TVSquad

This is the kind of advertising that I hate. It disguises itself as some sort of pop culture piece, one that's tied into the holiday season, but it's really just a way to mention a lot of products, list the company web site, and get some advertising in. It's Entertainment Weekly's Holiday Gift Guide, where they pick a celebrity or TV/movie character and list items you could get for that person. You know it's bogus because the gifts picked are either ridiculously obvious or don't really make any sense at all.

Take this list for Jim Halpert of The Office. I'll not talk about the combo clock/business card holder, because, OK, I can picture an office worker/salesman having that on their desk. But what about the Retro Rock T-shirt? How is that geared towards Jim (or any other office worker, unless you know they're into classic rock)? I love the tortured description they use, trying to connect it to The Office in some way: "For the working stiff on the weekend..."

Or how about the Biomega Bike ("A commuter's cool alternative"). Doesn't Jim usually drive a car? And what about the Red Rider Leg Lamp ("It's fra-gee-lay") and the Zune? You know the Zune was mentioned because it's a new product, not because it has anything to do with Jim Halpert.

You can also find gift lists for Lorelai Gilmore, Hiro Nakamura, Lily Aldrin, Dr. Christian Troy, and Wilhelmina Slater.