A few minutes ago I was driving home and on the radio I heard a Carl's Jr. commercial with George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on the original Star Trek series. The commercial was for Carl's Jr.'s Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger, which has a teriyaki flavor and a slice of pineapple, among other things.
I wish I could link to audio, but since I can't you'll just have to trust me on the contents of the commercial.
Takei introduces himself, tells about the burger, and then says (I'll paraphrase here), "I don't know why Carl's Jr. would want me to advertise this burger. Yes, it's Asian, meaty, fruity (pauses as if he now understands why)--oh my."
Takei is gay.
The commercial didn't make me laugh. It shocked me; I actually said out loud, "Oh my gawd!" Much like other commercials that seek to score points on sexuality, this one made me a little uncomfortable. Its meaning is very risque. While I'm the world's biggest fan of double entendres and innuendo, they're just not appropriate for a family audience.
19 comments:
"While I'm the world's biggest fan of double entendres and innuendo, they're just not appropriate for a family audience."
If you remember the Paris Hilton commercial for Carl's Junior from a year or two back, you'll know that Carl's Junior advertising isn't about the family audience. And hasn't been for several years.
-Mark Roulo
Oh my gawd!!! Was that shown on television???
"Oh my gawd!!! Was that shown on television???"
I am in a poor position to answer this one because my TV is not hooked up for broadcast (no cable, no antenna, ...) just DVD and VCR playback.
But ... my understanding is, "Yes." I remember hearing about the commercial back then, so I'm pretty sure that it was on TV.
-Mark Roulo
"Oh my gawd!!! Was that shown on television???"
According to Wikipedia, "Yes."
-Mark Roulo
It's a type of desensitaztion campaign. A similar ad exists for Progressive insurance where two guys, one wearing a rainbow shirt, buy insurance. While it is never stated, one guy says he bought a watch for the other. The implication is that this is a couple buying insurance. I frankly don't care about someone's private life. But I don't want them selling alternative lifestyles as mainstream.
If they're old enough to understand the double entendre then they're old enough to handle it.
I disagree completely. The fact that they can understand such jokes doesn't make the jokes appropriate for public consumption.
I agree with Mark's first post, Carl's Jr's advertising isn't aimed at the family audience.
I also think that if Carl Karcher were alive today, and in control, you wouldn't see this kind of advertising.
George Takei has been doing gay-themed comedy before.
This video response to some gay-bashing comments by Tim Hardaway is a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s1iQODC5OI
Comedy is one thing, overtly sexual jokes in a commercial is something entirely different.
I'm displeased at Carl's Jr. here, not with Takei.
I don't get it.
The commercial is also much less gross than putting canned pineapple on a hamburger.
Using sex in a commercial??! That has NEVER happened before!!!
I about wet myself when I heard it. You people need to calm down. Its a damn commercial. And a very well thought out and planned one too. I can't wait to hear it again! Get a sense of humor! (probably spelled that wrong but oh well)
I have a wonderful sense of humor, but there are appropriate times and places for certain types of jokes. Not every joke is appropriate for the general public, and this is one such joke.
It was hilarious and I LMAO....
I was searching google so I could hear it again when I found this page of uptight comments.
Get over it and have a laugh...
bilbo
Dude, that's nowhere near as bad as the last one. Plus, you see and hear way worse than that in magazines and other such media. This is actually really funnily done.
So this is what being conservative has come to? Really? The commercial was both funny and an effective slap in Chick-fa-lay's face. Good on them!
Wake up, Marke, this was 2 years before the Chik-fil-a deal. And what does this have to do with what conservatism has become? What part of this commentary do you have problems with: "Much like other commercials that seek to score points on sexuality, this one made me a little uncomfortable. Its meaning is very risque. While I'm the world's biggest fan of double entendres and innuendo, they're just not appropriate for a family audience."
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