A few days ago a
person made the above statement to me.
You’ll be proud of me. I shot back with “Well, I
only read Playboy for the articles.”
When I said “proud of me” I didn’t mean for lying, just for quick
retorting.
Then she replied “I only watch soap operas for the
fashion tips.”
Then I said “I only eat steak to exercise my
manibles.” followed by “Touché”
as I sat on my tushie. Okay. The touché part was in my head,
only. Still, one can wish it came out audibly.
Then she said “I only like sex as a sleep
inducement.”
To which I said “Honey, don’t you realize I’m
writing all this down?”
Back to the Super Bowl/Commercials statement: A
company called InsightExpress
advertising itself as a professional
research firm (as apposed to amateur research firms?) claims up to 50%
watch the Super Bowl specifically for the commercials. In a survey
conducted in 2004, their research showed that 54% of all Americans
planned to watch the Super Bowl, half of those for the ads, and 58%
claiming they pay closer attention to the Super Bowl ads than other ads
they see everyday.
So we get it. The over $ 5 Million per minute spent
on advertising will reach folks. But here’s what I don’t get. Why
subject yourself, and I’m not talking about anybody in particular even
if she’s messing with her hair in the next chair, to a four hour game
if you only want to see 20 to 30 minutes of unrepeated commercials? If
you’re all into seeing talking frogs and magic refrigerators and the
priceless things MacGyver picks up at the local supermarket, you can do
so without the three-and-a half hours of ballgame.

Don’t you know (again I’m not talking to any
extremely beautiful and brilliant person in particular) there are
websites that gather, podcast, stream and condense these commercials so
you can watch them all at once? And, get this, they would be at your
loveliness’s convenience, as often as you wish, at no charge? In fact,
these websites, when they let you see these commercials, have other
commercials surrounding the commercials so you not only see these in a
condensed form you get to enjoy other ads while watching ads. I can’t
speak for every one of you, but if my sole reason for watching the
Super Bowls were the high powered expensive ads, and if I had a chance
to watch these ads surrounded by other ads in a streamlined, convenient
manner, I’d be smashing my forehead with the can of a well-advertised
beer for having sat through three-and-a-half hours of ballgame and
wardrobe malfunctions.
Do you want the sites, you lovely, brilliant ones
with little time for actual game? Google
Video is thinking of you. They condensed it into twenty minutes.
DevLib has created a
streaming video. AOL with their www.sports.aol.com/nfl/superbowlads can
link you to all the ads.
This is where she says “You don’t get it, Stan. Yes,
I’m not so interested in the game but I still want to watch the
commercials in the company of others. I want to hear the collective
comments. I want to enjoy the punch lines as part of a group dynamic.”
To which I got up off my tushie and started to say “touché” but then I realized
there was nothing for me to touché
to. Darn. Fine ending you left me with, Dear.