Wow, that Pasta Pro ad brought back memories. One of those direct-response commercials that Cartoon Network seemed to play at least once a day back then (along with the Time-Life Ultimate Love Songs Collection commercial). I had a similar reaction recently at a yard sale when I saw the Betty Crocker Bake and Fill Cake Pan -- I saw that ad all the time too and couldn't believe it was right there in front of me. Kinda regret not buying it now.
I remembered the Pasta Pot commercials but never saw one in real life. Felt like I had to embed the video—you have to see it to believe it. Also, lol at the Time-Life commercials. I remember those well.
Yes, great catch! It's weird how Ramsey seems almost tame after 20 years of endless cooking shows and yelling chefs (culminating in "The Bear," I guess?)
The Onion seems to be mostly focused on how Harry Potter is juvenile in its articles, rather than anything specific. I have same vague memories of adult fans of young adult media being a common target of mockery 20 years ago. Not just adult Harry Potter fans, but also moms that liked Twilight or Bronies. I don't think that's as taboo today and there's not much judgement if someone in their 30s or 40s is into comic books or YA novels.
I read "reach those grapes" as a reference to one of Aesop's fable, rather than an absurd non sequitur:
The fox says that they could reach the unreachable grapes, it's just that he doesn't want to.
Maybe podcast ads are similar to the those "as seen on TV" products? They tend to be for the same products across shows so everyone hears about Casper mattresses or MeUndies. These products all have a strange place in society because they're well-known but almost never seen in person.
Thanks again for the weekly post. Turns out The Onion is a great way to see what a certain time period was like.
I hesitate to say this, but Taylor Swift is sort of the universal YA artist? She's managed to be deeply relevant to 2 generations of them (first, women now in their mid-30s, then today's teens), plus she's won over their parents.
Wow, that Pasta Pro ad brought back memories. One of those direct-response commercials that Cartoon Network seemed to play at least once a day back then (along with the Time-Life Ultimate Love Songs Collection commercial). I had a similar reaction recently at a yard sale when I saw the Betty Crocker Bake and Fill Cake Pan -- I saw that ad all the time too and couldn't believe it was right there in front of me. Kinda regret not buying it now.
I remembered the Pasta Pot commercials but never saw one in real life. Felt like I had to embed the video—you have to see it to believe it. Also, lol at the Time-Life commercials. I remember those well.
Man, I loved the Dept. Head Rawlings columns.
"Abusive Kitchen Interloper" is also a pretty good send-up of Gordon Ramsay's television oeuvre
Yes, great catch! It's weird how Ramsey seems almost tame after 20 years of endless cooking shows and yelling chefs (culminating in "The Bear," I guess?)
The Onion seems to be mostly focused on how Harry Potter is juvenile in its articles, rather than anything specific. I have same vague memories of adult fans of young adult media being a common target of mockery 20 years ago. Not just adult Harry Potter fans, but also moms that liked Twilight or Bronies. I don't think that's as taboo today and there's not much judgement if someone in their 30s or 40s is into comic books or YA novels.
I read "reach those grapes" as a reference to one of Aesop's fable, rather than an absurd non sequitur:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fox_and_the_Grapes
The fox says that they could reach the unreachable grapes, it's just that he doesn't want to.
Maybe podcast ads are similar to the those "as seen on TV" products? They tend to be for the same products across shows so everyone hears about Casper mattresses or MeUndies. These products all have a strange place in society because they're well-known but almost never seen in person.
Thanks again for the weekly post. Turns out The Onion is a great way to see what a certain time period was like.
Man, how did I miss Aesop? Great catch, I should have suspected something.
I think you're largely right about YA being less taboo, although the backlash lasted a while. See this 2014 Slate column https://slate.com/culture/2014/06/against-ya-adults-should-be-embarrassed-to-read-childrens-books.html
I hesitate to say this, but Taylor Swift is sort of the universal YA artist? She's managed to be deeply relevant to 2 generations of them (first, women now in their mid-30s, then today's teens), plus she's won over their parents.