"Bob Johnson" - Transsexual - Holiday Inn's Super Bowl Ad

This is an old Holiday Inn ad with a transexual going to a class reunion.

I just found this artical with a little google search.

No Room at the Holiday Inn?
1997 - No Room at the Holiday Inn?
http://www.glaad.org/publications/archive_detail.php?id=2185

January 31, 1997

A Super Bowl Sunday Holiday Inn television ad featuring a transsexual has drawn mixed reactions from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender viewers and was pulled from the air on January 28. In the ad, a tall, blond female model walks through a class reunion, drawing ogling glances and gaping mouths from onlookers as a narrator recounts how much she paid for her new nose, lips and bust. She runs into a classmate who says that he never forgets a face. After realizing that she is a transsexual, and was Bob Johnson during their school years together, his face turns from friendly to stunned and finally horrified as he says, "Bob? Bob, is that you?" Throughout his exaggerated reaction, however, the transsexual woman looks confident. The narrator says, "It's amazing the changes you can make for a few thousand dollars," alluding to Holiday Inn's billion-plus renovation campaign.

It is encouraging that Holiday Inn and its advertising agency, Fallon McElligott, saw the realization of a transsexual's physical gender transformation as positive and worthy of comparison to the betterment of the Holiday Inn hotel chain. Additionally, the confidence the transsexual woman exhibits is noteworthy. Even the very recognition that transsexuals are part of the mosaic of society is positive in the visibility it lends to transgender issues. Even so, the reaction of the man is appalling, insensitive and mean-spirited. It is as if nothing could have been more horrifying to the man than "Bob" being a woman. After receiving complaints both by transphobic people and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Holiday Inn quickly pulled the ad.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Transexual
• Holiday
• Inn
• Super
• Bowl
• Ad
• 1997

[vickiedavis]

Everyone who has gone to class reunion that I have heard about had a great time. It would scare the hell out of me, but they all enjoyed their reunion in a new gender.

[joshoanna]

this commercial was mentioned in my abnormal psych book. the book said that superbowl viewers were outraged by it. went to find the video on youtube to see what the fuss was all about... they overreact over this and yet tune in to a bunch of guys clawing over one another in sometimes what "normal" people deem as "unappropriate" places? "BOB JOHNSON?! *gasps*" LOL. wonder which came first though: the mastercard "priceless" ads or this one.

[vickiedavis]

I agree. I think is just so funny. Speaking as a transwomen, I am so not offended by this video.

[obscureluzername]

I'm a TS and I think it's a brilliant commercial. Laughed out loud and everything. No way she's a TS though. BOB? Lol.

[vickiedavis]

I laughed too. I bet you are right, about the actress not being trans, but who knows. LOL

[ManorSwim]

This was quite possibly the funniest Super Bowl commercial ever made.

[vickiedavis]

For some reason GLAD was offended, but I am not, and I am TG. I guess nothing makes everyone happy.

[TheGodMar]

Well, some TS's do look that feminine. :D

[mulry101]

I guess her name is Brenda Johnson now.

[maclaurin00]

wow, funny, but really, who at Holiday Inn (or the ad agency) thought that this would be a good idea?

[Markel1970A]

LOL

[ifitsfunnytome]

i work with bob johnson....go vols!!!!!!!!!!

[tuttt99]

@freddykuhl

It's GOLD Jerry!!

[tsloverlarry]

I remember when this spot ran on TV (the ONLY time it ran). My (now deceased) transsexual wife and I both laughed our asses off. I always thought this was a brilliant spot.

[DanaLaneTaylor]

I don't see how anyone could have ever been offended by this. It is the best TS commercial I have ever seen. The guy didn't look transphobic or like he was having a trans-panic attack. He just couldn't believe his eyes. It was freaking awesome! Signed, a transwoman.

[KattWhitewind]

@coredumperror I believe that joshoanna meant that she read about it being mentioned in her book, and then s/he went to look up the video on YouTube him/herself. The book itself could be referencing it from its initial airing - I know my own psych books do. :)

As for GLAD's outrage, it was probably over the fact that the guy acts so horrified. At least, that's what it seems from his expression. *shrugs* It's a funny video overall, though. :3

[coredumperror]

@joshoanna Sorry, but that book can't be right at all. This commercial aired almost a decade before Youtube came into existence. Why do you think the video quality is so awful? It was saved in a super-low file size format, which was necessary for internet transmission back in the '90s when this commercial aired.

[TVWriterGuy]

I watched this twice and can't figure out why Super Bowl viewers would be outraged by it. Anyone know?

[y2k2013meltdown]

Im a transwoman and there's no way I'moffended by this. I ike how it shows how confident she is in going to the reunion. Bravo bravo!