28 July 2007

Shorty McShort Short

One recent Saturday I arose mid-morning to pay bills and watch a mix of cartoons and cooking shows. Since I'm only willing to pay for the very lowliest basic cable (which includes local channels 2-13, two redundant espn's, a Christian network, TBS, TNT, and about half a dozen foreign language stations) I have to settle for PBS cooking shows instead of their flashier Food Network rivals--truth be told I actually prefer Jacques Pepin to Rachel Ray, but to each their own. Anyway, at the tail end of Lidia's couscous episode, I was assaulted by this totally wretched Gloria Estefan PBS ad. I felt simultaneously betrayed and physically ill, and decided I wanted to share with my faithful readers (thanks Mom for reading this aloud to the rest of the fam--that makes about 9 then...) PBS' previously grand tradition of outstanding ads.

I spent many hours back in KBYU's master control watching a spot we called Shorty McShort Short (at one point the big whigs in Springville actually had to tell us to stop inserting it into the on-air interstitials). I want you to see it--I myself am aching to watch it right now--but it's nowhere to be found. I spent some serious time on this and am tremendously disappointed, but I won't cheapen it with a flawed description. May I please offer this in its place (a close runner up for what I inserted most into the playlist--I dare you to watch the pregnant mother and daughter, about 50 seconds from the end, at 3 in the morning when you're cold and alone and not cry your own eyes out).

5 comments:

Rachel from Claremont said...

My favorite PBS promo from my stint at the KBYU was the Gogo's Vacations to promote the travel shows. That one always got me through the last strech of a long over-nighter.

L said...

I made it about three seconds into the spot before I started tearing up. I'm such a cry baby.

courtney said...

You have no idea. Imagine watching this following 2 hours of "World At War" (complete with footage of mass graves and starved concentration camp survivors). I was actually glad when they cut the staffing down to one operator per overnighter--at least then I didn't have to try and hide the waterworks from callous co-workers.

Ryan said...

I love PBS. And sweet momets. This video is a big mood improver.

Ms. Liz said...

I just love that SONG! I remember you mentioning this short to me when we did music share for FHE once and I played it. I started tearing up after about 20 seconds as well. Thanks. Yay for hope :)