Sports & Play
Blue Jay Commercial Yanked From Canadian Television
This Blue Jays commercial has been pulled by the Television Bureau of Canada, the body that regulates private television advertising. While the TBC won't give specifics, this version of the ad didn't get approval until the part where the kid getting smacked by a pillow-wielding Frank Thomas was edited out (and without that, really, what's the point?).
The company that made the spot has said that it's ridiculous to see this as an act of family violence. Personally, I'm in agreement with the Jay's marketing VP who said, "I think we are taking ourselves a little too seriously if we're saying a pillow fight cannot air because it's viewed as too aggressive...".
You'll still see the unedited ad on the CBC - our public broadcaster is not covered by TBC rules and didn't seem to mind the unedited spot.
Discussion
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The problem: the plot and tone here aren't portraying a fun, spontaneous father/son pillow fight. It's the element of discipline that's conveyed. Thomas cranks the kid with a pillow on his visit to put them to bed, after catching them playing, and then being antagonized. The fact that he does theis, then trots off is clearly an anology to his instinct at the plate, but I can see why some (very sensitive) types might think it's worth pulling off the air.
The previous commercial, with the pinata being cranked over the fence at a kids party was a safer analogy to the same effect.
It's supposed to be an over the top scenario, just like all these ads. Obviously this isn't something that he would actually do. How about the one where the guy pegs the bee's nest in the tree? That one isn't that nice either!
Maybe it's just the way I'm wired, because I find that, with a lot of ads these days, I ask these questions that I KNOW the advertiser doesn't want me asking.
I KNOW the intention is to show that the Blue Jays are consumate competitors, with no question.
However, all the ads say to ME is that the current line up of The Toronto Blue Jays are assholes!
HAHAHA I guess I'm just a cynical dick.
While I love a good pillowfight, showing a father (and a big man at that) whacking his little son clear off the bed sends the wrong message.
What does this have to do with baseball? Clearly, the ad writers could've come up with something a little more appropriate.