Big names, small screens
Attention Jennifer Aniston, Tina Fey, Peyton Manning, John Krasinski, and Alec Baldwin. I have a question for you. How much money do you need to amass before you’ll be satisfied?
The American capitalist system has rewarded you with mega-millions, each of you is idolized and adored, and you have the potential to earn many millions more.
So why do you need to supplement your bloated bank account by doing television commercials?
Forgive me for saying this, given that you are astronomically successful superstars and I’m a nobody, but trying to pile a few more dollars on top of the mountain of money you already have, that’s just piggish, selfish and maniacal.
Trying to get more money by hawking goods on TV makes me think you’re obsessed with only one thing, accumulating wealth.
I understand why the advertisers would want you. They’re hoping your celebrity status will be the magic that will get some poor average Joe separated from a few bucks.
But I can’t understand why you’d lower yourself by pushing crap on TV. Why would you do that? Why not just make another movie or play another season or whatever it is you do to get paid enough to live like royalty for multiple lifetimes?
Not to get all moralistic, but one of the big problems in our society is that too much wealth is concentrated in the hands of too few people. One of the nasty little features of capitalism is that once you’ve made a whole bunch of money, you’re in the perfect position to make even more.
I have to wonder if making money is like drug addiction. The more you take, the more you need. And you’ll do just about anything to get your fix.
So when I see a big celebrity doing a TV ad, I think, just like a drug addict, you just can’t help yourself. Your life is not about your art anymore, it’s just about how many bucks you can get out of it.
Some people might say it’s a free country, that those stars have every right to make commercials if they want. But it’s a bad idea. It cheapens them.
It’s worth noting that most movie stars, rock stars and major sports figures don’t do TV commercials. For whatever reason, they let struggling models and actors have those jobs.
You know those people, Flo for Progressive, Jared for Subway, Paul for Cox, and the Gecko for Geico. If you’re a big star, is this the company you want to keep?
Stars are supposed to be bigger than life. The place they belong is on the big screen, and that’s the big picture.
bridgesareforburning 
Dear Ron,
Now send a copy of this to each of their respective employers telling them you are no longer going to use their services. It is a small step and a start.
Great post.
I mute all commercials and am resistant to suggestion.
Aloha,
Doug
I see your point, but if you haven’t spoken to them personally about it you can’t know their true motivation. Perhaps they don’t do it for the money. Maybe they just love acting, big screen or small. Maybe they donate every dime they make from commercials to charity. Maybe they blew through that big pile of money and need commercials to put food on the table. There are a lot of alternate scenarios here so I’ll just stop there. I’m just saying without knowing someone personally it’s hard to claim you know the reasons behind their actions. I wouldn’t even claim to know the reasons behind the actions of some people I know quite well.
Good points made, Adam. I tend to be judgmental and intolerant, and those are my good points. It’s a pet peeve of mine and I just went with it. Ron
george clooney recently did some commercials in japan for jim beam. got paid a ton, but all of the money went to pay for some kind of communication satellite for a depressed country. can’t remember which one.