gilligan & infomercials

Still trying to get rid of this cold. Woke up early this morning with a coughing fit and with more of a stomped-on-head feeling than usual, couldn't get back to sleep. Trying not to wake Jeff up, I slipped out of bed and made myself a drink with hot water, lemon slice, and a squirt of Billy Bee honey.

Then curled up on the couch to see what was on the tube. Saw the end of a Battlestar Galactica episode guest starring Fred Astaire (!?) as well as a frighteningly large number of fitness-related infomercials. One infomercial was pushing WALKING as the greatest way to lose weight, and offered a special video of walking exercises you could do at home, walking in place while watching the video. The spokesperson actually said, "Why GO OUTSIDE when you can walk AT HOME?" The video was ONLY $100.

Another infomercial offered video guitar lessons, guaranteeing that you could be playing like a rock star in no time. Eight video lessons PLUS a Fender guitar strap PLUS (get this) ** FOUR FENDER GUITAR PICKS **, all for just $40. The special shot of the four guitar picks almost made me laugh out loud (but I didn't in case that triggered another coughing fit that would wake Jeff up who would stagger sleepily out into the living room asking why I was watching infomercials instead of sleeping in). You can get guitar picks (yes, even Fender) at the Steve's Music store a few blocks from our place for about a quarter apiece.

While I mock infomercials, I should also be honest and confess that there have been times when infomercials have offered products that I actually have found intriguing, especially if I'm really tired and watching tv late at night. The food dehydrator infomercial, for example. I find myself mesmerized as one of the hosts chow down on a magically dehydrated strawberry, licking her fingers and uttering orgasmic noises of appreciation. The only thing that keeps me from grabbing the phone and ordering one right then is the sure knowledge that we have no room in our small kitchen to store the thing.

But I digress.

Anyway, I was ready to go back to bed after the Fender Guitar Pick commercial when an old episode of Gilligan's Island came on, and I found myself riveted. Geez, I hadn't watched Gilligan and the gang in ages. Amazing what we used to watch as kids, isn't it? (Ok, so maybe some of you out there are too young to remember Gilligan except in reruns :-)) Can you imagine what a Gilligan-type show would be like if it was produced today? Oh wait, there already is...Survivor and its sequels.

My favourite Gilligan character was always Mary Ann, even though I started finding her a bit too perky as I got older. And I always had a mild crush on the Professor, of course (technonerdboy lust foreshadowing, I suppose). I actively disliked the Skipper - he was always too mean to Gilligan.

Back then, I ate it all up. Now, the episodes seem incredibly contrived, unrealistic, and incredibly dated. Even through the layers of tv formulaic clich|AMP|eacute;, however, I still find the innocence of the characters appealing. One of the reasons I enjoy sappy romantic musicals with happy endings, I suppose. :-)

What will Sara and Annie think of our television fare when they're much older, I wonder? Will they feel the same way? Or will media offerings have changed so they see our tv shows as incredibly barbaric and violent?

Today's Poll:

Have you ever made a purchase as a result of seeing an infomercial or "not offered in stores" tv commercial? (i.e. you actually did call the number on the screen)