The Focus Group

The Giant supermarket chain apologizes for an article in their Savory store magazine that helps consumers plan a “Super Spread” event along with nibbles for up to 32! Then, Tower Records is getting a new life online. Much about the Tower Records experience revolved around the in-store, so we’re skeptical. Finally, Durex wants us to be OK with the word “moist.” Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spot...

Chalk art creates havoc in a neighborhood and John Waters donates his art collection to the Baltimore Museum of Art. The museum in turn will rename the bathrooms “The John Water's Restrooms.” Shop Talk explores the reckoning that cable TV is confronting from streaming services. Rose Knox of Knox Gelatin fame is our Business Birthday. You can thank Rose for the five-day work week and paid vacation....

Ritz Crackers launches a new holiday campaign that reminds us, “Where There's Love, There’s Family.” The spot features a few vignettes including an LGBTQ scenario. While we applaud Ritz, we question who sees these longer-form spots that do not appear in mainstream media such as cable or network TV. Then, an American is jailed in Thailand for his review of a hotel on Trip Advisor and Manscaped take...

Can anyone fill Alex Trebek's shoes? A fortune in Star Wars Dolls and the KFC Firelog caught our eye this week. Marge Margulies checks-in with some of her great pottery pieces and gift ideas as the holidays approach. Shop Talk looks at Netflix and their new linear service, and how do rail systems deal with lost Air Pods? John T. Dorrance of Campbell Soup fame is our Business Birthday. We're all bu...

Pope Francis continues to be the PR Master as the Vatican has to walk back his alleged support of same-sex marriage. The Vatican released the following statement: “The Catholic Church teaches that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect but that homosexual acts are ‘intrinsically disordered.’” People who decorate early for the holidays are happier, and we need to stop saying this one w...

The Focus Group breaks form and reports on the Presidential Election. Tim and John provide their thoughts on what transpired on Tuesday as the world awaits the results as to who will lead the free world. Then, Noel Caster, who worked for Trump on The Apprentice for six seasons dishes some dirt. As John noted, if even 10% of it is true, it’s shocking. Support our sponsors Deep Discount and Fiverr....

Today is Election Day, make your voice heard and please vote. Uber Eats is the target of a boycott due to using a Queer Eye actor for advertising. Pick up a bottle of Jägermeister and support The Lesbian Bar Project. The brand is working with Fractured Atlas to help raise awareness and money for the 15 remaining lesbian bars in the USA. Finally, same-sex couples are rushing to the altar with the a...

Linda Lauren and Todd Evans for The Vibe™ Room Energy Clearing Spray visit with Tim and John. The Vibe Spray is a must-have when you want to drive negative energy from your space, and a cleaner alternative to burning smokey herbs. But first, gray sweatpants are the latest in fetish gear for a certain set. Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, the father of photojournalism and the first full-time editor of Nati...

Electric cars and the batteries that power them are on the rise globally and China is leading the way in manufacturing and sales. It's not too late for the USA to make a statement, but time is running out. Netflix boycott due to the movie ‘Cuties’ seems to be having an impact on subscriptions. Finally, for the first time in 54 years, The Peanuts Holiday Specials will not be broadcast on a major TV...

Leo Burnett, founder of the iconic Leo Burnett Agency is our Business Birthday this week. The list of accounts and advertising mascots that Burnett created is beyond compare. Caught My Eye says goodbye to TAB, and some of the original puppets from "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" go up for auction. Shop Talk explores 12 words or phrases that we should try to eliminate from our business-s...

A new study published in Fast Company says that 25% of the people polled have had non-romantic "hooking-up" with a roommate or quarantine partner. We call that fellowship. Then, Lasik Surgery is seeing a resurgence as people have money for elective surgeries. Forget the knee or hip replacements, it’s about how you look on the screen! Finally, Kevin Naff, of the Washington Blade, opines a...

Over 70% of Americans plan to celebrate Thanksgiving differently this year. Smaller gatherings mean smaller turkeys, but the turkey industry was not prepared to pivot. As John noted, it means more leftovers, which is not a bad thing if you are preparing with a larger than needed bird. Lawrence Herkimer, the Grandfather of Cheerleading is our Business Birthday. Finally, we have a special guest, Mar...

A new seltzer infused with cannabis-derived THC is predicted to be the next multi-billion-dollar beverage. Dollar General expands with a new group of stores where everything is under $5 called Popshelf and PornHub has introduced a new line of "personal pleasure toys" with a campaign called, "Not My Job." Apparently, people have been using household items in a way not intended a...

Walter Keane is our Business Birthday this week. Keane made millions selling his wife Margaret’s big-eyed children paintings as his own. Caught My Eye celebrates Crazy Eddie pitchman Jerry Carroll. Shop Talk explores two business stories involving Schwinn’s 125th Anniversary, and Pride Media’s owner donates yet again to anti-LGBTQ politicians. We're all business, except when we're not. Apple Podca...

Not a lot of sympathy for the anti-maskers from us. Wear your mask, it helps. What do you think of the Netflix ‘dun dun’ sound? We explore some aural brand tones. Then, foul-mouthed parrots at a UK zoo are placed away from the general public in the hope of calming their language. Finally, two strangers wanted to travel and rather than going alone, they went together after answering an ad on Facebo...

Shop Talk looks at Uncle Ben's and Cream of Wheat as they eliminate iconography perceived to be racial stereotypes. The Village People songwriter of YMCA will sue you if you say it is a gay song and John digs up an old 70s show featuring chimps—Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp. John T. Nash, niche advertising pioneer, is our #BusinessBirthday. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts:...

Chicago's famed "Boystown" will now be known as Northalsted. In a recent survey, 20% of the respondents said the male gendered gayborhood nickname did not make them feel welcome. But first, a secret "man cave" is discovered under New York City's Grand Central Station complete with a fridge, microwave, bed, and streaming TV! Then, a New England man dies from eating too much blac...

DC is heating up with the death of RBG. Check-out our Tuesday broadcast of #TFGUnbuttoned to hear our POV. Find all of our media at www.focusgroupradio.com. Flights to nowhere, and sometimes a heart is just a heart Caught Our Eye this week. Sue Ling Gin, the founder of airline caterer The Flying Food Group, is our Business Birthday this week. Shop Talk highlights a perfectly executed marketing cam...

A surprising 45% of gay men support Trump for President in 2020 according to a recent poll done by Hornet. Wow. Then, Canadian LGBTQ people experience the same type of discrimination and assault as their counterparts in the USA—despite the notion that Canada is further ahead of us when it comes to LGBTQ rights. Finally, a woman in New Hampshire was told she could not vote if she wore an anti-Trump...

Shop Talk looks at a recent study that suggests doing this one thing at night will help you sleep better and has other surprising benefits. But first, an upstate NY Star Trek exhibit and stealing sand Caught Our Eye. Jacob Schick, the pioneer of the electric razor, is our #BusinessBirthday. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart...

For the first time since 1958, Peeps will not be on the shelves this Halloween. The company also will forego Christmas and Valentine's Day as it prepares for Easter 2021—something seems off about this to us. But first, most people have depleted their emergency funds during the pandemic and a Finnish Burger King franchise celebrates Pride by releasing a Love Conquers All Campaign that features the...

Colonel Harland David Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame is our Business Birthday. The Colonel allegedly was too much man for one woman. Caught My Eye looks at ghost ship tours off the coast of England and canned meat that was mistaken for male genitalia. Shop Talk looks at 3 business stories involving that new car smell, dinosaurs, and Christmas music. We're all business. Except when we're no...

While we are all trying to figure out 2020, a new old word, acedia, is useful for how many of us are feeling. Then, Delta Airlines meets and exceeds what consumers can expect when adding flying back into their life. Finally, the glory hole is gaining popularity as people want to avoid face to face contact. Who knew that there are apps and websites directing people to local glory holes when fellows...

Shop Talk looks at a recent study that points to the surprising ideal retirement age—we think you'll be surprised too. But first, Guy Laliberté co-founder of Cirque du Soleil is our Business Birthday. Cartier stumbles in China with an advertisement thought to be gay friendly and a young girl wakes up at the morgue. Play along with John says, "Pick That Flick" for a chance to win a Blu-Ra...

Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki, continue to make headlines as more young men come forward with tales of sex and hush money. Stay tuned as we predict Jerry may have done more than watch. Then, a Texas teacher is reinstated after she was put on leave for teaching tolerance. Finally, a pro-Trump small business, that was granted PPP monies, apparently had enough money to buy six Trump for Prez...