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.

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?

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?

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?

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!!

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.