Too many actors are peddling goods

There are way too many celebrities in today's advertisements. It seems as if you can't turn on the television or flip open a magazine without seeing some movie star featured in an ad for some major product.

Whether it be cosmetics, clothing, or apparently even food, there now is some big name person trying to help sell it.

Whatever happened to the days where people got their acting start in commercials?

I've often seen clips of various old commercials for Burger King, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, and others with people like Jodie Sweetin, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lea Thompson and yes, even Brad Pitt starting off their careers by appearing in commercials as a way to bring in some money while hoping they land their big break.

Now, if it's anything big, advertisers go and find someone people can recognize. You have Queen Latifah and Valerie Bertinelli selling Jenny Craig, Jessica Alba and Beyonce on various makeup commercials, etc.

The other day, I noticed a commercial for Sara Lees new bread. It featured a bunch of kids running around, dancing and having fun. It was a few seconds after that I realized the kids were in actuality many of the castmembers from Disneys ever-popular High School Musical franchise.

I guess the point is that if people think their favorite celebrity truly enjoys a product, then us everyday people will rush out to our local grocery store and pick up the same product.

Come on! Were not that stupid. While a toy might grab a kid's attention because it features Mickey Mouse or some other famous cartoon character, we as adults dont necessarily fall into that same trap, right?

We, as responsible buyers, will look more at cost and personal preferences while making our purchases rather than who happens to be hawking the item in an advertisement. And, since most 10 year olds dont have the money or transportation to go and buy all the Sara Lee bread they want just because the Wildcats students are helping to promote it, chances are it will still be up to us, the adults, to purchase the bread for them.

I know the whole point of advertising and marketing is to try and find a way to sell the product. I just believe it might be better to have the message than some recognizable face. It would still get the point across if the promotion was put together well enough.

Maybe one of these days, the national advertisers will realize if they just have a good message, thats all it takes. Then the movie stars can go back to doing what they are supposed to be doing; acting in television and movie shows.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is city editor for The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)