That Fabio Shampoo Commercial
No, no gender analysis here. This just cracked me up and I thought you guys might get a kick out of it. I swear this man has earned more money lampooning his modeling career than he earned as a model.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
No, I haven’t seen those, and I can’t find them on YouTube!
Love him or hate him, I feel you have to give him so kudos for being able to laugh at himself. I did see an interview with him once in which he seemed like someone who’d just lucked into this modeling career and run with it, rather than someone who thought he was hot stuff and should be compensated for it.
Strangely, I have run into him twice in person around L.A., as one often does with celebs. He strikes me as someone who’s comfortable with celebrity because he doesn’t take it seriously. A lot of Hollywood people would benefit from that attitude.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
I giggle every time I see that commercial. Have you ever seen Fabio’s appearances on Conan O’Brien? The installment of ‘Secrets’ they had him do was priceless.
I appreciate it when public figures are willing to have a sense of humour about their public images. Makes me feel less guilty about making fun of them myself.
MaggieCat(Quote) (Reply)
Yeah, several celebrities immediately leap to mind for a remedial class on Learning To Take A Joke.
I found a transcript on NBC.com, but it loses something without the super-serious tone. I still love the grammar correction one though.
MaggieCat(Quote) (Reply)
Hmm, my link dissappeared.
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/celebritysecrets/fabio.shtml
MaggieCat(Quote) (Reply)
Bummer – it says page no longer available.
I have seen him interviewed before – on Letterman, I think. I remember being impressed that he didn’t take himself seriously at all.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
(disclaimer – it is very funny)
Ooh! Ooh! I have gender analysis!
Part of the reason he’s able to make so much money lampooning his modeling career is because his career centered around sex fantasies for women.
Yes, modeling in general is looked down upon. But while this is sometimes for reasons I agree with, it’s also because it’s usually associated with women. (male models are “pretty boys”)
Fabio’s got the added “humor” of the fact that he modeled for “smut” for women. (silly silly women reading unrealistic, flowery depictions of sex – what do you mean porn is silly, that’s what men want baby! it’s all genetic!)
Mickle(Quote) (Reply)
Excellent points. There is something generally laughable in our culture about female desire, and I can see how that sense of the absurd would naturally attach to the careers of persons who make their livings appealing to female desire, one way or another.
I’m reminded of the classic image of romance novelists as overweight single women with horrible love lives who eat lots of chocolate and have too many cats.
Revena(Quote) (Reply)
I second Revena – you do make a good point there. I wonder if a female supermodel could make a career of lampooning her own fashion career. I have a feeling that even if she were willing, her handlers and the people she’d need to put her lampooning skills to use wouldn’t find it so amusing. Fashion is serious business.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
Well, I think she could, but perhaps not so well. And not well enough to make it worth messing up her modeling career. That is, until she so old that, unfortunately, the jokes would be about her getting old – and not in the funny Fabio commercial way.
Most importantly though, it can’t be done in a way that makes fun of the male gaze.
For example, I just saw that stupid commercial where Carmen Electra is banging on some average looking guys glass door begging him to take her back.
It’s supposed to be a joke, but she’s the one looking ridiculous, even though the ridiculous part is supposed to be him. And part of the joke seems to be that the idea isn’t so out there – since, after all, her job is to make men wannt her.
Models doi things that make themselves look ridiculous all the time. The difference is, they’re the ones that are being shown as ridiculous, but the male gaze is sancrosant.
Mickle(Quote) (Reply)
Yes, well, as a romance reader, I’m very well aware of the stereotype.
ps – If you ever want to read some good feminist critique of romance novels from romance fans, go to Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
Mickle(Quote) (Reply)
Oh, I read it too. I also do a little smidgeon of romance writing, though I’m more of a fantasy person.
And I have two cats! OH NOES!
I’ve read a few of the reviews at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books before, but I’ve never perused the whole site. I should make some time for that.
Revena(Quote) (Reply)
Exactly! I have nothing to add because you said it perfectly, but it’s worth highlighting. It is all ultimately happening from the male perspective.
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)