“As the Internet and TV and movies all become one scary machine in your living room, it’s important that we all have some level of media literacy."
— Sarah Haskins, who sends up ads directed at women in her amazing Target Women clips on Current TV. She thinks advertisers show how clueless they are about women by doing two incompatible things at once: "trying to still use some of the traditional gender roles, while also trying to match the changes .
If men listened to television ads, they'd think that smaller was better (BK Burger Bites), that women love the smell of rancid cologne (Axe), and that you can cover up the fact that you haven't bathed or washed your sheets in ages (Febreze). Not only that, but they'd think that really hot chicks don't just put up with that stuff — they looove it! (And we wonder why men and women have trouble knowing what the other half wants.)
Sarah Haskins turned 30 recently — and she’s worried she’s “f*cked” because it seems that only ladies with short, blond hair represent products that usher one into old-ladyhood, complete with bladder issues and osteoporosis. She wants to still be able to walk with canoes, play with oranges, and feel 29 again. How to do this?
The other day someone suggested that the book He's Just Not That Into You be required reading for adolescent girls destined to chase after uninterested men. It may be true that a lot of women have found help from relationship books, but when you pile up all the how-to-fall-in-love books out there, it's easy to feel like publishers are trying to make you panic your way into marriage. At least that's what Sarah Haskins makes of it all.
In the past "cougar" may have been a demeaning way to describe a single woman preying on younger men, but TV Land's latest reality show, The Cougar, is reclaiming the title for all women who like to date men younger than their children. The 40-year-old star Stacy feels like Eve in the Garden of Eden, surrounded by men in their 20s who show her their abs, jump in pools, and make her cocktails. Check out these highlights from the season and Sarah Haskins's take on the ridiculousness.
What does America think of Michelle Obama's naked, oh-so-toned arms? Well, according to one poll, 49 percent don't really care one way or another, but you wouldn't know that from the obsessive media coverage about her lack of arm coverage. If we all try to have arms as toned as hers, will we eventually try to do everything Michelle does?
I guess I haven't been paying enough attention to Carl's Jr.'s TV ads — I'm not exactly the target market. Although I knew they were occasionally offensive, I had no idea the fast-food chain had basically stopped selling hamburgers in favor of teaching douchebag lessons to millions of unsuspecting young men. Padma, get out while you can!
OMG, OMG Jennifer Aniston was five feet — no, no less than ten feet — wait! — less than three feet away from Angelina and Brad at the Oscars! This is deserving of some straight up Grassy Knoll chartage, dude.
Like millions of American women, are you, too, planning on dieting in 2009 as part of your new year's resolution? Well, you can listen to "terrifying imp" Richard Simmons, or you can take advice from the woman I want to be my best friend: Sarah Haskins. Just follow her brilliant tips, like swapping out your usual six pack of beer for dinner for a fifth of whisky.