Go With The “Flo”

In Kenosha, Wisconsin, Halloween has come and gone with little fanfare. Unless you count the “controversy” created when Mayor Bosman and the Common Council switched the day for Trick or Treating from Sunday, October 25th to Saturday, October 31st. Not having any children, I am not a big fan of this holiday. I fully understand the appeal for young children, but cannot honestly comprehend the fascination for some adults.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy seeing ladies dressed up in revealing outfits pretending to be Elvira or a naughty nurse. But for every scantily clad lass, there is some dude in drag sporting a full beard to bring you back to reality. It just seems like an excuse to dress up and pretend like you are something that you are not, but might want to be. I just don’t get it.

And then it hit me. A Halloween costume that I could totally understand ladies wanting to wear. In this costume they would be portraying someone that while being a media icon, is both highly respected and at the same time, the desire of every red-blooded American male.

Who is this person who that the Boston Herald reported as being the subject for one of the most popular Halloween costumes this year?

Her name is Flo.

She is the Progressive Auto Insurance chick, lighting up televisions in a series of commercials as a perky cashier that pitches the money saving merits of Progressive to customers. She's a bundle of energetic contradictions, bursting here, retracting there. Her expressions blink and change like a neon sign. Her eyes are popping globes. And she just sold you a bunch of car insurance.

She works in a sterile, all-white big-box store, and her rosy-cheeked makeup stands out like paint, with her 'tricked-out name tag' and her '60s style eye makeup and her kissable red lips.

She is played by 38-year-old actress and comedienne Stephanie Courtney and has been cited in news articles as having a sizable fan base on social networks like facebook. After years of doing improv theatre, commercials and small roles on TV and in movies, Courtney hit it big as the delightfully quirky Flo.

You can’t turn on TV without seeing one of her wonderful Progressive commercials. A favorite of mine is the one where she accuses the man she is waiting on to be psychic. Her facial impression is priceless!

Another memorable ad that I really enjoy is the one where she encounters an Elvis impersonator in the store. When she hears, “Thank you, thank you very much” from the imitator, the unflappable Flo fires back, “You’re welcome, welcome very much.” Hilarious!

Obviously, in my humble opinion, Flo is the perfect person to portray on Halloween. I can now understand why any honorable woman would choose to go as her, if they really feel the need to dress up. Until next time…from the booth.

Good One Kiddo

Being a creature of habit, I love routines. Doing specific things at specific times make me happy. That’s just the way I am. For me, Thursday is Survivor. Each Thursday, the first time I go on facebook, I change my profile picture to the adorable one you see at the left, then in Pogo I change my mini to the “Survivor Mode” avatar. Dinner must be done by 6:30 pm so that I have plenty of time to get my notepads and pencils ready. At 7:00 pm it’s time to watch the show and take copious notes. Once the final credits have rolled, it’s time to start writing. But not before one crucial thing has taken place.

The phone call to Fellow Survivor Geek Auntie Janet.

It is a must! It’s been a part of my Survivor routine for the last three seasons. As soon as Jeff Probst has finished tallying the votes, announced who has been ousted and dismisses the losing tribe back to their camp, I call FSG Auntie Janet. I have to.

The call is usually a short one and is finished before the next week’s coming attractions are shown. But it is a vital part of my Survivor routine. Not only is her opinion valued, but also many times the conversation gives me the theme for my column. Tonight was one of those times.

When I made the ubiquitous phone call and asked what she thought of the episode, her response said it all very succinctly.

“Good One Kiddo.”

And you know what? She was right. It may not have been the flashiest or most exciting Survivor that I have ever seen, but it was a good one. Good enough to make me roar, “All right!” when Probst told the repugnant Ben that the tribe had spoken and he should hit the bricks. Usually such exuberance is saved for Prince Fielder home runs.

What made tonight’s program first-rate was that it featured the classic good vs. evil paradigm, with evil being sent home. It was good to see Jaison stand up for what was right and convince the rest of the Fao Fao bunch to get rid of that vile redneck Ben. Heck, Jaison even persuaded Hantz the sock burner to see things his way.

The confrontation between Ben and Jaison at Tribal council was as contentious as any in recent memory. Poor Natalie had genuine terror in her eyes as she squirmed, wedged in between the two combatants as they angrily spouted their opinions. Survivor veteran Susan Hawk would have been proud.

Jaison, easily the more eloquent of the two, made Ben look foolish. And if possible, Ben was more loathsome with each sentence he attempted to put together. It was most encouraging to see that the vote was unanimous. Jaison did good.

That being said, if next week’s coming attractions are any indication, Jaison’s days in the limelight are probably numbered. What can I say, it’s Survivor.

Random Observations: Dr. Mick and Jaison are both two feet taller than Hantz the sock burner… Each episode Shambo’s mullet grows in magnificence…The Galu tribe, although undefeated in challenges, are a bunch of idiots…Despite being issued more “conservative” swimwear for the challenge, Natalie still had to be gelled…Shambo provided the quote of the evening when she exclaimed, “I’m not in the 90210 clique!”

Next week should be interesting. Hopefully Fao Fao can win the Immunity Challenge and send Galu to Tribal Council. Perhaps a little adversity for Galu would make FSG Auntie Janet say, “Good one kiddo” again. Until next time…from the booth.