Televandals – “Good For Nothing”

I love this crafty little video.  I’m not alone either, this clip was just awarded the Boston Phoenix’s “Best Video in Boston” award, and with good reason.

The Televandals proudly proclaim on their Myspace that they’re not just about making music, they’re also about “eliminating the status quo, altering opinions and ending the apathy of our generation.”  I really dig bands that look to make an impact more than just their audience’s eardrums, and I like how this mission is embodied in this video.

“Good for Nothing” lampoons everything we hate to love (or just hate, maybe) about mainstream culture.  The video focuses on one girl’s uninterested channel surfing on the idiot box, and in her boredom we come across some of the mind-numbing pieces that make up Amurrica.  The band members themselves play many of these roles: gameshow host and contestants, disgraced politician, infomercial salesmen, penis-enlargement pill testimonial people…the list goes on.  Each TV clip is done incredibly well.  The penis-enlargement commercial comes complete with men in lab coats swilling things in test tubes and women making those unmistakable “It was THIS big” hand gestures on a couch.  The disgraced politician races down the steps of a government building while being harassed by journalists.  The attention to detail in this video is awesome, and it really brings to the forefront the idea that our culture puts so much energy into these ridiculous products and disgusting scandals, all of which are, well, good for nothing.

Enjoy the video:

Michael Gill | director