This Post May Offend You…

July 30th, 2008 by david lay

…if it does, I don’t care.

I work for an online advertising company, and I am all for creative advertising as I know how difficult it can be to brand a business, gain an audience, and then maintain that branding over time. But it seems that we now live in a day and age where creativity and humor are being a stifled by a very small group of people who seemingly look for reasons to be “offended”.

I think that being offended is the biggest crock in history. I know that there are often times that people may say or do things that may make other people uncomfortable for various reasons, but I think people use “being offended” as a way to direct attention towards themselves and towards issues that they think are politically correct. It makes them feel better about their bleeding hearts and look better to others.

There is a place in our society for some level of political correctness, but the ridiculously extreme pc movement is so out of hand now that it makes me laugh - which is probably not the politically correct thing for me to do.

A recent Ad Age article explores a couple of the most recent Television Ads that were complained about enough for their companies (Verizon and Mars Candy, respectively) take them off the air. When I first watched them, I knew there were considered offensive, but I couldn’t figure out why. I guess I just don’t have the discernment of some people.

Watch them and judge for yourself:

This one is not really that funny, but otherwise I get the point and I am baffled that people are offended by its portrayal of Pittbulls as vicious. They’re guard dogs, people. They’re supposed to attack intruders!

This next one actually is very funny! I am a sucker for anything with Mr. T in it and I had seen this one before but was by no means offended. Let me know what you think.

Stu the Wise sent me this article, again from Ad Age, that outlines a few more complaints that people have had in the past about offensive ads. I highly suggest you read it - it’s some of the most hilariously ludicrous material I’ve read in a while.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 7 Comments

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

July 30th, 2008 by david lay

I usually get excited about new Harry Potter movies coming out, I ain’t gonna lie. But the new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince looks awesome by any standards. It personifies the darkness and tension of the book so well. I just hope the rest of the movie is as good as this first glimpse.

Have a look.

Posted in Movies | 2 Comments

Damnburger

July 23rd, 2008 by david lay

Its been a long time, and I couldn’t resist sharing this clip. Thanks to Greg and his golf blog for showing me this morsel of funniness.

Posted in Movies | 1 Comment

Eddie Murphy Calling it Quits (Sort of)

July 1st, 2008 by david lay

In the “wow, I didn’t see that coming, though maybe I should have” department, we get word today that Eddie Murphy has made his last film and now plans to retire from Hollywood and go back to the stage and continue his career as a standup comedian.

“I have close to 50 movies and it’s like, why am I in the movies?” he said, “I’ve done that part now. I’ll go back to the stage.”

Murphy who is now 47 said that there is indeed a Beverly Hills Cop 4 picture in the works, but he has opted out of it because it “wasn’t ready to be done.”

I found my jaw dropping this morning when I read that Eddie was retiring from film because after films like Pluto Nash, Norbit, and Daddy Day Care, I figured that he obviously didn’t care if his films sucked.

But then again, after Pluto Nash, Norbit, and Daddy Day Care, it’s pretty hard to deny that your films suck and maybe you should go back to doing what made you popular. Maybe after a couple trips back around the comedy circuit, he’ll be fresh enough again to get back into the motion picture business - but let’s not count on that.

I really think this is a great decision by Eddie, and an opportunity to regain his popularity and to return to the headlines, instead of the punch lines.

Posted in Tribute, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments