I caught a small piece of news this afternoon that got me thinking, and then made me more than a little bit angry. Evidently Lane Bryant has filmed a new ad that will be aired some time during the broadcast of American Idol. American Idol, who is also showing ads for Victoria's Secret and Playtex during its air time, has said that the Lane Bryant ad is not as compatible with their "family" viewing audience as the others, so it will not be shown until the last segment of the program. I have seen the ad - CNN aired it today.

Essentially, it is an ad for a new line of very pretty Cacique underwear: bras and panties. It shows a young lady in these items, then getting dressed to go out with a comment about what is under your clothing being just as important as the outerwear. The model is absolutely gorgeous, and, no, she is not a size 0.

Lane Bryant claims that "Idol" is being discriminatory by airing the ad so late in the broadcast, while the Victoria's Secret ad and Playtex spots will be aired in the middle of the show. Recent Victoria's Secret ads that I have seen feature disturbingly scrawny models, in considerably more revealing undies. I don't know if it's a Fox TV image thing, or their extremely incorrect assumption that their viewing audience is mostly 14-year-old anorexics. They couldn't be more wrong!

My question is simple: When are we going to stop putting ideas into women's and girls' heads that they are of less value if they happen to carry about more physical weight? The advertising industry is actually making some effort, though small, to change the overall image of the women portrayed as beautiful. Dove products has committed itself to showing real women in its ads. Lane Bryant has conceived and produced a tasteful ad showing a very sexy, normal sized woman, and Fox is having a fit over it?

It might be interesting if all women who are upset at Fox's decision to show the the larger lady at a later (and less proportionately viewed) portion of its show, decided to let them know that they will not be viewing "Idol" unless the network issues an apology for its ignorance and agrees to show the ad in a more prominent piece of air space.

I certainly will be going on the Fox website and expressing my opinions. Anybody want to join me?

P.S. - I just learned that ABC has made a similar decision regarding airing the ad during "Dancing With the Stars." Thanks, folks for yet another slap in the face to the real women of your viewing audience.