No More ABC’s or XYZ’s
I understand that television and cable stations derive their income from advertisers. Otherwise, we’d have to pay for every single program we watch. The only cost we bear is the monthly fee to the cable company or satellite provider that gives us the television signal.
That said, there is one form of television commercial that I absolutely detest - the medical ones. You know, the ones that start by identifying some obscure condition with initials like ED, ADA, BO, PU, whatever. Dad gummit, give me a break! I’m not a medical junkie who runs to the doctor all the time. I don’t know what those initials mean, and I don’t care.
Anyway, they continue the sales pitch by showing some upper-middle class schmoes with one spouse or the other hindered by this condition … say, XYZ. They are so well dressed, live in such a nice house, and have a perfect life in every way except for the XYZ. The obvious concern and distress shows on their faces.
Then the commercial says, “But you don’t have to suffer anymore.” A discourse follows on the wonders of the drug they’re peddling. The underlying message, if the advertisement is successful, is that you’re going to pester your doctor to prescribe this drug. Some now even boldly suggest, “Ask you doctor about …”.
Now the kicker. “In some cases, XYZ made lead to swollen eyeballs, your ears falling off, irregular heartbeat, itchy ankles, nausea, and/or bloody knuckles. In rare cases, side effects of elephantiasis and/or loss of toenails may occur.” Yikes! You’d have to be crazy to try this stuff. Can you say “guinea pig”?
They finish by showing the couple now enjoying a game of tennis or candlelight dinner and wine in a fine restaurant. Their life is perfect again. The camera fades to a picture of the glossy package that the pills for XYZ’s cure come in. The drug looks so wholesome, so apple pie and motherhood grand.
These drug commercials must be why man invented the TV remote control. CLICK.
- Mountain Man