, love it (almost as much as I love my broadband internet connection – almost, but not quite) for the main reason that I can watch my favorite programs anytime I want – and it takes half the time it would if I were watching it live. I've been known to inadvertently try and forward live TV and then sit there puzzled for a few minutes until I sadly realize I can only go backwards in TV time and not forwards. Sometime I will dejectedly make the lovely little "bleep, blip, bloop" sound, just to self-soothe as I wait patiently for Law & Order: Criminal Intent to resume. That Vincent D'onofrio is such a hottie. But I digress……
I'm pretty non-plussed by the whole commercial TV marketing schemes – however, there is one commercial that will make me change the channel EVERY SINGLE TIME it comes on - and it goes a little something like this:
This particular commercial starts with Bob leaving a medical center and going to a party. He rings the doorbell and a woman answers. He hands her a wrapped gift. She says, "Hey Bob, you get a new haircut?" He answers, "No," as he walks through the home. The woman looks puzzled as she notices a difference about Bob. A man with glasses sees Bob; he greets Bob and asks Bob if he lost weight, which Bob answers, "Uh uh." We take it that means no. A man carrying a tray of hors d'oeuvre asks Bob if he is wearing a new jacket; Bob again answers, "No." An off screen announcer states, "What's different? He finally asked his doctor about Viagra."
Let's tell the real-story here - these people are so surprised because:
1) No self-respecting straight male would bring a "wrapped gift" just to attend a party – we'd just be happy if he'd bring a COLD six-pack of beer and wear pants!!!! (we'll come back to this in a moment...)
2) The woman looks puzzled because she can't help but notice the giant woody he's sporting through his Dockers.
3) Now the man with glasses…. he knows immediately what's just happened!!!! "Have you lost weight?" is a normal compliment for women seeing each other at a party. Heterosexual males have picked up on this and they now use it as code for "Doooooode…. Nice goin'… you just got LAID!!!!!" And now you also know that the nice lady that answered the door was his wife because men only give gifts if:
A) It's your birthday
B) They've been screwing around and they feel guilty
I'm thinking both answers are pretty probable at this point.
4) What about the guy with the tray of hors d'oeuvres? When was the last time your husband carried a tray of hors d'oeuvres around a party and told his buddy that his shirt is sooooo last season?
I cannot stand this commercial. Hate it, hate it, hate it. It's sexist and over-the-top stereotypical.
What's your least favorite commercial? Inquiring minds want to know……
