Archive for March, 2007
Okay, maybe it’s not the stupidest — but it’s up there. The Sally Field “Boniva” commercial.
For those who don’t know Boniva, it’s a once-a-month pill for osteoporosis. I’m not a doctor, I don’t study osteoporosis so I know very little about the drug aside from what the commercial keeps ramming down my throat — that you can take it once a month. Focus group this spot and I don’t know if people would walk out knowing that it’s for osteoporosis, but they’ll certainly tell you that it’s a once a month pill.
Because, really, that’s all they talk about. There’s several spots in this campaign, but the one that annoys me the most is where Sally talks about her friend who HAS TO SET ASIDE TIME ONCE A WEEK TO TAKE HER CALCIUM PILL. Oh, the horror! Really, once a week? How does she make it through? And what the hell is Sally’s friend doing to have to set so much time aside for this pill? Does she do a calcium ritual? Maybe get some chicken bones from Thursday nights dinner and shake them about as she dances on one foot chanting about strong bones?
I take three pills a day — and that’s not including any supplements or the most disgusting vitamin drink in the world that I drink every morning. (I do need to set time aside for that because it involves mixing — but it’s no more than 30 seconds and really, as nasty as it is, it’s worth it.) I know people who take far more than that and I’ve never heard anyone say — “oh, this one weekly pill. It’s SO TIME CONSUMING!” So this commercial drives me crazy every time it comes on.
If Boniva was pushing themselves against a daily pill competitor, I’d get it. But if your main selling point is that taking a WEEKLY PILL is *handtoforehead*oh so very painful!*dramatic sigh* — then really, maybe you should spend some time thinking about actual benefits of your product than harping on one silly point.
Now, I like Sally Field and I think she looks fantastic — and I realize this is all scripted — but seriously. She just looks stupid here going on about the PAIN OF A WEEKLY PILL. You’re a big star, Gidget — demand a better script!
Popularity: 21% [?]
March 28th, 2007
The television version of This American Life premieres on Showtime this Thursday (March 22nd) at 10:30pm. We’ve got a new interview with the Director and Co-Executive Producer of the show, as well as a review on why you should be tuning in.
+ PopGurls Interview: This American Life’s Chris Wilcha
by Amy
The Director of the new series discusses what it was like to bring the Public Radio juggernaut to television, telling your own stories and Ira Glass’ rock stardom.
+ This American Life In Pictures
by Amy
As an obsessive, yet skeptical fan, This American Life: The TV Series is so much better than I could have hoped for.
+ Fallback Albums
by Jessica
Jessica tells us why she goes back to Cocteau Twins, Juliana Hatfield, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sonic Youth and Arcade Fire..
Get all this and more at http://www.popgurls.com
Enjoy!
Popularity: 11% [?]
March 21st, 2007
I stumbled across this link about Francois Brunelle’s very interesting I’m Not a Look-A-Like project, and who was on top but the lovely, lovely Caroline Dhavernas. (You doubt the loveliness of the Wonderfalls actress? Check out our interview here.)
So lovely, indeed. She really needs to be back on my TV screen on a weekly basis, then maybe I won’t mind not having Jaye and the clan around for more than 13 episodes. And what the heck happened to Tyron Leitso? I miss the way that boy swoons.
Popularity: 13% [?]
March 13th, 2007
When I worked at my college magazine, I was utterly obsessed with fonts. Serif fonts, sans serif fonts, ransom note fonts, handwriting fonts. I knew everything we had in our arsenal and could tell you what font was best for which article. We layout folk would admire each other’s work, nodding when a good choice was made, “Oh, yes. That’s a good font. Nice, nice.” in this dreamy tone of voice. I was partial to serif fonts back then — your Garamonds, Book Antiquas, Georgias. I tended to slip in some Copperplate from time to time. Now, I find that I’m more drawn to sans serifs like Century Gothic, Eurostile, Skia.
However, I will always, always abhor Courier. Aside from scripts, there is no need for one to use Courier. And while my knowledge of the latest fonts is a bit lacking, I will always be a font geek at heart. Which is why this piece of animation made me ridiculously giddy:
Animation of a Samuel L. Jackson’s Pulp Fiction speech about Marsellus Wallace in Type
Brilliant.
Popularity: 9% [?]
March 12th, 2007
In the eternal quest for underwear that is both cute AND functional — something I thought was nothing more than a pipe dream, a mere fantasy tale told by mother’s to get their daughters to go to sleep at night — I stumbled upon Mary Green in the boutique Retail Therapy in Seattle. They’re cute, they don’t ride, and I don’t have to listen to the boy complain about granny panties anymore. It’s fucking fantastic. I don’t even mind having to wash them by hand. Yet. I don’t mind yet. I’m sure the day will come when I start tossing them in the washing machine, but for now I’m trying to abide by the hand wash. We’ll see how that goes.
Also cute, though not quite as functional is the Honeydew line. Their frilly, can-canesque boyshorts are totally fucking cute, though they’re more for wearing as you dance your way around your house in nothing but your underwear than for wearing under pants. Not that they don’t have cute, practical underwear, because they have a line that looks pretty identical to Mary Green’s (only slightly less comfy), but if I’m going to get something that looks just like Mary Green, I’m just going to get Mary Green. If you do go for the Honeydew line, be warned that they run small. Extremely small. If you’re usually a small, try a medium. At least. You might even push it up to a large. (Mary Green runs true to size.)
The downside to looking cute in your skivvies? A slightly higher price tag than those of us that traditionally buy our underwear in cotton and packs of six are comfortable with paying. But if looking adorably cute isn’t enough to make you shell out $15 to $20+ a pair, try looking at it as an investment in peace and quiet since your significant other will no longer be bitching about your granny panties. They’ll be happier, you’ll be happier (it’s amazing what feeling cute can do for your attitude), and at least when your friends come over unannounced and you don’t have time to clear your underwear out of the bathroom, they won’t be asking why your grandmother’s underwear is hanging up in your bathroom.
-Michelle
Popularity: 19% [?]
March 5th, 2007
For those who don’t know, we PopGurls all met through the now-defunct Buffy the Vampire Slayer posting board, The Bronze. One of our fellow Bronzers, Stephanie Tuszynski, did a fab documentary about the life, death and afterlife of The Bronze. And more than that, IRL looks at what happens when online friendships move from the Internet into “real life.” IRL premieres next week in Los Angeles.
Why next week in particular? Because Saturday, March 10th, 2007 is the 10-year anniversary of Buffy’s first episode! (God, I feel old.) The screening will be held at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles (655 N. Van Ness Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038) at 2pm PST. There will be a Q&A session after the screening. The screening is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. To RSVP, e-mail IRLscreenings@gmail.com and include the letters “LA” in the subject line.
It’s very exciting! And you can see Amanda and Amy (who looks particularly dorky) on-screen! Before the screening, PopGurl writer Allyson Beatrice will give a reading from her forthcoming book about life in the online “Buffy” fandom, Will The Vampire People Please Leave The Lobby?
Get a sneak peek at http://www.myspace.com/irlmovie or Watch the trailer on YouTube
Popularity: 10% [?]
March 1st, 2007
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