Cue the Music

A memorable scene in the film Pretty Woman occurs when Julia Roberts’ character goes to Rodeo Drive to purchase a party frock so she can accompany her employer, Richard Gere’s character, to a social event. Because her appearance screams “hooker” to the sales staff, they refuse to wait on her. When Julia returns with a fistful of dollars and a platinum credit card, she asks the saleslady who snubbed her if she remembers her. When the woman finally admits that she does, Julia tells her she made a “big mistake” when she refused to sell her clothing from her pricey boutique.

“Big mistake” applies with the same fervor to the pretentious woman co-owner of the business that allowed Ellen to adopt a dog, pay $3k to neuter it and train it, and then took it back when the dog adoption didn’t work and Ellen found the animal another home. The children to whom she gave the dog aren’t old enough to fit the criteria the business owners have determined for loving a dog.

“Big mistake.” Their business survives on public support; Ellen’s business is influencing the public. Not one word has to be spoken to deliver the message: you don’t mess around with kids, dogs, or major TV celebrities.

The business owner says she won’t be “bullied by the Ellens of the world.” Okay, you go, girl, but may I repeat: BIG MISTAKE.

Jennifer Seinfeld was on Oprah’s show last week, touting her new cookbook. This week it’s sold out and well into its huge second printing: the free publicity sells more books than any costly ad campaign.

The business owner won’t back down and return the dog to the adoptive family Ellen personally selected to take the dog which she bought. The free publicity the business is receiving cannot be countered with all the paid publicity in the world. They are screwed, but too egocentric to realize it. Yet.

Jim Croce sang you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, but this business owner has probably never heard the song. Too bad. Big mistake.