I don't know if they are doing it in the states as well, but in Canada GM has had an ad campaign going on about "Johnny" in support of their small car line - mainly the ugly Aveo (No, I don't care what you say, the damn thing is ugly).
I think I get the intent of the ads - sort of an after school special parody sort of thing - but I find them just stupid. Younger kids would not get the "Past School Special/ABC After School Special" aspect of it but it MUST be the audience they are aiming at, right? Certainly it could not be my generation, because I don't think I am alone in thinking I would not buy one of those cars if only just to protest the lameness of the ads.
But lets examine what "Johnny", the protagonist in the ads, has done so far:
- Been terribly uptight about someone eating in his car like a total clean freak.
- Refused to drive his friend and 4 girls in his car, leaving his friend behind, unwilling to be possibly squeezed up against a girl.
- Hated loud music (although no one cranked up any house or dance so it's not totally conclusive).
- Refused to make out with a hot red headed chick - giving the excuse of possibly getting a parking ticket - instead agreeing to go out to get food at a restaurant.
Johnny is totally gay.
Not that there is anything wrong with that.
