#537 Tasteless BBQ

I’m one of those people that pays attention to ads. I like deconstructing an advertisement to calculate how effective it may or may not be.
I’m the kind of guy that notices at the end of a movie car chase how a car crashes into a Camel billboard. It’s no coincidence the camera lingers on the scene long enough for the idea of a soothing cigarette to waft through your brain.
I read an article the other day about how challenged TV advertisers are by DVDs, DVRs, and TiVo. All mediums that employ the two letters advertisers are afraid of the most—FF.
As in fear factor.
As in fast forward.
Through the commercial and on to the content. A full factor of fear to advertisers and TV producers, who know that without advertisers they are nothing.
And with the prospect of planned Nielsen ratings that actually rate the commercial break itself, all of these people are scrambling to find a TV advertising alternative.
Like burying product impressions in the story. Or actually having a character in a drama intone about the positive qualities of this product or that.
Or even a return to the Prairie Home Companion days of having the personality on an entertainment show directly hawk the product.
Good Godfrey Arthur, they’re doing your shtick.
When they do, I hope they think the ads through a little better. Maybe a little thoughtful last minute editing by the performer will help prevent booboos like the Wal-Mart BBQ ad I heard recently.
The ad has this Wal-Mart clerk blocking traffic indoors because to promote BBQ products she is offering fresh-grilled burgers in the BBQ aisle.
Heavens to Murgatroid, Virginia! She’s not actually barbequing indoors is she?
I hope she’s not using charcoal.
During the power outages last winter didn’t a lot of people barbeque indoors and DIE?
Careful Wal-Mart. Remember all those people that were trampled in your doorbusters a couple of Christmases ago?
Can you say suggestible? Indoor barbeque?
Not very thoughtful. Not a good example.
Arthur Godfrey never would have told us to go down to the five and dime and get some lawn darts for the kids. Although he did say Camel filters were better for our throats…
America ya gotta love it