Huckleberries; Ad can’t whet all appetites

That Fort Ground Grill billboard on Northwest Boulevard has Huckleberries Online hopping this week – you know, the one that features what one commenter termed a “Pinup Era retro look” waitress, holding a breakfast plate, with the words: “Nothing like a Great Pair of Eggs.” Jane Q. Citizen grouses it is “very Hooters-like.” OrangeTV claims, “It was like an old Vargas painting or something, hardly offensive.” Me? I hadn’t noticed it until Jane Q. brought it up. So I jumped in the 4Runner to have a look. I saw it south of the Highway 95 bridge. I agree with Fotoman that the billboard “is cool. Not demeaning at all.” Then, I’m male. OrangeTV and Fotoman concur that Botox advertisement near Riverstone is worse. OrangeTV: “Wonder how many folks just driving by get the sudden urge to have a nice little injection or two?” Meanwhile, owner Steve Widmyer, the spark behind the Fort Ground Grill billboard, sez on Huckleberries that he didn’t mean to offend and considers the billboard “fun.” Sez he: “The response has been overwhelmingly positive. … I asked my manager if any one of the Fort Ground staff has mentioned anything about the billboard being offensive to them. She told me that no one had.” Newby commenter I’m A Woman And Was A Waitress tossed in the final 2 cents: “If I were still waitressing, I wouldn’t mind that billboard. I think it is great. And if it brought more people in – people equal tips – I would have loved it.” In advertising, as well as politics and entertainment, the same can be said: As long as they spell your name right, all publicity is good publicity. Unless your name is Larry Craig.