The Banned and the Unbanned: A Tale of Two Ads

April 17th, 2009 by david lay

Television commercials work, that’s why they are still around - and why advertisers are still paying top dollar for 30 second slots of television time during popular programs, sporting events and news broadcasts. Even now, during the age of TiVo and the DVR, television commercials still manage to make an impact. If the medium was obsolete, there wouldn’t likely be so much uproar over “offensive” TV ads.

When I heard a news teaser yesterday about a new Burger King ad being pulled off the air for being “offensive” I knew exactly which one it was. I had seen it several times, and thought it was mildly funny, but I knew that it wouldn’t be long before some people would be up in arms about it.

Oh, I get it. SpongeBob SQUARE pants! And as a product of the MTV generation, I know that song well. But I figured that many parents would think it inappropriate, as the ad is for a Kid’s Meal.

But guess what? That’s not the ad in question at all - apparently no one has a problem with using booty shaking and an extremely sexual song to promote a product geared towards children.

Nope, the ad that has been banned by Burger King is this one, for BK’s Texican Whopper:

My first thought was that it is “offensive” to professional wrestlers, but apparently that’s not it. According to the Houston Chronicle, the ad is “offensive” in “half a dozen ways”, including the argument that the cape worn by the luchador looks too much like the Mexican national flag, and that the pool scene looked as if it were implying that the Mexican character was swimming across the Rio Grande.

I’m speechless. Maybe I’m insensitive, but I watched that ad five times, and never made either of those connections.

While neither of these BK ads really offends me, it’s the first one that I would have suspected of drawing the fire… But what the heck do I know?


Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 4 Comments

Great Oscar Moments

February 20th, 2009 by david lay

The Oscars are only a couple of days away, and since this is the least hyped Academy Awards season EVER, I thought I’d share some memorable Oscar Moments of days gone by.

Obviously some of these are before my time, but they are all poignant and have molded the Academy Awards show into what it is today:

Roberto Benigni Goes Nuts

Sally Field - “You Really Like Me”

So, the Academy is ridiculous, so the rest of these aren’t embedding properly, but if you double click you can watch them at the YouTube Page.

Jack Palance Finally Wins After 40+ Years in Hollywood

Scorsese’s LONG Overdue Directing Oscar

Princess Little Feather Accepts for Marlon Brando

Charlie Chaplin Gets a Long-Deserved Oscar


Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

I Miss Arrested Development

February 18th, 2009 by david lay

Dear Arrested Development,

I miss you. Please begin filming Arrested Development: The Movie soon.

The End.




Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

Rourke to Fight for Realsies?

January 28th, 2009 by david lay

I loved Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, and I was a big fan of the WWE and WCW when I was a kid, and the movie brought back a lot of memories. I particularly remember some of the novelty matches when non-wrestlers would have ‘arguments’ with some of the stars and become part of the action at the next pay-per-view event. Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, Jay Leno and Lawrence Taylor were a few that I remember specifically.

Now it looks as if Randy ‘The Ram’ may be the next to enter the pay per view world as Mickey Rourke seems to be taking his personae into the WWE. Rumors have persisted for the last few weeks that the WWE may be looking to capitalize on Rourke’s success by bringing his character into the storylines leading up to WrestleMania - certainly The Wrestler would naturally share a huge fanbase with the WWE and vice versa.

On Larry King Live last night one of the WWE Superstars, Chris Jericho, “called out” Rourke, further implying that a match may be imminent.

I am all about viral advertising and I know how rabid WWE fans can be, so I think this could be a huge partnership for the WWE as well The Wrestler, which I consider to be solidly in the top three films of the year.


Posted in Television, Sports, Events, Movies | 1 Comment

Screen Actors Guild Award Winners - 2009

January 27th, 2009 by david lay

The SAG awards were held last night in Hollywood. I like the SAGs because they offer the actors to adjudicate their peers for their work in both film and television. No awards for writing or directing - only for acting performances.

Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) from last night:

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Primetime Television

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • LAURA DERN as Katherine Harris - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
  • LAURA LINNEY as Abigail Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
  • SHIRLEY MacLAINE as Coco Chanel - “COCO CHANEL” (Lifetime)
  • PHYLICIA RASHAD as Lena Younger - “A RAISIN IN THE SUN” (ABC)
  • SUSAN SARANDON as Doris Duke - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

  • RALPH FIENNES as Bernard Lafferty - “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)
  • PAUL GIAMATTI as John Adams - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
  • KEVIN SPACEY as Ron Klain - “RECOUNT” (HBO)
  • KIEFER SUTHERLAND as Jack Bauer - “24: REDEMPTION” (FOX)
  • TOM WILKINSON as Benjamin Franklin - “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

  • SALLY FIELD as Nora Walker - “BROTHERS & SISTERS” (ABC)
  • MARISKA HARGITAY as Det. Olivia Benson - “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (NBC)
  • HOLLY HUNTER as Grace Hanadarko - “SAVING GRACE” (TNT)
  • ELISABETH MOSS as Peggy Olson - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
  • KYRA SEDGWICK as Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson - “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

  • MICHAEL C. HALL as Dexter Morgan - “DEXTER” (Showtime)
  • JON HAMM as Don Draper - “MAD MEN” (AMC)
  • HUGH LAURIE as Gregory House - “HOUSE” (FOX)
  • WILLIAM SHATNER as Denny Crane - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)
  • JAMES SPADER as Alan Shore - “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

  • CHRISTINA APPLEGATE as Samantha Newly - “SAMANTHA WHO?” (ABC)
  • AMERICA FERRERA as Betty Suarez - “UGLY BETTY” (ABC)
  • TINA FEY as Liz Lemon - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
  • MARY-LOUISE PARKER as Nancy Botwin - “WEEDS” (Showtime)
  • TRACEY ULLMAN as Various Characters - “TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

  • ALEC BALDWIN as Jack Donaghy - “30 ROCK” (NBC)
  • STEVE CARELL as Michael Scott - “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
  • DAVID DUCHOVNY as Hank Moody - “CALIFORNICATION” (Showtime)
  • JEREMY PIVEN as Ari Gold - “ENTOURAGE” (HBO)
  • TONY SHALHOUB as Adrian Monk - “MONK” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

  • BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
  • THE CLOSER (TNT)
  • DEXTER (Showtime)
  • HOUSE (Fox)
  • MAD MEN (AMC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

  • 30 ROCK (NBC)
  • DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
  • ENTOURAGE (HBO)
  • THE OFFICE (NBC)
  • WEEDS (Showtime)

Awards for Outstanding Performances in Film

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

  • AMY ADAMS as Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • PENÉLOPE CRUZ as Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
  • VIOLA DAVIS as Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • TARAJI P. HENSON as Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
  • KATE WINSLET as Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

  • JOSH BROLIN as Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features)
  • ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. as Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures)
  • PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN as Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • HEATH LEDGER as Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
  • DEV PATEL as Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

  • ANNE HATHAWAY as Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • ANGELINA JOLIE as Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
  • MELISSA LEO as Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • MERYL STREEP as Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
  • KATE WINSLET as April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

  • RICHARD JENKINS as Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
  • FRANK LANGELLA as Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
  • SEAN PENN as Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
  • BRAD PITT as Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
  • MICKEY ROURKE as Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

  • THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
  • DOUBT (Miramax)
  • FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
  • MILK (Focus Features)
  • SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)


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2009 Oscar Nominees

January 22nd, 2009 by david lay

The Oscar Nominees were announced this morning at their always way-to-early press conferences. Pretty strong lists this year in my opinion.
Here are the major category nominees:

Best Supporting Actress

  • Amy Adams - Doubt
  • Penelope Cruz - Vickie Christina Barcelona
  • Viola Davis - Doubt
  • Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Marissa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actor

Oscar Statue - Bling!

  • Josh Brolin- Milk
  • Robert Downey, Jr.- Tropic Thunder
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
  • Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
  • Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Actor

  • Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
  • Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
  • Sean Penn - Milk
  • Brat Pitt- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Mickey Rourke- The Wrestler

Best Actress

  • Anne Hathaway- Rachel Getting Married
  • Angelina Jolie - Changeling
  • Melissa Leo - Frozen River
  • Meryl Streep - Doubt
  • Kate Winslet - The Reader

Original Screenplay

  • Frozen River
  • Happy Go Lucky
  • In Bruges
  • Milk
  • Wall -E

Direction

  • David Fincher- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
  • Gus Van Sant - Milk
  • Stephen Daldry - The Reader
  • Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture

  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • Frost/Nixon
  • Milk
  • The Reader
  • Slumdog Millionaire

What’ya think? The Oscars Ceremony will be held one month from today on February 22nd.


Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Events, Movies | No Comments

Lost Season Five Premier Clips

January 16th, 2009 by david lay

As an insatiable Lostie, I more-or-less salivate when I think about how close we are to a season premier (just under five days, but who’s counting). Check out these six clips from the forthcoming premier of Lost season five.


Posted in Television, Events | No Comments

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

George Carlin 1937-2008

June 23rd, 2008 by david lay

George Carlin 1937-2008

You made a lot of people laugh, and we thank you for that. Rest in peace you foul, filthy, sonofab**ch!



Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | 1 Comment

It Insists Upon Itself…

June 16th, 2008 by david lay

This is one of the cleverest, funniest pieces of Television writing. Just hilarious.


Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada | 3 Comments

Retro Commercial of the Day - Hardee’s

June 5th, 2008 by david lay

I was randomly watching some old tv ads today when I came across this one. I did a double take when I realized who it was.

If you don’t watch Lost, you wont get it.



Posted in Television, Yada Yada | No Comments

Jimmy Fallon Taking Over for Conan

April 25th, 2008 by david lay

Many people have been speculating about the future of Late Night once Conan O’Brien takes over the Tonight Show next year, and now that question has been answered.

No sooner were Stu, Alex, and I watching (or attempting to watch) one of Fallon’s great characters, Nick Burns, The Company Computer Guy, on YouTube than the news came across the wire.

Check out the full story at Fox News.

jimmy_fallon.jpg


Posted in Television | 3 Comments

Fox Announces Two New Spin-Offs

February 29th, 2008 by david lay

Cleveland Brown - Family GuyThe Fox Network and 20th Century Fox TV announced today that they will be developing a spin-off of the animated hit show Family Guy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will be based on Peter Griffin’s bathtub-accident-prone neighbor Cleveland Brown.

The project is tentatively being titled Cleveland and is being written by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. Mike Henry, who produces and writes for Family Guy, also voices Cleveland, the character who plays off black stereotypes and is the most levelheaded among Peter Griffin’s trio of friends.

In addition to Cleveland, The Fox Network and 20th Century TV are also developing a spin-off of the drama series Prison Break, which will be set at a female prison.

Hmm… I don’t know about this. I do like Family Guy, but American Dad isn’t very funny. Cleveland is a good character to base a spin-off on though. I think it’s funny that Fox has gained infamy for cancelling Family Guy and now they are so confident in its selling power, that they are willing to produce a spin-off… Très bizarre.

As for the Prison Break spin-off… I really like the original, but I just don’t think there is room for a spin-off. I doubt that this will be very good at all, unfortunately.


Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Saturday Night Live Returns!

February 24th, 2008 by david lay

Saturday Night Live became one of the first shows to return with all-new episodes since the writer’s strike ended last week. I have been a big fan of SNL since I was eight (way too young to stay up that late and watch that sort of programming) and I was very happy to be able to see an all-new episode last night.

Thanks to the timing of the return of SNL (a night before the Oscars) there were some particularly funny film-related sketches that I enjoyed.

This first one won’t be funny at all, really, unless you’ve seen There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men as it plays mostly off of one line from the end of There Will Be Blood and Javier Bardim’s character from No Country for Old Men. It is great though.


Then this one is just funny… the Digital Short guys bring us “A Message for Old People” regarding recent Oscar nominated films.



Another exiting SNL development is that next week’s host/musical guest combination is Ellen Page and Wilco - WOO HOO!!


Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

Knight Rider Clips

February 13th, 2008 by david lay

As I posted a couple of months ago, Knight Rider is coming back to the small screen this Sunday, February 17th. NBC has released a few clips from the upcoming two-hour Movie event. NBC has said that, depending on the ratings and responses to this movie, they would consider picking up Knight Rider for their weekly lineup.

Check these clips out and see what you think.

Trivia: Do you recognize who is supplying the voice of K.I.T.T.?







NBC has also released this synopsis of the new movie:

24 year-old Stanford University Ph.D. candidate Sarah Graiman is set to follow in her genius father Charles’ footsteps. Her life takes a dramatic turn when men try to abduct her. She receives a mysterious phone call from K.I.T.T., a car her father created, letting her know that her father is in danger. Sarah and K.I.T.T. set off to recruit her childhood friend Mike Tracer into helping them figure out who has her father and is trying to steal K.I.T.T. Mike, having just returned from serving in Iraq is jaded and reluctant to help, but eventually agrees.

I’m going to watch it, or at least TiVo it… I have fond memories of the original Knight Rider, so I can’t help but be a little excited about this new incarnation.


Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Events, Movies | 2 Comments

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