Advertising in 2024

I have been holding off writing up things I want to talk about because of the pressure of the looming election and the impact it will have on us. Now that it is over, I am even more desperate to put it off so instead let’s talk about advertising on “network” type shows.

I was watching “Those About To Die” on Peacock. I haven’t had cable since before we moved to Tacoma, I think the last time we had anything cable was somewhere in 2014 and even then we just used it to DVR. So today I got to see one of the very few commercials that come across my media and it made me realize, the idea of “commercials” is still aimed at old people, which includes me now.

During the show a commercial for Slim Jim came on. First, what the fuck is Slim Jim still doing as a thing? I swear I haven’t seen it in 20+ years, but that isn’t the point. The typical DMV location with Slim Jim actors come crashing through the walls could have definitely been from the 80s. It even felt like it was set in the 80s, but none of that is what really stopped me.

What stopped me is that part of it had Randy Macho Man Savage… like holy fuck that man has been dead since 2011 and they are still using his likeness? They didn’t even use AI they just used small clips of him from decades ago.

Randy “Macho Man” Savage was a wrestler in the 80s (I don’t know how long past 80s because I got out of wrestling when I got married in the early 90s). I always really liked him and along with Hulk Hogan, and Rowdy Roddy they were probably my favorites. When he got into the advertisements it was funny, but as I got older I did think “well at least he has some financial things still coming in. So was really surprised he was in the ad from 2024.

That being said, the post isn’t really about using someone’s likeness after they are dead, although that definitely should be a subject, rather its about the fact that they are not marketing Slim Jim’s really to anyone under the age of 45… I am curious what their plan is in 20 more years when my generation is dropping like flies and they have to look for younger people, not that younger people are going to want to eat Slim Jims (it is garbage).

I guess this post is mostly my surprise that even streaming apps from networks are still geared towards boomers and genX when boomers are dying, and hopefully they will die off before they kill us with them. It just seems weird that the advertising hasn’t changed and that we can watch the real time fall of network tv.

Nothing insightful here but something I need to write because it was weird, and because I am trying not to freak out about the election.