Liberty Mutual Insurance – Doug Replaced by Soap Opera Actor

Liberty Mutual is the latest addition to my Popular TV Ads page. It’s not the ad where Doug sends his son off on his first insurance adventure. It’s not Emu getting married. It’s much more dramatic, something like you’d see on a daytime soap opera. Check it out then scroll down to find out which soap actor might be replacing Doug!

The Actor. You may recognize the actor taking the stage next to Doug. He’s been on camera a lot in his acting career and this isn’t his first Liberty commercial either. Remember this one? His name is Tanner Novlan, possibly better known as Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan on The Bold & The Beautiful. One this seems certain, fans think he’s beautiful. And I guess it’s bold to try to take over Doug’s role in the ads. Here’s a clip of Doug coaching his alleged replacement and rehearsing with Emu…

The bibberty’s back, and I’m guessing this won’t be the last time we see Tanner in a Liberty Mutual commercial. Do you think he’ll be a recurring character since fans seem to love him? If you like what you read today, help me out with a tiny donation!

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-Out of the Wilderness

War Songs – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

They go to awards shows, movie premieres, concerts, exotic vacations… but when’s the last time celebrities got together for a good old-fashioned war song? With all this hullabaloo over in the Ukraine, I think it’s time for a star-studded choir to rally morale here at home. Until then, I’ve put together a quick list of ‘war songs,’ which resemble nothing from the all-star track from 1991, “Voices That Care.” I was just a middle school kid, but that moment in time is still something I cherish because my dad was serving over in the Persian Gulf. Wow, that got serious quick, didn’t it? Ok, until Cher comes together with Guy Fieri, Kimmy Gibbler from “Full House,” Deion Sanders, and a group of other randomly assembled celebrities, here are a few war songs… and I just can’t include Brad Paisley’s incredibly bad “Same Here.” If you watch that, you might start a war with me for making you watch it at all.

Edwin Starr “War”… what is it good for?

Guns N’ Roses “Civil War”…

Carbon Leaf “The War Was In Color”…

The Neville Brothers (originally by Bob Dylan) “With God On Our Side”…

Celebrity Choir “Voices That Care”…

-Out of the Wilderness

Second Republican Debate – Infuriating, Loud, or Boring?

Politicians in Washington need to git! Like when you thump a dog on the tooth and say “git”! This was part of what Republicans talked about in the second debate, seven people hoping to run against Joe Biden for president. They’re not wrong about Washington. It’s turning into a nursing home and we’re paying the bill.

The debate. It was about what you’d expect. Potential nominees jockeying for air time during the two hour debate. Can we not do debates (or sports for that matter) in California anymore? This thing started at 9pm and that’s just for the birds. This time there were 7 on stage, Asa Hutchinson didn’t qualify. Another one bites the dust. At times, they ganged up against Vivek Ramaswamy. Other times they all loudly spoke at once and no one could be understood.

Nikki Haley was infuriated by Vivek. DeSantis bragged a lot about his work in Florida. Mike Pence acts like it’s 1993. Tim Scott had a few shining moments. Doug Burgum is from North Dakota. Christie often looked TOO focused.

Standouts were DeSantis, Christie, and Haley. I was surprised to like Christie as much as I did, and same with Doug Burgum. Mike Pence just needs to go away. Obviously, Trump wasn’t there but I’m more sure now more than ever that his time in the politic spotlight needs to end. Americans need someone that *actually* bring people together (it isn’t Biden, either, though he promised to).

-Out of the Wilderness

Celebrities Singing For the Troops – Voices That Care

I’m working on a blog that will be titled something like “songs about war,” a post that’s inspired by a group of celebrities and athletes who came together as a choir to support troops in Operation Desert Storm way back in 1991. Watching the music video on YouTube, I’m utterly shocked at how many singers and celebrities took part in the project. There is no possible way an endeavor like that would be successful in 2023, with the way politics are now. A lot of celebrities who are still around, still relevant (this was shot over 30 years ago, remember) have become so anti-war, or pro-war, polarized in their respective political corners that they wouldn’t dare share the stage with someone who doesn’t agree with everything exactly the way they believe. I can’t even fathom typing out all the names listed, so for the full rundown check out the Wikipedia page Voices That Care. You might be shocked who appears in the video.

My dad served in Operation Desert Storm (and dominated the enemy might I add!), so even as a middle-school-aged kid, I was sort of aware of what was going, even if I probably didn’t understand most of it, though. I remember this song very well. It’s a special memento of a unique time in American history. I just had no idea how many singers and celebrities joined in for the all-star choir. Crazy.

It also makes me nostalgic and sad. It’s a bummer that things have changed culturally, since then. Celebrities who would reject the idea of appearing in public with someone they don’t agree with. Some might be anti-war so they wouldn’t dare be part of a project supporting a current war, even if it were meant to encourage the military men and women in that war. It seems mostly political now and that’s so discouraging for the future of the United States.

I hope we can get back to a more unified country. One where, in spite of our political affiliations or lack thereof, we can find common ground and for Pete’s sake, lighten up!

I didn’t know there was a documentary with the same name, “Voices That Care.” I encourage you to watch it when you have time. I thought it was so interesting to see how the song came together and to hear the encouragement from all the celebrities.

-Out of the Wilderness

44-year-old man listens to a couple of new Olivia Rodrigo songs

I was in the car with one of my nieces (who’s under 20 years old, not that it matters, but it kinda does) and asked her to pick out a song to play on Spotify. Sidebar: I love Spotify premium. I can’t imagine a time in my future life where I will have reverted to the free version. OK, anywhos, she picked out an Olivia Rodrigo song and I thought to myself, “This is what sacrifice looks like.” I much rather be playing John Mayer or Retrofile or NF or Labrinth or Vince Gill, but Olivia? I’m earning a bigger mansion in Heaven for this one, right? Here’s the song she picked out…

That song is not ever going to make it on any playlist I put together, but of course, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. I’m a 44-year-old man. While it’s not a “feel good” song, I can at least appreciate the rhymes. She has a clever way of stringing lyrics together, I’ll give her that. The next song my niece picked was…

She lost me immediately with “skin like puff pastry.” Gross. She sort of brought me back in with some of the later rhymes, but just… no. OK, the last song my niece picked was…

If I didn’t know this was Olivia Rodrigo, I’d bet a Bitcoin it was Travis Kelce’s girlfriend. See what I did there? Kind of confirming without any shred of evidence that he’s dating Taylor Swift. They go together like oil and ice. But this isn’t a post about Travis and Taylor, or Trifty as some are calling them.

At the end of the day, I’m not the target market for Olivia Rodrigo’s music. In fact, I’d want Travis Kelce to make a song and I’d give that a shot before ever choosing to listen to another O-Rod song. No offense. I’m just too old to care about teeny bopper heartbreak songs.

[Immediately plays “All or Nothing” by O-Town]

-Out of the Wilderness