Criticism: Incredibly Awful & Insulting Infomercial for 'Presto'

While watching some Current on TiVo (see this post for full review of Current), I was stopped in my tracks by the worst commercial I have seen in quite some time.

The spot was for Presto, which lets you "send email and photos to people who don't have a computer". I haven't been able to find it on YouTube yet, but the 'view demo' link on the Presto site provides a good approximation for it.

The net message is 'Do you have a weak, feeble minded, lazy moron that you know couldn't possibly understand something as complicated as a computer? Would you like to send pictures to that moron every now and then? Of course you would. Lucky for you that we are selling this ugly grey box for only $150 plus $10/month for 'service'. Nevermind that you could FedEx pictures to your moron twice a month for the same amount of money, Presto is a great deal."

Here are some key frames from the online 'dramatization' of the commercial:

Frame 1: Mom is an easily flustered dullard



Frame 2: Mom is such a moron it would be a crazy time suck to have to try and teach her how to use a computer



Frame 3: Everything could be so much better if Mom had a magic photo box in her parlor



Frame 4: Mom almost has a heart attack because the magic machine from the future is trying to show her something



Frame 5: Mom and Dad chuckle together in relief once they realize the magic box is friendly and doesn't mean them any harm

Question: What's the Saddest Part of Miss Teen South Carolina's TV Debacle?

Image Source: Onion.com

Like most people in the U.S. with a TV, I couldn't avoid the widespread coverage of Caitlin Upton's meltdown during this year's Miss Teen USA broadcast.

Yes, she embarrassed herself. Yes, both the question and her response might well synopsize all that stinks about the current state of education in the U.S. Just another not so subtle reminder that it is only a matter of time until we fulfill Mike Judge's prophecy.

[Note: According to Jeannie Moos of CNN, no 'credible study' could be found to substantiate the stat used in the question. Check out the following link for video of Moos' report, under "dumb moments"; I'd link directly, but don't see how that is possible/easy given CNN's site structure. Also note that MSNBC has a more sympathetic piece about Caitlin that tries to provide readers with a broader sense of who she is.]

But here is a question to both everyone and no one in particular:

What really is the saddest part of all this?

- Is it the fact that some soon to be model / actress / wife of successful alpha male flubbed her speaking part in a non-event and now might be derided by people she doesn't know for a few days?

- Or is it the fact that we're still having beauty pageants in the year 2007? Why are we still having these ludicrous exhibitions of tastelessness anyway? And why are people still watching? "You're pretty - yaaayy."

[Sidenote: If someone hasn't already done a documentary that intersperses clips from beauty pageants, dog shows and livestock judging events, they should. Free idea for any enterprising filmmaker who wants it. Here's the sell: Drop Dead Gorgeous meets Best in Show meets Miss Heifer USA -- but it's all real. Done and done.]

Or, if that's either too radical or too obvious of a question, here's another:

Who does anyone think they are fooling by including in these pageants a portion that solicits intelligent responses and opinions?

Disclaimer: please, anyone who stumbles across this, spare me comments about how many beauty pageant contestants have IQs >130 or have XYZ advanced degrees, etc., etc. I'm certain there are exceptions. Though I would like to believe most attractive, intelligent women realize there are many better things to be doing with their time and abilities than field questions from the likes of Aimee Teegarden and Mario Lopez.

Appreciation for Capital One's Commercials

I am not certain if both of these are from the same agency. They are both for Capital One, but for different lines of business. I suppose I could investigate, but that's one step further than I am willing to go right now.

Neither of these is the exact execution I recall seeing on air, but they are close enough to get the gist of them.

First one is below -- a timely spot given what is going on in the mortgage market. I saw this the same day I heard about their closing of a wholesale mortgage unit, but apparently the division that was closed wasn't the one advertised in this spot.



I just think the spot does an excellent job of tangibly representing the concerns about and ramifications of financial contracts that can backfire on you. I actually think it's a better conceit than what Capital One has been doing with their credit card commercials, like the tooth fairy, or the visigoths. However, among those, I do have a soft spot for the dragon slayer spot below, if only because the line "...and not just a big lizard" is brilliant.

Open Letter to John Krasinski: Please Don't Ruin the Office

Image Source: BritFilms.tv

The best thing than can be said about License to Wed is that its brief public lifespan -- from promo campaign through its exit from first release theaters -- didn't overlap with any new episodes of The Office. And by the time the new season starts I will most likely have the rotten stink that was License to Wed out of my mind. I didn't actually see the film, but really, did you need to? Just seeing the promos almost made me want to boycott everything Krasinski does. I simply don't want one of my favorite TV characters associated with another septic Robin Williams anti-comedy.

Honestly, why would you say, 'yeah, I really think Robin is on a roll with RV and Night at the Museum, clearly he has his finger on the pulse of America's taste in humor, let me jump on that comedy bandwagon while there's still time.' Were there no Cuba Gooding Jr. projects to get involved in?

Seriously, John, the golden goose has laid a cool and lucrative egg right in your lap. You get paid well and you're broadly admired. In return, the viewing public is putting their trust in you not to f*ck it up.

Question: What is the Saddest Thing About Lou Dobbs' Dye Job?

Image Source: MSNBC.com

A few weeks ago while channel surfing in some hotel during a business trip I was stopped short by a close up shot of Lou Dobbs on CNN. I don't watch much of Lou Dobbs Tonight because I don't have much patience for self-important grandstanding. So maybe this dye job he is sporting isn't news to folks, but it jolted me a bit. I remember Lou being pretty gray up top ~7 years ago when he was doing CNN's Moneyline News Hour and launching Space.com.



Image Source: CNN

So to see him with a rejuvenated thatch of red hair was a surprise.

After processing the shock, I thought to myself that this is generally sad, but I'm not sure what exactly is the saddest part:

- Is it a national "news" figure so vain and insecure that he feels compelled to dye his hair and is perhaps deluded enough to think people don't notice that he is dyeing his hair?

- Or is it the likelihood that if he didn't dye his hair an even smaller share of the American "news" viewing public would tune into his program because, for a depressingly large percentage of people, surface appearances trump content quality when determining which channel to watch.

These People Are Horrible: SalesGenie.com

Full disclosure: I work in advertising and fully believe in democratic capitalism, so I absolutely support the right of shallow, cynical hacks to develop and run corrupting, crap ads. But that doesn't mean I'm not disgusted when I see something so grossly manipulating and exploitative as the garbage that Sales Genie is currently airing. These haven't made YouTube yet, but if you are interested, click the "Watch our National TV Commercial" link on their site and judge for yourself. This is just one of a series of just despicable spots using 'adorable toddlers' who deliver lines like the following in a Cindi Brady-like lisp for extra smaltz effect:

"My daddy is a salesman. How much money he makes depends upon how much he sells. Last year he worked WEALLY hard. But he didn't make a lot of money."

I also believe in the karmic principle that those who "sow evil shall reap evil", and the asshats behind the current SaleGenie dreck can't have enough blight befall them for uncorking upon us such a purely rotten ad campaign.

Update: 8/3/07 - I just learned through AdHole that the offending Salesgenie commercial is on YouTube. Or, see it below.

What Will People Think of Today's TV in 2037? Consider "Alice" in 1977 for Perspective

While doing some random channel surfing a few days ago I stopped for a few minutes of Alice, the Linda Lavin and Vic Tayback vehicle about a hardscrabble yet lovable lout [Mel] who runs his Phoenix diner with the same gruff bravado he used to run his kitchen in the Navy.

I vaguely remember laughing along with the Mel, Alice and Flo hijinks as the show went into syndication in the mid / late 80s. But then I wasn't approaching my youthful TV watching in those days with an especially enlightened or critical mind and, besides, 'times were different'. But, wow, seeing this show in 2007 and realizing it was a big, national hit for 10 years makes you realize just how much times have changed in 30 years. Some of the lines from the episode that I stumbled upon recently, Mel's Cup, were stunningly dated when heard in today's world. For example, when it is realized that the ladies of the diner have misplaced Mel's cherished boxing cup, they express real fear that Mel is going to physically harm them. They were talking matter-of-factly about the chances of Mel putting a real beating on them for this transgression. Whoa. Surely some of the comedy here was exaggeration, yadda yadda yadda, but still, can you imagine that kind of storyline today? Not quite.

Note: clip above is just of the Season 1 intro, as I could not find any clips from the actual "Mel's Cup" episode itself.

You Should Be Watching Googlecurrent

The Google Current segments are consistently solid, but recently I saw one that was extra brilliant. Subjects of their satire this time: national advertising campaigns and promotional efforts of Georgia and Israel.

A couple of quotes that will come off much better if you watch the full video at Current.tv [annoying that their embeddable videos aren't full clip]:

"Coming to Israel based upon a few pictures I saw in Maxim was the best decision of my life."

"The women are so hot here things just blow up when they walk by. Which is all the time. I'm going to retire here as soon as my Georgia investment money pays off."

But clip below gives you good sense of the primary comedy value.

Ann Curry Dressed As A Bullfighting Nun?

Image Source: ReporterCaps.com

I haven't been able to find any really good still images of what Ann Curry was wearing on Monday's Today Show, but when it was airing live and I caught a quick glimpse of her my reactaion was WTF? You can see what I'm talking about at this link, if you have the patience to stream until she's on air. There are a couple of shots of her within the first 5 minutes.

You Have to Love the Holiday Inn Express Commercials

I don't think I'll ever stay at a Holiday Inn Express as my life just never takes me in that direction where it's an option. But if the choice ever did come down between HEI and a La Quinta or a Residence Inn or whatever else you might find in the smaller cities of America, these commercials would definitely tip the scales. The lead guy is freaking brilliant.



"A little stock car humor there"


"I'm getting that sound in my head again ... every time you argue with me"


"So, in the end, it wasn't a half bad trip"


"She's crowing about her accomplishments on the World Wide Net Web"

Underrated Old SNL Skit: 'Who's More Grizzled?"

I think this skit appeared in more than one show, but I can't say for certain. Below is the only one I found in a quick search of YouTube. Love the exchange between 4:55 and 5:10 of the clip [Note: it's 4:55 - 5:10 on YouTube, or 1:17 - 1:02 in the embed below].

What I Won't Be Watching: Guy's Big Bite

Just enjoying some take out from That Little Mexican Cafe and getting sucked into The Next Food Network Star, when I saw a promo for what looks like the worst show possible: Guy's Big Bite.

Image Source: Sacramento Magazine


Yet another frosted-hair loud mouth. Excellent. Right up there with my boy, Steve Watson.

If someone told you, hey there's this show hosted by this guy who is one part Corey Feldman ...

Image Source: MSNBC
and one part Sammy Hagar ...

Image Source: Online Seats.com

tell me you would be racing to set your TiVo season pass, right? It's a no-brainer.

"No BINGO!" - The hot Halloween costume of 2007

Image Source: reviewjournal.com

Let me tell you, you're missing out if you haven't either watched the actual show or at least seen a preview [the magic happens at the 24 second mark in the clip below]:



The NBN Commissioner costume will be hot in '07, I can feel it. And please, ABC, make his hallmark "No Bingo!" call a ringtone.

Thank you, Sunil Narkar, for adding something brilliant to America's pop culture lexicon.

Originally posted 6/3/07

Daddy Waterboy?

Image Source: freshhiphopnews.com

This isn't a perfect lookalike, but after watching Daddy Yankee extensively this morning on Despierta America, I'm seeing some resemblance to Adam Sandler's tour de force performance in Waterboy.


Image Source: CNN.com

I should be clear that I mean no offense. Last thing I need is heat from the Reggaeton community.

Originally posted 6/1/07

Open Letter to SNL's Jason Sudeikis re: Skit Idea

Image Source: HGTV.com

Stumbled across the show Don't Sweat It today and thought it was a joke. [I know this isn't new, but seriously, when did it become cool for men with hair highlights to also carry themselves as ostensibly tough & rugged?] The host, Steve Watson, does a pretty good job being a caricature of himself, but I still think this is fodder for a good Jason Sudeikis led SNL skit [and I hereby waive any claim for compensation pertaining to this intellectual property ... just a little shout out during the wrap scene would be fine]. I wish I could find a link to the opening montage video. It's a cross between Sudeikis' Urigro-esque smarminess and the dead-on mock absurdity of the MacGruber intros. While it's kind of a small target in and of itself, maybe there is something there in the broader 'hardscrabbly charming rapscallion carpenter' DIY show trend?

Note: This was edited 7/6/07 to correct the spelling of Sudeikis, from Sudekis

Originally posted 5/26/07

Don't sleep on Rap School

Image source: VH1.com

Just was thinking about Rap School and wanted to recognize. Nothing more than that.

Originally posted 4/13/07

USA 2.0 Mashup - Laotian Rap

Image Source: MySpace.com/asianriders

Another tip from Current TV, and [of course] YouTube. Actually, it's not bad, either. Move Some'm, by Lao Crimino.

Originally posted 3/23/07

Jeopardy for Morons

And brilliant TV programming, given the state of society:
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

Originally posted 3/4/07

Michael J Partridge?

Anyone else see Melissa Etheridge during the Oscars and think she looked a little bit like Shirley Jones dressing up like Michael J. Fox [or vice versa?]

Originally posted 3/4/07

Alert: Another TV a** clown to avoid

Please, for the love of all that is good in this world [e.g., see this, or this, or, more seriously, this], don't watch the Glenn Beck show. I know his show isn't new, but it took awhile for me to work up the energy to bother posting this. I used to watch a lot of CNN Headline News, but haven't watched at all since they put a-holes like Beck and Nancy Grace on.

Originally posted 3/4/07

Help me understand ...

Who goes to watch Deal or No Deal in person? Seriously. Who does that? Is that the best thing you could be doing with your time? Wow.
Originally posted 2/27/07

Bill Buchanan Quote

With this one, it's almost as if the writers were deliberately trying to come up with something that would get picked up and mocked widely:

"We need to do better than we're doing, and we need to do it faster!"

I see this getting used a lot. By me.

Update: Bill has his own Wikipedia entry. Of course he does.

Originally posted 1/20/07

Mari Ramos = "I'm Carol"

Okay, some people might interpret this as not such a nice post, but I'm just calling things like I see them.

I can't recall the first time I saw Mari Ramos on TV, but think it was this past March on vacation. While it's not immediately obvious from seeing her head shot at the above link, if/when you see and hear Mari live, I think the connection becomes more clear: Mari Ramos resembles the SNL "I'm Carol" character, as portrayed by Horatio Sanz.

Even from the stills below, I think if you keep an open mind, you'll see what I'm talking about.







Finally, from the nothing-should-be-a-surprise department, there are people who have pages of Mari Ramos photos.

Originally posted 1/6/07

Diversity of TV programming

ParisTV Oman.JPG, originally uploaded by sindlinger.

Setting aside any comment regarding whether one agrees or not with the French attitudes regarding various topics [foreign policy, economic regulation, etc.], you can't argue the fact that the French population has easier access to greater diversity of thought than does the American population. These snapshots show just a handful of the channels that were available on the cable system in the apartment we rented. Programming from Italy, Algeria, China, Russia, Morocco, Poland, Qatar, Germany, etc., etc., etc. Rather different than CNN, FoxNews and MSNBC.

Originally posted 1/4/07

You Should Check Out Current TV

I've grazed a bit of Current TV in the past and been intrigued, but recently have been watching blocks of it at a time and am deeming it worthy of my viewing effort. However, I primarily watch it 'time shifted' via TiVo. I find it can be frustrating trying to watch live, b/c it is truly random and you can get caught with the occasional crap pod or a re-airing of something you've already seen.
If you haven't heard anything about it, I'd describe it as an amalgamation of MTV News, NPR/BBC, and Punk'd/The Tom Green Show - and it shifts deftly between these poles from pod to pod. Some of the content might be a bit earnest for many people's liking [if so, by all means flip the channel back to your According to Jim rerun]. And I'll grant that a few feel like the self-indulgent senior project of affluent-but-serious Sally the communications major. But the variety of topics they cover and the on-the-ground-level style in which they cover them are a refreshing break from the absolute garbage you find on many other channels. The range of clips moves from the National Italian Greyhound dog show to an Egyptian-American's take on Wuhan, China [sidenote stat: China has more than 150+ cities with pop. >1MM; US has 8], to the art of Kehinde Wiley [another sidenote: his art is kind of gimmicky, but it's an interesting gimmick, so give him credit for that]. So, if you've had enough of crap like this, this or this, look for Current on your cable lineup. Better yet, TiVo a couple hours at a clip and see what you think. Learn something. Think.

Originally posted 12/16/06

You should be watching Saxondale

BBC America continues to deliver the goods.






The folks who put the original The Office on the air, as well as Coupling,
The Kumars at No. 42, Ed vs Spencer and, my personal favorite, Peep Show are now airing Saxondale.


It's genius. The Mustang. The Tull-like [possibly actuall Tull, I can't say I'm fluent enough to confirm or deny] intro music. The jean jacket with faux lamb's wool collar. Brilliant, all of it.

Originally posted 11/28/06.