To promote the return of General Mills’ beloved French Toast Crunch cereal — which returned this January after being discontinued in 2006 — a campaign entitled "The Tiny & The Tasty" has just been launched. A series of ads parodies daytime soap operas, which were at their peak during French Toast Crunch’s heyday in the mid to late 90s (the brand launched in 1995) with a "mini mini-soap opera." The 30-second spots cast a family of dolls and take on such soap opera cliches as "Amnesia," "Murder," "Inheritance" and "Pregnancy." In "Amnesia," a couple’s son suffers from amnesia and forgets, among other things, to wear pants. [Source: AdWeek]
VOCABULARY
The "Amnesia" ad illustrates one of the classic vocabulary differences between British and American English. As a British English speaker, when I first watched the ad, I understood that the son was not wearing his underpants (which would explain the censored area!) Then I realized that, as Americans, they were talking about what we in Britain call 'trousers' (which is not quite so bad!)
COMMENT
I thought the ads were quite funny and could easily be used in the classroom. The "Amnesia" ad contains several useful vocabulary and grammar points (see below for a transcript). You can watch all five videos here.
TRANSCRIPT
FATHER : So, Junior, you were diagnosed with amnesia.
SON: Mmm. I do not remember that.
MOTHER: Well, do you remember French Toast Crunch from the nineties? French toast tiny enough for us to eat.
SON: No, but it looks delicious. You have milk?
MOTHER: Yeah, it’s in the fridge. Uh, Junior, you forgot your pants.
FATHER: Oh no.
VOICEOVER: Brought to you by French Toast Crunch. Mapley, cinnamony, French toasty.
