Friday, November 12, 2010


Twice this week I have found green glitter in the mail sorting machine at work. Meaning it is time to bring y'all this service announcement. It's an old spot but I have added some new info at the bottom.

 

Cock-A-Doodle-Do & Glitter My Sack

Last night I did something I rarely do. No, I did not eat any green leafy vegetables. I said something I RARELY do, not NEVER do.

I plopped down on the couch and watched TV. All night long. I didn't read, I didn't write, I didn't even ponder the comings and goings of the characters in my stories. I simply shut down my brain and watched the boob tube. And Network TV to boot. This morning, I am dumber for the experience.

Here is a rundown of what I saw.

A Muppet Christmas special called Letters to Santa. As a former Fraggle Rocker I can appreciate Jim Henson's creation, but this one lost me right from the get-go, when they opened with a big musical sing-a-long at the New York City Post Office. Trust me when I say, "Ain't nobody singing and dancing at the ol' PO this time of year." Or any other as far as that goes.

And another inaccuracy. There wasn't any glitter in the air. This time of year all of us that work on the equipment look as if we've just gotten back from a stripper convention in Vegas.

That's right all that shiny glitter you attach to your Christmas cards ends up in the bottom of the PO's automated machinery and when I have to change a belt or whatever, I come away looking like the love child of Tinker Bell and Sasquatch. So do all us Postal employees a favor and save the glitter for your kids school party, or help out an exotic dancer and donate it to your local gentleman's club.

After the Muppets, we joined an in progress Christmas story about a little orphan girl, an elf, a polar bear, and a fox all looking for Santa's sack. Okay, maybe my mind us filthier that a reindeer turd, but couldn't the writer's have called it Santa's bag instead of sack. And did the fabric have to be flesh colored? And did the animals have to crawl out of said container and say, "Santa needs to do some housecleaning because that is one nasty sack?"

Jay Leno narrated and Brad Garret and Norm McDonald both voiced characters in this poorly written kids story.

But wait, it wasn't just the shows that were bad. Let's talk about the commercials. Particularly the pharmaceutical ads. Is it really appropriate to advertise Cialis, an erectile dysfunction med, during a childrens show? Especially one about Santa's sack? And why do those people have not one, but two, bathtubs in their back yard? And I thought the whole point of taking Cialis was to share ye olde yuletime log. How can you do that from the comfort of you own backyard tub? Wouldn't they need to be in one tub together in order to jingle their bells. Am I alone in these thoughts?


And then there was the one about the insomnia aid Ambien. No wonder that woman can't sleep she has a rooster roaming around freely inside her house. Instead of wasting her money on pills she should invest in some screens for her windows. Or maybe she's tossing and turning because she went to bed hungry. A big chicken dinner would probably solve all of her problems. Don't you think?

UPDATE on Cialis ADS

Last night during the Ravens/Falcons game I spied a Cialis ad where a dude was pitching an actual tent. Now that is a subtle message about the drug's capabilities. I wonder if next month they'll have a fireman polishing the big brass pole down at the station. Or a zookeeper doling out corporal punishment to an unruly monkey? Maybe a farmer giving the Heimlich to a chicken with grain caught in its throat? Maybe they can get the same fowl from the Ambian ads?

15 comments:

Old Kitty said...

I can understand x-mas post now -but wall to wall christmas shows in early november!??!?! No, no, no!!!

See that's why I don't begrudge paying my TV licence to the BBC. NO ADS. NONE, NADA, NIET!! It's great watching their iplayer - not so if I watch the other channels - wall to wall ads... so effing annoying. Ok, I am ranting now..!!!

But having cialis advertised between muppets singing and little orphan girls is a bit much. :-)

Take care and merry christmas! I thought I'd be the first to wish you that here! LOL! x

Reb said...

Well, um, what was that address of yours? I'll send you a sparkly, glittery card! Actually, I tend to shy away from glitter on cards and envelopes, I find it a tad bit tacky.

As for ads...I love my PVR, just skip right over them. Or, if I happen to be watching live, I am usually reading during the commercials anyway ;)

sybil law said...

I give this post 2 sacks.
(Which is the top rating!)

Rick said...

Hey, you forgot to mention the drivers! They're already out driving like demon possessed maniacs. It might be mind-numbing to stay inside and watch television, but at least you won't get run over!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Tinkerbell and Sasquatch? Hahahahahaha! And yowtch!

Eric said...

OMFG, are you kidding me? Dude, you almost had me choking on my drink.

(note to self, do not drink anything while reading posts by Travis)

This is awesome stuff, Travis. Thanks for the laugh.

Charles Gramlich said...

I have watched more TV than is good for me of late too

Triplezmom said...

People who send cards with glitter have too much time on their hands. Especially if they do it before Thanksgiving.

Also, commercials suck.

Junosmom said...

Funny, Travis.

alex keto said...

What Cialis needs is an elephant. Once on a camping trip in South Africa, I heard a woman remark in a mystified tone, "But that elephant has five legs."

Nobody could really bring themselves to explain it. About 30 seconds later, the shoe dropped and she said, "Oh."

Barrie said...

So, after a night away from your charactes, did your imagination run wild the next day?

David Cranmer said...

I avoid television at all costs. The wife and I will pick a show and watch on Netflix or dvd and thats about it.

DrillerAA09 said...

I promise, no glitter cards.

Most personal hygiene and pharmaceutical ads are inappropriate and misplaced. Then there's the side effects that they must tell about. If I'm still "pitching a tent" after four hours, I'm not calling a doctor, I'm call Guinness.

Vodka Mom said...

As you know, glitter makes everything look better in kindergarten. However, I had NO idea it could be used to terrorize postal workers.



Nice little tidbit to remember. :-)

Posey said...

HILARIOUS! Husband read this out loud to me. It took a lot of effort, as he was laughing his ass off the entire time.