Waiting For Big Advertisers To Pull Commercials From Some Really Boring Series

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Religious pressure groups typically have issues with TV images or words of titillation: too much sex, too much violence, too many anti-conservative values.

Now the Florida Family Association claims TLC’s "All-American Muslim" is -- for lack of a better word -- too ordinary. This reality series focuses on five Muslim-American families going about their lives in Dearborn, Mich.

The pressure group claims those who practice Islam are promoting a specific "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."  The pressure pushed the national Lowe's home improvement chain to pull its advertising because the show was "controversial."

We might more easily understand if Lowe's was pressured to pull out because of skimpily dressed, foul-mouthed women or men who didn't live up to specific "values."

Instead, a reactionary move occurred.

I'm guessing that those who control the company’s media decisions got a bit turned around. There was no controversy about the series content, but about what wasn't there.

A key word in the pressure group’s complaint was “hides.” Did the group refer to  something I didn't see on TV? I'm guessing a reality series about Al-Qaeda members only doing domestic chores -- washing their clothes, eating breakfast, watching a movie, and nothing else -- would raise some questions.

Pressure groups probably also don't like "Jersey Shore." I'm guessing rough content is not hidden there.

The Florida Family Association claims more than 60 advertisers -- from Amazon to McDonald’s -- have stopped advertising on “All-American Muslim.”  But the group does not have any insider knowledge here. And it obviously doesn't know anything about Media 101: Not all advertisers necessarily buy all episodes of a TV series.

Here is part of Lowe's statement:  "It appears that we managed to step into a hotly contested debate with strong views from virtually every angle and perspective — social, political and otherwise — and we've managed to make some people very unhappy. We are sincerely sorry. We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, across our workforce and our customers, and we're proud of that longstanding commitment."

Of course, the key words there are “some people.” A national chain such as Lowe's needs to worry about most people, or lots of people.  Perhaps some people are pissed that Lowe's also buy into some weekend sports programming.

I would be more convinced of the company’s motives if it was leaving the show because it was boring -- namely, that a reality show about American families with a strong religious commitment was dullsville, not worthy of its marketing dollars

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4 comments on "Waiting For Big Advertisers To Pull Commercials From Some Really Boring Series".

1. Chuck Lantz from 2007ac.com, 2013ac.com network
   

   commented on: December 13, 2011 at 2:28 p.m.
   That was a very weak response to a very serious, and potentially dangerous situation. Allowing a very small group from the religious far-right to dictate TV content without an appropriate strong rebuttal from an industry insider only strengthens their misguided resolve. I'd rather read something along the lines of " If you don't like the program, don't watch the program. Shut up and go away."
2. T Y from Freelance Producer / DP
   

   commented on: December 13, 2011 at 3:08 p.m.
   The "Fla Family Assoc" was unhappy because this show apparently presents some Muslims as non-terrorists. Wow. Maybe that group would prefer a show that portrays gun owners as killers since people who own guns kill people. Or a show where all people in Idaho are bombers since the Unabomber was from there. The list is endless. Maybe some Muslims do home repairs and Lowes was hoping to reach that demographic. Nah.
3. Paula Lynn from Who Else Unlimited
   

   commented on: December 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.
   Dullsville or unresponsive or unengaging or proof of unprofitability is not what Lowe's said nor was the pressure of the Florida organization saying that either not that they would know.
4. John Grono from GAP Research
   

   commented on: December 13, 2011 at 8:28 p.m.
   After reading that I started singing Simon & Garfunkel's 'The Boxer' .... Still, a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. These nut-jobs are not happy unless they are scared witless and jump at shadows.

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