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Movies => Bad Movies => Topic started by: Menard on February 10, 2005, 03:47:57 PM



Title: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on February 10, 2005, 03:47:57 PM
The Superbowl has come and gone, but apparently the commercials were forgotten before the game ended.

I know that we have had threads on commercials, but rather than funny or favorite commercials, I was wondering what commercials everyone thought were so bad that they should have scrapped the idea before they started.


One of my least favorite commercials from several years ago was a Long John Silver's commercial where they dressed up some midgets in yellow (I believe) spacemen looking costumes. I just wondered what the point was, and having one of the midgets sitting on a copy machine having his butt photocopied seemed rather unappetizing for a fast food commercial.


Anybody else who did not like the Hardees Star commercials? For a while there, I thought they were intentionally trying to put themselves out of business.


Does anybody remember the Druthers commercials from years ago? They made that seem like the most boring place to eat filled with the most annoying people.


And I should not forget that apparently Burger King himself has come out of the closet as of a commercial last year where he is in bed with some guy.



I did not intend to make this all about fast food commercials. These are just the ones that came to mind.

What are your least favorite or favorite bad commercials?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: raj on February 11, 2005, 04:12:43 PM
I hate that frickin' oven mitt.  Not to mention Arby's food makes me sick (or did years ago when I ate there.)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Ed on February 11, 2005, 04:26:22 PM
I think KFC has a marketing group that must be into corporate suicide.   THeir commercials over the last two years have been so poor, and even misleading (low carb fried chicken??????).  
-Ed


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Master Blaster on February 11, 2005, 04:34:26 PM
The sonic guys. They suck.

My favorite back in the day was the rentacenter guy who'd smash stuff with a sledge hammer. That's advertising. Want a new TV!!! SMASH!!! A new VCR!!! SMASH!!!. The whole time I'm thinking that's awesome but, what's the point?


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: ulthar on February 11, 2005, 04:57:21 PM
Ed wrote:

> I think KFC has a marketing group that must be into corporate
> suicide.   THeir commercials over the last two years have been
> so poor ...

Right.  The current crop are very annoying:

(1) Mom brings home a bucket-o-chicken.  Whiney family members complain because "I wanted chicken strips" etc, til Mom turns the bucket 120 degrees and everyone's happy.  Three types of chicken, three family members, and I guess Mom gets no dinner.  No utensils or drinks or side dishes visible in the ad, either, so I guess this family JUST has fried chicken for dinner (well, except Mom).

(2) My wife is caused physical pain by the crappiness of the next one in this series - whiney family members sitting around complaining, wondering "is this a family meeting" as to why they've all be summoned to The Dinner Table.  Mom arrives and says "just dinner" and everyone's happy.  Well, again, no untensils, side dishes, drinks, etc.

Okay, so how lame is that?  Got news for you dumb headed advertisers: A Lot Of Us out here in the good old U-S-A sit down with our family every night, every MEAL (at home) and eat together.

KFC's corporate message seems to be "our non-tasty, mass produced hormone injected fried crap will bring you together as a family."  Thanks anyway, guys, but we don't need YOUR help.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on February 11, 2005, 05:01:09 PM
The only one of the oven mitt commercials I actually liked was where they took him for a ride sticking him out the moonroof while he is screaming, "I'm king of the world", then he gets blown away by the wind.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Mr. Hockstatter on February 11, 2005, 06:07:43 PM
The ones for Universal Orlando are among the worst.  They start with a really fat kid, about 8 years old.  He's nothing but belly, and he's got ice cream smeared all over his face and he's grinning.  They end with this astoundingly obese black woman riding on the back of some vehicle being driven by Captain America.  She's swinging her massiveness back and forth, as if she's having so much fun she's about ready to have a seizure.  It is truly the stuff nightmares are made of.

Then of course there the mesothelioma commercials, from the law offices of james sokolove.  You can see as many as 30 of them in an evening's television viewing.  If you've ever even heard of the word "mesothelioma", call our offices now, you need to sue.

Almost all fast food commercials make me want to boycot the restaurants running them.  Jarred Fogle is the anti-Christ.

And all those anti-smoking commercials, which have nothing to do with keeping anyone from smoking, but seem intended only to insult people who work for tobacco companies.

I could go on for another 10,000 words, but those are the first ones that come to mind.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Mr. Hockstatter on February 11, 2005, 06:11:17 PM
Oh yeah, the Geico commercials.  "I think it would be cool if the gekko did the robot".  I think it would be cool if the gekko was disemboweled and his remains left to bake in the sun.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: ulthar on February 11, 2005, 07:32:05 PM
Mr. Hockstatter wrote:

>
> And all those anti-smoking commercials, which have nothing to
> do with keeping anyone from smoking, but seem intended only to
> insult people who work for tobacco companies.
>
>

You talking about the abouttruth.com ads?  YEA!  I hate those so bad I blocked 'em out of my memory.  What a total, collosal waste of money.  And I ain't a smoker.

In general, I cannot stand concept ads.  All the stupid car commercials that seem to have NOTHING to do with a car are an example.  I've seen (Honda I believe) commercials that until the logo at the end, I just did not know what it was an ad for.

I like commercials where they say "here's what we are selling.  We want you to buy it."  Forget celebrity endorsements, forget the 'everyone is using it' bandwagon approach and forget the cutesy actors-pretending-to-be-regular-folks.

I guess what I am trying to say is that, in general, I HATE COMMERCIALS PERIOD.

Except Nascar commercials shown during the races.  Hey, I AM in SC after all.

:)



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: JohnL on February 11, 2005, 08:39:57 PM
>The only one of the oven mitt commercials I actually liked was where they took
>him for a ride sticking him out the moonroof while he is screaming, "I'm king of the
>world", then he gets blown away by the wind.

That one should have ended by showing him lying in the street, screaming each time a car runs over him. Personally, I kind of like the one where he was under the roasting pan yelling for help.

>The ones for Universal Orlando are among the worst.

Yes, but the long version of it did have a hot blonde eating pasta.

I hated those McDonalds commercials where they were trying to appeal more to adults and it had Ronald McDonald playing golf, etc.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 11, 2005, 08:59:58 PM
I have seen to many to tell. Believe me.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: JohnL on February 11, 2005, 09:10:47 PM
I was just reminded of a series of commercials I hate; Those stupid "BOGO" commercials for Payless Shoes. "Got BOGO on the brain?" I guess nobody in the marketting department bothered to point out that BOGO stands for "Buy one, get one". Gee, isn't that how all reputable stores work, all the time? Since the special sale is "Buy one, get one half off", shouldn't the acronym be BOGOHO?


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 11, 2005, 09:30:07 PM
BOGO?!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now THAT is one of the MOST STUPID things I ever HEARD!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry 'bout that. Very funny, John Landis. Very funny.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Mr. Hockstatter on February 11, 2005, 11:36:51 PM
There was this Volkswagen commercial where two people are driving down a city street, they look off to the side and there are people taking boxes out of a truck and carrying them into a building.  This is shown in slow motion.  The people in the car  eventually get to the end of the street and both of them let out a collective "whoah".

Like, was that an ad for Volkswagen, or marijuana?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 11, 2005, 11:37:46 PM
Marijuana. Definately.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: raj on February 12, 2005, 10:04:22 AM
Mr. Hockstatter wrote:

> I think it would be cool if the gekko was disemboweled and his remains left to bake > in the sun.

LOL!


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on February 12, 2005, 10:50:40 AM
So many stupid commercials. The Burger King one was extremely creepy, for sure. I don't mind them bringing back the Burger King, but why is he completely silent, in a big mask with a frozen expression, and, as Menard said, showing up in some guy's bed? Shudder.

The other KFC commercial that is really bad is the family sitting around thinking "I hope nobody wants the chicken strips, I hope nobody wants..." and so on. Ever hear of sharing? Eating some of everything? Lets promote trying to hog a whole family-sized box of potato wedges. And is there any chance nobody else at the table will want any of it? The only redeeming thing in the commercial was the punchline, with the senile old lady wearing the bucket for a hat. Of course, some group was offended, the company caved in and edited that out, and there was no longer any point to it. Just people hoarding food.

And don't get me started on car commercials.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: JohnL on February 12, 2005, 07:13:36 PM
>BOGO?!!
>
>BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>Now THAT is one of the MOST STUPID things I ever HEARD!!!

The commercials are even dumber. A woman is decorating a birthday cake and writes "Happy BOGO". A woman is calling her dog "Here BOGO!". stupid.

>The Burger King one was extremely creepy, for sure.

Right around the time those commercials started airing, I saw another creepy commercial, for gum. A guy is in a CPR class and when it's his turn to practice on the dummy, the dummy's arm comes up and grabs him. When it lets him go, it's stolen his gum, both the pack and the gum that was in his mouth. The dummy stands up and starts backing away, while chewing the guy's gum. It ducks out the door and goes running down the hall, smacks into something and gets its head turned around backwards. It goes outside, steals a bike and starts to pedal away, but since it can't see where it's going, it crashes into the side of a car. The guy finally catches up to it and takes back the pack of gum it stole. They used what looked like a real CPR dummy, so it looks like a life-sized puppet, which is what made it so creepy.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 12, 2005, 07:15:59 PM
Ah HA HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!BwahahaHAHAhaHA!!!!!!!!!!!!


Bogo.


BWA,HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, I just find it  very funny. Thanks for the laugh, JohnL(andis).


Title: Hardee's Ads
Post by: Ash on February 12, 2005, 08:54:32 PM
I absolutely despise those Hardees commercials that make males in general look like primitive apes.

You know the ones I'm talking about...they'll show some lug who looks like he has an I.Q. lower than Forrest Gump standing at his refrigerator and there's nothing in it.
So he needs Hardeez to feed him so he can make it through the day.
And they also get in that obligatory shot of him scratching his head or ass or both.
Or...
There's the one that features 7-8 super-testosterone loaded guys in a hotel room wrestling with each other and ramming their heads together making a huge racket.
Then, one of their buddies arrives with Hardeez food for all of them and then they immediately get quiet while eating.

These Hardees ads basically make men out to be animals....literally.
Like we are incapable of intelligent thought.

They offend me so much that at one time I seriously considered writing a long letter to the Hardeez corp. expressing my disdain for their ads.



Post Edited (02-19-05 12:32)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: daveblackeye15 on February 12, 2005, 09:50:33 PM
I don't really like those travel commericals with that lawn gnome guy he's kind of annoying but I like this newer one where he's trying to plug in an American appliance into an European plug in and he goes flying across the room and says "Am I going to die?"

Kinda funny.



Title: Re: Hardee's Ads
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 12, 2005, 10:07:34 PM
Hmm... sounds just like me when I want Coca Cola or home-made hamburgers...


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jack Corbett on February 12, 2005, 10:08:14 PM
Now THOSE are some f**ked up commercials.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: JohnL on February 12, 2005, 10:25:13 PM
I just remembered another series of ads that I hated; The ones for McDonald's Chicken Strips with the idiot in the empty room practicing yelling "STEP AWAY FORM THE CHICKEN STRIPS!!!"

Made me want to go into McDonald's just so that they could ask me if I'd like to try them and I could answer "No way! I've seen the commercials, those chicken strips turn you into an a***ole!"


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Mr. Hockstatter on February 12, 2005, 10:32:46 PM
There was a Subway commercial where these preppy looking pricks pull up to the drive through at a fast food joint, and just start berating the guy who works there.  I guess eating at Subway makes you into an ass hole.  I mean, Subway sells a bag of potato chips as the standard side dish for their sandwiches.  And if you try to walk out of the place without letting them pour, pile and squirt 2,000 calories worth of s**t all over your "low fat" sandwich, they give you a dirty look.  And Jarred Fogel used to be immensely obese and now he's just a dumpy looking blockhead.

Anyhow, I'm not especially fond of those Subway commercials.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Ozzymandias on February 12, 2005, 11:43:54 PM
For anyone who has to either wait on people or answer the phone at a business, that commercial is bad news. It just gives people an excuse to insult you.

BTW, the gnome was kinda funny the first time, but they wore it out.  It actually is based on a true story. A little old lady was on both Carson and Letterman back in the 80s. Some college kids stole her yard gnome and broght him back with picture from places like Paris, London, Japan and Hawaii.


Title: Re: Hardee's Ads
Post by: ulthar on February 13, 2005, 01:21:32 AM
What's amazing is the sheer amount of money Hardees is spending on advertising; around here, at least, they are shutting down stores hand over fist.  In the last town in which we lived, they closed several, and here, quite a few have closed in the last year.  I mean, those ads play at almost every tv commercial break.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on February 13, 2005, 08:26:58 AM
Subway ads. I am getting really sick of those, and Jared. There's the one where he's dining in a fancy restaurant, you know, for some variety. This guy (dining in the same place, I might add) comes up to him and scolds him for it. Then the dessert cart comes around, and he gets this look like, "Oh oh." So, Jared is not allowed to eat anywhere but Subway, and if he ever does, he's going to get fat again. What a crock.

I don't mind the one where he talks about being half the size he was, because I imagine that he might keep halving until he disappears. What is the half-life of a Jared anyway?

There is also the one where he talks about the "step away from the chicken strips" ad, and suggests it's good advice. I hate any commercial that resorts to bashing the competition.

I don't even understand how they can legally  use the other companies' trademarks. Like the Pepsi commercial where the guy with the house full of Coke memorobilia drinks a Pepsi for no apparent reason, then dumps thousands of dollars worth of collectables onto the curb. And the claim in that commercial is so stupid. Pepsi has a cola with half the sugar of regular Coke. Well, it also has half the sugar of regular Pepsi. And Coke has a similar drink, which I think was out first. Only an idiot would be fooled by this.



Post Edited (02-14-05 19:09)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: DaveMunger on February 14, 2005, 05:29:08 PM
Back in my day, they had to reffer to the competition as "Brand X", I think the change had to do with the general deregulation going on in the 80s. Remember when Nuprin was trying to popularize the phrase "nupe it" as in "You've got a headache? You should nupe it."



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: BeyondTheGrave on February 14, 2005, 07:55:27 PM
I know the Truth.com were already mentioned (I don't like them either and I am a non-smoker) but has anyone ever seen the ads they have in a magazines? They have someones face EXTREMELY close (up to the point you see acne and razor bumps on the guys)with a scapula going to their stitched area face/mouth/ear. I love when I am reading my Avengers comic and turn the page and see some dudes 12 clock shadow and razor bumps.

 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can’t give it, you can't buy it, and you just don't get it!-Aeon Flux



Post Edited (02-14-05 19:15)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on February 14, 2005, 08:20:26 PM
The other thing that really gets on my nerves is when some company buys a classic song and uses it for a jingle. The hits of my teenage years have been reduced to that.

Of course, it gets worse when they only use a part of the song out of context. Remember when the chorus of Electric Avenue was used for some kind of hair product? This is obviously the work of people who never actually paid attention to the entire song, and what it was about. I say the same thing about the themes to the various CSI shows.



Post Edited (02-15-05 07:35)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: raj on February 14, 2005, 08:27:04 PM
Yes, now they're doing it with Clapton tunes.  Auuugggghh.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: DaveMunger on February 14, 2005, 10:56:43 PM
OK, I've got a problem with truth.com too. They're basically a bunch of lawyers who won a buttload of money from suing tobaco companies, with the condition that they spend it on anti-smoking PSAs, but these spots aren't really about how bad smoking is for you, they're all just about how culpable the companies are. They're just setting up the next round of lawsuits.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Ozzymandias on February 15, 2005, 10:02:30 PM
However, I like when they use songs that aren't overplayed on radio for commercials.  If it takes a commercial to hear T. Rex's "20th Century Boy," Partridge Family "I Woke Up In Love This Morning" and The Sonics "Have Love Will Travel."


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on February 16, 2005, 09:35:12 AM
But in some cases, the song deserves more respect. Just last night, I saw one that's bugged me for a while. The Coke commercial that uses Queen's 'I Want to Break Free.' Could have sworn I heard Freddie Mercury turn over in his grave. A Queen song deserves better, even if better is just the theme for a cheesy movie :)

Of course, a good song is still better than a crappy one, used in a spot that runs over and over and over. Like the one Blockbuster has been running for "the end of late fees" using that annoying Roy Orbison tune. And the whole thing is a scam anyway. Goodbye late fees, hello restocking fees and extra hassles.



Post Edited (02-16-05 08:40)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: JohnL on February 18, 2005, 04:01:21 AM
>OK, I've got a problem with truth.com too. They're basically a bunch of lawyers
>who won a buttload of money from suing tobaco companies, with the condition
>that they spend it on anti-smoking PSAs, but these spots aren't really about how
>bad smoking is for you, they're all just about how culpable the companies are.

I guess I'm the only one who doesn't mind these spots. True, if people didn't buy and smoke cigarettes in the first place, the tobacco companies would be out of business, but on the other hand, these companies knowingly sell a harmful and addictive product.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: DaveMunger on February 19, 2005, 01:50:52 AM
Yeah, but they are supposed to be making PSAs about how you shouldn't smoke, not about how much more money they should be awarded in future lawsuits.

Appropriate:
This is what your lungs will look like if you smoke.

Inappropriate:
This is an out of context quote from a tobbaco company executive that proves that they are culpable and that we should sue them some more.

This is jury tampering and misappropriation. Sure the companies knowingly sell an addictive product, that should be easy enough to prove in court. They did, after all, win the first round of suits. But they're supposed to do that in the court room, not on TV, and not with funds that they recieved on the condition that they utilize them for entirely different purposes.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Genetic Mishap on February 19, 2005, 09:13:43 AM
AndyC wrote:

> Just last  night, I saw one that's bugged me for a while. The Coke
> commercial that uses Queen's 'I Want to Break Free.' Could have
> sworn I heard Freddie Mercury turn over in his grave. A Queen
> song deserves better, even if better is just the theme for a
> cheesy movie :)
>

You're forgetting the Viagra commercial. Regardless of whether it's overplayed enough as it is or not, "We Are the Champions" was nearly ruined for me.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Al Ellard on March 02, 2005, 03:09:58 PM
Anyone know where I can download a copy of the universal orlando resort commercials?


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 10, 2005, 03:58:32 PM
Okay. That's twice today that I have seen this Dr. Pepper commercial where this guy is doing things like buying tampons for his girlfriend, helping her fold her panties at a public laundry, etc.

The commercial uses as its soundtrack, Meatloaf's 'I Would Do Anything For Love'. Until his girlfriend tries to take his Dr. Pepper and the line 'But I Won't Do That' is played while he is running away from her with his Dr. Pepper.

Does anybody else find this to be a bad commercial?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Ozzymandias on March 10, 2005, 10:34:38 PM
That actually sounds funny. As many of you know I work at a radio station and we got a group of new ads from Charmin. I just want to say STOP WITH THE BEARS!

It was half way funny the first time we saw a toliet paper commercial with "bears in the woods." But after about two years it isn't funny any more. We get it. We know what "bears do in the woods." HA HA HA! Now try something else. I don't care if you have to prop Mr. Whipple's corpse up in the supermarket to scare the water out of those housewives just don't show us those cartoon bears anymore!


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 11, 2005, 12:55:17 AM
I guess if you see another Charmin commercial anytime too soon, you just won't be able to 'bear' it.

Aw, c'mon, somebody had to do it. (:



Title: Enzyte Ads
Post by: Ash on March 12, 2005, 09:08:53 PM
Possibly the most creepy, crappy ad is the Enzyte commercial for "natural male enhancment".
They play this s**tty ad on Spike all the time.
The guy who plays Bob simply looks like a madman to me.
When he gives that evil grin, to me it doesn't look like he's happy that he's enhanced, it looks like he's ready to slaughter an entire family and then go back to his wife afterwards.

I expect him to break out into maniacal laughter and can envision him in a straight jacket being hauled away by asylum workers.

Here's a pic:
(http://www.enzyte.com/images/home_hr.gif)

UGH!   That guy gives me the creeps!



Post Edited (03-12-05 20:12)


Title: Re: Enzyte Ads
Post by: AndyC on March 13, 2005, 08:46:59 AM
Bob's buddy in the other Enzyte commercial is even creepier. The guy who was "living large and laughing easy." What was his name?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Scott H. on March 13, 2005, 11:11:20 PM
I guess I am alone on this subject.

People making a commercial need to understand it is supposed to emcompass a story. That story is then supposed to have relative characters and a common goal. Most commercials, this commercial in particular, don't for some reason. It's a simple rule in story writing that all these elements of a story exist, or it won't be interesting. Where do people come off trying to force this down our throat?

Commercials are an art form. They are as much a work of art as a feature length film is the same way a 1 act play is a work of art compared to a Greek tragedy. Today it is being butchered into a lump of incoherent commercialism (yes, there is a difference between commercials and commercialism; the difference being commercials create commercialism, therefore commercials can change commercialism). What the commercial world needs is some guidance, someone to show them what is right and what is wrong. They don't need Test Groups, they need critics. The public doesn't know what they want. They are the uncivilized masses. People like us on this board have a specialized interest in movies and in what makes a good movie and a bad movie. The same thing is needed for people who make commercials. They need someone to guide and advise them.

I feel that these days, commercials have become a tool of the executives to create an assembly line demand for their products. There is no quality left in anything, and that the desire is for an impersonal contact with the people who buy the product. Remember the IBM or Microsoft commercial that was run during the Superbowl back in the 80's where a guy with a computer runs down the middle aisle of people bankly staring at a screen and hurls it at the screen in a huge explosion? If that didn't scream "break away from the ordinary" I don't know what does. It was so good that even Futurama paid homage to it in their 80's guy episode. That commercial told people what their product was, it set a mood, it established characters, it even told us what to do! It was great.

I don't think I could stop writing about this with a completed conclusion, so I'll just break off here. Commercials are art too. They need to be treated like they are art again.

-Scott H.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Fearless Freep on March 13, 2005, 11:24:55 PM
I guess I am alone on this subject.

Everbody nees a windmill

I start with the premise that a commercial is sumone else's attempt to convince me to spend money on something I probably really don't need.  As such I take a very antagonistic approach to commercials



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 13, 2005, 11:41:25 PM
Scott H. wrote:

> Remember the IBM or Microsoft commercial that was run
> during the Superbowl back in the 80's where a guy with a
> computer runs down the middle aisle of people bankly staring at
> a screen and hurls it at the screen in a huge explosion? If
> that didn't scream "break away from the ordinary" I don't know
> what does. It was so good that even Futurama paid homage to it
> in their 80's guy episode. That commercial told people what
> their product was, it set a mood, it established characters, it
> even told us what to do! It was great.


I guess it was not that memorable of a commercial as it was made by Apple for their Mac computer. The one running down the aisle was a woman and she tossed a sledgehammer through the screen. It was memorable in its imagery for a commercial, but not unique in its context. It introduced the Mac as a computer with the idea to break away from the PC (we see how well that idea worked), but did not tell anything about the product.

Was it successful as a commercial if people remember the commercial but not the product?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: odinn7 on March 14, 2005, 08:59:43 AM
I hate commercials for the most part because they get in the way of what I'm trying to watch (ha-ha!), so I usually blank out when they're on.
Long story involving commercials and how they have affected my life:
About 2 years ago I had some company calling me to do surveys every couple of weeks. I didn't mind too much as they only took 5 to 10 minutes and they would usually send me some free product. One time they called me they said they had a pilot episode of a comedy that was possibly going to be released but they needed opinions on it...would I like to be one of the ones to give an opinion? Sure, send it to me and I'll let you know what you want. So, I get it and there's instructions with it. I am to watch it all the way through and stop the tape directly after it ends. Do not rewind it at any point as it somehow erases itself as you watch it (I later tried this and it does erase, I have no idea how). Once it's over, I am to call this 800 number and give them the code on this tape and they will ask me questions about it. Simple enough.
My wife and I watch it and right away I realize there's something going on here. It's an older looking show with Rue McClanahan  from Golden Girls in it (looking exactly llike she did on that show) which leads me to believe it was from the 80's or early 90's. Now, keep in mind I'm watching a pilot episode of a tv comedy for my opinion...they had commercials in it, yes, commercials. I thought this was odd. Anyway, the show sucked but I did as instructed. I called the number and then the questions started...1st question was which character I liked best. 2nd was if I thought the show was relevant. 3rd was who I didn't like. 4th was which commercial caught my eye. WHAT? I thought I was commenting on a pilot show? They then told me to continue the tape to the point where it tells me to stop. I did and it was another commercial. I got back on the phone and they questioned me about the commercial. I told them I hate commercials and I didn't really pay attention to it. I was then instructed to continue the tape till it tells me to stop again. Another commercial. I get back on the phone and tell them I'm done watching commercials disguised as a pilot tv show. They got miffed at me and said I agreed to watch this and give opinions. I explained that I agreed to watch a pilot episode and give opinions on that, which I did and they were just using that to feed me commercials. I told them don't ever call me again for opinions because they aren't really going to want to hear my real opinions from here on out. What an experience that was. Watch this and we'll ask you 3 questions about it and 40 about the ads on it. How stupid do they think people are? Sons o' b***hes!



Post Edited (03-14-05 09:30)


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on March 14, 2005, 12:08:00 PM
I think Apple's "1984" commercial was considered pretty effective in its day. And, although it never captured a really broad market, the Mac has continued to be an alternative to the PC for over 20 years. I'd say it delivered on its promise.

But there have been commercials that overshadowed their own products. I remember seeing an interview with Dave Thomas, a few years ago, in which he talked about his disappointment with "Where's the beef?" Everybody was saying the catchphrase, and Clara Peller became a minor celebrity for a while, but the Wendy's message was kind of lost in all that.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 14, 2005, 01:01:54 PM
There are definitely commercials that are creative and entertaining, yet, I remember how funny the commercial may have been, but, can't remember what product it was advertising. It would certainly appear that a commercial which identifies with its product would certainly be more effective than a commercial everybody remembers, but for the life of them, cannot remember the product it was advertising.

I remember 'Where's the Beef'. I had not realized that it was not that effective, as I always associated it with Wendy's, but, in hindsight, I do recall that the commercial's popularity was focused on the lady and not Wendy's, which would seem to have made it ineffective.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: AndyC on March 14, 2005, 01:44:29 PM
I imagine the campaign brought in a fair bit of business, but probably nowhere near proportionate to the success of the catchphrase. Thomas had said he would have been happier if people had gone around saying "Where's the beef? At Wendy's!"

I'm inclined to agree that advertising should be more closely linked to a product, but not so much for the sake of effectiveness as honesty. I like a creative commercial, but lately, I've been of the opinion that they should just tell us about the product, keep it factual, and keep it relevant. Too much advertising out there that is just plain misleading, eye-catching without saying a damned thing, or aimed more at bashing the competition than at selling a product.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 14, 2005, 02:43:34 PM
AndyC wrote:
 
> I'm inclined to agree that advertising should be more closely
> linked to a product, but not so much for the sake of
> effectiveness as honesty. I like a creative commercial, but
> lately, I've been of the opinion that they should just tell us
> about the product, keep it factual, and keep it relevant. Too
> much advertising out there that is just plain misleading,
> eye-catching without saying a damned thing, or aimed more at
> bashing the competition than at selling a product.


Papa John's seems like an example of what you don't like in commercials, nor do I. They have based most of their commercials, at least in the past, on bashing their competition, namely Pizza Hut, and deceptive advertising. They ran a commercial showing their competion opening a can of pizza sauce and mixing water with it while they are standing over a stove slowly stirring their 'homemade' pizza sauce. They are not only misleading in how they make it, they seem to forget to mention that they ship their product to their stores the same as everybody else.

Unfortunately, people fall for this as Papa John's (yuck) has become a very profitable pizza chain that even put money into the building of a college football stadium which is called: Papa John's Stadium. Makes me want to throw up every time I hear it. If people are going to respond to deceptive business and advertising practices, they deserve what they get.

Yes, I am taking a moment to be pessimistic. (:



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: DARKWOLF on March 15, 2005, 09:46:50 AM
I remember one one commercial some years back I really hate is a Wedding one I think it was for the Jetta. It had a groom trying to get to the church on time and they show the bride get ready to walk down the aisle. Then the groom finally at the church but when he open the doors the Wedding already over with his bride married to his best man. I just wish they had continue with this car commercial on to see what happend to all three and  to see anything bad happend on the ex bride and ex best man.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Scott H. on March 15, 2005, 10:30:10 AM
Now, this kind of open ended story is what I'm talking about when I say that commercials need to have a story. I'm not talking about well-defined characters with defined goals in their lives on screen, but just a consistent guideline to keep them going in the same direction. It makes watching 30 secondsof air time more coherent and relevant.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: ulthar on March 15, 2005, 01:04:04 PM
AndyC wrote:

>
> I'm inclined to agree that advertising should be more closely
> linked to a product, but not so much for the sake of
> effectiveness as honesty. I like a creative commercial, but
> lately, I've been of the opinion that they should just tell us
> about the product, keep it factual, and keep it relevant. Too
> much advertising out there that is just plain misleading,
> eye-catching without saying a damned thing, or aimed more at
> bashing the competition than at selling a product.
>

It is no coincidence that the seven techniques of advertising are basically the same as the seven logical fallacies.  I remember studying this specifically in a logic class in college.  This would seem to suggest that there really is 'no truth in advertising.'



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Jake on March 16, 2005, 05:30:50 PM
"Today it is being butchered into a lump of incoherent commercialism (yes, there is a difference between commercials and commercialism; the difference being commercials create commercialism, therefore commercials can change commercialism)."

What you're saying is that you dislike the current state of commercialism .


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on March 16, 2005, 11:58:30 PM
Jake wrote:

> "Today it is being butchered into a lump of incoherent
> commercialism (yes, there is a difference between commercials
> and commercialism; the difference being commercials create
> commercialism, therefore commercials can change
> commercialism)."
>
> What you're saying is that you dislike the current state of
> commercialism .

Were you quoting somebody?

Commercials are a form of advertising used as a tool by business, and idealists, to sell their wares, or ideals. Other forms of advertising are used in radio and print media, and have been for years.

Commercialism refers to the methods emploted in running a business with a goal to make the business successful (that would seem obvious) by adapting to or proffering an environment which enhances profitability by using or influencing consumer demand to an advantage (my definition is way over-simplified, but works for this purpose). Hence, commercialism creates commercials as a tool and not the other way around.

Commercialization is an integration of advertising within a product itself and especially venues in which advertising may not normally be expected (essentially life itself becomes commercial). Although there is an increase in commercialization today, integration is not a recent concept as it once littered the old time radio shows to the point that the advertisers product became an integral part of the show. But, it is certainly bolder today when ads are being placed on peoples bodies in sports events.

Commercialism creates commercials and commercialization but is indemic to neither.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: kenny on April 22, 2005, 01:44:49 PM
That Burger King commercial for the Super greasy ,mega, breakfast sandwich really freaks me out, with the  " Burger King" guy standing outside that guys window. Really wierd.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: kenny on April 22, 2005, 01:53:39 PM
The whole " can you hear me now" Verizon commercial should be s**t canned.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: raj on April 22, 2005, 02:01:36 PM
The whole Burger King series of ads is creepy.  I really don't like the king with the fake head on his body.  And it's not like they're using the likeness on their restaurants.
I also hate Quiznos' talking baby ads.  Talking babies are creepy or annoying, not cute and funny.  Bring back the weird marsupial critters.


Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on April 22, 2005, 03:47:44 PM
Burger King apparently has it in for themselves with their commercials as of late. Even when Burger King himself is not hitting on some guy, it is still bad. Such as the singing cowboy commercial that has Burger King pushing a woman on a swing. Hey, here's an idea; how about Burger King swinging on a noose?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: 2xSlick on April 26, 2005, 07:14:00 AM
What's worse, Menard is that guy singing in the Burger King commercial is the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish. How far the mighty have fallen. At least Hootie is still  making a little cash. Wish they instead hired MC Hammer so he doesn't have to knock over anymore liqour stores.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: Menard on April 26, 2005, 07:17:12 AM
2xSlick wrote:

> What's worse, Menard is that guy singing in the Burger King
> commercial is the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish. How
> far the mighty have fallen.


I had not realized who that was.

Ouch!!! That's gotta hurt.



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: odinn7 on April 26, 2005, 08:36:13 AM
Yes, that's  Darius Rucker for sure...it's like Limbo...How low can you go?



Title: Re: They call that a commercial?!!
Post by: raj on April 26, 2005, 03:52:48 PM
Not to mention wrecking a perfectly good olde tyme song.  Maybe Hootie's going for a Behind the Music, and instead of drug addiction he's got this.  I think I'd pick drug addiction over this.


Title: Re: Enzyte Ads
Post by: kenny on April 27, 2005, 02:18:31 PM
It's not so much that Bob looks psyco, there's a perfectly good explanation for that. After taking  the Enzyte, he developed such a huge hard-on, its stretching all his skin and facial muscles.