While watching Idol last night with the fam (8 - 9pm, EDT), there was at least one ad that came on that was COMPLETELY inappropriate for a family audience. It was for a new thriller movie (Strangers, I think). Anyone besides me starting to wonder about if TV execs give any consideration at all as to the audience when they put certain ads on? This is not an isolated incident either, and it’s been happening more and more. The ads alone are enough to give my daughter nightmares for a week. I’m ready to simply kill my TV. I mean, do they really think the teenybopper crowd is going to flock out to a horror movie?
I’m with you 100% - the ads shown during the early evening hours of TV are often very inappropriate. The ad you’re talking about gives me the creeps, and we quickly switch channels so my 9 year old son doesn’t see it.
Eric
You don’t need TV. You just don’t need it. So does your daughter, I suppose. I gave up watching TV a year ago, and that made me happier.
It is my understanding that TV networks and advertisers are very sensitive to customer complaints like this. Go raise a bit of heck with them and see if you get a response.
djm
Yes, that is exactly the audience they are going for… (though, mostly on the male side)
This is why I have a DVR. I don’t tend to watch commercials anymore.
It does seem that increasingly even if the programming isn’t offensive that the advertising is. On the occasions that I watch television I try to avoid the ads for horror movies by turning the channel or shutting my eyes or something. But that’s not much of a solution.
BTW… the first I heard of this movie was in a banner ad on this forum.
The irony is that movies and their trailers probably get more scrutiny than most types of material. Movies have a rating system as do their trailers (the ads that run in the theater). It could be that a mistake was made, either by the rating agency, the local affiliate, or the network. There is a chance that the ad was vetted and approved and you and your family are more sensitive than most to this kind of material. I haven’t seen the ad.
These days a lot of stuff has been opened up, and it seems impossible to please all camps. On the show “Ugly Betty” which airs in the 8 p.m. eastern slot, they have an openly gay junior high age teenager, and a transvestite as regular cast. Some don’t see a problem, but many Muslims, and some other groups would say it is offensive to have those characters on a show in the family time slot.
As for horror movies, my youngest nephew took a liking to that genre by age 13. The scarier the movie, the more he likes them. So yes, young teens are a big potential audience for slasher movies, and horror flicks.
The horse is so far out the barn door, though.
To me, the day that they started airing Viagra-type ads was the end. How much more offensive does it get? They are on 24/7. Especially the sleazy Cialis music with the saxophone…yikes. I was so grateful that I didn’t have little kids in the house to have to explain what it was. As it is, I am embarrassed on behalf of all adults to the teen boys that I have raised. What is wrong with us that we flog this stuff (not to mention the whole idea of sexualizing geezers)…
I am also troubled by the manic-depressive drug ads, Abilify and the other one, whose name escapes me. I started feeling like I was clinically depressed last night watching one. Heck, maybe I am, but the power of suggestion is scary when it comes to such things.. And it sure plays into the hands of Big Pharm…
My parentally enforced bed time was 8 PM until I reached jr. high age (13).
Even though I was a hippy at the time, I kept up the tradition when I had my own two kids
as does my daughter and son with their children now.
I couldn’t agree more. There are commercials which causeth me to turn off the TV before my granddaughter can see them.
TV is crap. Survivor is idiotic. Idol is enough to make a maggot vomit.
The only decent shows are “Walker, Texas Ranger”, “Spongebob Squarepants” and reruns of “Jonny Quest”.
The Cursor has spoken. 