Gawker: defamer, psa

Casper Van Dien In: 'Starship Molesters'

Kyle Buchanan — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:51:21 EST

If the first Starship Troopers movie was jingoistic satire, then this PSA about child abuse (which for some reason stars Casper Van Dien reprising his Starship character) is what, exactly?

It's certainly laudable that Van Dien has thrown his weight behind Childhelp (less laudable: his hopelessly wooden acting), but we're not sure how exactly the rated-R, bug-killing character of Johnny Rico is supposed to tie in to this sensitive topic. Still, at least there's one silver lining: a studio's legal rights to a character apparently mean nothing anymore! Whee! Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get back to Final Cut Pro to finish our PSA on the dangers of crystal meth-addled intercourse (starring Mickey Mouse!).

'Starship Troopers' gets serious [Pop Candy]

Anti-'That's So Gay' Campaign Sparks Fears P.C. Forces Will Target 'That's So Raven' Next

Seth — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:40:20 EDT

A new campaign launched today by the Advertising Council and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network seeks to educate American youth about the power of words to hurt—particularly when those words are: "That's," followed by "so gay." Joining them in their crusade is the extremely so-gay Wanda Sykes, and the not-so-gay-but-so- gay-worshipped Hilary Duff. They star in two PSAs (both after the jump) in which they casually saunter up to some pricky teenagers, and point out that calling something gay—when they don't mean it in the "fabulous" or "matter-of-factly enjoys engaging in sex with someone possessing similar genitalia" senses of the word—is just plain wrong. Its heart is in the right place, but we think the campaign would have been more successful had it suggested a less-destructive replacement expression, like—oh, we don't know—"That's so Seacresty," or "That's so Track."

Sykes', Duff's "So Gay" Fight: The Videos! [Queerty]
[thinkb4youspeak.com]

Will These Celebrities Doom Obama With Their Terrible Dancing?

Kyle Buchanan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:55:44 EDT

This election has seen a wealth of celebrity PSAs (some amusing, some snooty), but no ad yet produced can rival the visceral reaction produced by YOUVOTE's latest, star-studded salvo. The first two minutes of earnest political encouragement from Kathy Najimy and the cast of Gossip Girl are standard fare, but things really go haywire at the end (excerpted above), when all the celebrities engage in hideously embarrassing, new agey dancing. Sure, the ad may claim to be bipartisan, but the full roster of famous Obama supporters (like Kate Walsh and Samuel L. Jackson) degrading themselves so fully suggests an act of celebrity sabotage by rival John McCain. Also, Dana Delany? Reprising your "sock it to me" dance from the Emmys was not a good idea. [YOUVOTE]

We share the following clip, a Canadian ad...

Mark — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:15:44 EST

We share the following clip, a Canadian ad about workplace safety, for no other reason that no PSA has ever made us recoil in horror while screaming Holy. Fucking. Shit. You've been warned. [Deadspin]