That ad looks like one of those spoof commercials from SNL. Although it does seem to perpetuate the idea that everyone in Baltimore is on drugs, just like in The Wire! Are those Best Buy employees about six seconds in?

Maryland Science Center employees. I was in the downtown Best Buy sunday morning. Most lethargic, disinterested Best Buy employees of all time.

Oops. Let me rebrand that: Most breezy, easygoing Best Buy employees in America, get in on it!

Eebmore, please don't go! Remember, this commercial won't change a damn thing about the city. Rebranding never does.

My eyes, my eyes!! I may not come back from AZ.....

More like DiaphramTubbies, if you ask me. How much did the taxpayers shell out for this masterstroke of genius?

okay, it's a lame start, but i could have turned that into a pretty good commercial thusly:

1) change the motto and song from "get in on it" to "get down on it" by kool & the gang
2) have the guy with the musket start breakdancing
3) change the teletubbies guys to ninjas totally flipping out
4) include william donald schafer rocking the two turntables and a microphone
5) dunno, some strippers or something from the block

I was initially under the impression “get in on it” was a rebranding intended to spur investment (I still suspect that it originally was, as, within such a context, it would make some sense... albeit very lamely). NOW, they’re saying it was always a tourism campaign. (totally lying, they spent much more on local focus groups than they did on peripheral markets). Okay, whatever. If it works and draws tourism dollars, than good. I’m all for tourists coming here and spending money. I don’t expect tourists to be cool, they never are. I expect them to spend money.

I can just see the Pennsylvania couple at home, watching America's Next Top Model when the Gettin' On It! commercial plays...
Husband: Whoa! Did you see that?
Wife: I know, huh? They just dance down there!
Husband: For no reason, either. They just get near some water and gotta' dance.
Wife: I suspect we ought to get in on this.
Husband: (to himself) I wonder where that waitress works. I think I'd like to get in on that.

heh. yes, i want to get in on that waitress too.

The Sun posted local blog comments to the city's new PR disaster. How did they miss this blog?

Oh, cool. I just checked out the article. I like Troy McCullough a lot, but with all due respect to his employer, I have no respect for his employer. I have no desire for blurbs in a paper that has been raped by the Tribune Company. How many articles does the Sun publish in the Maryland section nowadays? Five? Six? For local news, the Examiner has been kicking the Sun’s ass. And for national and international news? I can get AP stories anywhere. Due to the Tribune Company, The Sun is effectively worthless. I feel a little bad for those who haven’t been laid off or transferred to different markets. It must be horrible to watch what the Tribune Company has done to the paper from the inside.

"Get out! Get out of it, get out of it!

BALTIMORE!

Get out of it, get out of it!"

heh. I'm way too stoic for that. if this city sinks, i'm going down with it.