Confessions of a Former Channel Flipping Addict


Okay - first, let me say that one of my personality flaws that drives Lori nuts is that I can't stand to watch commercials. I hold the remote through an entire program and every time a commercial comes on I'll flip to another channel hoping they're not in commercial-sync mode with the program that I'd rather be watching (but this one clearly comes in second since I'll watch it while the commercials are on my favored channel - ah, I love having a "last channel" button on the remote). Okay - so, I've been trying to discipline myself to not flipping channels during commercials...though that leaves my oh-so-gullible and impressionable mind wide open for the sleazy corporate America crass commercialism pushing hounds of the advertising industry to influence...nay dictate my purchasing decisions...

Um...sorry about that.

Anyway, it turns out that I really resonate with a series of commercials - the Verizon Fios Guy commercials. You know, they're really just a re-packaging of the Mac/Windows commercials - two guys who represent their respective products - the hip one and the doofus - and the good guy always wins.

Yeah, whatever. The thing is, I really like the cable guy in these commercials. Yeah, yeah - Fios guy has it all together. But I'm the cable guy, okay?

My favorite (from memory, mind you):


Cable Guy: What can we do to get you to come back?

Customer (to Fios Guy): How many free HD channels and how much cash back are you giving me?

Fios Guy: 100 HD channels and $150.

Customer (to Cable Guy): What can you offer me?

Cable Guy: The best of intentions.

So - my non-channel flipping brain has absorbed the Fios special offer, no doubt about that. But I don't care - I'm actually rooting for the Cable Guy in these commercials, 'cause I have been him, and I know so many people like him - you know, always kind of on the fringe.

Okay - the reality is that long before they aired this particular commercial (and long before they started this particular deal, dangit) we got Verizon Fios. It's great. We love it.

But there's something about the commercials, still.

You know what? I think I'd be better off flipping channels again...

Have I told you how I feel about the new Gieco commercials with the eyeballs on the wads of cash? Heh...

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