Jessica in Rome

Italian commercials

There are a couple Italian commercials I find amusing. Parmigiano Reggiano anyone? But this one, while I think it’s funny, also makes me wonder how this would fly in the US. Are Italians less politically correct or are Americans over sensitive? Watch it and tell me what you think.

WPvideo 1.10

Posted in Italian TV, Videos | 19 Comments

Jul 7th, 2007

19 Responses to “Italian commercials”

on 07 Jul 2007 at 6:47 pm1Katie

Too funny! I think this would fly here…. maybe!
on 08 Jul 2007 at 1:59 am2tui

The parmeggiano one is cute! Makes me think of Alice in Wonderland, but hoooo-whee! That other ad is hilarious!!! They don’t seem to be playing it in Napoli. People in America would be so offended. So far, I find the Italian lack of pc-ness refreshing, less phony, y’know?
on 08 Jul 2007 at 8:39 am3stacy

I think a bit of both. dont think the “coloured” part would go over well here but I do think Americans are way too easily offended.
on 08 Jul 2007 at 10:13 am4circumstance

its funny.. but maybe will make some people will don’t like it.. it may cause some sensitive issues.. maybe but its funny..
on 08 Jul 2007 at 12:02 pm5GL'S D

Way way over sensitive!!!!! Like the 6th grader in Katy Texas who wrote I Love Alex on the Gym wall. She has been sent to alternative school. The act was considered to be just under a wepons charge or public treat.
on 08 Jul 2007 at 3:12 pm6Jessica

Thanks for all your comments. It is definitely an interesting topic!
on 09 Jul 2007 at 2:03 am7mental mosaic » Life in Italy: 3 Excellent Blogs

[...] Her blog, Jessica in Rome, is well-designed, well-written, upbeat and fun. She recently posted the most hilarious (if politically incorrect) Italian TV commercial on her site. Check it out. [...]
on 09 Jul 2007 at 8:41 am8Shelley, At Home in Rome

I saw this one a while back. I think the answer regarding PC is that PC as a concept hasn’t arrived in Italy… probably never will. Italians don’t have the same melting-pot issues and history that the US has, so they haven’t had to build a cultural framework for dealing with race issues like we have in the States. The list of un-PC comments I hear on a regular basis is very long; I’ve gotten used to it. The comments I’ve heard haven’t ever had a hateful undertone.

I don’t think the commercial would fly in the States… even though it would probably get a lot of attention and therefore free publicity!
on 10 Jul 2007 at 3:30 pm9nyc/caribbean ragazza

Several of my girlfriends in the U.S. sent that commercial around. We all thought it was hilarious. There is no way it would play in the U.S.
on 10 Jul 2007 at 4:10 pm10Cherrye

Ha! That IS hilarious! No way it would go over in the states - the advertisers would be apologizing already…Very funny ad. I haven’t seen it here in Calabria either.
on 10 Jul 2007 at 4:20 pm11Jessica

Hey gals thanks for you comments! I think we all agree it’s funny but it probably would cross the line in the public realm in the US.
on 11 Jul 2007 at 12:16 am12Joan

I showed it to a black friend who guessed what was going to happen before I had. He laughed but said it wouldn’t work here. I agree with that.
I also watched you Parmigiano Reggiano, and was disappointed that it was only 30 seconds. I have saved some place (I hope) a version that seems to cover the whole year because Christmas comes in too. I think it lasts about three minutes. Fun to watch.
on 11 Jul 2007 at 1:00 am13Jessica

Joan I know which one you are talking about and have seen it on youtube. It’s a montage of all the PR commercials. You can view it here at: http://www.youtube.com/v/KmZ28NIQPbM
on 11 Jul 2007 at 9:12 am14Deirdré Straughan

ROTFL ! Thanks, I needed a laugh this morning.
on 11 Jul 2007 at 9:16 am15Clara

Hi Jessica! I posted this commercial also on my blog!! But it’s a little bit different because there is a sequel…

Check it on http://www.clarita.it/per-le-donnee-non-solo

Bye bye
Clara
on 11 Jul 2007 at 10:01 pm16FinnyKnits

This ad would ease racial tensions!

I mean, really, that guy is hot. Who can be mad at a hot guy in underpants?

The only iffy thing is the use of the term, “coloured”, no matter how you spell it.

Just say “Black is better” and we’re there.
on 16 Jul 2007 at 5:09 pm17Aimee

I think this is great! I sure hope it would fly in the US… I am in the US and it made me laugh out loud. If it ever did air here and people found it to be offensive, then I think we are in big trouble… what happened to sense of humor?
on 04 Nov 2007 at 6:23 am18Davide

I liked it and YES American is too SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND SENSITIVE and they project that into most things ! I laughed at it, and think it was cute, but knowing most people, there are some people who would see that message as reinforcing stereotypes about whites and blacks and giving more impetus to the myth of one race as superior over another etc . . . when THAT is not true and is a stereotype.
But, “colored is better” connotation begs the question: at what ?
Implied:sex ? Another stereotype.
If one can get out of that current mental box, as view it OUTSIDE of stereotypical thinking, then it by itself and NOT what the respective
men represent–then it is funny !
on 03 Jan 2008 at 5:43 am19CJ

i’m american (black and dominican). i did not find it offensive, just cheeky italian humor. most countries are not as politically correct as america.