As I expected, there has been some chatter in Blogland about this wacko astronaut who drove 900 miles in diapers (so she wouldn't have to stop to pee) from Texas to Florida to allegedly harm another woman who was her rival for the love of a shuttle pilot.
She was willing to sacrifice her marriage, her kids, her career, her reputation, all for some other man.
In the blogs I frequent, which naturally revolve around Television, most of the talk has been about the possibility of a TV movie dealing with the topic - For What It's Worth's Bryce Zabel, and then there's Tim Goodman in his magnificent Bastard Machine. (Both of them have links to the left.)
(David Hinckley of the New York Daily News downplays the idea that there will ever be a movie made about the distaff version of the "Far Out Space Nut", mainly because he claims the heyday of such movies are long gone. And he's probably right - the days of three Long Island Lolita films in a row will probably never be repeated.)
I don't know.... It could probably work on Lifetime or Oxygen or We.....
But here's my suggestion as to whom they should cast in the role:
Robin Weigert, who played Calamity Jane in 'Deadwood'. I think it's a great fit. She can play both sides of the before/after pics in the case.
But whether or not it ever becomes a TV movie, you KNOW it's going to inspire a story on 'Law & Order'!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES: EMMITT, STILL
Speaking of Emmitt Smith, I'm surprised he doesn't have more appearances by his televersion in Toobworld. Of course, my grip on Reality has never been that firm, so I've probably lost track of how much time has passed since he was on 'Dancing With The Stars'; perhaps there hasn't been enough development time from the end of the competition to the creation of a sitcom episode until now.
And if so, his appearance on 'How I Met Your Mother' this past Monday was just the tip of the iceberg.
Smith did appear in an episode of 'I Married A Princess' in 2005 ("Kids Take Over"), but that was a "reality" show starring Catherine Oxenberg and her husband Casper Van Diem.
But even before 'Dancing With The Stars', he would have fit in with several TV shows - 'Players', 'Listen Up!', and especially 'Arli$$'. How did that opportunity slip by?
We'll have to see what the future has in store for the not-so-tiny dancer.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
And if so, his appearance on 'How I Met Your Mother' this past Monday was just the tip of the iceberg.
Smith did appear in an episode of 'I Married A Princess' in 2005 ("Kids Take Over"), but that was a "reality" show starring Catherine Oxenberg and her husband Casper Van Diem.
But even before 'Dancing With The Stars', he would have fit in with several TV shows - 'Players', 'Listen Up!', and especially 'Arli$$'. How did that opportunity slip by?
We'll have to see what the future has in store for the not-so-tiny dancer.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
WEATHER OR NOT
O'bviously I know that there was no way to predict what the weather would be like for Super Bowl weekend when Monday night's episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' was taped weeks ago. However, they could have at least done something to suggest that it was a wintry February day when Barney ran into Emmitt Smith on the streets of New York.
It looked like it may as well have been autumn since Smith was walking around with his jacket unzipped, no layers of clothing underneath, no gloves, no hat. No indication that it was at that point in the teens outside.
So in this respect, Toobworld once again had to diverge from the real world. Apparently the warmer temperatures due to the El Nino effect that had vacated the area a week or so earlier in the Trueniverse still held thrall in the TV Universe.
Either that, or Emmitt Smith keeps warm by dancing, baby, dancing!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
It looked like it may as well have been autumn since Smith was walking around with his jacket unzipped, no layers of clothing underneath, no gloves, no hat. No indication that it was at that point in the teens outside.
So in this respect, Toobworld once again had to diverge from the real world. Apparently the warmer temperatures due to the El Nino effect that had vacated the area a week or so earlier in the Trueniverse still held thrall in the TV Universe.
Either that, or Emmitt Smith keeps warm by dancing, baby, dancing!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
RICE-A-RAMA
On Monday night, Jerry Rice - one of the best wide receivers ever in pro football - knocked off two of the three required fictional appearances as himself in Toobworld in order to join the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. Two shows, two networks (although CBS owns half of the CW).
Rice showed up first on CBS' 'The Class', as an old friend of Yonk Allen. After they worked on a speech they were going to give together at some charity, Jerry was going to treat Yonk to dinner at a steak house - even if Yonk had to go the sissy route and order salmon because of his out of control cholesterol level.
(Does anybody else get the idea that they're setting up Yonk for a stroke, or even death, to clear the path for his wife Nicole with Duncan?)
Then Jerry Rice was on 'The Game' at 9:30 on the CW to offer moral support when the Sabers didn't make it to the playoffs. (At least that's what I imagine he did. At the time it aired, I was on my way to work and was taping 'Heroes' instead.)
(By the way, even though 'The Game' aired an hour after 'The Class' began, it takes place earlier on the Toobworld timeline. The events of 'The Game' are clearly set pre-Super Bowl, since they transpire soon after the playoffs from a few weeks ago. On the other hand, nothing about Monday's episode of 'The Class' indicates that it shouldn't be considered as taking place in the week following the Super Bowl.)
If the arbitration committee wanted to induct Jerry Rice into the Hall immediately, he does have enough credits for inclusion. However, he'd be stuck with a Roger Maris asterisk on his name because his third qualification for entry was in a dream sequence.
On an episode of 'Cosby' ("Superstar"), Griffin dreamt of a world in which teachers had the same respect (and even better, the same pay scale!) as accorded to celebrities and pro athletes.
Along with Jerry Rice, Griffin was visited in his dream by the televersions of Emeril Lagasse, Doug Flutie, Mary Hart, Bryant Gumbel, Tom Wolfe, Patrick Ewing, Ahmad Rashad, John Lithgow, and even little Elmo from 'Sesame Street'. Technically, even though they were seen on TV, they weren't really appearing in Toobworld but instead in someone's dream.
However, if Griffin was dreaming of them, then he had to be aware of their existence. So it's a roundabout way of saying they have fictional versions of themselves in Toobworld.
Appearing on two different shows in one night is pretty impressive, but it's only halfway to the record. For a member of the League of Themselves, Elizabeth Taylor holds the record with four shows in one night as herself:
'The Nanny'
'Can't Hurry Love'
'Murphy Brown'
'High Society'
It was all part of a marathon P.R. stunt to tout Ms. Taylor's Black Pearls fragrance. And even then, La Liz only appeared on screen in the first two episodes. For 'Murphy Brown' she literally phoned it in, as she was going to be interviewed live on 'FYI' but then bowed out. As for 'High Society'? All you saw of her was a "stunt hand" reaching in to pick up her purloined pearls.
For a fully fictional fellow of Toobworld, Luther Van Dam of 'Coach' holds the record with four shows in one night:
'Grace Under Fire'
'The Drew Carey Show'
'Coach'
'Ellen'
He can't even claim a record for appearing on two networks in one night. That's held by the casts of 'Ally McBeal' on FOX and ABC's 'The Practice'.
But still, appearing on two shows in one night is nothing to sneeze at. So hat's off to you, Mr. Rice. Someday you'll be able to shout out:
"I'm going to Toobworld!"
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Rice showed up first on CBS' 'The Class', as an old friend of Yonk Allen. After they worked on a speech they were going to give together at some charity, Jerry was going to treat Yonk to dinner at a steak house - even if Yonk had to go the sissy route and order salmon because of his out of control cholesterol level.
(Does anybody else get the idea that they're setting up Yonk for a stroke, or even death, to clear the path for his wife Nicole with Duncan?)
Then Jerry Rice was on 'The Game' at 9:30 on the CW to offer moral support when the Sabers didn't make it to the playoffs. (At least that's what I imagine he did. At the time it aired, I was on my way to work and was taping 'Heroes' instead.)
(By the way, even though 'The Game' aired an hour after 'The Class' began, it takes place earlier on the Toobworld timeline. The events of 'The Game' are clearly set pre-Super Bowl, since they transpire soon after the playoffs from a few weeks ago. On the other hand, nothing about Monday's episode of 'The Class' indicates that it shouldn't be considered as taking place in the week following the Super Bowl.)
If the arbitration committee wanted to induct Jerry Rice into the Hall immediately, he does have enough credits for inclusion. However, he'd be stuck with a Roger Maris asterisk on his name because his third qualification for entry was in a dream sequence.
On an episode of 'Cosby' ("Superstar"), Griffin dreamt of a world in which teachers had the same respect (and even better, the same pay scale!) as accorded to celebrities and pro athletes.
Along with Jerry Rice, Griffin was visited in his dream by the televersions of Emeril Lagasse, Doug Flutie, Mary Hart, Bryant Gumbel, Tom Wolfe, Patrick Ewing, Ahmad Rashad, John Lithgow, and even little Elmo from 'Sesame Street'. Technically, even though they were seen on TV, they weren't really appearing in Toobworld but instead in someone's dream.
However, if Griffin was dreaming of them, then he had to be aware of their existence. So it's a roundabout way of saying they have fictional versions of themselves in Toobworld.
Appearing on two different shows in one night is pretty impressive, but it's only halfway to the record. For a member of the League of Themselves, Elizabeth Taylor holds the record with four shows in one night as herself:
'The Nanny'
'Can't Hurry Love'
'Murphy Brown'
'High Society'
It was all part of a marathon P.R. stunt to tout Ms. Taylor's Black Pearls fragrance. And even then, La Liz only appeared on screen in the first two episodes. For 'Murphy Brown' she literally phoned it in, as she was going to be interviewed live on 'FYI' but then bowed out. As for 'High Society'? All you saw of her was a "stunt hand" reaching in to pick up her purloined pearls.
For a fully fictional fellow of Toobworld, Luther Van Dam of 'Coach' holds the record with four shows in one night:
'Grace Under Fire'
'The Drew Carey Show'
'Coach'
'Ellen'
He can't even claim a record for appearing on two networks in one night. That's held by the casts of 'Ally McBeal' on FOX and ABC's 'The Practice'.
But still, appearing on two shows in one night is nothing to sneeze at. So hat's off to you, Mr. Rice. Someday you'll be able to shout out:
"I'm going to Toobworld!"
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"I felt like a rock star!"
Jerry Rice
Saturday, February 3, 2007
OF IDDIOTS & CAVEMEN
The Idiot's Delight Digest is an email group that's centered around legendary free-form radio deejay Vin Scelsa and his show. (But it's not slavishly adherent only to that topic.)
The IDD is the reason I wanted to get into the world of the Internet a dozen years ago and it's one of two groups I joined as soon as I got a computer. (The other was an "ElfQuest" fan fiction email listing holt called "Sky's Cradle".)
I've met well over 100 of my fellow "Iddiots" from all over the world, become good friends with many, even took on the responsibility of god-father to the daughter of one, and was... involved with a handful of them (not all at the same time).
That's what keeps me in the IDD - the people. Because I don't necessarily need it to read the posts. And yet I do - still after twelve years, I haven't become bored like I would in other e-list discussion groups which don't let you venture outside the topic. That's the great thing about the IDD, it still remains interesting to read because the Iddiots harp on an ever-expanding array of topics.
And that includes the Geico cavemen.
The Honorable Rich Metter Rich Metter (Yep, it's not redundant!) kicked off the topic:
Aren't those Geico commercials with the aggrieved caveman the cleverestcommercials you've seen in your life?
It's not always clear whether he's just being sarcastic though, but that's all that was needed for the other Iddiots to run with the subject:
What I want to know is this - is the decidedly gay undercurrent meant to be ironic and culturally subversive or deceptively not-so-subtle in an ostensibly *anti-gay* manner, all the while silently smiling with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge nod to the knowing?
siochain,
fred
listener neil:
Jesus! I thought he was Jewish . . .
Fred continued:
Of course he's Jewish! He's a friggin' caveman . . . ya know, like B.C. and all. In those days, *everybody* was Jewish! God, Neil, I thought you knew all this stuff . . .
But just because he's Jewish doesn't make him *automatically* gay - that seems to be the extra ingredient I am sensing . . . particularly the ad where they order food at the restaurant and the newer one when they are talking on a balcony patio at some party. There are at least 2, if not more, of the characters. The guy in the airport is *not* the guy at the therapist - at least not in my reading of the caveman universe. I think the airport guy is the one who doesn't order any food because he says he doesn't have much of an appetite. The guy at the therapist is the guy who orders the duck with the orange mango salsa, I believe.
I am unsure which character appeared in the 15-second spot of the annoyed caveman TV production guy storming of the set during the shooting of a Geico commercial . . . but I think he was wearing something vaguely reminiscent of Village People shorts . . .
All of which is very clever, as RMRM noted. Or "shmart", as a gay Jewish caveman might say . . .
As did Listener Neil:
That sounds a little like Edward G. Robinson. Who was Jewish. But not gay. Although he did collect art. But what you're also saying is that the B.C. guy is DC, not AC. Which is not PC.
Carrying on was Dr. Bobt:
Carrying the stereotype a bit further, the one that is in the therapist's office, after he answers his phone, says, "it's my mother....I'll put her on speakerphone."
running for cover,
bobt
This put a burr in JKeefe's Trash Mavericks saddle:
(How can all you) people could interpret a cave man as being Jewish.Will fucking wonders ever cease? Nope, guess not.
So don't try to lay this Boogie Woogie trash talkin' on the King of Asbury Twang & Roll...
More on this later.
Coach J.
As usual with the Digest, certain topics and threads of discussion become "entwined", as was the case with the Geico Cavemen and a thread about Ten Years After:
From he who is known as "Kiddrane":
Al Kooper is Jewish?
I Thought he was the guy who played the organ on Like A Rolling Stone?
Is he related to the caveman?
Then our resident Mademoiselle Francaise had this to parlezvou:
Where are the days of gekko commercials. Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist.
Colette
Having started it all, RMRM of course had to follow up on that one:
Colette writes, in reference to the Geico commercials featuring a modern-daycaveman:
"Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist."
Can you please elucidate? I'm especially interested since I was the one whofirst posted about my affection for these commercials, and I'd be shocked tofind out I'm endorsing racism. For the record, although I don't have anycaveman friends, I don't care what stage of the evolutionary cycle a personis from, as long as they are a nice person.
I know you have been victimized in your life for being a member of number ofminority groups. If I remember correctly, you are Jewish, a woman, French,an Intellectual, an Artiste, and (although this is conjecture on my part) a lady from outer space. Is it possible you are also a cavewoman?
And Big Dan brought it all down to MY level:
Rich Metter wrote: Can you please elucidate?
My mom aways said too much of that could make you go blind.
Adjusting my glasses,
Big Dan
And we heard from Karla as well:
I'll start by saying that I lovelovelove the Geico caveman commercials. I don't get how they sell car insurance, but they entertain me.
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
My tele-fanatic frind Nora Lee found this link:
http://www.slate.com/id/2123285
This is the closest I could find to an article I read or story I heard on the radio that explained the entirety of the Geico campaign. That each series, the Gekko, the cavemen, the celebrity repeaters, etc. (at least I think I'm remembering right that they are all Geico), each appeals to a different type of insurance or way of getting insurance or different niche of the market that isn't getting insurance, or specifically Geico insurance, for a specific reason. And I wasn't vs. having the Gekko on the tunnel or bridge entrances in NJ.
Adweek in a bunch of articles says that the cavemen are specifically intended to be from L.A. There's a new commercial coming, or may be on but I haven't seen it yet, that has a caveman in LAX seeing an "offensive" ad. The articles also say that because the ads now have "a following" they'll continue to make new ones.
The discussion about the ethnic or whatever implications of the very funny ads makes me wonder what kind of "rehab" is Isiah Washington in? One that takes one's foot out of one's mouth?
Colette finally responded to Rich Metter Rich Metter:
Hi Rich,
Yes I am from outer space, and I look just like the gekko replacement.
So add this one to the list. I remember telling IDD that some of our first ancestors, after leaving Africa for India, decided to stop on an island near the Indian coast, and still today some of them refuse to live modern life. Some say it's because some of their brothers started smoking and doing drugs when "civilization" was brought to them..I quote an article here, I never went there to verify if these more modern islanders are in a desperate state of addiction.
As for the ones that still refuse modernity, they had to be forcibly rescued from the tsunami. Then they asked to be kept separated from the general population of the Indian hospital where they were being brought back to health by their rescuers.
When I come across one of these commercials, I always think of these island people's reaction to "civilization". It makes me uneasy, and of course, it brings back memories of the older movies where "negroes" had unglamourous roles (servants, vaudevillians...)
It is possible that the commercials' makers have very good intentions. They might be evolutionists, recognize who our ancestors really are, and feel brotherly ties to their cats, dogs, fish, and also the tiny living cells in the magma that Earth once was. Why not make a real movie about the topic, instead of clumsy commercials.
Colette
fred tried to bring a peacable end to the topic:
Karla writes:
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
I think Karla wins.
Particularly on the objective, "factual" basis, if the source Nora Lee cited about the cavemen being designed to represent the West Coast persona is accurate and correct.
But I also think that the ads, like anything else we perceive in the media, serve also as a Rorschach test when we actually stop to think about our reactions to them, what they seem to be saying to us individually and how we interpret what the meaning may suggest about the companies or agencies behind them. And, in the case of tv commercials, when we actually go that l-o-n-g extra step and discuss them as anything more than ephemeral video mental floss.
In any case - I have been contracted by Geico to do both a semiotic analysis of the entire cavemen ad series from *my* initial perspective on the implications of "risky" gay lifestyles and the associated psychological need for the sense of security that insurance, writ large, can have for said market. Phase two of the paper will deal with the secondary and tertiary cultural readings involving ethnic and geographic stereotypes (having addressed already the primary sexual-orientation reading) and it's affect on both the effectiveness (positive/negative, short-term/long-term, etc) of the branding of Geico and also the new media and new technology platforms that represent possible and logical character extension opportunities for the cavemen.
"Professor" kidd:
I have conducted a poll of my children and their friends -- I have three children ranging in age from 17 to 27 (Yes a wide gap). Including their friends the poll includes approximately 30 individuals from this age group.
When asked about the Geico commercial -- All 100% responded that it is amusing and they have no concept or idea related to any thing being racially motivated. Several commented that MY (our) age group tend to over think things.
In part I learned during my poll that most from the 17 to 27 year old generation feel MY (our) age group spend too much time analyzing what is just another form of entertainment.
Everyone from this demographic as in 100% have little or no concerns about what religion some one may be. They furthermore do not care at all what sexual orientation one may be.
And finally, Cousin Steve provides the blipvert campaign analysis:
What I don't get about these Geico campaigns is why they are all over the place thematically.
You've been discussing the Caveman theme.
They had that little green Gekko going for a while.
They still have the celebrity interpretive campaign, that's where Burt Bacharach, Little Richard, or that that from the movie promo reels interprets the customer's experience with the company.
Pretty soon, they will realize that the cost of advertising is going to have to be passed on to their customers. Then, Zoom, there go the insurance rates.
Finally....
Out of sequence, but Walr@ had this comment, which gives it a nice bit o' closure:
Thanks. I'll go put on some tangerine lip gloss and read the article......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
The IDD is the reason I wanted to get into the world of the Internet a dozen years ago and it's one of two groups I joined as soon as I got a computer. (The other was an "ElfQuest" fan fiction email listing holt called "Sky's Cradle".)
I've met well over 100 of my fellow "Iddiots" from all over the world, become good friends with many, even took on the responsibility of god-father to the daughter of one, and was... involved with a handful of them (not all at the same time).
That's what keeps me in the IDD - the people. Because I don't necessarily need it to read the posts. And yet I do - still after twelve years, I haven't become bored like I would in other e-list discussion groups which don't let you venture outside the topic. That's the great thing about the IDD, it still remains interesting to read because the Iddiots harp on an ever-expanding array of topics.
And that includes the Geico cavemen.
The Honorable Rich Metter Rich Metter (Yep, it's not redundant!) kicked off the topic:
Aren't those Geico commercials with the aggrieved caveman the cleverestcommercials you've seen in your life?
It's not always clear whether he's just being sarcastic though, but that's all that was needed for the other Iddiots to run with the subject:
What I want to know is this - is the decidedly gay undercurrent meant to be ironic and culturally subversive or deceptively not-so-subtle in an ostensibly *anti-gay* manner, all the while silently smiling with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge nod to the knowing?
siochain,
fred
listener neil:
Jesus! I thought he was Jewish . . .
Fred continued:
Of course he's Jewish! He's a friggin' caveman . . . ya know, like B.C. and all. In those days, *everybody* was Jewish! God, Neil, I thought you knew all this stuff . . .
But just because he's Jewish doesn't make him *automatically* gay - that seems to be the extra ingredient I am sensing . . . particularly the ad where they order food at the restaurant and the newer one when they are talking on a balcony patio at some party. There are at least 2, if not more, of the characters. The guy in the airport is *not* the guy at the therapist - at least not in my reading of the caveman universe. I think the airport guy is the one who doesn't order any food because he says he doesn't have much of an appetite. The guy at the therapist is the guy who orders the duck with the orange mango salsa, I believe.
I am unsure which character appeared in the 15-second spot of the annoyed caveman TV production guy storming of the set during the shooting of a Geico commercial . . . but I think he was wearing something vaguely reminiscent of Village People shorts . . .
All of which is very clever, as RMRM noted. Or "shmart", as a gay Jewish caveman might say . . .
As did Listener Neil:
That sounds a little like Edward G. Robinson. Who was Jewish. But not gay. Although he did collect art. But what you're also saying is that the B.C. guy is DC, not AC. Which is not PC.
Carrying on was Dr. Bobt:
Carrying the stereotype a bit further, the one that is in the therapist's office, after he answers his phone, says, "it's my mother....I'll put her on speakerphone."
running for cover,
bobt
This put a burr in JKeefe's Trash Mavericks saddle:
(How can all you) people could interpret a cave man as being Jewish.Will fucking wonders ever cease? Nope, guess not.
So don't try to lay this Boogie Woogie trash talkin' on the King of Asbury Twang & Roll...
Coach J.
As usual with the Digest, certain topics and threads of discussion become "entwined", as was the case with the Geico Cavemen and a thread about Ten Years After:
From he who is known as "Kiddrane":
Al Kooper is Jewish?
I Thought he was the guy who played the organ on Like A Rolling Stone?
Is he related to the caveman?
Then our resident Mademoiselle Francaise had this to parlezvou:
Where are the days of gekko commercials. Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist.
Colette
Having started it all, RMRM of course had to follow up on that one:
Colette writes, in reference to the Geico commercials featuring a modern-daycaveman:
"Ever since the gekko left, these commercials have been unbearably racist."
Can you please elucidate? I'm especially interested since I was the one whofirst posted about my affection for these commercials, and I'd be shocked tofind out I'm endorsing racism. For the record, although I don't have anycaveman friends, I don't care what stage of the evolutionary cycle a personis from, as long as they are a nice person.
I know you have been victimized in your life for being a member of number ofminority groups. If I remember correctly, you are Jewish, a woman, French,an Intellectual, an Artiste, and (although this is conjecture on my part) a lady from outer space. Is it possible you are also a cavewoman?
And Big Dan brought it all down to MY level:
Rich Metter wrote: Can you please elucidate?
My mom aways said too much of that could make you go blind.
Adjusting my glasses,
Big Dan
And we heard from Karla as well:
I'll start by saying that I lovelovelove the Geico caveman commercials. I don't get how they sell car insurance, but they entertain me.
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
My tele-fanatic frind Nora Lee found this link:
http://www.slate.com/id/2123285
This is the closest I could find to an article I read or story I heard on the radio that explained the entirety of the Geico campaign. That each series, the Gekko, the cavemen, the celebrity repeaters, etc. (at least I think I'm remembering right that they are all Geico), each appeals to a different type of insurance or way of getting insurance or different niche of the market that isn't getting insurance, or specifically Geico insurance, for a specific reason. And I wasn't vs. having the Gekko on the tunnel or bridge entrances in NJ.
Adweek in a bunch of articles says that the cavemen are specifically intended to be from L.A. There's a new commercial coming, or may be on but I haven't seen it yet, that has a caveman in LAX seeing an "offensive" ad. The articles also say that because the ads now have "a following" they'll continue to make new ones.
The discussion about the ethnic or whatever implications of the very funny ads makes me wonder what kind of "rehab" is Isiah Washington in? One that takes one's foot out of one's mouth?
Colette finally responded to Rich Metter Rich Metter:
Hi Rich,
Yes I am from outer space, and I look just like the gekko replacement.
So add this one to the list. I remember telling IDD that some of our first ancestors, after leaving Africa for India, decided to stop on an island near the Indian coast, and still today some of them refuse to live modern life. Some say it's because some of their brothers started smoking and doing drugs when "civilization" was brought to them..I quote an article here, I never went there to verify if these more modern islanders are in a desperate state of addiction.
As for the ones that still refuse modernity, they had to be forcibly rescued from the tsunami. Then they asked to be kept separated from the general population of the Indian hospital where they were being brought back to health by their rescuers.
When I come across one of these commercials, I always think of these island people's reaction to "civilization". It makes me uneasy, and of course, it brings back memories of the older movies where "negroes" had unglamourous roles (servants, vaudevillians...)
It is possible that the commercials' makers have very good intentions. They might be evolutionists, recognize who our ancestors really are, and feel brotherly ties to their cats, dogs, fish, and also the tiny living cells in the magma that Earth once was. Why not make a real movie about the topic, instead of clumsy commercials.
Colette
fred tried to bring a peacable end to the topic:
Karla writes:
I never thought the cavemen seemed gay or Jewish. I just thought they seemed very L.A.
Which I suppose is kinda gayish, kinda Jewishish.
I think Karla wins.
Particularly on the objective, "factual" basis, if the source Nora Lee cited about the cavemen being designed to represent the West Coast persona is accurate and correct.
But I also think that the ads, like anything else we perceive in the media, serve also as a Rorschach test when we actually stop to think about our reactions to them, what they seem to be saying to us individually and how we interpret what the meaning may suggest about the companies or agencies behind them. And, in the case of tv commercials, when we actually go that l-o-n-g extra step and discuss them as anything more than ephemeral video mental floss.
In any case - I have been contracted by Geico to do both a semiotic analysis of the entire cavemen ad series from *my* initial perspective on the implications of "risky" gay lifestyles and the associated psychological need for the sense of security that insurance, writ large, can have for said market. Phase two of the paper will deal with the secondary and tertiary cultural readings involving ethnic and geographic stereotypes (having addressed already the primary sexual-orientation reading) and it's affect on both the effectiveness (positive/negative, short-term/long-term, etc) of the branding of Geico and also the new media and new technology platforms that represent possible and logical character extension opportunities for the cavemen.
"Professor" kidd:
I have conducted a poll of my children and their friends -- I have three children ranging in age from 17 to 27 (Yes a wide gap). Including their friends the poll includes approximately 30 individuals from this age group.
When asked about the Geico commercial -- All 100% responded that it is amusing and they have no concept or idea related to any thing being racially motivated. Several commented that MY (our) age group tend to over think things.
In part I learned during my poll that most from the 17 to 27 year old generation feel MY (our) age group spend too much time analyzing what is just another form of entertainment.
Everyone from this demographic as in 100% have little or no concerns about what religion some one may be. They furthermore do not care at all what sexual orientation one may be.
And finally, Cousin Steve provides the blipvert campaign analysis:
What I don't get about these Geico campaigns is why they are all over the place thematically.
You've been discussing the Caveman theme.
They had that little green Gekko going for a while.
They still have the celebrity interpretive campaign, that's where Burt Bacharach, Little Richard, or that that from the movie promo reels interprets the customer's experience with the company.
Pretty soon, they will realize that the cost of advertising is going to have to be passed on to their customers. Then, Zoom, there go the insurance rates.
Finally....
Out of sequence, but Walr@ had this comment, which gives it a nice bit o' closure:
Thanks. I'll go put on some tangerine lip gloss and read the article......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, February 1, 2007
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES: BURNT SIENNA
Talk show appearances, variety show hosting duties, and game show participations don't normally count towards one's body of work in the League of Themselves, unless there was something unbelievably astounding about it. At best, such appearances on TV as one's self can be used to flavor the tally as colorful anecdotes.
That's certainly what happened for Sienna Miller yesterday, when the actress used that most popular of words in the dictionary of colorful language, "the F-Bomb".
Miller was on 'Today', probably touting her upcoming movie "Factory Girl". The camera showed her in advance of her appearance, sitting near the window sill with the outside crowds behind her as the show prepped to go into a commercial break.
Miller squirmed a bit from the unexpected attention and then gave a weak little wave just as the camera faded to black. But just before all contact was lost, you can clearly hear her mutter that F-Bomb.
And we're out!
You can see it for yourself here.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
That's certainly what happened for Sienna Miller yesterday, when the actress used that most popular of words in the dictionary of colorful language, "the F-Bomb".
Miller was on 'Today', probably touting her upcoming movie "Factory Girl". The camera showed her in advance of her appearance, sitting near the window sill with the outside crowds behind her as the show prepped to go into a commercial break.
Miller squirmed a bit from the unexpected attention and then gave a weak little wave just as the camera faded to black. But just before all contact was lost, you can clearly hear her mutter that F-Bomb.
And we're out!
You can see it for yourself here.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
02/07 TVXOHOF: MAID OF HONOR
I never understood why there was such a fuss made about 'Amos And Andy' being racially offensive and politically incorrect. Maybe that could be said about the radio version which spawned the TV show (since the characters were voiced by white men), but not the TV series.
I've seen a few episodes of the show and I just don't get that "offensive" angle. For the most part the characters were decent and hard-working and the situations they found themselves in were already to be found in sitcoms about white people. To me, the Kingfish scamming Amos and Andy could be translated into Ralph and Norton getting conned by Bilko.
If anything, I always found the characters on 'Good Times' to be more offensive and stereotypical, and yet that gets a berth on the TV Land sked.
Many of the shows that came out of the Lear/Yorkin factory in the mid-1970s utilized all kinds of stereotypes, no matter the race. But then they found a way to turn it on its head to illustrate some facet of the human condition.
And one of these stereotypes was that of the sassy, back-talking black maid which were especially prevalent in the early talkies of the thirties.
But for the 1970s, she was refashioned into a character played by Marla Gibbs on 'The Jeffersons'. Florence Johnston proved to be so popular, her character even moved in with George and Weezie and was eventually spun off into her own show.
Here's some relevant information from Wikipedia about Florence:
Florence was hired as a maid for George and Louise Jefferson. Originally, she was a recurring character; it was explained that she worked for the Jeffersons only a few days a week. Gibbs' character was popular, and she began appearing in more episodes.
In the episode "Louise Gets Her Way" (aired early in the third season), Florence moved in as a full-time maid after Florence explains to Louise that she had been evicted from her apartment building, which was scheduled to be razed. George, who is already tired of Florence's wisecracks and has not been consulted on allowing her to live with them, finds out and not only fires Florence, he kicks her out. However, Florence — thanks to her constant eavesdropping on phone conversations — is able to save George from falling victim to a crooked business deal, and he agrees to let her stay.
Florence and George often exchanged wisecracks, especially in the early years of the show. She usually took Louise's side when Louise and George argued. In later years, she found creative ways to avoid doing any work. Below is a good example:
The doorbell rings.
Louise: "Aren't you going to answer that?"
Florence: "You're closer"
When George had a potential client (a hotel owner) at his apartment to schmooze, Florence's wisecracks caused the visitor to offer her a job overseeing the housekeepers at his hotel. This was how they introduced the spinoff show Checking In. After only four episodes, Checking In was cancelled. Florence returned to The Jeffersons. On the show, it was mentioned that the hotel burned down.
In later years, the relationship between George and Florence improved, to the point that George included her in his will and put money away for her retirement.
[Thanks to Wikipedia for the information.]
After 'The Jeffersons' left the air, Florence still showed up in Toobworld. Three years ago, she enjoyed a trip to a tropical resort which was probably hosting a convention for "domestic engineers", as also present at the resort were maids and butlers like Alice ('The Brady Bunch'), Benson ('Soap', 'Benson'), Rosario ('Will & Grace') and Geoffrey ('The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'). (This happened in a Swiffer blipvert which used to be available for viewing at www.homemadesimple.com, but alas! I don't see it listed there anymore.)
The connection to the Will Smith sitcom was actually established years earlier when Florence showed up in the sixth season episode "I, Done (Part Two)". That was the series finale in which the Jeffersons bought the mansion and planned to move in by Memorial Day. So it looks as though Florence has also living in California this past decade.
Marla Gibbs has also appeared in commercials for Sears (1984), the long distance phone service 10-10-321 (1998) and Doublemint Chewing Gum (2001). I can't verify this, but I would think that she was in character as Florence Johnston. This argument could be made especially for the phone carrier, as they used other actors as they looked in their more familiar roles, like Christopher Lloyd as taxi driver Reverend Jim Ignatowski.
But at any rate, with the appearance on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' finale, in the Swiffer ad, and with her own spinoff 'Checking In', the maid for 'The Jeffersons' was certainly moving on up for herself.
And as such, she is being inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for February, 2007, in honor of Black History Month. And there she will join her employers, George and Louise Jefferson, who were inducted together in February of 2002.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I've seen a few episodes of the show and I just don't get that "offensive" angle. For the most part the characters were decent and hard-working and the situations they found themselves in were already to be found in sitcoms about white people. To me, the Kingfish scamming Amos and Andy could be translated into Ralph and Norton getting conned by Bilko.
If anything, I always found the characters on 'Good Times' to be more offensive and stereotypical, and yet that gets a berth on the TV Land sked.
Many of the shows that came out of the Lear/Yorkin factory in the mid-1970s utilized all kinds of stereotypes, no matter the race. But then they found a way to turn it on its head to illustrate some facet of the human condition.
And one of these stereotypes was that of the sassy, back-talking black maid which were especially prevalent in the early talkies of the thirties.
But for the 1970s, she was refashioned into a character played by Marla Gibbs on 'The Jeffersons'. Florence Johnston proved to be so popular, her character even moved in with George and Weezie and was eventually spun off into her own show.
Here's some relevant information from Wikipedia about Florence:
Florence was hired as a maid for George and Louise Jefferson. Originally, she was a recurring character; it was explained that she worked for the Jeffersons only a few days a week. Gibbs' character was popular, and she began appearing in more episodes.
In the episode "Louise Gets Her Way" (aired early in the third season), Florence moved in as a full-time maid after Florence explains to Louise that she had been evicted from her apartment building, which was scheduled to be razed. George, who is already tired of Florence's wisecracks and has not been consulted on allowing her to live with them, finds out and not only fires Florence, he kicks her out. However, Florence — thanks to her constant eavesdropping on phone conversations — is able to save George from falling victim to a crooked business deal, and he agrees to let her stay.
Florence and George often exchanged wisecracks, especially in the early years of the show. She usually took Louise's side when Louise and George argued. In later years, she found creative ways to avoid doing any work. Below is a good example:
The doorbell rings.
Louise: "Aren't you going to answer that?"
Florence: "You're closer"
When George had a potential client (a hotel owner) at his apartment to schmooze, Florence's wisecracks caused the visitor to offer her a job overseeing the housekeepers at his hotel. This was how they introduced the spinoff show Checking In. After only four episodes, Checking In was cancelled. Florence returned to The Jeffersons. On the show, it was mentioned that the hotel burned down.
In later years, the relationship between George and Florence improved, to the point that George included her in his will and put money away for her retirement.
[Thanks to Wikipedia for the information.]
After 'The Jeffersons' left the air, Florence still showed up in Toobworld. Three years ago, she enjoyed a trip to a tropical resort which was probably hosting a convention for "domestic engineers", as also present at the resort were maids and butlers like Alice ('The Brady Bunch'), Benson ('Soap', 'Benson'), Rosario ('Will & Grace') and Geoffrey ('The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'). (This happened in a Swiffer blipvert which used to be available for viewing at www.homemadesimple.com, but alas! I don't see it listed there anymore.)
The connection to the Will Smith sitcom was actually established years earlier when Florence showed up in the sixth season episode "I, Done (Part Two)". That was the series finale in which the Jeffersons bought the mansion and planned to move in by Memorial Day. So it looks as though Florence has also living in California this past decade.
Marla Gibbs has also appeared in commercials for Sears (1984), the long distance phone service 10-10-321 (1998) and Doublemint Chewing Gum (2001). I can't verify this, but I would think that she was in character as Florence Johnston. This argument could be made especially for the phone carrier, as they used other actors as they looked in their more familiar roles, like Christopher Lloyd as taxi driver Reverend Jim Ignatowski.
But at any rate, with the appearance on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' finale, in the Swiffer ad, and with her own spinoff 'Checking In', the maid for 'The Jeffersons' was certainly moving on up for herself.
And as such, she is being inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for February, 2007, in honor of Black History Month. And there she will join her employers, George and Louise Jefferson, who were inducted together in February of 2002.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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