Ticket 2 Ride

Like it or not, there is a time when famous people should stop pushing products and services. Is it because of age? Partially. But, there are other reasons.

This is the time of year for Medicare open enrollment, and until this year, endless Joe Namath television commercials. Joe has pitched tons of products through the years, including panty hose. Fifty years ago, while he was still playing for the Jets, Joe was modeling women’s panty hose.

Joe was a reliable and personable pitchman for many products, but his Medicare commercials are embarrassing. It might be his style or just his manner has grown awkward, but I’m glad he wasn’t on the tube this year during the programs I watch. I’m Medicare age, so I’m the audience he targets, but I was muting sound. His effectiveness was zero with me. Thanks, Joe. At least he wasn’t Jimmy “Dynamite!” Walker.

Fellow retired football player Mike Ditka never met a commercial he wouldn’t do. With his recent health issues, he may have retired from pitching products.

In recent years he was a spokesman for a company selling extended car warranties. His commercials were pushy and irritating. The jury is out on this company as a company, they have a very bad Better Business Bureau score. The company has utilized other spokespersons like Ice-T. His delivery is not as abrasive as Ditka, but the company targets people on tight budgets and driving used vehicles. Enough said.

Bob Eubanks is famous for many things, most notably The Newlywed Game of generations past. Affable and charismatic, Eubanks most recently pitched a balance board gizmo for seniors as part of balance training. Balance is a big deal for senior citizens. Falls are a tremendous risk, so increasing balance is a good thing. The product looked cheesy to me, and concerning for any frail person climbing aboard that rocking device. People believe him, that’s why I’m glad not to have seen him pushing this product lately.

Tom Selleck has made a fortune as an actor and pitchman. He’s a nice guy and projects a very trustworthy presence. For a few years he’s been the spokesperson for reverse mortgages. Even at 80, Selleck doesn’t seem like he’s retiring any time soon, even though his long-running, and highly paid job on Blue Bloods recently came to an end.

Reverse mortgages are a tricky business, and seniors are a vulnerable population. Not all reverse mortgage products are the same and have different features. There can be inheritance, tax and other issues that impact the value and complexity of these products.

—

A colleague once said to me, “Sometimes the message gets old.” It took me a while to truly understand that. When I was contemplating retirement, I thought of those words. We get tired of hearing something, and the messenger at the same time.

Wishing Joe, Mike, Bob and Tom smooth sailing.