Did I say profit? I meant paying tribute this holiday weekend, because what better way to tug at America’s heartstrings than replaying actual footage of the towers—on July 4th. I only wish you could see the spot for this $20 silver commemorative piece from National Collector’s Mint. Until I get a copy, you’ll just have to take my word for it that you’re missing out on late-night TV greatness.Somewhere, Billy Mays stands by a 42” plasma, watching—a single tear cascading down his cheek. Why?
Because he sees freedom’s gleam proudly on display as the camera slowly pans across the surface of the Statue of Liberty, the light pinging her torch ever so gallantly. We pan now and see her standing next to the two towers, rising, ever-rising yet again. (Did I say rising? Because we are. At this point you feel like standing for the pledge of allegiance. Hell, any pledge for that matter.)
And on the other side standing majestically: The new WTC. And damn if I don’t get misty-eyed to the point that I swear I caught a glimpse of Chuck Heston and The Duke standing there too. Maybe even Nancy Grace. Forget the standard $20 numeral in each corner—we’re talking about an innovative use of ‘9’ + ‘11’ to form—you guessed it—20. (Can there be a Vegas-inspired ‘21’ edition far behind? We can only hope.)
The only thing: Silver? Isn’t freedom worth more than $18 an ounce? Gold baby, gold! With the Olympics coming up, America will settle for no less!*
Ironic though that this came out on the same day the news that the National September 11 Memorial & Museum isn’t expected to be finished in time for the planned opening in 2010.
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*Tries to desparately work into the blog post as many American/patriotic references as possible.
4 comments:
Gagtastic.
Bob Herbert's column this morning had this fine quote:
"We can build spectacular new stadiums for football and baseball teams (the Yanks, the Mets, the Giants and the Jets are all getting ready to move into staggeringly expensive new homes) but we can’t rebuild New Orleans or reconstruct the World Trade Center site destroyed almost seven years ago."
I saw this spot during an MTV show. Is that the market for this?
I saw it late at night on some channel. Hafta question if the MTV crowd is their demo.
I've seen this ad several times. Nauseating. I have two favorite moments: when he says, in one breath, "the towers gleaming against an almost mirror-like sky, just as they did that faithful day," (just as they gleamed all the time, because they had friggin' glass windows, and the sky was mirror-like? what?) and when they reveal that this hunk of silver plated crap is only legal tender in Liberia.
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