when did richard roeper decide it was okay to leap from his role as ebert's second-fiddle to pontificater on all things those craaaaaazy women do? including offending him with their fatness?

But the raw truth is, I find these Dove ads a little unsettling. If I want to see plump gals baring too much skin, I'll go to Taste of Chicago, OK? I'll walk down Michigan Avenue or go to Navy Pier. When we're talking women in their underwear on billboards outside my living room windows, give me the fantasy babes, please.

If that makes me sound superficial, shallow and sexist -- well yes, I'm a man. And I'll have to point out that most of the men who appear on billboards and in magazines and on TV commercials are just as genetically blessed as their female counterparts.

his last sentence is the most idiotic part of the whole thing. when only handsome, fit men are on TV and billboards and are the only ones getting starring roles, then i'll gain 50 pounds and go dancing in my underwear in roeper's front yard.

UPDATE: holy crap:

Really, the only time I want to see a thigh that big is in a bucket with bread crumbs on it (rim shot here).

I realize these ads aren't targeted to men. As a matter of fact, I haven't used a firming cream in years. But they are everywhere for everyone (including men) to see -- from L stops to buses to roadside billboards. And they are producing lots of chatter and water cooler talk.

Most men don't like the ads. For them, the ads are just showing a little too much -- literally.

people could argue forever about whether the ads are good or not, if the women are healthy or not, if they're attractive or not, but really - where did this entitled attitude come from? when did these ugly, balding, potbellied men decide that the advertising world - and women - exist solely to serve their desires?

UGH.

(hat tip chicagoist)