The Popcorn Stand: Avoid Ominous Voice Over Guy, watch Advise and Consent

I can’t believe we’re this far into the season without writing about this subject. No I’m not talking about Hallowthanksmas, although I’ll certainly be writing plenty about that in the next 2-plus months.

No we’re right in the think of Election season and I can’t believe I haven’t written about Ominous Voice-over Guy. You know, the narrator in all those campaign ads that makes everything and anything about a certain candidate or issue sound like the worst thing possible.

I mean Ominous Voice-over Guy can make anything sound awful. Anything. “So and So candidate loves puppies. Who would love puppies?” Of course you have to imagine that Ominous Voice Over Guy voice when Ominous Voice Over Guy says it.

And of course a lot of times there’s that ominous music in the background like we’re watching some kind of horror movie or dramatic scene.

I don’t watch for a lack of better term regular TV much anymore but when I do virtually every commercial is a campaign ad with Ominous Voice Over Guy. The monotony of of those commercials was broken up by the first Balsam Hill artificial Christmas Tree commercial I saw.

At least it wasn’t a 110 in July when I saw it. It was 90 and October. There. I wrote something about Hallowthanksmas.

I do know most of these campaign ads are just full of a bunch of hyperbole. That’s a fancy word for saying there’s really not much truth in them.

Because if I believed half of what are in these ads I wouldn’t vote for any candidate or on any issue. Because all these ads try to do is get across the point that every candidate and every issue you vote on is awful. Call me Mr. Smith, but I just don’t believe that.

Oh sure, I’m not a pollyanna. I know there’s plenty of awfulness in politics. Mr. Smith found that out. But I don’t think all of politics or politicians are awful.

I suggest you watch two movies to provide yourself with some perspective this election season. Of course I’ve been referencing one “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” the wonderful 1939 movie starring my favorite actor, Jimmy Stewart.

And yes before this Hallowthanksmas season is over I’ll be writing about another one of my favorite movies, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The other movie I suggest you watch is 1962’s Advise and Consent directed by the legendary director Otto Preminger. That move just happens to be based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel written by Allen Drury, who just happens to be a Porterville High graduate. There’s your six degrees of separation from Porterville reference for today.

I had the chance to interview Drury and he was one of the most gracious people I’ve ever interviewed.

Both “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” and especially “Advise and Consent” have parallels to what’s going on today when it comes to confirmation fight over Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Stay away from Ominous Voice Over Guy. Watch “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and Advise and Consent” instead.