It is unusual for our household to be tied to the television during the summer months.
Of course, this has not been a normal summer and as a result we have found ourselves spending more time in our TV room, watching news, documentaries, music flashback programs as part of PBS solicitations, re-runs of shows we don’t usually watch in the regular season, re-runs of shows we have watched in previous years, even bits and pieces of city council activities.
And on Saturdays we have spent considerable hours binge-watching the show, The Closer, having now seen most of the episodes, not always in order, through the show’s seven seasons.
Much to Housemate’s horror, I have re-watched some of those Christmas movies on the W channel, along with shows related to Valentine’s Day, winter in the country, summer in the country and love renewals where they all began.
What I haven’t done yet is tune into the Shopping Channel for there isn’t much I need and with only an extra $300 from PM Trudeau, there’s not a lot of disposable cash sitting there waiting to be spent. There is still no need in our household for those magic frying pans that never stick or burn and will withstand a cook armed with a hammer.
But of course in the midst of our summer viewing pleasure are the commercials that we most often ignore in favour of grabbing a snack, or checking emails or taking clothes out of the dryer. But a few have stuck this summer.
The creative folks who came up with the summer air conditioning commercials, Dads in Briefs, are to be paid homage for getting the message across while using family dynamics.
There may be more but two have captured our attention and make us laugh every time. The first is the youngster wanting the TV remote only to see it slightly buried by her father who is wearing minuscule underwear because it is hot indoors. He kindly hands her the device but she is hesitant to accept it — probably thinking it needs a shot of sanitizer.
The second features two young boys, bowls in hand, heading to the freezer for ice cream. Imagine their surprise when dad is found already in the freezer, trying to escape the heat of the day.
Sorry, but for the life of me, without research, I cannot recall the air conditioning company being advertised. Oops.
Our other favourite commercial of summer is for an automobile, one driven by a businesswoman whose phone reminds her about dinner that night with some friends. She assumes it is adult company she will be feeding and plans appropriately. It isn’t until her husband starts to remind her, then she opens the door and is confronted by two “kids.” The light bulb goes on.
The part we love best is when the little girl asks: “Where’s the pizza?” in the tone of voice that only a youngster can accomplish. Again, the make and model of the car escape me.
And in anticipation of a new viewing season, we laugh when shows are promoted with the promise that they are “coming soon.”
Not soon enough because come to think of it, Christmas is coming and there might be something on the Shopping Channel that someone in the family might enjoy. Maybe a frying pan?
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
