I’ve seen the future and it is an advertisement for American laundry products, Tide and Downy.
Men in laundry commercials, and not as jokes
February 26, 2013 by blue milk
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I KNOW! I was flabbergasted. Just a regular ol’ guy, doing the laundry. Showing his DAUGHTER that hey, no big deal, laundry just has to be done! As someone who loves her husband even more when he gathers up everyone’s underpants and runs them in one “triage” load, I really appreciate this ad!
AND, she is a princess, and a sheriff, and she loves frogs, and eats with gusto … so much to marvel over!
I’m going to show this one to my husband – and my son too, now I think of it. Oh, and I guess my daughter should see it too so she knows what to expect from any future partners.
Problem is, I did keep expecting it to be funny! I couldn’t stop watching out for the inevitable “I’m so useless, I can’t work the machine” joke. So glad there wasn’t one!
I remember these: they were on TV not too long ago, I think. There’s another one with a dad braiding his daughter’s hair that is a little bit jokey but in an “oh-man-this-not-how-I-pictured-my-adult-life” kinda way rather than a “dads-are-inept” kind of way. At least, that’s how I remember it.
I generally hate advertising, but this one is great!! Yay for sharing household responsibilities!
Men are all too often portrayed as goofs in commercials, and the only thing that prevents a backlash is the fact that women are also frequently portrayed in a goofy roll. The worst is where a “200 pound baby” man with a cold calls to his wife to “call my mom”. She tosses a bottle of Nyquil or something to him. In my experience, women usually fall to simple illnesses much more than do men.
Yay! I cannot stand the usual depiction of dads as dummies who can’t figure out how to microwave a pizza or turn on the dryer. Plus, a dad shown taking care of his kids – engaging with them, even! That’s what I see every day in real life. Nice to see it on the tube, too.
Yup, actually playing with the kids and paying them some attention – instead of checking to see if your boss has emailed you – that’s really nice to see.
I’m still a bit skeptical of Tide’s progressiveness after their commercial with the mom lamenting that her daughter was too boyish. Still, this is a good one. Maybe they actually do listen to their consumers. Here’s to hoping!
Believe it or not, I quite liked the ad you’re referring to. Advertising spends so much time telling us that little girls are all the same, that I thought it was nice to see girly mother/not remotely girly daughter for a change, especially as the mum was still being supportive (“is that another car garage you’re building, sweetie? It’s beautiful.”)
I guess I didn’t see her mother as supportive. I saw her as upset that she couldn’t enforce gender stereotypes. It’s nice if you saw a more positive message in that.
Oh my goodness this ad is like a breath of fresh air! So nice to see!
I noticed that in general (very general) terms US ads were funnier and involved a much wider representation of the population than the average Australian commercials. I even saw ads that didn’t feature white people at all and the world didn’t end.
It is great to see an ad with a Dad talking about just doing stuff around the house as if it is not big deal. The closest Australia has come recently is the bloke who uses Harpic White to clean his own toilet.
Australian TV doesn’t have shows for black people and then show black versions of ads during those shows? I’m not being snide, I’m American and I just assumed that was something that happened everywhere.
Very, very little, to be honest.
Yes. I’ve been loving this commercial lately too (and I generally do not love commercials)! It makes me so happy to see. Whether we like it or not, we all need examples and we get a lot of them through media. I hope to keep seeing more and more of this kind of advertising!
That is awesome, it is just too bad he’s as cheesy as the moms in pretty sweater sets in other commercials.
This! Does anyone seriously talk about their laundry like that?!
It’s refreshing to see a commercial that portrays a father as a competent parent and not as some bumbling clown.
Good ad overall but he seems a bit camp and cheesy overall. But maybe thats advertising? I would like to see a more ‘blokey’ bloke doing the ad but thats just me. I guess I am thinking of my husband and this guy doesnt cut it but definately a step in the right direction