Daytime TV commercials make you feel old

Unfortunately, I had a couple of days at home last week with the flu and if that did not make me feel bad enough, the commercials shown throughout the day on television certainly made me feel worse.
It must be that they think everyone who watches television during the day must be over the age of 80 at least.

Now, the programming left a lot to be desired, but with some old reruns — “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Happy Days,” “Coach” and a few others — you could find a few things that would keep you occupied as I sat there, barely able and certainly not willing, to move much.
But the commercials. Whew.

I had to smile at the ones from law firms telling me if I had taken this medication or had this type of surgery or a hip replacement, and I had become ill or even died, I might be eligible for some money. Excuse me, but if I died not only will I never see any money, I wouldn’t even see their commercial. Those ads were on during almost every break.

There were tons of medication advertisements — from pills that help you see better to making your aching bones feel better — but when they get around to the side effects, I think I’d take my chances with my eyes and bones. Who needs the side effects?

Then, there is Henry Winkler trying to sell me on a reverse mortgage. Henry comes across as they gentle older gentleman, much different than his persona on “Happy Days” which is on the air at the time of the commercials. Then there are commercials about supplemental medicare health insurance, life insurance, death insurance and more.

Not to be outdone, and I asked my wife for one of these, were all the commercials for private motorized scooters. You know, those things you might find in a Walmart or some other store to ride around in because you might have difficulty walking. I think it would be cool to scoot around the house on one of those.

The scooter business is huge because Medicare will cover the expenses and all you have to do is ride along.

What was interesting is those medical-related commercials lasted nearly the entire day, well into the afternoon. It’s as if those watching daytime television are all very old and no one younger than 60 is at home during the day.

After a couple of hours of those commercials, I tell you I certainly began to feel better because I no longer wanted to see them. Also, I certainly hope I am younger and healthier than the people those commercials target.

So, unless I am losing my eye sight, have diabetes, can’t walk, need insurance, want burial insurance, suffer from a myriad of illnesses or had a bad knee replacement, those commercials are not for me. Maybe some day, but right now I only found them amusing for a few hours, but I don’t care if I see them again for a while.

Rick Elkins is editor of the Porterville Recorder. He can be reached at 784-5000, ext. 1040, or by e-mail at relkins@portervillerecorder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.