What? Ed Begley Jr. didn't convince you to fill out the census questionnaire?
Mr. Begley, Jr., has acted in over 200 TV shows over a 40 year span. And he has joined a legion of TV and movie stars who, having been successful at making audiences believe they are someone they aren't, now want to convince us to adopt their political beliefs.
His cause is global warming, and a very strident advocate he is. If he doesn't warm your heart, never mind, the earth's temperature will fry you anyway.
Now Ed is on TV doing commercials, most recently promoting the U.S. Census in a Super Bowl commercial which was such a quality piece that it earned at least one reviewer's ranking as one of the five worst Super Bowl commercials.
With his political pronouncements preceding him, he enters our houses under a cloud, his credibility not exactly solid. The people who hired him for this gig probably agree with his global warming stance and think everyone else either does or should. Never mind that the whole global warming yarn is rapidly coming unraveled. But in their minds perhaps Ed Begley, Jr., is the perfect, ahead-of-his-time, pitchman. And the Census Bureau just goes along with it.
So what exactly should we make of his commercial pitch promoting the U.S. Census?The goal would seem to be to get people to fill out the forms. But Mr. Begley, Jr., just throws up another psychological obstacle we have to overcome before giving up our personal information.
But with the tone deafness they've demonstrated, it's a good thing for us that the Census Bureau is tasked merely with collecting data, not interpreting it. If only taxpayers could get a refund for what they spent on that commercial.
I figured he was the only one desperate...um, *inexpensive* enough to "star" in the ad. The cast is not exactly full of A-listers.
Posted by: Eric | February 09, 2010 at 02:42 PM
Hmmm. You may be onto something Eric. He and the others may be working for the minimum star wage.
Posted by: Geo | February 09, 2010 at 04:01 PM
George ... a little clarification, please. Is your problem a general one with the "legion of TV and movie stars who, having been successful at making audiences believe they are someone they aren't, now want to convince us to adopt their political beliefs" ... or is it with Mr. Begley (and his politics) in particular?
You're right ... their numbers are legion ... but their 'star power' gives them a bully pulpit for sharing their beliefs. And sometimes, that can be a good thing.
For example, you've often written on gun-related issues. Do you object to Charlton Heston stepping-up and promoting the policies, programs and politics of the NRA?
Posted by: Jeff | February 10, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I believe Heston was a paid spokesman for the NRA and could have just as easily sold dentures or life insurance in his retirement job. But he took a job standing up for civil rights.
On the other hand, Begley is proselytizing for a religion based on questionable science. So to answer your question, Jeff, it's Begley and others like him who can't break out of the Hollywood group-think.
Posted by: Geo | February 10, 2010 at 02:49 PM