Is it too soon — too soon! — to start satirizing the healthcare debate? The answer is no if you ask the folks at MoveOn and funnyordie.com, who just released what may be the world’s most sarcastic PSA. The two-and-a-half minute video entitled “Protect Insurance Companies PSA” toggles through a series of famous talking heads, including Jon Hamm, Will Ferrell, Olivia Wilde, Thomas Lennon, and Masi Oka, who bemoan the plight of poor put-upon insurance companies. “These great businessmen are American heroes….We need to remember who the real victims are: Insurance executives.” It’s a pretty audacious concept, if not always laugh-out-loud funny.
There is no doubt that these stars were sincere in their intentions to draw attention to the need for health care reform. Why else go to the trouble of trying to look hot in front of a camera (we’re talking to you, Jon Hamm!) when they’re not getting paid? But the issues at play in this debate are so tangled up and thorny, it’s sometimes tough for anyone to understand who are the real good guys and bad guys. All this makes me wonder if using sarcasm to win hearts and mind might not backfire and actually reinforce the notion that it’s the government (and wealthy Hollywood actors) people need to watch out for, not the nice man with the comb-over and gabardine suit from Men’s Wearhouse. That said, no one can argue aginst trying to bring some levity to this dead-serious issue looming over the country’s head for the past several months.
All in all pretty funny though, right PopWatchers? And what do you think of sarcasm used to make a political point? Do you like it when Hollywood figures come out in support of political causes?
Comments (1-15) of 42 Add your comment
Loved it! Very funny.
“That stuff isn’t CHEAP!” – love it 13, love it!
I like the TV Doctors & Nurses – good touch.
Funny! Love me some Hamm and Wilde. Would’ve been awesome to see House in this video, too.
Once again, Hollywood folks who live in a bubble try to get into the political arena. Does anyone think they will ever choose the public option themselves? Considering the many flops Will Ferrell has had recently, maybe he should put more time in making better movies.
Fourth comment and here come the wet blankets… geez Dave, chillax.
I am surprised it took four whole comments to get a negative one, honestly. Especially considering reactions on other political posts on EW (or even the disgusting Chris Brown sympathizers who came out in droves). While Will Ferrell may not choose the public option, I would say a public option is better than no option at all for the 46 million Americans currently living without insurance (CNN figure).
Also notice that CNN doesn’t tell you who those people are. Like the millions of illegal imigrants who don’t have insurance, those who don’t have it cause they don’t want it & those who have enough money to not need it (like the option to forgo car insurance if you can afford to replace/repair any damages you incur). Its closer to 12 mil. Public option is stupid. Reform everything & do something like food stamps for health care – help for those who need it, but not something that will take an ill institution & then also maim it.
Especially since people ask Will to be in movies, it isnt like he makes up the script dumbass lol
It would have been nice if they used actually truths and facts, such as only $.01 of every $1.00 spend on healthcare goes to profits for insurance companies.
Dave I bet when you got that surgery to remove the half gallon of semen from your stomach pumped you had a large co-pay
hey mark let me know what the co-pay is to get your head removed from your and obama’s @ss
I think we already know how serious health care reform is and while some political aspects warrant the funny and sarcastic from celebs I think they should first ask themselves where do they get their health insurance from and maybe instead of always looking left, look at it from both pov’s. There might be more there than just the left side
Someone who took $10 million to star in “Land of the Lost” should not be questioning whether others are overpaid.
Oh, that’s good!
Hi
Im a little confused as to what the big problem is here, im from Scotland and obviously we have a national health service. I have read bits and bobs about this and seen on the news that people are objecting to this reform. And it surprises me. America prides itself on its “American Dream”, freedom of speech and Justice for all amoungst other things. Well here are 46 million of your fellow country men who are are without the benefit of a doctor to look out for them when they get ill or hurt themselves, they haven’t got their American dream. Yes the reform will cost everyone in tax somewhere, but isn’t a good thing to help people less fortunate, most people reading this will be hard working Americans, possibly with a family, many with insurance. What would you do if you got hurt and the insurance company didn’t pay out? would you get by? if you earned less than half your salary, would you get by then?
As for celebrities getting involved, well your right, they are over paid as are footballers, basketball players, baseball players etc. but them getting involved is a good thing, cause they bring the topic to millions of people and them talking about it generates you and me talking about it. And thats the important part, people see Will Ferrell going on about it and they start asking questions and forming their own opinions.
Thats my view anyway, our NHS isn’t fantastic but its successful and has saved billions of lives over the years. You guys could learn from our mistakes and make a much better one!
“… and thats all i have to say about that!”
Hellooooo after taxes we already work for half our salaries!
The 46 million uninsured includes 16 million illegal aliens and about 15 million who truly can’t afford health insurance. The remaining 15 million are young working people who simply choose to not purchase insurance because they don’t think they need it. In my opinion, only that $15 million that can’t afford insurance are the problem and I’m willing to kick in $100 per year to help buy them insurance.
Saved billions of lives? It has also had tens of millions of people die unnecessarily. The 5 year survival rate for prostate cancer is 99.4% in the US, but only 77% in the UK. The differences in breast cancer numbers are similar. The NHS recently banned three cancer medications because they were too expensive. NHS? No thanks!
No offense but the Scots lost all credibility with the States a few weeks ago.
it’s ok for hollywood to earn billions producing mind numbing garbage but if evil insurers make money it’s bad. why don’t all of hollywood earn only let’s say 200k a year and give the rest to the uninsured? give up your 40 million dollar mansion and live in a 500k house. these same fools preach to us about global warming yet fly in private jets(air travel is the dirtiest form of travel)for a weekend trip halfway around the world.
80% of Americans do NOT want this health care crap. Exotic zoo, Will….what’s your thing with all your millions, maybe not white Tigers, but what? Freaking lying hypocrites…
Government needs to stay the hell out of our health care. People need to be responsible for there own fate and action. Not the government taking care of every little need that someone has.
Amen! When your house catches fire, I fully expect you to be responsible for your own fate and put it out with your garden hose.
exactly. where does it end next we will have the great uninsured dental crisis. then the uninsured vision crisis. next the poor cant afford reliable efficient green cars so we have to buy that for them. where does the nanny state end?
This country needs a celebrity windfall tax! they are soooo not worth what they are paid and we could all benefit from their excess.
It wouldn’t be funny to you, Will, if you were poor and going through tough times! I haven’t even bought a new shirt in 3 years!!! Obama is not making me very happy right now while Will thinks its funny because he’s got the good life in hollywood and we were stuck with being people of the United States of America. When you hear that, do you think of freedom, or a socialist country?
“Our goal is to raise money for charity, but also to put Coppertone out of business. You can be charitable, but still be a bloodthirsty capitalist.”
– Will Ferrell, on his Cancer for College sunscreen.
In 2005, Ferrell demands $20 million per film…gets it and more.
In 2007, Ferrell purchases a home for almost $10 million (9.9 mil), owns numerous other properties and is currently constructing another home.
In 2008, Ferrell earns more than $31 million.
Donald Hamm – Executive Vice President, Chief Executive Officer of Assurant Health and President of Assurant Health, Assurant Inc.
2008 Total Annual Compensation – $597,511 USD.
Hmmm…
The ol’ point the finger elswhere, and maybe nobody will notice me.
This video was great! I can’t wait to see the video they are working on to lampoon the trial lawyers (like John Edwards) that are making millions off lawsuits and driving up the cost of health coverage. Or the other video they are working on about politicians and bureaucrats that pass laws and regulations that make it nearly impossible to buy catastrophic coverage.