Reader Carol thought the kid kissing the girl at the prom was inappropriate and disturbing. When I was ten there was a girl in my class I had a huge crush on. One day, for unfathomable reasons, I decided to approach her during lunch and give her a big kiss. She clocked me in the head with her lunchbox. Lesson definitely learned.
To clarify – I said the dialect was borderline racist. I can see how it could be taken both ways.
The Oprah ad didn’t move me because I find her so disingenuousMaybe if she bought all the servicemen a car…
It also annoys me when a company wraps itself in a flag to sell cars.
I liked Todd’s comment. “What does it say about the advertising industry today when far-and-away the most effective message was written by a dead radio guy?”
Does it seem like the common denominator in all these ads was: “dad is stupid?”
I didn’t mind the sub-par fidelity of the Paul Harvey ad. It just added to the sense that he was coming back from the great beyond. Oh, and I bet it didn’t take him 45 takes.
The Kaley Cuoco Toyota spot confused me because I didn’t know what it was selling. Chocolate maybe, then Sirius-XM radio, finally it was a car. Why would I buy a car based on that ad? And there’s another example of excess. How much did it cost to do the effects on the witches gag? And was it worth it? Was it even funny?
What does a fish have to do with Beck’s Sapphire beer?
For a far better and funnier version of the Leon Sandcastle bit, see the Felix Hernandez Mariners commercial from a couple of years ago.
And finally, Chris thought I was a little “crotchety” for telling Beyonce and her army of singers to get off my lawn. He’s probably right.
Chris is right...nobody in their right mind would EVER tell Beyonce to get off their lawn!
ReplyDeleteI realize you've already answered questions of mine, I HAVE to ask this one, because it's been bugging me for years...
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that a lot of networks have promos and bumpers of their shows featuring the actors just staring into the camera with these absolutely creepy, almost voyeuristic looks on their faces? Ditto with some cable networks like ABC Family or TBS who not only have their actors in their promos have those creepy stares, but sit or lie around in seductive poses?
Sapphires usually are blue and have nothing to do with fish...
ReplyDeleteSomeone must have already mentioned this but I didn't find it. The Paul harvey quality issue was due to it being recorded at a live vent in 1978 in a large room (thus the reverb and BG noise) at a Future Farmer's convention.
ReplyDeleteI found most of the ads unmemorable and unfunny. Tracy Morgan was funny, but I can't remember what he was advertising. Amy Pohler would have been funny if I didn't have such an abundant hatred of Best Buy. Paul Ruud, Seth Rogen and Bob Odenikirk were amusing, and I remember that they were in a Samsung ad, so by that token I give them the award for best ad.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...the only funny ads were ads with funny people in them. Imagine that.
Of the serious ads, I thought the Oprah ad tried too hard. The Paul Harvey ad was fairly effective -- when I decide to move the country and become a farmer, I'll be sure to buy a Dodge truck.
Two things:
ReplyDelete1. I don't understand why apparently THE ENTIRE nation was put off by the GoDaddy hot chick/nerd kissing ad.
I thought it was funny, intentional discomfort humor, and to be honest, I was rooting for the dork. (At least that kiss was consensual, and he LOOKED like a dork, compared to the Audi prom ad.)
Are we so protective of our attractive women that we're indignant as a nation if she makes out with a schlub?
I had the misfortune of watching the Super Bowl with a German guy, who reacted vehemently and nearly retched at the sight. I thought, but didn't say, "Oh, come on. That's just because the guy looks Jewish."
Joke's on him, of course. Bar Refaeli is Israeli.
2. Ken, you're the only one out of all the post-game coverage I've seen, to make the same point I thought during Beyonce's set: "Holy SHIT that's a lot of backup dancers." I'm just saying, stay strong. (And that way, keep a pristine lawn.)
Beyonce can dance on my lawn if she gives Bob Fosse the credit he deserves rather than pretending she makes it up, but only if she doesn't sing. Well marketed average singer who struggles with pitch and needs to learn how to breathe.
ReplyDeleteKen,
ReplyDeleteJust an aside that while work was slow today, I listened to your Nerdist Writer's Panel from last April. Good stuff. More amusing than most of the SB ads.
I liked the prom ad and the whole carpe diem spirit.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite ad, however, was the Mercedes spot with Willem DeFoe tempting the guy's soul. It sold the product idea -- new Mercedes, less than 30 grand.
If anyone missed Amy Pohler's ad, just play Words with Friends. If you're like me and haven't paid to upgrade the app on my phone, the Best Buy ad frequently runs.
Friday Question:
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of the Cliff Clavin meme, "The Buffalo Theory" that seems to have been spreading across the Internet for years? The meme states that the following was said by Cliff:
"Well you see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive drinking of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
Now, I've watched every episode of Cheers, and I've tried to find video of this quote for a couple days and haven't found it yet. And while I know IMDB has the quote on their web page, I still haven't found video evidence.
So, I guess the question is in two parts. What do you think of the quote and is it real?
Thanks,
Robert
"Apparently the supermodel/dork kiss required 45 takes. You think the girl would know how to kiss."
ReplyDeleteIf I had to kiss a pretty woman and get paid for it on a commercial, I might "flub" a couple of takes.
Robert, I don't think that is a quote from the show. I think Cliff is at his funniest when he is mixing fact and fiction and comes up with a bad conclusion, not one that makes you laugh and say, "I never thought of it that way".
ReplyDeleteCase in point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuKwpkUNNrA
Learning their lesson, for the next Super Bowl, GoDaddy will have a hot chick kiss Paul Harvey.
ReplyDeleteI found the supermodel/dork kiss to be disturbing.
ReplyDeleteLike the suspension of gravity or everything going fuzzy MATRIX style.
I haven't laughed out loud at a commercial since the Bud Light "battling robots" commercial. I'm with you on the halftime show.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd be shocked if Robert's quote is from CHEERS. I don't remember anything like that, and as Brian said, it doesn't sound like the sort of thing that would be written for Cliff.
ReplyDeleteBrian & Mike: Yeah, I'd kinda be shocked that it was ever said on Cheers either, but it's spreading through Facebook virally.
ReplyDeleteI'm just curious. I know I won't be able to figure out who started sending it around the net, but I will know that 1. It is fake and 2. That IMDB has a fake quote on their Cheers quote page.
Never mind the fish, what does "No Diggity" have to do with Beck's?
ReplyDelete