The Redneck Pixie

When I first saw this commercial on television today, I didn't know if it was for real or if it was a joke. It seemed too much like one of those SNL gag commercials or one of the pixie sketches from Chappelle's Show that make fun of racial stereotypes. Turns out that it is for real. Check it out by clicking here or on the "view commercial" link on this page. It's so funny, it kills me. When I first saw it, I nearly spat the grits I was eating half-way across my living room.

What's really funny about this commercial is how fake the actors are. Not one of them is an actual "redneck" by any stretch of the imagination. Not only do these people not look the part, but none of the vamped southern accents are convincing either. It makes me wonder at which demograph Time-Life Music is really slinging this commerical. From the look of the cover-art on the jewel-case, it seems that the target market should be bored college kids instead of actual rednecks.

It could however, be truly aimed at country-folk. If it were, I would find that disturbing. That's because I'd like to think that any real country-person would find this commercial insulting. The overt insult isn't what I would find disturbing though. It would be instead, the underlying assumption made by the marketers, that they can insult consumers and still count on getting money out of their pockets.

I really won't let this disturb me for too long though. For one, I'm sure that this isn't a tried, tested and true marketing technique. In any event, I know that none of the stuff I buy (especially music) is marketed at me in such a manner. Hey, I know something that will cheer me up...