Only if the marionettes are anatomically correct...
June 25, 2003 1:59 AM Subscribe
They're not just puppets, they're gay puppets! Orbitz.com, the travel site that is the #2 pop-under advertiser on the Web recently launched a series of TV commercials obviously inspired by the marionettes on "Thunderbirds", complete with a related 'microsite' warning: flash animation and characters whose eyes follow your mouse. Now, in order to promote their "gay travel" sub-site, they've slightly altered one of their ads to change who's eye-ing the "eye candy". Enough of a shock to make me reverse my Tivo, but a welcome change from the "gay panic" themes of recent spots for alcoholic beverages, like Bailey's Irish Cream and Smirnoff Triple Black Ice ("The Brad" ad is particularly weird to me, since among us old skool bloggers, The Brad was pointing out "gay panic" in TV ads back in August 2000.
It's always worthwhile to examine our media to see how we're depicted...although commercial closet gets weird about it sometimes.
I've seen the straight version of this commercial, and a few others using the thunderbirds-ish puppets....They creep me out, and I can't imagine they're working to increase sales for Orbitz. (I think thunderbirds has lost most of its relevance as a cultural reference, being over 30 years old, and not at all continually visible on tv, afaik)
posted by amberglow at 5:20 AM on June 25, 2003
I've seen the straight version of this commercial, and a few others using the thunderbirds-ish puppets....They creep me out, and I can't imagine they're working to increase sales for Orbitz. (I think thunderbirds has lost most of its relevance as a cultural reference, being over 30 years old, and not at all continually visible on tv, afaik)
posted by amberglow at 5:20 AM on June 25, 2003
They're not just puppets, they're gay puppets!
All puppets are gay.
With the exception of oscar the grouch. no gay man would enjoy filth that much.
posted by jonmc at 6:01 AM on June 25, 2003
All puppets are gay.
With the exception of oscar the grouch. no gay man would enjoy filth that much.
posted by jonmc at 6:01 AM on June 25, 2003
Bailey's had another commercial before this one. A lady and three studs are playing pool and -- hey! -- somebody drank her Bailey's. So she stands in front of each guy and smiles, then laughs and hugs the last one. It made no sense, until my girlfriend figured that she must have kissed all three of them (!) and tasted the rich, creamy Bailey's on the last guy's mouth.
posted by creamed corn at 6:10 AM on June 25, 2003
posted by creamed corn at 6:10 AM on June 25, 2003
creamed corn-that's another crypto-gay ad. Straight men don't drink baileys unless it's is coffee or a a convoluted cocktail.
posted by jonmc at 6:15 AM on June 25, 2003
posted by jonmc at 6:15 AM on June 25, 2003
What's next? People writing fanfic about Roy Orbison in cling wrap? sheesh :)
No, men lobbying to marry sheep, of course.
posted by archimago at 6:20 AM on June 25, 2003
No, men lobbying to marry sheep, of course.
posted by archimago at 6:20 AM on June 25, 2003
Enough of a shock to make me reverse my Tivo, but a welcome change from the "gay panic" themes of recent spots for alcoholic beverages, like Bailey's Irish Cream and Smirnoff Triple Black Ice
The ad watch site you linked to said that those commercials weren't examples of anti-gay attitudes. So why use those as examples of your "welcome change"?
posted by dgaicun at 6:32 AM on June 25, 2003
The ad watch site you linked to said that those commercials weren't examples of anti-gay attitudes. So why use those as examples of your "welcome change"?
posted by dgaicun at 6:32 AM on June 25, 2003
With the exception of oscar the grouch. no gay man would enjoy filth that much.
Two words: John Waters.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:58 AM on June 25, 2003
Two words: John Waters.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:58 AM on June 25, 2003
pinkstainlesstail-Waters' characters enjoy filth. Waters himself strikes me as so fastidious that he probably boils his socks.
posted by jonmc at 7:01 AM on June 25, 2003
posted by jonmc at 7:01 AM on June 25, 2003
Yeah, that Bailey's ad may have been "gay panic"-themed, but only in the sense that it addresses the concern as many straights perceive it. The fact that they all have a good laugh when the guy can't figure out who kissed him definitely puts the whole experience in a non-homophobic light.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:06 AM on June 25, 2003
posted by rxrfrx at 7:06 AM on June 25, 2003
Waters himself strikes me as so fastidious that he probably boils his socks.
Dang, you're right. Probably the same thing with Genet too, so there goes my backup...
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:58 AM on June 25, 2003
Dang, you're right. Probably the same thing with Genet too, so there goes my backup...
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:58 AM on June 25, 2003
The ad watch site you linked to said that those commercials weren't examples of anti-gay attitudes. So why use those as examples of your "welcome change"?
They have their opinion, I have mine. After some of the earlier commercials, ad agencies are obviously adjusting their attitude, but to me, they were just variations on the same joke ("oh no, it's not a girl, it's a guy!!!"). The straight/gay variations of the Orbitz ad are also both the same joke. But criticizing TV commercials for repetitive themes is like criticizing weblogs for not being professional journalism.
BTW, I caught the "gay Orbitz" spot on BBCA, but not on "Graham Norton" or "AbFab", it was the 37th rerun of an episode of "Changing Rooms". I guess they thought the only people who watch the 37th rerun of "Changing Rooms" are gay men with a crush on Lawrence Llewelen Bowen. (And decorating show addicts like my wife... Did I mention I'm married... to a woman... and I think Lawrence is almost as ugly as Ann Coulter...) [/gay panic]
One more thing: when looking up a 'Thunderbirds' link, I learned that "F.A.B.", the confirmation that the pilots used when communicating among the big 'Birds, was just an abbreviation of... FABULOUS! (See, those puppets were gay all along!)
posted by wendell at 10:36 AM on June 25, 2003
They have their opinion, I have mine. After some of the earlier commercials, ad agencies are obviously adjusting their attitude, but to me, they were just variations on the same joke ("oh no, it's not a girl, it's a guy!!!"). The straight/gay variations of the Orbitz ad are also both the same joke. But criticizing TV commercials for repetitive themes is like criticizing weblogs for not being professional journalism.
BTW, I caught the "gay Orbitz" spot on BBCA, but not on "Graham Norton" or "AbFab", it was the 37th rerun of an episode of "Changing Rooms". I guess they thought the only people who watch the 37th rerun of "Changing Rooms" are gay men with a crush on Lawrence Llewelen Bowen. (And decorating show addicts like my wife... Did I mention I'm married... to a woman... and I think Lawrence is almost as ugly as Ann Coulter...) [/gay panic]
One more thing: when looking up a 'Thunderbirds' link, I learned that "F.A.B.", the confirmation that the pilots used when communicating among the big 'Birds, was just an abbreviation of... FABULOUS! (See, those puppets were gay all along!)
posted by wendell at 10:36 AM on June 25, 2003
I guess they thought the only people who watch the 37th rerun of "Changing Rooms" are gay men with a crush on Lawrence Llewelen Bowen.
You've got Graham Wynne, Oliver Heath, Michael Jewitt and Handy Andy to choose from, and you pick Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen as your would-be gay sex symbol?
*mutters something unkind about the taste of straight men*
posted by Epenthesis at 11:05 AM on June 25, 2003
You've got Graham Wynne, Oliver Heath, Michael Jewitt and Handy Andy to choose from, and you pick Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen as your would-be gay sex symbol?
*mutters something unkind about the taste of straight men*
posted by Epenthesis at 11:05 AM on June 25, 2003
I can't imagine they're working to increase sales for Orbitz. (I think thunderbirds has lost most of its relevance as a cultural reference, being over 30 years old, and not at all continually visible on tv, afaik)
Actually, Orbitz is just getting ahead of the hype curve. A live action Thunderbirds movie is currently in production (you can see a RealVideo tease here). Look for product placement from Ford, mourn the passing of those whacky marionettes, and brace yourself for the coming hype . . . or just book a flight to Miami on Orbitz.
posted by donovan at 1:42 PM on June 25, 2003
Actually, Orbitz is just getting ahead of the hype curve. A live action Thunderbirds movie is currently in production (you can see a RealVideo tease here). Look for product placement from Ford, mourn the passing of those whacky marionettes, and brace yourself for the coming hype . . . or just book a flight to Miami on Orbitz.
posted by donovan at 1:42 PM on June 25, 2003
wait creamed corn - are you saying they edited out the kisses where you saw the ad? Thats a good twenty seconds of snogging in that Baileys commercial. (are you in the US?)
posted by dabitch at 2:02 PM on June 25, 2003
posted by dabitch at 2:02 PM on June 25, 2003
wendell: I guess they thought the only people who watch the 37th rerun of "Changing Rooms" are gay men with a crush on Lawrence Llewelen Bowen. (And decorating show addicts like my wife... Did I mention I'm married...
Well, wendell, you should know you don't have to tell us you're married if you're willing to admit in public you think gay men would fancy this over this!
posted by JollyWanker at 2:07 PM on June 25, 2003
Well, wendell, you should know you don't have to tell us you're married if you're willing to admit in public you think gay men would fancy this over this!
posted by JollyWanker at 2:07 PM on June 25, 2003
donovan, from the looks of the realplayer thing, most people going to see the new movie won't even know about the big-headed puppets (unless they're close to 40 or above, or happened to catch it on its very infrequent reshowings)....but you're right about the hype curve--thunderbirds are on ew's It List.
I'd love to see whether this is helping orbitz's sales or whether it's another "angry gumball"
posted by amberglow at 5:42 PM on June 25, 2003
I'd love to see whether this is helping orbitz's sales or whether it's another "angry gumball"
posted by amberglow at 5:42 PM on June 25, 2003
amberglow, well I don't know about this "angry gumball" but now you've made me curious . . .
posted by donovan at 6:05 PM on June 25, 2003
posted by donovan at 6:05 PM on June 25, 2003
JollyWanker, the Lawrence reference was a jab at the assumptions people who schedule TV commercials make. And I am quite aware that Handy Andy is running a poor third in the U.S.ofA. among gay men and straight women to Ty Pennington and Andrew Dan-(can't possibly be his real name)-Jumbo.
And the "angry gumball" is a commercial for Wrigley's "Extra" gum, voiced by either Gilbert Gottfried or an incredible simulation (and if there is another actor making a living with Gottfried's voice, he must die!!!)
posted by wendell at 9:42 PM on June 25, 2003
And the "angry gumball" is a commercial for Wrigley's "Extra" gum, voiced by either Gilbert Gottfried or an incredible simulation (and if there is another actor making a living with Gottfried's voice, he must die!!!)
posted by wendell at 9:42 PM on June 25, 2003
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What's next? People writing fanfic about Roy Orbison in cling wrap? sheesh :)
posted by shadow45 at 4:45 AM on June 25, 2003