# Depressing Domino's Commercial **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698 "2005-12-15T05:32:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/1 "2005-12-15T05:32:36Z")
(I had to check Google to figure out if Domino’s was plural or possessive. I swear I’m not a pedant.) Today I saw this commercial for Domino’s where the premise was that the money some guy saved on pizza let him allow his little kids to turn the light on for a few seconds so they could play some game. I can see how it’s somewhat clever dark (no pun intended) humor, but overall I just felt really depressed after having watched the commercial. ☹ Am I just overly empathetic? The poor little kids! (Yeah, I know that the whole point of the damn thing is probably to make people post about it online, but if I censor myself, the terrorists or Domino’s or something have won.) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/2 "2005-12-15T05:35:51Z")
Several people here has commented that it’s a “strange” commercial, very creepy. I happen to think it’s funny. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/3 "2005-12-15T05:45:44Z")
I thought it was funny too. “Kids! You can turn the light on now!” “YAAAAAAAY!!!” “OK, lamp-time’s over…” “Awwwwwww!” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/4 "2005-12-15T05:48:15Z")
It reminds me of Ralph Wiggum playing with the “flag” on his mailbox. He lifts it up, and cheers. He lowers it, and goes, “aww…” Repeat. Hilarity ensues. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/5 "2005-12-15T05:50:49Z")
Yes very creepy. The thought of life behind that door overshadows any message about pizza. But even if you stick to the intended message…errr…this new deal will save you enough money to run an electric light for five seconds? Yeah, that sound good… ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/6 "2005-12-15T05:55:56Z")
I miss the “I fear change” guy. He delivered that line with some of the best comedic timing I’ve ever seen in a commercial. I lamented the day they cut that spot down to the reduced version, killing the perfect timing. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/7 "2005-12-15T06:13:44Z")
I think that father should have his kids taken away. They’re so broke they’re living in the dark AND HE’S SPENDING MONEY ON FRICKIN PIZZA? I’m callin Judging Amy’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/8 "2005-12-15T07:07:39Z")
Isn’t she dead and a ghost? Or am I thinking of a diffirent show? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/9 "2005-12-15T07:09:08Z")
> [@Love Rhombus](#): > > Isn’t she dead and a ghost? Or am I thinking of a diffirent show? you’re thinking of Providence ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/10 "2005-12-15T12:59:42Z")
I find it very creepy, too. Where’s Mom? Locked in the basement? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/11 "2005-12-15T13:14:30Z")
I found it sad & depressing. The poverty theme came through clearly. ☹☹☹ ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/12 "2005-12-15T13:23:07Z")
The founder of Domino’s gives a boatload of money to right wing causes, and the new ad campaign features a clueless and mean-spirited patriarchal figure whose every order is to be obeyed, no matter how ridiculous. What’s so strange about that? ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/13 "2005-12-15T13:27:47Z")
Man, I thought it was just showing that the guy was so cheap, he only allowed the light to be turned on for short periods of time. And if a penny-pincher like him would order from Domino’s, well, it must be a great deal! If you don’t gag half to death on the taste, of course. Anyway, [/logic] What a tragic advert! Oh those poor children! Gasp! Sigh! Etc. I feel empty inside. Maybe I should fill the hole with pizza… ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/14 "2005-12-15T13:46:05Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > I thought it was funny too. > > “Kids! You can turn the light on now!” > > “YAAAAAAAY!!!” > > “OK, lamp-time’s over…” > > “Awwwwwww!” And I thought, “Yes, that’s life. Other people use their power over you so casually, and happiness you have looked forward to is so quickly over…” _sob_ ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/15 "2005-12-15T13:57:27Z")
Jeez… it’s, like, a _commercial_. I think some of you are reading too much into it. I thought it was very funny and clever. It’s way too over-the-top to be depressing, you know? It’s like seeing Homer Simpson strangling Bart and thinking, “that poor child! What a cruel man!” > [@RTA](#): > > The founder of Domino’s gives a boatload of money to right wing causes, and the new ad campaign features a clueless and mean-spirited patriarchal figure whose every order is to be obeyed, no matter how ridiculous. > > What’s so strange about that? [Ahem.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6770034&postcount=8) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depressing-dominos-commercial/335698/16 "2005-12-15T14:29:19Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > [Ahem.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6770034&postcount=8) Ordinarily I would agree with you, but seeing as this has been brought up, we may as well have a linky. [The Truth About Domino’s]]([http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/domino.asp](http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/domino.asp)) > [@](#): > > Out of his personal wealth, founder Tom Monaghan has supported a number of causes over the years, including some in the pro-life camp, and his wealth came as a result of the success of the chain. > (snip) > Whatever one might think of Tom Monaghan’s selection of social causes, and no matter how one views the question of direct versus indirect underwriting of them via pizza monies, it’s all moot now. These days none of the revenues that flow into Domino’s reach this controversial man, so no portion of what a customer pays for a medium pepperoni-and-cheese funds the causes he supports. Monaghan sold his Domino’s Pizza empire to Bain Capital Inc. for $1 billion in 1998. He now runs the Ave Maria Foundation, which supports Ave Maria College, a separate law school and a system of elementary schools.