How on Earth have I not talked about this ad?

I am pretty certain that this advertisment is the worst thing on TV right now (worse than Moniques Charm School). I'm talking that STUPID ad for Burger King. I'm already mad and I haven't even gotten started. Watch:



I HATE THIS AD. I realize that there is a hooplah over this POS for being "erotic" for kids to see according to Reverend Wildmon. I agree with Advertising Age saying that this ad is actually not erotic or threatening for children to see but rather silly. But I for sure disagree with them saying that this ad is "very, very funny". Good lord, did they really just publish that? How many times do we have to see the pretty wife scoff at her fatter, less attractive idiot husband? BORESVILLE. Newsflash, some woman are actually silly and aren't totally mortified by acts of dumb behavior shown in this commercial. If my husband popped out of the bath saying he was Spongebob Nopants I'd raise him with an "ohh yeah? (grab sponge from kitchen sink and place on head) Well I'm Spongebob Barfpants" and proceed to projectile vomit on myself. See! Women can be silly!! What I'm trying to say is that not only is the script for this commercial stupid and doesn't correlate with the product they are trying to sell (naked man with sponge on head does not equal SpongeBob SquarePants meal at BK) but they are playing with old stereotypes and it is totally boring. I'd seriously like to see the woman being a goofball and her husband showing emotions that indicate he is questioning his life choices for once. Sheesh.

Hahaha Oh Genie

I usually think beer ads are pretty mediocre, kind of dumb college humor but I really thought this Budweiser ad is hilarious.



This ad caught me off guard, I really did not see that coming. I thought both actors were really good and I thought this was original and made fun of idiots in a great way. Way to go Budweiser!! I never thought I'd be so proud of you.

Volvos not only safe

I was checking out the Volvo C30 Canadian website (totally random, right?) and I think their new ads are really rad. Go to www.thec30.ca then wait until the intro is over and then at the top bar click "Cinema" then click the doors (sorry, the site doesn't make any links) and a list will pop up with all the videos they have made. I guess they asked their lovely Canadian fellas what they think about the Volvo C30 and they made shorts/commercials about each one. I think my favorite is the "It makes me feel like a real man" because Volvo is usually only known as the safe car (oh god, how horrible - I know), but it was sort of neat that they are trying to go in the direction their customers feel.

Cool approach. I also like the way the little videos look too. Ohh Sweden and Canada, why aren't you the US?

I've never been so proud to be an Italian

Um. I wish that I was in Italy when they casted for this commercial because nothing speaks to me more than this ad. How do you make parmesan cheese memorable and entertaining? Use a musical theatre element of course! It's just so ridiculous and fun you can't say no. I love the Italians.

How to keep America dumb? Train them young.

FOXNews.com posted an article today called Kids Eat 100 Percent More After Food Commercials. In the UK at the University of Liverpool they conducted a survey with 60 children ranging in ages 9 to 11. They had them watch food and toy commercials before viewing a cartoon. Food intake increased dramatically when the children watched the food commercial before the cartoon. Obese children had an increase of food take at 134%, overweight at 101% and normals at 84%.

"Our research confirms food TV advertising has a profound effect on all children's eating habits - doubling their consumption rate," said Dr. Jason Halford, director of the university's Kissileff Human Ingestive Behaviour Laboratory, in a press statement released by the University of Liverpool. "The study was also particularly interesting in suggesting a strong connection between weight and susceptibility to over-eating."

Well, duh. I am no child and I can watch a commercial for an Applebee's dish and crave it within minutes and I think Applebee's is gnarly. I don't mean gnarly in the sense a surfer would use it. What I mean is that advertising is brainwashing. Every person seems to know this yet still are persuaded by it. Poor children, they are too innocent to know the ways of the advertising world so when they see that ad for the McDonald's Happy Meal, they want it and they want it now. I wouldn't be quite as sickened by this if say Yoplait yogurt, Subway, Tropicana, veggies and fruit commercials were aimed at kids but of course it's all fatty mcfat and sugary goods. All I have to say is, parents - where the hell are you and why are you letting your kids get so damned fat?

Green Advertising brings green outcome

Due to an Inconvenient Truths wild success, there has been a surge of Americans "thinking green" (as they drive their Hummers to the grocery store 6 times in one day, but that is besides the point - they buy Free Trade Starbucks coffee so they really do care). So obviously it makes sense that the Washington Post would launch a website called Sprig.com targeted towards environmentally conscious women. To me, Sprig.com is a haven for stereotyped hippies. Click on fashion to see their highly coveted wooden rings. Or maybe click on beauty to check out their toothpaste made from wood. I swear to god I thought they were going to give tips on where to find the coziest cave in the housing section. Not all green people are hippies.

In an article published in the New York Times this morning this morning, they talked about Sprig.com as well as the green fad and the advertising oppurtunties that are there for green goers.

Now, I am all about people being more aware and conserving energy and all that jazz, but it sort of makes me sick what a trend this has become. For instance, WALMART claims to be going green. Meanwhile, they will be exploiting their employees and factory workers to work harder to mass produce green products so that good ol' Americans can feel the satisfaction in their heart that they helped out because they bought environmentally conscious disposable diapers (not possible!). It just makes me nervous that thousands of people will be listening to CORPORATIONS on where to get info on how to be green. They don't really care, they just want money.

This topic is a bit off topic for me, except for the fact that consumers should be very careful when listening to advertisers speil about green products. It's probably best to get your green information from someone wearing a hemp shirt, not a business suit.

The Troll Honda Pilot

Has anyone seen the troll Honda Pilot ad? If not, view here:



I really like the idea but I think it's sort of weird that they don't answer 3 questions. It could be because I am one of those people who read the book first before it comes out as a movie and sit and complain the whole time because the plot is different (aka I'm anal). I wish they made sure to make it make sense and this ad would be good. I think they should have done more with it, like make the troll much more mean and intimidating and make it more obvious that he was flabbergasted by the beauty of the Pilot.

...and have them answer 3 question.

Chili's Seeking New Agency

Interesting. Chili's restaurants announced recently that they are leaving their good friends at GSD&M according to Advertising Age and Chili's PR releases. You can read the full report here. You can also read a bit different look from the Advertising Age perspective here.

I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad (not really, I just love that song) that Chili's is kicking the agency that brought them tons o' success. I work at a different restaurant and when mentioning ribs almost everytime someone is tempted to sing that outrageous baby back ribs jingle. It seems kind of weird that they'd want to get rid of them since it seems like they have done nothing but good for the company. Chili's recent stuff isn't that bad either, granted it's not great either. Here is an example of one of their recent ads:



It's nothing that makes me scream I NEED CHILI'S (I hope I never get to that point in my life) but it doesn't make my blood boil either. They are known for their extensive list of burgers and ribs so they get their point across that they have over thirty items to add to their burgers and they are totally customizable and they've tried to make it look all neat and modern by using black and white and red (their color) and colored food. Sort of seems a little Ruby Tuesday to me though. Weird that the Advertising Age article quoted Krista Gibson, senior VP brand strategy saying, "For years the chain, founded on burgers, tacos and chili, didn't promote its namesake product other than on its menu."

Isn't that commerical promoting their signature burgers? I wonder what the real reason they are splitting from them is. Either way, I hope we see some great new ads from Chili's (I won't hold my breath).

Kia Spectra Ad

Man, I wish I could find a video online of the Kia Spectra ad I saw earlier today. It's like 51 Kias driving in an oval around like 50 empty parking spaces and essentially playing a game of musical chairs. The last two cars are racing to make the last spot and it's a pretty cute way of showing how good their brakes are and seems like they are trying to brand themselves for being safe. Anyway, it gets the point across in a very subtle but obvious way and it was entertaining to watch. Coming from a car I don't particularly like, I was pleasantly surprised. Keep your eyes peeled for it.

Well isn't this darling?

How silly to ever think anything as cute and fun to watch would be shown in America. Nope, it's an Australian ad. Sigh. What is it about this country that doesn't allow genuine ads?

Blame Canada? No! Follow Canada!

Why is Canada so much better? They leave their doors unlocked and don't worry about their safety or theft, have lots of guns but very little violence problems, George Bush isn't their president and now Coca-Cola, McDonald's vow to make half their commercials health-focused. They know what's up and 15 companies in Canada have agreed to make half of their advertising health-conscious, especially the stuff targeted to kids.

It's nice to see some countries care, meanwhile our country is practically bursting out of their seams. Do I think people are dumb for listening to advertising and getting fatty fat? Yes. Do I think that advertising agencies have something to do with the evil promotion and are responsible for this epidemic? Yes. AMERICA CHANGE YOUR WAYS!

Starburst following Skittles?

To me, Skittles pioneered the wacky off-beat advertising that made people go silent after watching and then erupt into laughter. For example see their weird beard commercial they did last year:



Totally random and made zero sense but the way it seemed people loved it. It made me laugh, I didn't feel like it was trying to hard either. I could actually picture some weirdo in the creative deptartment scheming up this idea and going in shock after it was approved to shoot and ran nationally.

Starburst must have seen Skittles success (and perhaps a cult appreciation?) and since they are in the same genre of candy thought why the hell not join in these weirdo games? They created this hilarious commercial for their new Berries and Cream Starburst:



Adding a jingle to the new product with that weirdo little lad was genius. Everytime I even mention the candy or see someone walk by it in the store, someone always replicates the song. They got it in our heads with delight so I think they did a good job of making something work and making it fun. Yeaaah wack-o ads that don't make sense but bring success!!

BLOGGERS

Don't evaluate me until tonight please. I have been having technical difficulties and brain problems. I'll have the other 1 up tonight, aiight?

Love ya.

Ha! This is just too good.

So I'm sure you've all seen that Quiznno's Prime Rib Sub on Garlic Bread commercial where real people take the taste test between Quizno's and Subways version but oops... Subway doesn't have one! Pretty standard commercials for Quizno's nothing exciting but this one makes me turn the volume on high to make sure I get to see the whole thing. Because of that damn woman!! The woman at the end who speaks of "the sandwich having more meat and that's what a woman wants" is hilarious! Firstly, that statement seems unscripted and I'm really glad the editor was smart enough to not cut it. BUT THE LAUGH AT THE END!!!!! She doesn't sound human, it's amazing! I really want to be this womans friend. Anyway, I say good job to this commercial cause it is really dorky/charming and I have not met one person who has seen it and didn't have something to say about it. Here is a funny edited version of it:

Quizno's Woman... find me so I can make you laugh

I've never even seen this one probably becasue people love that weird woman so much:

Makes you hungry... but isn't funny!

Music and Commercials

It usually bothers me when commercials use really famous songs in their ads just because they know so many people will like the song and perhaps like the ad better because of it. I see it as a bit of a cop out, almost like they are relying on the current fan base for the music. BUT I can think of one company who constantly uses popular songs but does it in the best way possible. I know you are thinking it so I'll so go on and say it: Dr. Pepper.

They have used Meatloaf, Queen and now Tom Jones. Hello. The reason they are so good is because they make a story out of the song that relates to Dr. Pepper rather than just play it. The Meatloaf one where the guy will do anything for love including buying his woman tampons, doing laundry, going to yoga, etc. but he "won't do that" as in give his Dr. Pepper up. Or the one where he wants it all so he performs outrageous stunts like drive a convertible across an icy road. Only the best for this man, including his Dr. Pepper (by the way that actor is hilarious - his smile is so genuine and jazzed). And the newest one which I love showing numerous people eating all sorts of sugary treats like an ice cream cone but the reflection of it in the window is a Diet Dr. Pepper. Or a man will be pouring jelly beans in his mouth from a Diet Dr. Pepper glass. Frozen yogurt coming out of a fountain machine, a cupcake coming out of a vending machine, a woman sipping a milkshake with a Diet Dr. Pepper reflection, etc. etc. all to the tune of Help Yourself by Tom Jones. GENIUS. It is so well done and all the of the people involved are very believable and it gets the job down well. It is memorable and you get the idea that Diet Dr. Pepper is just as satisfying as a sugary treat without all of the calories.

My only complaint is the woman at the end who is drinking from a straw that is attached to a piece of "cake" on the bus and they cut to a guy looking at her and then they cut back to her holding the DDP and she makes the WEIRDEST smirk! I get that they want her to look like she knows a secret the rest of the world doesn't, but she is making a "I know a secret" face for something much bigger than DDP tasting delicious. It's just weird and I often find myself scoffing. BUT it is not even close enough to make me dislike this ad. Woo Dr. Pepper! Fuel my addiction!

The total for your burger and fries is your manhood.

I was surfing the net looking for info on fast food advertising not related to child obesity (which seems to be endless, by the way) and I found this article:

Fast-Food Chains Buck The Healthy Trend

I found this very interesting and something I noticed recently. Save for Subway, most other fast food chains have dropped the healthy bit and shimmied back into to fatties. Remember the good ol' days when McDonald's was trying to save face after Super-Size Me and added tons of "healthier" items and even a pedometer in an adult happy meal? Remember?? Americans are back to their old antics and chowing down giant burgers at an alarming rate. Why? Cause advertising says it's okay now! Who knew this blog would change directions from unthoughtful ads to strictly hating what advertising does to people (I still hate unthoughtful ads though, duh). I decided to research red meat because I've heard time and time again about how red meat pretty much rots in your bod. Lo and behold, numerous articles state high red meat consumption puts you in much greater risk for colon cancer and prostate cancer. Did ya hear that guys? Prostate cancer. Burger for your balls to put it poetically.

My new dream in life is to get hired to do the advertising for either McDonald's, Burger King, etc. and then secretly switch their commerical with one depicting a colonoscopy of a man with one testicle screaming "no more fast food" and then fade to black and in text run the name of whatever fast food company it is. I wonder how people will react to THAT fast food commerical. Hmm, maybe I should just contact truth.

Ohhh woe is me.

So, lately I have been in a rut. I continue to go back and forth on what exactly it is that I find so dreadful in advertising today. Sometimes I feel like I am just a rambling nut who has a hard time articulating herself, but then other times I really feel like I have a hold on what it is that gets me.

The other night I was having a conversation with my 3 roomies (all 20-21 year old college ladies) about the Taco Bell Fourth Meal campaign as it came on during America's Next Top Model. I expressed how it made me frustrated that Taco Bell is promoting more eating, especially really fattening bad-for-you food. I also thought it was weird to play something like during a modeling competition. They all disagreed. They told me that there is an audience for the fourth meal and that they all do it and it resonates with them. Sigh, it really scares me. I know that sometimes I eat a fourth meal late at night at a fast food place but I never want to think that it is an okay idea. I hate when I do that [eat a fourth meal], and advertising has such a strong impact on people whether they like to think it does or not. Please ladies, go eat a fourth meal and then watch ANTM and feel bad about yourself. Then I sound like such a Sour Samantha because I feel like I sound like such a prude because I criticize "humorous" ads. Like the Jack In The Box stoner ad, I'm sure so many people laughed their faces off at it. I get it, it is funny but so evil. Advertising can be evil.

They get you to laugh so you eat more and get fat. They get you to laugh so you smoke more and become a pothead (this is a stretch, I'm really just referring to one ad). They get you to laugh so you think men should be macho, etc. etc. You may think I'm over-analyzing but I truly think this is what these ads do to Americans. Think about it: in high school someone told me tapered jeans are going to make a comeback and all of my friends scoffed and said that would never happen. Eventually skinny jeans came back and they are now a staple. Or when I first heard that wretched Unplugged version of "Freak on A Leash" with Korn and Amy Lee of Evanescence on MTV. I wanted to die when I first heard it, but over time I hated it less (though I never grew to like it). If you see something long enough you become adapted to the idea, of course this works the same with ads.

Hope in the weirdest of places.

I find it rather amusing that of all fast food companies to produce an ad that is not using trashy advertising would be McDonald's. If you are holding your breath in a raging fury because you think I am refering to that weird ad where they profile McDonald's fries as the "it thing this season" then friend of mine, you can start breathing. I'm talking about this ad:

McDonalds's Commercial

I think it is cute and using a well known concept. It's not genius but it is also not heavily promoting overeating or some dumb gender role. I laughed at the silly man.

Fast Food Commercials

Okay, so I tried to channel my anger and really try to figure out what makes me so irritated with American advertising, specifically commercials. I'm thinking it lies mostly in fast food advertising. Not only are the concepts behind their advertisements slap-stick but they are also responsible for casting stereotypes upon many different people. I've selected my favorite bad fast food ads.

Burger King - Eat Like a Snake

I know, let's encourage unhealthy eating habits even more, right? First, we'll tell all of America to consume a burger with THREE patties, but better yet, let's make sure the heart really feels the punch by eating it in one bite. Right??? Good call on using a Japanese man too because lord knows they win all of those eating contests and not gain an ounce of weight. It wouldn't be quite as appealing to fast food eaters if an obese Oliver took double the time to sliver his fat bod through those chairs, coughing up chicken bones and sweating profusely on his way to eat his way to another heart attack.

Arby's - Dog Commercial

As an animal lover of every breed, I am not pleased. I'm not even PETA'ing out on you, I just think this commercial is lame. As if I'd break my car window for a sick sandwich weighing in around a hefty 900 calories. To be honest, I'd rather eat that doggie first. I don't even think this commercial makes sense. Why was his beloved sandie in the car without him anyway? All I have to say is thank god it wasn't a baby and not a dog, too many dumb, fat daddies on TV.

I really wish I could have found the commercial for this one. It's the Taco Bell Fouth Meal campaign. You can go to www.fourthmeal.com to gather a glimpse. It's pretty much encouraging a meal between dinner and breakfast. How sick is that? We all know kids get drunk and crave meals but for gods sake do we really need to encourage that? Obesity is everywhere in this country, so instead of adding salads or reducing portion size... why not just add another meal? People out there probably now think it's okay to chow down a taco built from the use of a "meat tube" (I kid you not, once my friend went to buy some food and they told her the MEAT TUBE was broken. THAT IS SO GROSS).

Jack In The Box - Stoner

Wow, that was blatant. I think what I find most ironic about this ad is that Jack In The Box is Christian, check out the O and the X of box to make the little Christian fishie. Anyway, why would they promote smoking weed? Money? Sick. This is so bad on so many levels. Get high, eat lots of unhealthy food, get fat. Good job America.

At least maybe I'll lose weight getting nauseated watching these ads.

Examples of Artful Powerful Advertising

If only commercials could follow these fantastic print ads.







Real ideas that involve genuine creativity and art direction.

Fast Food

Granted this commerical may not be the most genius but I still really like it. It is for Dairy Queens Flamethrower Sandwich. I think it's a nice change to see a silly ad that actually correlates with the product

Watch it here

You'll have to excuse my absence

Pardon my lack of responses, you see I was in a paralyzed state after being subjected to so many wretched ads these days. Before I dive further, I would like it to be known I have a very high tolerance for shitty things. For example, I can park my body down on my couch multiple times a week to watch (and re-watch) episodes of VH1's I Love New York and MTV's The Hills while holding my bladder full of Red Bull until a commercial break as to not miss anything. So, how could an individual subject herself to New York moaning in ecstasy over an awkward Jewish boy from Boston with complete interest, but when put in front of half the ads in America today she hides for cover while silently singing to herself the "800-800-8553" theme song in a crazy rage?

TV shows are allowed to be dumb. They aren't selling me anything other than the satisfaction that I'm not (that) crazy. But ads? Ads aren't supposed to be 30 seconds of condensed idiocy! They are supposed to sell you something and I think the people of America deserve a little more respect. I think that continuing to dumb down America by using poor humor and stereotypes is cheap and well, makes people more dumb. My main beef at the moment is Burger King (ironically enough, that was not an intended pun and the use of such low humor makes me look like a hypocrite. It was a mistake!! I was very tempted to say "misteak"). Burger King's commercials are the WORST.

If you've somehow escaped viewing their most embarassing ad, "The Manthem", let me corrupt you:

The Manthem (is really stupid)

Take a minute after, I know. Okay, ready? HOW IS THAT OKAY? They use such a low grade of humor it is appalling! Now, I get it, Carl's Jr. has all those sex-biased commercials and there is always some big hooplah over their stuff but at least they do it with some originality. I have no problem with ads playing off of a gender as long as it required some thought/wit. Here is where I am most disturbed: there are people out there who found this to be funny. Studies show people unconscioulsy imitate what they see on TV. Hmm, let's think. A stupid human laughs hysterically at The Manthem, runs to Burger King to get their Texas Double Whopper, enjoys it while replaying scenes of the commerical in their head then getting a surge of brilliance to act them out themselves? Okay, that may be nuts but that behavior of men only doing manly things needs to go and it is just ignorant, and we don't need any more things influencing the public of America in that way. Men don't need to be super macho, women are allowed to eat big, giant burgers. We need to evolve and get out of these stupid mindsets and move away from advertisements that push them back.

An article published on January 31, 2007 in The Miami Herald revealed this upsetting piece of news, "The Miami-based fast-food chain said net income for the second quarter climbed 41 percent to $38 million, or 28 cents per share, compared to $27 million, or 24 cents, during the same period last year. Revenue increased 9 percent to $559 million from $512 million". They think they are doing something right.

Note to Creative Directors

I was informed by my Advertising professor that numerous brands are going straight to the mass population to create ads for them through contests. It seems like all of Dorito's new commercials have been created this way, inlcuding their Super Bowl spot (see www.snackstrongproductions.com). Now, I do agree that that would be a really neat prize, and I did laugh at that commericial (specifically because I love when people fall and that girl falling was quite convincing) but it sort of scares me at the same time. Will this lead to a trend of companies skipping over the Advertising agencies all together to gain publicity, cut costs, and get feedback directly from their target audience? To be honest, if I were in charge of a brand - it would seem like a pretty genius idea to me. Forget the research, forget the costs, why not have the people who love your brand tell you what will sell your product?

I yi yi.

So I say, turn it up agencies. Make your commercials more than what the general public can give you. I've always loved print ads over commericals because they seem like they are more art than anything. So, let's do the same to commercials. And soon.

I leave you with this. The American version commerical for a Sony Bravia TV:

American Version

And here is the European version:

European Version

I become speechless when attempting to explain why the American version is just wretched in comparsion. No more crap America, get your act together otherwise... well, I'll be jobless.

By bad, I mean some are bad.

How many people do you know that associate advertising with evil? I know many. In fact, when I was leaving to college 3 years ago to study advertising I got numerous "tsks" and perhaps even a "what's next Regina? Selling your firstborn for a footlong at Subway?". It's somewhat irritating but at the same time I can't blame people for thinking that. Advertising has the potential to do its job of selling something/an idea and to do it in a beautiful manner. Sadly, we are instead bombarded with idiot men ironically singing about being manly and loving meat. I'd like to say it loud and clear: I did not want to get into this industry to accomplish things like that.

What I wanted to do was create art that had purpose. I think that many of the ads that come out in America are embarassing and stoop to low levels. What happened to thought? Bold? Clever? Witty? Instead Americans get easy, slap-stick and just plain old dumb. The rest of the world seems to soak in good ads and I say it's time we get to too. I'm tired of having to go online to look for good ads instead of picking up a magazine and have them in there. I hope you never look at ads the same after hearing my two cents.

Love,
Regina