The commercial ends and then . . . ?

[eplovejoy]

Most television advertisements last only 30 seconds, which can leave some narrative threads hanging. What do you think comes next in a commercial that's caught your attention?

For instance, there is a current one for Disney theme parks.

THE SET-UP: An elementary school student in a spelling bee is asked to spell "microphone." She's just said "M-I-C" when a guy in the audience interrupts, "K-E-Y." Then all these Baby Boomer parents follow his cue and sing the theme song from the 1950s "Mickey Mouse Club"* program, while the kids in the spelling bee look confused. Finally, Angela Lansbury's voice comes on and invites the members of the "first Disney generation" to relive their childhoods by coming to a Disney park.

AFTER THE COMMERCIAL: Lawsuits.

When the spelling bee resumes, either the girl is asked to spell "microphone" or she is given a new word. In the first instance, the parents of other contestants will sue because she's been given extra time. In the second, her parents will sue because the replacement word might be harder than "microphone." And in either case, the girl's parents also will sue the guy who interrupted her because he ruined her concentration.

So the kids learn to spell a whole batch of words, including "litigation," "deposition" and "continuance."

__________


* "M-I-C,
see you real soon,
K-E-Y,
Why? Because we love you."

[MrsNormanMaine[$]]

I've always assumed the "Tasters Choice" couple lost everything in the dot com meltdown, had to move into the World o' Weeds trailer park, and tried to get by on five hundred dollars a month in SSA. He developed a drinking problem, joined the Hells Angels and got involved in a murder for hire scheme while she tried to make extra money trying to run a meth lab in the garden shed.

They'll both be out in five to ten.

MNM

[kurt_messick]

That Chinese laundryman who was always fooling that stupid yuppie-wanna-be woman with his 'Ancient Chinese Secret' for getting out stains and ring-around-the-collar is in fact a front for sending nuclear secrets to China.

All the Secret Service agents use that laundry, and he just goes through the pockets...