As my regular readers know, I watch way too much television. If you aren't a TV watcher, you perhaps missed the debut of this clever TV ad by Trojan where pigs in a single bar evolve into caring, attractive men when they purchase a condom.
Or perhaps you were just watching the wrong channel, because CBS and Fox TV have refused to run these ads. According to the New York Times, here's what the Networks said:
"In a written response to Trojan, though, Fox said that it had rejected the spot because, “Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy.”
In its rejection, CBS wrote, “while we understand and appreciate the humor of this creative, we do not find it appropriate for our network even with late-night-only restrictions.”
That's right, the channels that bring us such sexually exploitative fare as the OC and the Victoria Secret specials think that advertising condoms is inappropriate and that pregnancy is not a health concern. (Both however take those ubiquitous erectile dysfunction ads that feature couples mostly too young for viagra and cialis in ridiculous outdoor settings. I've had more than one conversation with teenagers about what that older couple is doing in single bathtubs at the top of the hill holding hands!)
So, older couples having sex in ads and warnings about four hour erections? O.K. Bladder control? O.K. Unnecessary feminine hygiene products? O.K. Ads for anti-depressants that proclaim proudly "no sexual side effects"? O.K. Countless ads with half nude women selling everything from cars to toothpaste? O.K. Not to say anything about the more than seven sexual acts or references per hour on Prime Time television.
But, condom ads that don't mention disease? Nope, just too risque. Listen, if we can answer questions about four hour erections during the Super Bowl, we can handle the teachable moment this commercial might suggest. CBS and FOX, it's time to reconsider.
If you dare, watch the commercial yourself online at www.trojanevolve.com
1 comment:
The prevention of unwanted pregnancy has nothing to do with health? Talk about some blinkered networks. I kind of understand that coming from Fox...but CBS has no excuse.
If only the equal-time rule and fairness doctrine applied to advertising!
Then at least we might get one contraceptive commercial for every ED medication commercial.
You know, I don't see so many ads for birth control anymore either. What happened to pretty women holding up the NuvaRing?
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