I was watching TV (as I’m known to do on occasion) and I saw commercial for the Schick Quattro For Women Trimstyle. For those of you who don’t know what it is it a razor that also has a trimmer on the other end of it. Now while this is marketed for Men as a beard trimmer, when marketed to women they call it a “bikini trimmer”.

(The actual hedge and bush trimming in the commercials as empowered attractive women walk by is hysterical watch it again incase you missed it)

While I’m all for bikini trimming, it just made me think how far we have come and what television is willing to advertise now. Not to sound old but I remember when the first condom commercial aired on TV, or at least I remember it being controversial if I didn’t exactly see it. Which according to the internets was in 1991 by the Fox Network. Since then Condom ads are pretty common although Fox, the ones who broke the original barrier (no pun intended), recently opposed a commercial by Trojan for thier “Evolve” campaign depicting men as pigs, unless they are willing to use a condom. Fox opposed this commercial because they say it had nothing to do with the health benefits of condoms. I can’t help but think it also has something to do with the fact that since 1991 they’ve created a niche market as the voice of Conservative America (see Also Fox News).; More can be read on that particular commercial here in a NY Times Article

and the commercial can be seen here;
[Read more →]

So everyone is concerned about swine flu and such, but I really think this a great opportunity to make Great Television people!When the inevitable zombie outbreak happens due to the swine flu I’m going to create and star in a new reality series for VH1 called “Apocalypse of Love”

I’m going to live in a specially fortified commune hidden deep in Alaska with 14 sexy ladies. These ladies will compete for permanent residency within the commune walls. These women will be from diverse backgrounds and all bring unique skills to the table. They will include; a doctor, farmer, athlete, mechanic, Mensa member, carpenter, painter/poet, solider and of course six drunken party girls. They will compete in numerous challenges like creating a melee weapon from household items, making pizza from scratch, fixing generators, and of course an obstacle course. [Read more →]

Study claims that Crime Dramas make you eat and shop more.

An article on MSNBC puts forward a claim that our favorite crime dramas make us more willing to lay down money for goods. Its an interesting theory. In today’s society many of us seem to use purchases as a “pick me up” or sweet snacks as indulgences and rewards for a rough day at work. But are we really so influenced by the images on TV that it makes us run for the store or fridge.

“We found that when people think about the fact that they’re going to die someday — not now, but someday — they want to consume more of everything,” says Naomi Mandel, co-author of the study

While the study explores the theory and takes Television itself out of the equation I can’t help but feel a little bit like they are putting the cart before the horse. Like my avid defense of Diet soda ( I <3 Diet Pepsi) in the face of those accusations that “Diet Soda makes you fat” I always contend that “No if you are Fat you are more likely to drink Diet soda!”. I feel theories like this while grounded in reality tend to look at things in a vacuum that does not exist in reality.

One if you are a Crime time TV fan you end up watching tons of commercials meant to get you to buy things. I’d like to see this study examine fans of the Sopranos and The Wire shows which are just as graphic (if not More so) but have no advertising running in the show.

Also if you think about the average couch potato, aren’t you more likely to go snack if you are watching a marathon of your favorite show, where its CSI; Miami or Extreme Home Make Over? I’d love further examination of this theory in regards to other types of shows. Does America’s Next Top Model make you want to buy make up, or become bulimic? What happens when you watch too many Seinfeld reruns?

“Consumers, especially those with a lower self-esteem, may be more susceptible to overconsumption when confronted with images of death during the news or their favorite crime scene investigation shows,” Mandel concludes in her study. “

I do believe that this is somehow true. That when faced with mortality and death our society doesn’t really have an outlet to express concerns and fears for these things, so we do as we have been trained “consume, and you will feel better” There is comfort in food, new shoes, new sheets, new cell phone, and new 46 inch Plasma HDTV* which will make your favorite crime dramas even MORE Graphic!!

*Santa, that last one is on my list

The rest of the article is linked here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26513442/