You know what really irked me today, well I was not really perturbed, but I have to question the integrity of one particular morning radio show host. Are we really supposed to believe that these announcers really use all the products they say they do and in the way they say? Granted, celebrity endorsements are nothing new in the world of advertising, but the manner in which it is done, I think, really speaks to the integrity of the celebrity. For instance, there was an announcer this morning talking about Purina dog food. He said someone recommended it to him and that he noticed “immediate results” and that the dog “had more energy, a shinier coat” et cetera. It was obviously a plug for Purina, but I guess what irked me is the manner in which it was done.
Speaking in a conversational tone about some product that nobody really has “commercialized” conversations about is misleading. Those commercials were a group of women are talking about the latest pharmaceutical are ridiculous. A group of twenty-somethings chatting in a lovely living room about ____________ (you fill in the blank with your favorite wonder-drug). They are laughing and giggling. Conveniently, one girl has all the answers and the rest all ask pertinent questions that provide perfect segues to the next important point. In 30 seconds, listeners are completely educated about the wonder drug. This of course, is not really realistic.
Now, back to the unnamed morning radio DJ. He started talking about his trip he took to see his brother-in-law in Vermont or some place like that. This brother-in-law of course had a dog. The DJ explains that during a normal conversation he mentioned that his brother-in-law should get Purina because it will help his dog have more energy, etc. Apparently, the brother-in-law walks over to the cupboard and opens the door to reveal a bag of Purina. He then proudly states, “I have been a Purina dog owner for years.” – give me a break.
Now, if that was a planned and canned commercial—fine. However, not for a minute will I believe that this radio DJ had the conversation he said he had in the way he described. Who really talks like a television commercial? Now obviously this guy (or the radio station) is getting paid for this advertising, but how much would it cost to get their personal endorsement? What about you? Do you have a price at which you would publicly say you only use a certain product, even if you never tried it? Would you do it? Some people say that all is fair in love, war, and advertising… what do you think?
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3 comments:
Kyle, that's an awesome rant! I love it. Purina, wonder drugs, war. I think they all blend well. :). Mankind has a tendency towards superificiality it seems.
i have met people, who walk, talk and liove their life like they are in the tv commercial. in fact it was my first impression when i came to this country.
... as to a price for endorsing products. Commercial lies are not new today. On the other hand I think if you buy product because some guy rant about it on the radio you deserved to be fooled.
Bohdan,
You are right! There are many people who seem to liver their lives right out of a TV commercial. After all, Americans are exposed to commercialism almost continuously our whole lives. According to a report in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, children are exposed to about 40,000 commercials every year!
Even more disturbing, many of these commercials are filled with images of sex, violence, and substance abuse. We really need to re-evaluate what we value most. As a future parent, I plan to have most of the channels blocked on the television, and I will particularly selective about which shows to which my kids will be exposed.
Thanks for the comment!
Reference: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
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