Homegrown Tales

Homegrown Tales

Eco-friendly cooking versus no burning: Electric or gas stove?

How the Hot & Toxic natural gas commercial made me reevaluate my stove option and cooking techniques

Shamontiel L. Vaughn's avatar
Shamontiel L. Vaughn
May 04, 2024
∙ Paid
Whether I own a gas stove or an electric stove, there will always be a tea kettle nearby. (Photo credit: Shamontiel L. Vaughn)

There are very few commercials or online ads that I happily play until the end. They’re annoying, especially considering the massive amount of interviews I watch. Earlier this week, I played the Soul for Real intro to Chris Brown’s “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” a ridiculous amount of times and was relieved that no ads interrupted “The Boombastics.”

However, the bigger the artist, the more online ads abruptly interrupt the interview. After the Soul for Real intro, that Chris Brown interview kept getting interrupted by ads. I don’t remember 99% of them. I was too busy trying to get back to the trio discussing music, women and art. This lack of consumer interest is one of the toughest challenges for marketing companies. Every blue moon though, they get a win.


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The “Hooked On Phonics” rap is a prime example of an ad that still works years later. (eBaum’s World described it as “like the Joker cleaned up, became a 'Hooked on Phonics' salesman, and then brought bars.”) Even as an English grad who is child-free, I still dance along to that catchy commercial.


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And the second ad that I kept seeing this week is possibly the most creative way that any company will ever talk about natural gas and environmentalism: Hot & Toxic.

I was so amused by this Hot & Toxic video that I stopped watching an interview to check out the website. This video made me reconsider my gas stove and ponder on going back to my post-graduate days of having an electric stove. It also took me back to my off-campus apartment days when I had to use a long butane lighter to light the pilot. For homeowners considering replacing your stove, know the pros and cons of these appliances before making such a permanent purchase.

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