A Dragon in Sheep’s Clothing

Really, that was it? That was the commercial that had activists all in a tizzy?

Almost two weeks ago, Mike Celizic (writing for NBC) announced that money is the only reason CBS would agree to air this ad: 

There is no other reason — and certainly no good reason — for anyone, including a television executive, to decide that the ethical standards which had stood for generations are suddenly no more worth preserving than that hairball the cat just coughed up.

Really? You mean commercials during the big game have NEVER challenged ethics before? Those ethical standards have stood for generations?

Let’s take a look at the other ads that have aired tonight (so far). Back in the early days of this game, I seriously doubt any TV executive would have allowed an ad with:

1. men and women parading in their underwear around the office;
2. a woman ripping her shirt off (albeit with a camisole underneath) and an address where you can view the rest (which, the company is proud to say, was banned from TV); 
3. a man falling out of a casket full of snack chips – during his funeral;
4. a group of men walking the hills without pants on;
5. a close-up of a middle-aged football player’s rump with a cheetah-print thong visible above his pants; or even
6. Betty White getting thrown into a muddy puddle.

But they probably would have allowed an ad with a football player’s mom saying how much she loves her son. Which is all this ad really says.