Pursuits
'Truth in Advertising' Satirizes the Super Bowl Ad World
A sharp new novel satirizes the world of Super Bowl advertising
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A 30-second spot for the Super Bowl broadcast sold for more than $4 million. In this economy. In the time capsule that will memorialize our absurdity for future generations, please place that next to Honey Boo Boo and hot-dog-stuffed pizza dough.
It’s insane, but companies’ fortunes rise and fall based on these extravagant spots. In Truth in Advertising (Simon & Schuster, $24.99), the debut novel by John Kenney, our protagonist has been challenged to create one. A brilliant, knowing commercial that will capture the zeitgeist, galvanize the water cooler, and tweet its way into infamy. The catch? He’s got no time, his estranged dad is dying, and the commercial is for diapers.