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- Nov 5, 2004
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Hey all,
I'm an MS2 and in the dreaded PBL. We have to do Learning Issues (A one page bull$hit report on some topic) about once or twice per week. Our current case is on Diabetes, and so I felt that it would be appropriate to do a learning issue on Wilford Brimley, as he is a huge spokesperson for that disease. I presented the learning issue today in PBL, and to my surprise some people in my group seemed to think it was weird/inappropriate! I thought it was highly relevant and educational! What do you all think? Here's a cut-and-pasted version of the learning issue:
Wilford Brimley
Wilford Brimley is an American actor who has done much to raise awareness about the plight of people with Diabetes, or, as he prefers to say, Diabeetis. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for both entertaining and educating us. With this in mind, Ive decided to include a few little-known facts about Wilford in this learning issue.
 Wilford Brimley is LDS (or Mormon, as the colloquial goes)
 He did not become a famous actor until age 50
 His most recognized movie appearance was in the 1985 film Cocoon. It was his only starring role in a major motion picture.
 He also appeared as an evil character in the movie adaptation of John Grishams The Firm in 1993.
 In the late 1980s and early 1990s he promoted Quaker Oats with a series of TV commercials admonishing viewers that although a lot of cold cereals had prizes in the box, Quaker oatmeal is a good, wholesome choice. He closed each segment with Quaker Oats: its the right thing to do.
 Wilford is currently best known for his current employment as a celebrity spokesperson for Liberty Medical, a diabetes testing supply company. However, Liberty Medical has had 2 spokespeople precede him: the first was Marjorie, a regular senior with diabetes. Her ads were moderately successful. The second was Lauren Bacall, who does not actually have diabetes. Her ads were a terrible flop. In 2002, Liberty Medicals ad agency got the idea that maybe they should use a celebrity who actually had diabetes. They signed Wilford Brimley, and the rest is history.
 Wilford Brimleys Liberty Medical commercials have been a great success and have been parodied by many television shows, including Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, and The Colbert Report.
 Wilford very much enjoys cockfighting, and actively opposes banning the practice. He has campaigned in New Mexico and Arizona against laws that would ban cockfighting.
 Wilford also enjoys gambling. His favorite games are blackjack and Texas hold em, and his favorite casino is the Sandia Casino in New Mexico.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilford_Brimley
http://www.marketingpower.com/content19606.php
Anyways, I hope that the facilitator didn't think it was inappropriate, but he didn't give me much in the way of feedback. He seemed to be a bit bewildered. I think it's important to know more about celebrity spokespeople for diseases, since they play a huge role in the public's perception of the disease!
I'm an MS2 and in the dreaded PBL. We have to do Learning Issues (A one page bull$hit report on some topic) about once or twice per week. Our current case is on Diabetes, and so I felt that it would be appropriate to do a learning issue on Wilford Brimley, as he is a huge spokesperson for that disease. I presented the learning issue today in PBL, and to my surprise some people in my group seemed to think it was weird/inappropriate! I thought it was highly relevant and educational! What do you all think? Here's a cut-and-pasted version of the learning issue:
Wilford Brimley
Wilford Brimley is an American actor who has done much to raise awareness about the plight of people with Diabetes, or, as he prefers to say, Diabeetis. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for both entertaining and educating us. With this in mind, Ive decided to include a few little-known facts about Wilford in this learning issue.
 Wilford Brimley is LDS (or Mormon, as the colloquial goes)
 He did not become a famous actor until age 50
 His most recognized movie appearance was in the 1985 film Cocoon. It was his only starring role in a major motion picture.
 He also appeared as an evil character in the movie adaptation of John Grishams The Firm in 1993.
 In the late 1980s and early 1990s he promoted Quaker Oats with a series of TV commercials admonishing viewers that although a lot of cold cereals had prizes in the box, Quaker oatmeal is a good, wholesome choice. He closed each segment with Quaker Oats: its the right thing to do.
 Wilford is currently best known for his current employment as a celebrity spokesperson for Liberty Medical, a diabetes testing supply company. However, Liberty Medical has had 2 spokespeople precede him: the first was Marjorie, a regular senior with diabetes. Her ads were moderately successful. The second was Lauren Bacall, who does not actually have diabetes. Her ads were a terrible flop. In 2002, Liberty Medicals ad agency got the idea that maybe they should use a celebrity who actually had diabetes. They signed Wilford Brimley, and the rest is history.
 Wilford Brimleys Liberty Medical commercials have been a great success and have been parodied by many television shows, including Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, and The Colbert Report.
 Wilford very much enjoys cockfighting, and actively opposes banning the practice. He has campaigned in New Mexico and Arizona against laws that would ban cockfighting.
 Wilford also enjoys gambling. His favorite games are blackjack and Texas hold em, and his favorite casino is the Sandia Casino in New Mexico.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilford_Brimley
http://www.marketingpower.com/content19606.php
Anyways, I hope that the facilitator didn't think it was inappropriate, but he didn't give me much in the way of feedback. He seemed to be a bit bewildered. I think it's important to know more about celebrity spokespeople for diseases, since they play a huge role in the public's perception of the disease!
