Commercials on commercial television are a necessary evil. I say necessary, because they introduce us to new, useful, and even the frivolous products. They also provide information on educational products and services. As I said before they are a necessity in a lot of cases. That being said I find most of them a nuisance, so much so that I've found new way of avoiding them in most cases.

Well, with the advent of the new television aid, the DVR, I will oftentimes tape the show that I want to watch and view it later, fast forwarding through the commercials that I don't want to see, which are most of them. However, if I'm watching the show and don't want to view the commercials, I'll pause it and go and do something else, maybe read or surf the Internet, after all I am a multi tasker. When I think the commercials are over I'll start the show up again, fast forwarding right through the commercials. I always know which ones I don't want to see, because I've seen them before, over and over again. However that doesn't work when I'm not near my DVR, then I'll just put the TV on mute, or leave the room to take care of other business.

I don't dislike or hate all commercials, some of them I could watch over and over again. Over the years, some commercials have made lasting impressions on me, so much so that I can remember the whole commercial. There was one commercial that was promoting a fast food chain, that was so funny, that I wished that it was still on. The commercial was about an ad writer for the chain, who bought in a whole dance team, that was diametrically opposed the the image of the chain. The owner of the chain was so out done that he fired the the ad writer on the spot. Now the funniest part was, during the commercial the ad writer was all into the show and performing right along with the dancers and the owner of the chain said, " you are so fired."

Then, there was the whole Charlie Tuna series, that was so funny, that I wish it was still on. I also enjoyed the commercials that had a continuing story line, like the one about the major coffee brand.  Now there is a commercial, where there is a car driven by a rat, with three other rats on board where they are listening to hip hop music, and moving with the music.... so funny. There are a lot more, but it would take too long to enumerate, suffice it to say I like entertaining ads, that don't insult my intelligence, and are not explicit.

I can't say that I like all commercials that inform me of the latest gadgets, or products, but I can say that I do appreciate some of them. Commercials such as, any that informs the public about any new cleaning product or item. Also any new medicine that treats common ailments, such as the common cold, flu, indigestion etc. However, after I'm seen the ads a few times, I'm done with them. I do understand why they continue to bombard us with the same ad, because they have competition or they want to thoroughly indoctrinate us with the product or item idea. That's why I'm glad there is DVR, or at least the mute button.

I can say that I really hate those commercials targeting the man with the personal physical dysfunction, that is, as the young people say with TMI, (too much information), and what in the world is the bathtub all about, (I'm just asking). Granted they might be necessary, but can't they put them on at certain hours of the day. Oh and what about the call to chat lines, overtly sexually oriented. But at least they have the decency to put them on late night. I also hate the continuous promo for the upcoming TV programs. They use to start promoting for the next show three to five days out, now it's from the moment that the show ends, till the next week that it is to air.

One thing I have noticed, is commercial television has bowed to the will of the people and are not using as much sex to sell their products as before, because that was what I hated the most from commercial TV ads. I hate the Lizard commercials, all of them. Oh and I hate the one with the lady in all white, talking about insurance. I hated the voice she used before, but I hate the one she uses now even more, I always pause or mute her. Now I'm sure the lady is very nice, but I hate her commercials. I hate any commercial that makes the person look like an idiot, as if I'd really patronize an establishment with a person that acts that way. I'd take one look at him or her and make a beeline for the door, especially if they were serving me food.

Oh and remember the one that had a roach appearing to crawl across the TV screen, (how many televisions were broken, because of that ad). I can't stand any commercial with live roaches crawling around on anything........ now the cartoon ones are okay! What about the commercials telling us about a new medication. I don't like the way they tell you in a very chipper voice how effective the medication is, and in that same chipper voice, say very rapidly that the medication can cause blindness, cancer, or any other various or sundry ailment, or even kill you.

Notice that I did not say that I hated the actors, or the companies, just their approach. Maybe if they used different approaches, my view would be different. Mind you, I said, I, being one little cog in the wheel, my opinion, probably doesn't apply to a hill of beans. However I'm sure I'm not the only one that has some of these opinions, (I'm just saying).

I don't care for any commercials about online education.  I don't care for the attorney commercials.  I don't care about the cellphone commercials.  I don't care for the long infomercial type commercials.  If they want to be an infomercial, then just do it.

Just to be sure, I do appreciate the advertisers. Were it not for them, free television would not be free anymore, it would all be pay-per-view. So, I'm not advocating doing what I do, all the time, because, that could put an end to free television. Instead advertisers could make their ads a little more interesting,a little less monotonous, not continually running a boring and dull commercial over and over again. By all means don't insult our intelligence, when it comes to telling us about a product, or service, we're not all children, incapable of grasping the concept of what you want us to know and act on.

Oh, and, major hamburger chains, you got us now and we will come in if we want your hamburgers or whatever, unless you're introducing something new, we'll let you slide for awhile then, but after awhile, enough is enough.

So in conclusion, appreciate the advertisers and support them by buying their products and services, or even patronizing their establishments. However we can send them a message to improve on their approach to getting their message across to us.