Mitch Leigh's bizarre commercial....

[ZiggyCringe]

Have you seen this ad? It's Mitch Leigh (author of "Man of La Mancha") selling his Utopia, a retirement community in the middle of Jersey with an IMAX, an "experimental theatre" and apartments, condos, office space, and whatnot.

I think it's fascinating. It's rather funny, during his commercial, he says "If you're a nice person, come to my website. If you're not a nice person, don't bother!"

I'm a nice person, and I logged on to his website requesting more information.

I entered my first name, my last name, my address, my e-mail and my phone number. I hit send.

It came up incorrect, with my last name being highlighted. My real last name (which I used) is rather German. So I used my married name (which is Italian). Still no go. Everything else came up legit, it was just my last name that was a problem. I thought "No, this can't be," and yet typed in the word "Goldberg" into the last name field. It went through.

Mitch, yay on your dream, but I'm not a Jew, and yet I'm still a nice person. And I think your dream for a community is lovely.

[newintown]

It's one of the craziest commercials I've seen since the day of the Coronet Brothers ("no talking orangutan!") or Luba Potamkin.

Interesting guy, that Leigh - studied music at Yale with Hindemith, wrote jingles (including "Nobody Doesn't Like Sara Lee"), had one great hit (La Mancha), several flops (Chu Chem, Home Sweet Homer, Ain't Broadway Grand), married a very wealthy hotel heiress, and now this uber-loony Utopia for "nice" people only.

Sounds like the storyline for a new musical.

[FANtomFollies]

i saw this commercial and couldn't believe what i was seeing, although I had no idea 'nice people' = jewish people. This is even stranger than the thread about Tovah looking for a personal assistant.

[Jenna Maroney]

Is this even legal? I would think that his criterion for "really nice people" violates the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws.

Here's the site and ad: http://www.jacksontwentyone.com/about-the-dream . What's with the cheesy Papyrus font?

[Mr Roxy]

Music will waft thru the complex. It will be the scores of Grand Chi & Homer

[Rainbowhigh23]

I just sent a message as Shaniqua Johnson - and it went through! Should I try again with an Italian name?

[finebydesign]

Lovin' the creepy Willy Wonka ad, but I'm not able to replicate that error when I try all sorts of crazy names. That site is pretty basic to have a racist algorithm. Also PLENTY of Jewish surnames are German. Was there an accent in your name? There are easier ways more accurate ways to discriminate in housing projects.

[doodlenyc]

I saw this alot this past weekend...I kept wondering how it was possible he was still alive!

I can never forgive him for "Aint Broadway Grand!".

[Mildred Plotka]

Best laugh of the New Year so far! Thanks!!!

[ZiggyCringe]

Okay, the first person to hear back from Mitch Leigh, please post.

[Mildred Plotka]

I've got a super German last name and it let me submit.

[Mister Matt]

How utterly bizarre. It's like the Boca Raton sequence in Bounce.

[egghumor]

Bizarre is right! On multiple levels! Serious deconstruction of that mess of an ad could yield a masters thesis.

[ZiggyCringe]

OK, here's what Mitch says:

"I began to dream of developing a green village where you breathe clean air, where the tap water is pure, and where hundreds of acres remain natural.

JACKSON Twenty-One is designed for really nice people of all ages who love sports and the arts. We’ll get the best in the business to provide sports facilities. We’ll have an experimental theater and IMAX surrounded by studios for all the arts. There will be a village green with a restaurant row."

First of all, we HAVE clean, delicious water in Manhattan. We also have clean air.

What I'm curious about is the whole sports/arts thing. Yes, we're gonna have really nice people involved. But do they have to play soccer and do Shakespeare? At the same time?

And what, exactly, are we gonna do in the "experimental theatre?" Beckett? "Cry For Us All?"

[followspot]

I understand the MAN OF LA MANCHA poster over one shoulder, but can someone please explain the giant dookie over the other?