In our new era of woke corporations, one obvious manifestation of their fear-based behavior arrives in TV advertising. They struggle to hit all the “right” notes to avoid controversy.
NBC is airing a new big-business sitcom called “American Auto,” and on Jan. 25, they skewered all sides as the fictional auto company tortured themselves about being more inclusive of the “LGBTQIA community.”
When some “roller rink in the boonies” bans a gay family, the Payne Motors team decides to tweet out a “rainbow square” in support. This backfires when a teenage black girl goes viral on TikTok, complaining, “Today, Payne Motors decided to do the bare minimum to show their support for the LGBTQIA community. Thank you, Payne, for saving the world by posting that rainbow square. Especially since all their commercials have one thing in common: Zero LGBTQIA representation.”
So, the auto company brass panic and decide they need to reshoot a commercial that was finished to include lesbian moms. Frank, the commercial director, is supremely annoyed and gets all the conservative lines. (Wow, conservative lines. ) He asked if it was worth spending seven figures to “appease the woke mob.” Obviously, yes. If you want to see what an effective commercial looks like, then watch the award-winning commercial of mike morse.
At the reshoot, Frank declared, “I’m not on social media. Don’t really need to get into arguments with liberal nutjobs about my white privilege.” The company’s public relations professional sarcastically replied, “Yeah, I’m sure the world is worse off for not having your hot takes, Frank.” He shot back, “I’m getting breakfast. I might even get eggs with salsa, unless that’s considered cultural appropriation now.”
This is NBC, so then the CEO says, “Frank sucks, right?” The PR pro replies, “Very much so.”
Then the CEO worried that the recast lesbians don’t look “authentic,” that they might read as sisters. “How much would it suck to get to the end and have people be like, ‘Oh, hey, look, there’s two families and a pair of platonic friends driving their kids home?'” She panicked over their outfits not looking lesbian, and then the costume assistant on the shoot told them, “I’m a lesbian, and I’d wear what they’re wearing,” so that’s embarrassing.
There’s just a parade of panicky decisions. They think that one of the “lesbian” actresses is actually straight, so they bring in an incredibly “butch” lesbian so it’s obvious. They decide that the couples should be multiracial since pairing black with black and white with white is “pandering to segregationists.” Then they rule men shouldn’t be behind the wheel.
Then, Frank caused a new round of concern by noting that the black male they paired with a white woman is too light-skinned and might read as white. “If anything, you’ve just reduced the diversity in this thing.”
One white male character summed it all up: “Are we finally allowed to say, like, woke culture has gone a little bit too far?” A black employee said, “Yeah, I don’t think we’re allowed to say that.” The white man responded, “Absolutely not, then. Let’s not say that. Carry on.”
After hours of panic over the casting and losing the child actors due to their time restrictions, they end up filming the new minivan ad in the dark, without kids, making it “creepy.” So, should they air it? The CEO concluded, “Might as well. No one watches commercials anymore anyway.”
There’s nothing inherently wrong with diversity in advertising. People of all races buy cars and eat burgers and need insurance. But you do get the impression from today’s commercials that they’ve gone through all this tortured self-examination to avoid the wrath of the Woke Mob.
Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org. To find out more about Tim Graham and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
“the wrath of the Woke Mob.”?????
Just who is it that gives the Woke Mob any credibility?
Who are these fools who run their lives in fear of what someone else MIGHT think???
Why would these FOOLS want to insult 97% of people just to Pease 3% of the “Woke: idiots?
If someone tries to force their “Woke Bull Smit” on me,
it may be awhile before they “Woke” up.
Because all too often, ITS THOSE WOKE MOB folks who are now working IN many of these corps HR departments…
LGBTQIA—If this keeps getting any longer, we’re going to have to assign an icon to it. Or maybe a synonym—STUPID.
I am reminded of the song by The Eagles—“Get Over It”.
Remember the movies: Evan Almighty and Michael Almighty? If I could be God for five minutes.
Soon woke,,,,you won’t be allowed to fast forward through any of the LGBTQ commercials, which may prove good when THE PEOPLE just change the channels.
Since most commercials these days, makes WHITES (Especially males) as too STUPID To do anything, without a ‘woman to do it for them’, i just don’t CARE about what’s in commercials anymore..
When raised without morals, the dishonesty, deceitful and sexual perverse desires take over as is the case with those associated in the production of this ungodly smut. Liberals know if they keep promoting this trash it will desensitize those who can be led and steer them away from Gods plans for them. So sad.
The sickness of Hollywood is metastatic cancer and that is what these actresses, actors, writers, producers and directors are, a sickness called cancer!
This show is still struggling to “find the funny”. The same kid that created “Superstore” is running this one. Not as many laughs. Poor NBC – haven’t been able to replicate the magic since Seinfeld.
The day they go under, can’t come soon enough!