What a lovely weekend I had with my beloved. We worked around her manor yesterday and in the evening we watched television whilst sipping on sangria. There wasn't much on so we settled for, Deal or No Deal with Howie Mandel in a genie costume. There was a show on afterwards that looked like something even the boob-hounds at Fox would reject. I forget the name of the show, but the premise is to pit women in their 20's against women in their 40's. The prize? Some guy. I guess he's supposed to be handsome. He spent most of the time looking befuddled. After about 5 minutes, Linda and I talked about how repulsive and demeaning the show is, found a modicum of self-respect and then put on Babel, which was quite good. But the experience got me to thinking about how most of what is on television is absolute shit, which is why I prize cable movie channels so much. I'd rather watch Age of Innocence or Dr. Strangelove for the 20th time than Wife Swap, Two and a Half Men or Temptation Island. The ratio of good-to-bad ratio for television shows has got to be 1 in 20. That is, only one show out of twenty is remotely watchable. It's enough to make a person not watch television...and we can't have that, oh no.
And then this morning I get an email from Planned Parenthood informing me that Fox and CBS (Victoria Secret Fashion Show!) have refused to run condom commercials. Fox issued a press release that reads in part, "Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.” And since the ads happen to mention the useful detail that condoms can, in fact, prevent pregnancy they were banned. Apparently, the moral standards over there are just too rigorous to advertise condoms. But as Planned Parenthood points out, Fox displays no scruples about using sex on countless shows....almost every one. In their world, which exists in Rupert Murdoch's rattled brain, it's acceptable to use sex to attract teen viewers (The O.C.), or as the punchline in awful sitcoms (The War at Home) but suggesting responsible, safe sex is just too much for their delicate sensibilities. Meanwhile, CBS simply stated that condom ads were "just not appropriate." What the fuck. I mean really...what the fuck?! If you're interested in signing a Planned Parenthood petition, which unfortunately will do nothing, you can do so here. I don't mean to be cynical, but is there anything more ineffective than an Internet petition?
Oi vey.
I'm going to the market to get some bananas.
2 comments:
I wonder if all that condom talk got you thinking about bananas.
The show you're talking about is Age of Love, and its truly a horrible show, at least from what I saw of it last night, all 2 minutes were atrocious. In short, its a bunch of money grubbing golddiggers trying to get it on with some meat popsicle who probably beats off to his GQ magazine in the bathroom to get himself ready for a night of coitus.
second, you might want to edit that petition link. Its got your user info in it.
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