Commercials are getting worse and worse these days, especially those sandwiched between the various court and talk shows that litter daytime tv. One of my guilty pleasures–when I’m not watching a good movie–is watching Judge Mathis. And that’s when I saw this brilliant commercial for J.G. Wentworth, a place that will give you quick cash for a winning lawsuit:
That’s right. It’s a Network (1976) parody. The first time I saw it, I was a bit dumbfounded, the second I couldn’t stop laughing and by the millionth, I was completely bewildered. Honestly, what marketing genius thought: “Hey! You know what we should do for our next ad? Make a parody of the ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!’ scene from Network. What a GREAT IDEA! And while we’re at it, let’s get some horrible actors to open the windows and scream some lines.” Kudos to the guy shaking his hands at the end. Seriously, give this man an Oscar!
What are the odds that a movie about commercialism, ratings drama and network broadcasting would spawn a commercial that parodies one of the most pivotal scenes in the entire film? It’s so absurd, it could be playing at the end of the film along with the news report about Howard Beale’s death and the cereal commercials.
The Roadshow Version 