I don’t know if you remember Sex in the City but there was a hapless love interest called Skipper — Skipper Johnston. He was sort of a schmuck with a heart of gold. A putz with potential.
The character actor behind the best-supporting-schmuck was actor Ben Weber.
And now, he’s the husband and father — hapless all the while — in every single national commercial on TV.
This is the commercial I just saw that reminded me to write this post:
Don’t feel bad for Ben Weber, I am sure he’s filthy rich and far from hapless in real life.
That said, I don’t know if he’s doing anything good or positive for manliness, masculinity, or manhood in America or if he’s just perpetuating the stereotype of men, husbands, and dads as useless sperm-donors and petty annoyances that must be tolerated by sexy, smart, independent mums and witty, spiteful, petulant, eye-rolling children.
I am all for sexy, smart, independent mums — and women in general — but I am tired of men, dads, and fathers being painted with such a humiliating brush.
That said, kudos to hapless, genial, and harmless Skipper Johnston for defining Ben Weber’s typecasting.
I have a question: do you think that “slactivism” is real activism? Do you think that “the youth of today” is apathetic — moreso that in the past? The 60s? I recommend that you watch this trailer pretty carefully — it is pretty controversial and rabble-rousing and confrontational but also hopeful, beautiful, and exciting. What do you think? Do you think this will take the Occupy movement to the next level?