The US idea of a condom ad.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 3:50pm

As many of you know, I keep track of these things, God knows why, but after showing you some rather racy, funny, and sophisticated European condom ads...THIS is the best the States can come up with....and Fox and CBS still won't run it!

"There's a lot of buzz around the new marketing campaign for Trojan condoms -- especially concerning a new commercial that premieres tonight. But you won't find it on CBS or Fox; the networks have refused to air the spot. I went in search of a sneak peek of the commercial -- which is, of course, already available on the Trojan Web site -- to see what had so offended the networks' sensibilities.

"The spot features a bunch of beer-swilling swine -- yes, we're talking livestock -- in a hip 20-something bar, surrounded by gorgeous but grossed-out women. One of the pigs tries to pick up a blonde at the bar, but she turns down her mud-covered companion's advances. (Was it something he said? Did he have something in his teeth?) Dejected, he heads to the bathroom and gets a Trojan condom from a dispenser. Immediately, he's transformed into a handsome real, live human being. When he returns to the bar, the blonde gives him an "I'm taking you home tonight" smile. The word "evolve" then appears on-screen.

"Sigh. I was first alerted to the ad by a press release this morning from Planned Parenthood calling for the networks to reconsider their decision to block the spot. I was shocked to find that there's plenty about the ad that actually offends my own sensibilities. For starters: The depiction of men as pigs. I can understand the idea behind it -- that men who do not respect their partners enough to protect them from pregnancy or disease are pigs. But filling an entire bar with the nastiest of male stereotypes implies that almost all men are pigs. I'm also not too hot about the underlying message that men are solely responsible for condom use.

"All that being said, the real reason Fox vetoed the ad leaves me nearly speechless: "Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy," read the network's written rejection of the spot. CBS merely said that it did not "find [the ad] appropriate." Today's Planned Parenthood press release offers the reminder that 50 percent of pregnancies nationwide are unintended. "Fox and CBS have a real opportunity to air a message about responsible sexual behavior and instead they seem to be falling back on puritanical standards that do not reflect today's society," said Joan Malin, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York.

"I have a hard time passionately defending the actual content of the ad -- but I have a much harder time defending the networks' reasons for blocking it.

-- Tracy Clark-Flory, Salon.com

Trojan Ad

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 4:01pm

just watched it.

where's the racy part again?

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 4:06pm

i dont see anything wrong with that ad.

[Liam]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 4:15pm

at fist I thought it was trying to say that all men were pigs but by the end of it I liked it a lot.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 7:10pm

at least I understood the point, unlike those awful French ones.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 7:16pm

The ones with the spiders? I think they were against AIDS, and they were awful, you're right.

Here's an Irish contraception ad:

(Removed due to offence caused)

Updated On: 6/19/07 at 07:16 PM

[nyc44]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 7:21pm

LMAO! that's terrible though....

[tazber]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 7:24pm

that's hilarious and completely wrong.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 6/18/07 at 11:55pm

OMG! I spit out my water! That's, as tazzy said. hilarious and wrong. But, again. I don't see the problem with the commercial.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:38am

What the hell? I don't even get what's offensive about that. At all.

But that comic is hilarious. And disturbing.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:40am

I hoenstly don't get what is offensive about it.

I have seen those type of comics before. They make me laugh but at the same time I am thinking, "Why the hell am I laughing?"

[soapguy17]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 12:41am

Rav, I've been chasing you around to worship you and you've been not returning to read my lovely comments. Am I going to have to find a new online F.H.?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 6:48am

Sorry, but is there supposed to be something funny about that "comic strip"? Genuine question, people. What makes it so "hilarious"?

As for the TV ad -- well, what do you expect from a bunch of networks that routinely show straight people hopping into bed bt get all *nervous* and *frightened* when it's two guys? The ad itself is cute, but nothing great: it's a facile little piece of work, nothing more.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:29am

Have you seen the commercial for the new one that comes with the vibrating c*ck ring? The pig commercial seems mild to me. lol

And is no one else giggling over Liam's 'fist' typo?!

[What Lola Wants]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:51am

I definitely don't get why the networks turned down that commercial. Some of their other ones are way more suggestive and questionable (although I think all of those are aired on cable only). But really- Fox has TV shows that are more racy than that!

[tazber]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:54am

That commercial has NO place on network TV. It should only be shown in the schools where the kids will see it.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 9:57am

I noticed the typo but there's nothing funny about it.

Updated On: 6/19/07 at 09:57 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 10:35am

I agree we should be able to do better.

I agree the "all men are pigs" part offends me.

I also agree with Sean that a cartoon of a pregnant woman being kicked in her stomach is tasteless.

I also think what needs to be looked at is the inference that the sole responsibility for protection is put on the man.
Both people involved should have that foremost on their minds.

but this comment makes no sense:

"Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy,"

I would ask them....why?

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 10:37am

I apologize to those who found that cartoon offensive and tasteless, and I've removed it accordingly.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 10:46am

I'm glad I saw it before you deleted it - it was sick and made me laugh.
Message me the link to it, I need to send it to a couple of people.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 6/19/07 at 1:45pm

I want to see these commercials....can someone PM them to me s'il vous plais?

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:49am

This reminds me of a PBS/BBC comedy special I saw back in the '80's. It was a mock biography of an actor like Gielgud or Olivier.

In it, the actor is "doing his effort" for the WWII by making public service health films. They show the one that he did for condom use.

Of course, he can't show it or even say the word.

He says that you put the (coughs into fist) on your (clears throat) in order to avoid "dreadfully awful hideous nastiness"...

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:19am

I just saw this on TV. The only thing I found off-putting was the low quality of the animatronic pigs. Those things are really creepy when not done well...