See other Miscellaneous Articles
Title: [Hey Kiddies!] The hot Halloween costume for 2010
Source:
Freep.com
URL Source: http://www.freep.com/article/201010 ... hot-Halloween-costume-for-2010
Published: Oct 3, 2010
Author: staff
Post Date: 2010-10-03 12:12:47 by buckeroo
Keywords: None
Views: 130
Comments: 5
Tragedy + time = comedy, the old maxim goes. But in this world where the 24-hour news cycle compresses time, we tend to look at tragedies in the not-too-distant past as ancient history, and as such, fair game for comedy. Enter “Bad Planning,” my pick for what will be this year’s hot costume, a getup that consists of oil-spattered British Petroleum work overalls with a dead oil-encrusted plastic fish and an oily wrench. The company that’s manufacturing the costume isn’t blind to the whole tragedy insensitivity issue. Phil Talio, sales manager of Easter Unlimited/Fun-World Holiday Times Unlimited, the Long Island, NY-based company that’s manufacturing the costume, told me in a phone interview that the oil spill “is a terrible disaster, but we thought perhaps there’s a way we can help.” So in addition to providing a way for average people to vent their rage at BP, a portion of costume sales goes to a worthy cause related to the oil spill, Talio said. The idea for the costume came to the company early this past summer, which is very late, as the company usually plans costumes much further in advance. “We went after it pretty quickly and made it happen this year,” Talio said. And has describes sales of the costume as “unbelievable.” The insanely fast pace of our lives impacts everything. Even Halloween costumes.
Poster Comment: I’m sure some people’s first reaction to the costume will be disgust – how could anyone make light of a fairly recent catastrophic natural disaster, on Halloween no less. But I see the costume as a means for folks to mock BP (the BP logo on the costume appears above the words “Bad Planning”). Parody is a superb form of criticism, and no company deserves more criticism than BP. Imagine thousands of walking BP protesters fanning out across America on Halloween.
In these times of economic depression, this seems like an OUTSTANDING favorite.
(1 image)
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 4.
#1. To: buckeroo (#0)
You'd think BP would be suing them into the ground for use of their trademark to damage the company.
Somehow I think such a lawsuit would backfire. It would put the costume on prime time news, and BP will get no sympathy from the public. The costume company would then be flooded with purchases to support their defense. Suing be a no-win move for BP.
#5. To: Pinguinite (#4)
They have to defend it once they know about it. You can't ignore protection of your corporate trademarks and name. Or you have to rename the company and get a new trademark. The BP name is still probably worth hundreds of millions.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#4. To: TooConservative (#1)
You'd think BP would be suing them into the ground for use of their trademark to damage the company.
Replies to Comment # 4.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 4.