Category: tacky Christmas stuff

I like to think I have a good sense of humor. Of course, there are things I find funny that others find, well, stupid. And there are things other people find funny that I find dumb, gross, or just plain over the top.

In the GROSS category is the lovely ornament pictured at left. The ad bills it as a “great gag for the office gift exchange” and “perfect for the pet lover who has everything.” I disagree on both counts. Can you tell what it is? It’s YULE DOO.

I am a pet lover. And I love gag gifts. But not even I would laugh at that one. (The same folks do offer an interesting item that I do think would be a great office Christmas gift, though.)

I don’t need to explain the tackiness here. Just watch the videos. Make sure your sound is turned up to get the full effect.

I love You Tube…

Who thinks this crap up? Sigh…

Christmas tackiness is not limited to decorations and strange TV commercials. There are unusual retail ads, too.

Though, I must admit, I don’t find this particular ad (tiny glimpse of ad shown at left) tacky. Or offensive.

I find it funny. But that’s just me.

Hooray to all the retailers — brick-and-mortar and Web retailers alike — that have a sense of humor.

I mean, retailers like Hallmark are way too sappy. It sort of pisses me off when I see ads that make me wanna cry. I mean, who needs that sort of downer? I know it’s gonna be sad, but I don’t know how sad. So once I start watching, I can’t stop.

What is funny, however, is this Hallmark-related video some warped folks put together.

I don’t know WHO would do something like this to those cute little Hallmark animated figures. I mean, what kind of people do stuff like that WITH STUFFED ANIMALS??? Sick people, that’s what kind. Not that I know anyone like that…

Anyway… back to the funny retail ad. The one I mentioned at the top of this post before distracting you with animal obscenity.

Are you wondering yet why I find this funny?

You have to see the whole ad. I posted a larger view for your convenience below.

It’s not just the illustration that kills me, though I find it classic. It’s the ad copy, too. So be sure to read the text in the image. If it is too small for you, click on the image and you’ll be taken to a larger version.

And if you need so of that “innovation” for someone you know, visit the retailer’s Web site. I didn’t have a lot of spare time to dig, so if they have more ads like this one, do share!

I should have known. Any other Christmas season, I see tacky stuff everywhere. This year, since I vowed to document the weirdness, there’s just not much weirdness to document.

Well, Christmas weirdness anyway. Maybe I’m too early?

My Mom did send a link to this video. It is weird. Tacky even. Just not shockingly so. You know, not quite over the top. So I’ll have to keep looking.

In the meantime, here’s a lovely little Christmas commercial for you. Or two.

Um. Bad. I know. I’ll try to do better.

Hubby submitted this lovely image.

I’m not sure what message the folks responsible for this are trying to convey, but it doesn’t look real festive to me. In fact, Hubby and I think it looks a bit KKKish. What do you think?

There’s a tradition in Baltimore I’ve never experienced in person. That will change this year. I absolutely must see this for myself. Maybe I’ll even drag some grandkids along.

There’s a small set of Flickr images I found, thanks to Shannon, which will give you a brief glimpse.

You can also see the Miracle on 34th Street Flickr pool.

Or you could experience it via this little slideshow I found:
Excess on 34th Street

Either way you look at it, Baltimore’s 34th Street is the ultimate in tackiness. But it is intentional and all in good fun.

If I do get to visit, as I hope, I’ll take some pics of my own to share here.

Until then, remember… only 24 DAYS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS!