TV Spots We Hate

[zlosin]

HRH just mentioned she hated a spot for some cruise line. I am thankful that it must me regional and not seen in Michigan.
If there are any national spots you dislike and makes you want to throw something at the idiot box, post them here.
For one, I hated the Buick spots with that make believe Harley Earl remembering the fine cars he designed. Heck a few were good, most were crap. Lets hear what you think.

Also make mention of spots you do like.

The spot for the Ford Mustang with Steve McQueen was fastastic.

<small>[ 03-01-2005, 05:44 PM: Message edited by: PSIP ]</small>

[lioness]

those Vonage commercials are like nails on a chalk board!

[zlosin]

Originally posted by lioness:
those Vonage commercials are like nails on a chalk board!

I agree, first of all, they show people doing stupid thing,, the association is that by using their product, you are doing a stupid thing or only stupid people would use their product.
And the music at the end is annoying as hell.
They have a cutting edge product, promote that and FIRE their agency.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

I like the Vonage "Hey, Bubba, looka me do this!" commercials. I have a low sense of humor.

[zlosin]

Does anyone remember the Volkswagen Fahrvergnugen.
campaign? That made no sense what so ever.

This is strange, Wards Automotive published an article with that title today.

http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_hyundai_move_fahrvergnugen/

<small>[ 03-01-2005, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: PSIP ]</small>

[lioness]

i wonder why it was published today when the sales poll was from Mar 1, 2002? :confused:

[zlosin]

your right lioness, I saw March 1, and assumed it was today. My fault, still pretty strange to find it on this date.

[haggis]

ANY diet pill commercial. I always mute them as soon as they come on. I watch a lot of “BBC America” and there are tons of diet pill commercials.

I always love the small print at the bottom of every ad.

“Use this product with any reasonable plan of diet and exercise:


I love American capitalism!!!

[zlosin]

those are the worst! the diet pills, $175 for 30 days, hell you can't afford food after paying for the pills.

Does anyone remember AYD's diet pills? after the AIDs news came out in the early 80's Ayd's quietly dissapeard. Wonder why?

http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,926056,00.html

<small>[ 03-01-2005, 11:37 PM: Message edited by: PSIP ]</small>

[Serenity]

No, the worst commercials with big money behind them are the light beer commercials. They have all the cheesy stereotypes; the large hooter babes, the moronic meatheads, the "sheep" mentality assigned to consumers, the obvious and non-funny punchlines.. I can't stand them!

[analog]

Those "here's bob" ads for enhancement are beneath contempt.

<small>[ 03-02-2005, 01:51 AM: Message edited by: analog ]</small>

[barfle]

For a video engineer, I don't watch very much TV, but there are some ads (I think they're for DirecTV, but since I've forgotten who they're for, clearly they aren't doing their job) where someone is watching a sports show on TV, has some kind of accident, and his spirit rises through the ceiling, roof, clouds, and he's right back watching sports on TV.

Creepy as Michael Jackson.

[sadie]

"HRH just mentioned she hated a spot for some cruise line"
___________________________________
Sorry PSIP but being new on the block....what or who is "HRH"?
Funniest ads I ever saw were on Brit TV. Anyone ever watched Graham Norton? He was "way out-there" funny. Amercian TV programming just doesn't compare-ads or content....

[mmichaelson]

I hate those commercials about Viagra and other "stimulants". they drive me nuts!!!

[DavidEB310]

It's funny that you brought up this category...

About 2 weeks ago, I e-mailed the following two marketing departments with the following messages:

Red Bull:

The commercial with the bird flying overhead and relieving itself on a person who then sprouts wings and is about to do the same is IN VERY POOR TASTE (esp. with closeup of unddoing of trousers). I'm 40 and not a prude, but also the father of 4 teenage daugters, and I think the spot crosses the line big time. I will not buy your product and will not allow my daughters to buy your product when they're with me. Clean up your act. P.S. I love Howard Stern, so again, I'm not a Prude. I hope the FCC fines you for broadcast considering light of recent events dating back to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Red Bull's Reply:

Dear David,

We are truly sorry to hear you were offended by our ad on television. It is unfortunate that we have lost you as a customer, but we respect your decision.

In addition we do appreciate your feedback, which has been forwarded to the appropriate parties.

With thanks and regards,

Carol Sloan
Red Bull North America

-----

To KFC:

I questioned their advertising departments perception of a family dinner being a bucket of chicken tossed on a bare table void of plates, flatware, napkins, and cups with the announcment of the mom: "It's called dinner!" So the family (who didn't even know why they were coming to the table so they didn't wash up either) attack the bucket like animals tearing up a carcass or pigs at a trough. Nice concept KFC!

------

BTW: I sent this to FOX News (out of Providence):

Regarding 10 PM FOX Newscast -- 23FEB05: Enough with the shameless Marketing and Promotions by shoving "American Idol" "News" stories down the throats of viewers. No matter how you spin the story, it's advertising, not news. Especially, when your broadcaster says on air, "I can't wait until Monday." Gee, you wouldn't want the viewers to forget when it's on, would you? For viewers interested, they'll watch the show, or Extra or Hollywood Access shows. Where did the newscasters and producers get their broadcaster journalism degrees -- www.mybroadcastdegree.com? It certainly wasn't Columbia, Newhouse, or Northeastern.

How about providing REAL news for a change? You’re not fooling anyone out there. My wife and I watch your newscast, to get the weather (and sometimes real top stories) before we go to bed, but you have succeeded in even pulling teasers for the weather waiting until the bottom of the hour keeping folks hostage before slumber. It's too bad you're the only choice at 10 PM. People around the office periodically mention silly news stories you report. If the FOX staff feels that the reports are serious, then we as a Providence area culture have larger problems. Please try to raise your bar.

-------

Maybe I'm just beginning to become an old cranky man (however 40 isn't old of course), but what has television resorted to?

Thank You for being there Beethoven.com (Class above the rest amongst the planet's airwaves!)

[mmichaelson]

David, I tend to agree with you. My husband gets really angry when CNN (or other news affiliates) tell you the "gossip" on celebrities like it is truly newsworthy. He tells me that it's not news. . .they are just people. . .

I think he's right! Do we really care that Madonna donated a gazillion dollars to the Kabbalah "religion" or that John Travolta, Jenna Elfman, and Tom Cruise are among the ranks of raving lunatics known as Scientologists?

<stepping down off soapbox now>

[treebeau]

Hey Sadie,

HRH stands for "Her Royal Highness" which is a moniker adopted by Nicole Marie.

Regards,
Tim B.

[mmichaelson]

Sadie, Graham Norton is on American TV now.

You're right, he is very funny (and very out there)

[lioness]

while i was waiting for my order at a Chinese restaraunt last night, the TV had on a show something like Entertainment Tonight... heck it could have even been.

anyway, i was so uninterested and almost disgusted to the maximum. all i kept wondering was "who cares? does any of this really matter to anyone?"

apparently it does since the rest of the waiting customers were GLUED to this little box telling us what celebrity is doing what, how much their cloths/shoes cost, etc...

and then there was the MJ trial

UKE:

[sadie]

Aha! Thanks Tim B.
I will now curtsey now before posting....

And as for the "News" I refuse to watch Rupert Murdoch owned stations- I've taken to watching Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" for my news.