Some viewers are upset with DirecTV's newest commercial, a recreation of a scene in "Tommy Boy" that combines new footage of David Spade interacting with Chris Farley, who died of a drug overdose in 1997. In the classic scene from the 1995 comedy, a present-day Spade dismisses Farley's antics with the sarcastic remark, "Never gets old." Viewers on YouTube called the spot "distasteful" and a "stupid idea."
I feel this is particularly in poor taste given the way Farley tragically died: in the throes of depression, obesity and substance abuse. Cashing in on his fat-boy routine seems awfully opportunistic and obtuse.
I'm not saying Farley can't be laughed at if one is targeting his physical presence. That heft and the way he flowed with it so athletically and so nimbly was part of the marvel. But resurrecting this blatant dumb, fat guy clip to sell more DirectTV doesn't seem necessary.
Never knew you to be sentimental. I actually think it's not that bad. It seems, in this day of political correctness (unless your Glenn Beck) and such, that no one cares about someone until they're dead. Kinda like a guy names Michael Jackson. No albums for almost a decade and he dies. Before you know you it, Al Sharpton is in front of the Apollo Theater at MJ's expense and every street vendor in NYC is makin' a buck off of him. Where's the posts about that?
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I'm not sure if it's political correctness at play here. I just think he was a tragic figure in the way he died, and it's odd to see him in a commercial that revives a scene that was funny then, but seems to have a different feel to it now knowing the circumstances of his final years. Laughing at the fat clown because he's grossly large and willing to use his weight to amuse us -- where, in essence, he uses that faux acceptance to erase his own crippling and damaging insecurities that led to his early death -- doesn't seem all that much fun to me. That's all. I'm not saying his work is now off limits. I'm just saying it's difficult to watch in a commercial, all things considered.
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