The obvious privilege aspect is part of why the ad comes off the way it does. Almost like there’s a wink to the intended purchaser: “You know what you signed on for when you married that kind of guy. He made the money; Peloton will help you fulfill your end of the bargain.” The people who don’t get that subtext either…

Sorry, but no. I’m a professional writer and marketer (and former English teacher) and it’s my job to analyze things like advertisements for consumer penetration. The first time I saw this ad while watching TV, before any articles were written, it struck me as not achieving the message the makers were trying for.…

I work in Marketing—you don’t casually throw a kid into something.

He should try to get cast in a revival of Taint Misbehavin’.

Blame his agent. It’s a vicious circle: mediocre actor gets mediocre agent who gives mediocre advice with mediocre results and mediocre career advancement.

There’s a very deliberate reason why the commercial includes that moment when she breathlessly says, “They said my name!” Just like keto or crossfit or any other big fitness fad, this thing is sold on identity and belonging. You Are Peloton.

The Playboy centerfold is implicit. Also, the presence of a young kid implies that the wife didn’t get her body back after the pregnancy to the husband’s satisfaction.

There’s an irony here: an actress trying too hard to put in a good performance to please her clients so she gets to keep working ends up coming off as a woman trying too hard to stay fit to please her husband so he won’t kick her out of the house.

Not that I have any sympathy for him, but I think the problem with the ad is less the script (although it certainly has problems) and more with the direction and acting. They probably could’ve told the same story without having her look so desperate for his approval and him looking like if she doesn’t keep it tight…

Grow a beard? But then he’d have to get all new headshots. Do you have any idea how much those things cost? What kind of uncaring monster are you?

‘s why I think it’s funny when people are like “why are you so outraged about a commercial,” and I’m like, dude, I am not outraged about this commercial. I’m outraged by Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump and things that actually have long-range consequences. The word for how I feel about this ad is “critical,” which is…

I think it’s because John McCain is her father. You knew that, right?

I call shenanigans. We already have one simple word to sum up all our apathy, cynicism, and ironic detachment:

I hate that part of my life has become trying to get inside the head of Donald Trump and figure out how he’s going to spin this. He knows he’s going to be acquitted in the Senate and he’ll treat that as vindication, but I think he’s also going to try to wear the impeachment in the House as a badge of courage: “If the…

The longer it goes on, the more he looks like a fighter and the Democrats look desperate. And if/when it results in his acquittal, if it took a long time to get there it’s going to come off as a waste of time and his base will just cheer him even louder for his endurance. If it’s over quick, then at least the…

Freedom fries, freedom toast, freedom vanilla ice cream, freedom bread pizza, Freedom’s mustard, the freedom horn, freedom kissing . . . it’s all better because of FREEDOM! YA!

In my house, we talk about Santa like he’s a superpowered Amazon delivery guy. Just like we place orders with Amazon, we send our orders for presents to the North Pole, where Mrs. Santa is a COO running production and Santa handles distribution. The magic is in how he can deliver everything in one night. Although,…

This is the great conundrum of my life: I always have and always will live by the ocean. I own scuba equipment and have been wanting to learn diving for decades. But I grew up with a chlorinated, heated pool, and the thought of being in ocean water always grosses me out. I do it, because Maine beaches etc. But then I…

Having grown up in the former Salem Village (now Danvers), I’ve long been fascinated by how complex the Trials actually were. Mass media depictions like to focus on the religious hysteria angle, and that was definitely part of it, but there were so many more layers all going on at once. There was the conflict between…

You do not need to say “assless” chaps. All chaps are assless.