Monday, September 17, 2007

Weather, Emmys, and commercials.

As I'm sure all of you noticed, the weather this weekend was beyond amazing and into the realm of delectably perfect. Torsten and I took full advantage on Saturday afternoon by using our Zipcar membership to obtain a Mini Cooper convertible for a few hours. We drove down the George Washington Memorial Parkway to Mt. Vernon, although we did not actually get out of the car when we got to Mt. Vernon. The GW Parkway runs alongside the Potomac River, and it was all clear and blue and sparkly and there were sailboats and people picnicking in the grass and it was generally just dreamy.

The unfortunate downside to this weather is that the heat is not yet on in our apartment building, which is one of the cons of not paying your own utility bills--they are very stingy with the expensive climate control system. At least when it gets hot in April before the air conditioning is turned on, you can use a fan and try not to die. But we don't have a space heater, and oh god, it was so cold last night. It was 55 degrees out, and it felt like no more than 57 degrees in the apartment. It was so cold that while we were watching the Red Sox-Yankees game (over which I am still bitter, incidentally), the light blanket we keep on the couch was not enough, and we had to go get actual bedding in order to keep ourselves from freezing. And I was almost late to work this morning because I could not bring myself to turn off the nice, hot water in the shower and step out into the frigid bathroom.

Unrelatedly, can I just mention how gleeful I am that FOX did not win a single Emmy last night? Yes, I know that half my favourite shows are on that channel. But that's just a coincidence, and since I don't like FOX, and especially FOX News, I retain the right to feel snobbily pleased that they were overlooked. Especially because they were the ones broadcasting the show. How about that Tony Bennett, though, huh?

Since apparently today is Random Tangent Day, I'd like to file a complaint about obnoxious commercials involving children who talk like adults. AIG and Verizon FiOS are especially guilty of this. Yes, the FiOS kid is cute, but only when he keeps his mouth shut. No, I don't want to hear a bunch of brats sitting around at the cafeteria discussing saving for retirement using big fancy words because ha ha ha, isn't it hysterical when kids talk like financial advisers? And yes, I would consider disowning my child if he woke me up in the middle of the night to rant like an accountant about how I was mis-managing my money.

On the other hand, Torsten and I both love love love the latest American Express commercials. Torsten cracks up every single time he sees the one with John McEnroe, even though he's seen it at least twenty times by now. It's really cute. Much cuter than those AIG and FiOS brats.

Anyway, now it's your turn. Those of you who don't use your DVRs to skip all commercials, what commercials do you especially like or dislike? Also, is it sad that I'm extremely eager to hear your thoughts on TV commercials instead of something more worthy?

7 comments:

  1. OK, I don't know why, but every time I see the Comcast commercial with the turtle in front of the computer who says, "Ahhhhh........me time," I crack up hysterically.

    I also love the one with the two guys at the opera who smuggled in beer bottles and as the opera lady hits the high notes, the beer bottles shatter. (I think it's for Bud Light.)

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  2. Man. The first winter we were in Wyoming, we tried to save money by keeping the heat set at 60, even when it was -26 out. Getting out of the shower was SO. HARD. It was my favorite part of the day, the showering part. I was quick to give up the idea of low-heat-setting, but J persevered, and frequently, after being cold all day/evening, I would announce I AM GOING TO TAKE A SHOWER TO GET WARM. Last winter we weren't nearly so hardcore.

    I don't really watch commercials. Not because of DVR, but because I just don't pay attention. Or can't. Either way. :)

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  3. I like that Bud Light one too. Especially at the end where the dudes in front of them turn around and say "first time at the opera, boys?" and then hold up their CANS.

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  4. I'm not a big fan of commercials and skip over them as much as possible. But just last night, I even said out loud to Andy, "that commercial was funny!" and now I can't remember for the life of me what it was. I have the attention span of a gnat, though, so there's that. :)

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  5. On a Bud Light note - I love the wedding as an auction one so the groomsmen can get to the Bud Light sooner.
    I hate the one for some sort of food, I think, where the little boy gets up on his chair to thank his mom.

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  6. Children who talk like adults on TV is wrong wrong wrong, I agree. The Juicy Juice kid used to freak me the fuck out.

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  7. I love the commercial with the baby laughing. It cracks me up. I think it's for AGI or something like that.

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