The Prostitute List

Got your attention with that title, didn’t I?

I have been watching the fabulous 2025 World Series assiduously, although I missed game 2 due to an even more fabulous live music concert. Because of the way I watch it, this has exposed me to US TV sports broadcasting. I prefer to watch the Canadian broadcast, believe me, but that is not always possible in my house, you’ll just have to believe me on that.

This has re-kindled a thought I have had for awhile about what I guess I will call ‘celebrity sellers culture’ today. I have been struck by the number of TV ads which feature quite famous people shilling for a product. The ‘quite famous’ part is key here. I have no issue with some starving actor no one knows taking a job appearing in a TV ad. We all have to eat. My issue is with people who have made millions and millions – usually in entertainment or sports – and become easily recognizable in doing so, who also then take a paycheck from some company in return for appearing in one of their TV ads.

The point is that this behavior offends me. Being willing to take a payment for helping persuade people to buy something when you are already very wealthy is prostitution. I am aware of the popular principle in both the US and Canada that if someone offers you a lot of money to do something you can easily do, you are a fool to say no. Sorry, but I think that is unethical. Those who engage in prostitution in its original sense are at least selling something that is their own to sell, and are in no case wealthy already.

Now, I also do not understand why this is done by the companies involved. They must believe that celebrities appearing in commercials increases sales of their products and services. If that is so, and they should know, I do not understand why it works. But, my issue here is not with the companies that pay the celebrities, it is with the celebrities who cash the checks.

I will add that one ad I saw repeatedly during the Series is for some restaurant, and it features at the bottom the caption ‘Paul Skenes, Major-Leaguer’.

I have never heard of Mr. Skenes, and if the ad-makers have to put your name at the bottom of the ad, you are not famous, and hence are exempt from my opprobrium. Average Major-Leaguers do not earn tons of money over a usually-short career. If someone is willing to pay them to hawk a product, I cannot fault them for taking the money. I will also add here that if a company came to me to appear in an ad, I would not do it. I know, fat chance, but the point is that I am not starving, I had a long, well-paid career, and so shilling for a product would in my case also be prostitution.

Below is my list, but I will be adding to it as new celebrities come to my attention. I have no doubt that they will, as the table below includes only those that came up in the four WS games that I have watched to date, and which I had the presence of mind to write down.

The Celebrity Prostitute List (World Series Edition)

* I think there should be a special place in Ad Hell for celebrities who shill for gambling sites. There are many such (you know who you are) and I expect to add  many such names over time. I am surprised that only the one with Hamm emerged during the WS, but perhaps I have missed others. I am mostly trying to watch the games, after all.

**Apparently AT&T violated a National Advertising Rule (whatever that means) with this ad. Tsk-tsk.

Finally, I expect at some point to announce a 2025 Grand Champion Prostitute Award to some celebrity. At the moment the favourite would be Matthew McConaughey, who I know has done ads for Doritos, Lincoln Autos, and Wild Turkey Bourbon along with the one listed above. I expect Samuel L. Jackson to give him a run for his money, however.

It’s going to be exciting folks. OK, not as exciting as the WS, but still…….