Kohl’s Mom is Listening Not Whispering in New Commercial

I can’t be totally sure but I *think* Kohl’s is doing the right thing with Ellie Kemper as the “Kohl’s Mom.” She’s a well-known actress and her best roles are where she can be adorable, likable, and endearing. That’s actually the sentiment behind her character in these Kohl’s ads. Here’s a new one for the holidays.

The best horror movies aren’t the ones with big scares, explosions, and needless gore. They’re the movies where the villain is right behind you and all they do is whisper. Full-body chills for everyone watching, right? It’s why Joe Biden came off as super creepy when he’d switch to a bizarre whisper mid-speech.

And it’s why a handful of “Kohl’s Mom” commercials were really irritating. I’m learning that there’s nothing cute about someone whispering to make a point. It’s horrific. I’m hoping Kohl’s has left that silliness behind and if the new ad is any indicator, *whispers* they have.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Amazon Dad on a Treadmill Christmas Commercial – Funny or Hypocritical?

There’s a new Amazon commercial for the upcoming Christmas season. Not quite as cinematic as ads from the past but it gets the point across. But the more I see it and think about it, it’s becoming a great example of the complexities of society. Take a look and decide if you like it or not, then scroll down for more…

I know it’s just a caricature about dads (and men, in general) who are oblivious to how they dress, how out-of-date their style can be. And it’s funny in the way we all can relate to seeing someone workout in less-than-flattering apparel. Actually, I just saw a woman today at the gym wearing clothes that were very much too tight in the wrong places. Did I say anything? Of course not… I don’t want to get slapped! So imagine this commercial was a woman working out and the narrator said the same thing, “…New shorts for mom. Something with a little more… coverage.”

Amazon would be blasted in all the ways possible. But make fun of a guy who’s trying to be healthy and it’s just a humorous commercial. Where’s the outrage from the people who cancelled Peloton a few years ago?

Go on with your bad self, dad! Your style is fine by me.

-Out of the Wilderness

Yet I Will Rejoice…

I’ve written before about the interesting year it’s been so far. Not exactly one I want to repeat because of this and this and this and let’s just say the hits keep coming. There are things I’d definitely do differently if I had the chance to turn back time. And now I’m just prepping for 2026 to be better. This is where we start today’s post. It’s pretty much in line with the Martin Luther King, Jr. “But if not” sermon. In a nutshell, it references the 3 men thrown in the fire. They said God could save them, but if not they’ll serve him anyway. Of course, I wasn’t really in that mindset as I thought about the hurdles this year has brought. And then I read something in the book of Habakkuk.

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

This section of Habakkuk is a great reminder that even in the valleys, I can rejoice. When nothing is going how I’d like it to, I can still be joyful. OK, so I don’t know the step-by-step process of rejoicing, except to think about choosing to be glad about God when negative thoughts almost overtake me. There is still good to be thankful for. The last verse is pretty cool, too.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

It’s not just poetic. It’s power. Not mine, of course. God enables us to have feet like deer, to tread on the heights. Which I think means to not dwell on what’s going sideways in my life, but to focus on Him, to rejoice in Him. There are a lot of things I don’t have. But I do have Him. So I’m trying to rejoice and not think about what’s been a bummer this year.

-Out of the Wilderness

The 2025 John Lewis Christmas Commercial – A 1990s Song Reimagined

I’ll listen to a Christmas song no matter what time of year it is. That’s probably why I have no problem with stores setting up Christmas decor in October. It’s why I’m a little more cheery when I start seeing holiday commercials on TV. And to be technically accurate, I haven’t ever seen this John Lewis ad on TV because I live in the United States and we don’t have John Lewis stores here. Anyone know what these stores are like? The best I can find is a summary from AI… There is no single direct equivalent for John Lewis in the USA, but a combination of retailers like Nordstrom or Macy’s for high-end department store offerings, and Target for a broader mix of home goods, clothing, and a limited grocery section.

I don’t know what it’s like to shop at John Lewis, but I can still appreciate a good commercial when I see one. Check out their new holiday ad then scroll down for more…

The Song. The ad orbits around a song called “Where the Love Lives” by Alison Limerick, released in 1990. But it’s not just her original version in the commercial. Here’s the full track, and then the updated cover by a well-known current artist…

He said, “To think a boy like me from east london hackney, who grew up watching this iconic advert would one day reimagine a classic and compose a piece of music for John Lewis’s forward thinking direction is a big deal for me.” Here’s the reimagined version of the song by Labrinth.

How soon is it OK to put up Christmas lights? Are you a before-Thanksgiving person? Or nothing is appropriate until the day after? Either way… Happy holidays from the United States!

-Out of the Wilderness

The Progressive AI Commercial – Flo is a Llama Now?

Sometimes I catch myself saying that something is cheap when I really mean it’s inexpensive. One difference is that the word cheap has a connotation: low quality. It’s like saying someone is nice when what you actually mean is that they’re kind. There’s a difference. Progressive is known for funny commercials with a cast of characters like Flo and Dr. Rick. In a sideways move that has viewers bewildered, Progressive has now entered the growing brands who use Artificial Intelligence for animation. Here’s their recent ad featuring the familiar voice of Flo but she’s not Flo. She’s a talking llama. Because why not? 😵‍💫

There’s nothing artificial about the comments directed at the ad. People are just plain not having it. The phrase AI slop is being thrown around. Other descriptors like soul less, terrible, garbage, the beginning of the end. One person commented how bad the animal effects are, reminding readers that animation was better decades ago. These fans are simply pointing out the adage Dr. Rick might tell people trying to not become their parents: Just because you can, doesn’t mean you have to.

AI has come a long way in a short time and I suppose this was Progressive’s attempt to put something together worthy of being on TV without the usual high price tag. They might have checked one box: inexpensive. Unfortunately, the ad also looks cheap.

-Out of the Wilderness