That company has a history of producing ads which are apparently designed to turn people's stomachs:
Posted on 06/08/2009 12:57:12 PM PDT by presidio9
The Spot: Two guys walk into a store that sells insurance services from Progressive. The first guy says he needs to save some money on his auto insurance—things have gotten so dire that he was forced to sell his watch to the other guy. After the clerk finds a lower coverage rate, she suggests that the first guy will now be able to buy his watch back. "Not for sale," says the second guy. "That's cold," says the clerk.
Are they or aren't they? There's been chatter on the Web, and in YouTube comments, about whether the two guys in this Progressive commercial are supposed to be a couple. The evidence is thin but as best I can tell consists of the following elements:
The tall guy's speech and mannerisms seem to be tripping a lot of folks' gaydar. Something in the way the men look at each other—close together, face-to-face—suggests they're not just hetero buddies. When the clerk asks if money's been tight, she looks back and forth between the two guys as though she's assuming they're a joint entity. The clincher: The shorter guy appears to be wearing a rainbow T-shirt beneath his blazer. Ads featuring gay characters are exceedingly rare, bordering on nonexistent, when it comes to mainstream network television. (It may be indicative that GLAAD's Commercial Closet, a repository of gay-themed ads, includes several spots that are merely "gay vague"—for instance, this Bud ad in which a guy rehearses his marriage proposal while kneeling before a male friend.) Perhaps this Progressive ad was designed to split the difference: subtly winking at the gay community while making no definitive statement on the characters' sexuality.
It's worth remembering that Progressive has a famously nontraditional corporate culture. The
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
I’ve seen the ad - my “gay” antennae didn’t go up at all.
I just figure it’s two guy friends and one drives a hard bargain.... or likes the watch!
I vote no due to lack of evidence.
Who cares and why?
I think they’re supposed to represent two buddies hanging out, but “gay couple” was my first thought when I saw the commercial. Maybe Progressive meant for it to be ambiguous.
Were their names Ace and Gary???
Knowing the company was founded by a flaming Liberal, I would go with Yes!
There was a return on the gaydar.
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It’s certainly not as blatant as Quizno’s ‘Tasty Torpedo’ ad.
Or Neal and Bob?
I don’t know if they are gay, but they certainly are queer.
What kind of couple (hetero or homo) sell each other things? I thought it looked a little strange at first, but decided it wasn’t what if first appeared because he sold the watch, he didn’t give him the watch as a gift. And apparently I have thought way too much about this.
Chairman Peter Lewis is more libertarian than liberal, but he is good friends with George Soros (matching his several multi-million dollar contributions to MoveOn and the DNC. Aside from his love of ugly modern art, his primary political cause seems to be marijuana legalization.
I’m curious about the 2 guys in the Sonic commercial. I think they are gay.
That company has a history of producing ads which are apparently designed to turn people's stomachs:
‘Gaydar’ did have a slight reading.....tho not an obvious one. The guys were rather effeminate.
First thought - The Ambiguously Gay Duo!
Of course they’re homosexuals. I am sure this ad is part of the conspiracy to turn America into a homosexual nation. They are all around us, in our schools, in business, in government. There are even homosexuals who claim to be conservatives. Of course, we know that is impossible.
Ridiculus. Must be a reeeeally slow day at slate.com.
Well *that* makes me want to *go straight* to Geico...
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