Smoking on tv

[Whack-a-Mole]

@watchwolf49

Are you suggesting TV networks ran cigarette commercials free of charge … yes, there was a time in the ancient past where one could advertise cigarettes on TV. Watch a “season 1” episode (unedited) of I Love Lucy. Note the dancing packs of Pall Malls …

Advertisements are not the same thing we are talking about. Neither are product placements unless you can show the character would not have smoked were it not for money from big tobacco.

[watchwolf49]

@Whack-a-Mole

Advertisements are not the same thing we are talking about. Neither are product placements unless you can show the character would not have smoked were it not for money from big tobacco.

Dude, you should have checked my citation … two-click rule:

[spoiler]Graphic endorsement of smoking cigarettes:

“Light one up for Lucy”

[/spoiler]

This is the characters breaking the fourth wall here …

[Skywatcher]

Is this a quarterly thing with him or what?

[madsircool]

DrDeth sounds like he is the head of big tobacco.

[Nametag]

No, he is clearly the spleen of Big Tobacco.

[Drunky_Smurf]

DrButthurt is the butt of BIG TOBACCO!!!111123456.

[EllisDee]

@erysichthon

Many actors are heavy smokers, and will say “I’ve decided my character smokes” so they can smoke continuously on the set. They are very adept at providing pseudo-artistic justifications like “art should mirror life, and people smoke in real life,” but the truth is that they just can’t bear to go 15 minutes without a cigarette.

I’m speaking from experience; I’m an actor and I do a lot of regional theater. I used to live in the Chicago area, and when Illinois banned smoking in public buildings it caused a revolt in the city’s theatrical community. Many actors vowed to defy the law, or quit acting entirely if they weren’t allowed to light up on stage. Eventually they backed down and everyone adjusted, but you can still see actors dashing outside for frequent smoke breaks at every Chicago theater, even in subfreezing weather.

Just this week I watched Life After Beth on DVD, then watched the commentary track.

Aubrey Plaza complained about the herbal cigarettes she smoked in the film, which she said were terrible and way harsher than regular cigarettes. But she had to smoke them because you aren’t allowed to smoke real cigarettes on screen.

Based on what she said, no depictions of smoking in film or on tv are actually smoking real cigarettes. If so, that definitely removes the idea that heavy smoker actors want their character to smoke just so they can smoke all day.