The Cliche Family in Television Land
The Cliche Family in Television Land
This little gem is an overt slam of the advertising industry. By funneling sly, cyncial, sarcastic insider-knowledge through irreverent parodies, the producers undermine the false securities and outright lies the advertising industry thrust upon the consuming American public during the helplessly naive 1950s. Think of it as a 1960s version of Adbusters.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Titles
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Happy Cliche family posing on couch, briefly breaking down into familial squabble before bursting into toothsome smiles, stereotypical middle-class middle American conservative Caucasian nuclear family consisting of mother and father, young son and daughter.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Husband and father, Mr. Cliche smiling, straightening tie, taking life insurance papers from suit jacket, glancing at expensive premium, assuming look of shock.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Wife and mother, Mrs. Cliche the housewife wearing shirt-waist dress and half-apron entering frame with overflowing laundry basket. She smiles, places oil-stained shirt into washing machine, adds detergent, closes lid. Seconds later a hand pops from machine with a clean, pressed, neatly folded shirt.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Daughter, Susie Cliche sitting at breakfast table eating breakfast cereal at rapid pace, spitting it out into bowl offered to her from off-screen. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Son, Junior Cliche brushing his teeth up and down. Junior smiling, revealing that he has brushed all of his teeth away (toothless). (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Excellent, Cliche family sitting smilingly on couch, Dad reading a Casper the Friendly Ghost comic book aloud. Suddenly, a third child, a smiling Asian girl, pops up from behind the couch (note the perfect slide whistle accompaniment), but before the rest of the family notices the father pushes the child by her head back down behind the couch. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Broad-shouldered Bob Cliche, the he-man hard-sell salesman pitching shaving cream, turning sideways just enough to reveal the hangar in his jacket (stuffed shirt). He accidently squirts shaving cream on face. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Dick Cliche the mushy soft-sell salesman lounging in chair, pitching cigarettes, being generally lackadaisical and lazy. He scratches himself and falls asleep.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Friendly Fred Cliche the eager beaver salesman in gas station attendant uniform, pitching oily product, saluting, and getting oil on forehead.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Dr. Cliche "the authority in white coat", zoom out to the good Doctor struggling to get out of straight jacket.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Helene Cliche struggling with her overly-dry, frizzy hair at vanity mirror, applying aerosol hairspray. Hair spray shooting form can. Helene and her suddenly perfect hair.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Zsa Zsa Cliche relaxing in a bathing tub, sticking her soapy legs into the air, living soap commercial. The announcer says, "We all know is wearing a bathing suit" but in this case she isn't, proving it as she sits up, exposing her bare breasts for all the world to see, much to the announcers dismay, prompting him to shout, "Cut, dammit, cut!"
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Grumpy-looking Homer Cliche, the sick nephew, scowling into camera, two hammers appearing overhead and striking his pate, inducing a splitting headache. Homer acts as though he has a severely upset stomach. Homer picks up bottled medicine, spoons out a dose, takes it, smiles. CU thumb covering label of medicine moving, revealing that the medicine is actually Old Mr. Boston Rock and Rye whiskey. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Homer Cliche lovingly holding the hand of Mrs. Cliche, looking happy and hopelessly in love, but Mrs. Cliche, upon noticing his bad unhygienic smell, pulls hand away, plugs nose, waves hand about as though saying "You stink!" (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Excellent, Cliche family sitting smilingly on couch, Dad reading a Casper the Friendly Ghost comic book aloud.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Mr. and Mrs. Cliche holding flutes of foamy beer, toasting each other but never drinking the suds.
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Mr. and Mrs. Cliche looking longingly into each other's eyes. (love, romance) Mr. Cliche lighting two cigarettes with Zippo lighter, but instead of giving her one he comically smokes them both. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Mr. and Mrs. Cliche drinking piping hot coffee, making pained faces before smiling again. (humor)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
Cliche family sitting on couch, money falling from heaven, the family scrambling to pick the cash up. (music soundtrack not cleared for licensing)
The Cliche Family in Television Land
The End (music soundtrack not cleared for licensing)