Company: Berlitz, Soesman
Aired: Banned
Channel: N/A
Appeal: Humor
Over the past week I’ve gotten the couch potato’s form of writers block. While some ads intrigued me, I wanted more! So I went in pursuit of an extraordinary commercial. I found a pair of banned ads from foreign countries. I like this first ad a lot but don’t completely understand why it was cancelled. Check it out.
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The ad begins with an older gentleman explaining to the young man (in his native tongue) how to use the equipment around him. Then all of a sudden the distress call, “Mayday, mayday!” is announced over the radio. He employee’s English is extremely limited as he explains that he is the German coastguard. When the man over the radio shouts, “We’re sinking!” The German misinterprets these words and questions him, “What are you sinking about?” Simply hilarious! Poking fun at other nations accents is fine with me because I’m sure they let us Americans have it every chance they get.
Next is yet another ad for a company to teach you the English language. I definitely understand why this one was revoked. Please finish your drink before starting this video because you will inevitably spit it all over your computer screen.
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Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Frankie The Fish
Company: McDonald’s
Aired: February 2009
Channel: N/A
Appeal: Humor
As a child I would get excited fairly easily. I remember some of my favorite times were obviously the last day of school, snow days and hearing that wonderful ice cream man’s song turning onto my block. Wait, I left one of the best out! When my mother would turn into the McDonald’s drive through. The mere sight of those golden arches could make my mouth water. Not only was I getting an exceptionally tasty meal but a toy comes with it too? That’s right, all for around $3 you could clog your child’s arteries and provide them with a sweatshop imported “toy” that cost ten cents and someone’s finger to make.
In 2009 McDonald’s started a new advertising campaign for the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which is served at all the fast food restaurant locations internationally. This singing largemouth bass, which goes by the name “Frankie the Fish” has become an advertising sensation. The premise of the two men having virtually no reaction to a talking fish along with the catchy song amounted to one of the most recognizable ads in the past five years. The commercial proved to be amazingly successful, especially during the Lent season. In advertising it is very difficult to become a part of pop culture, but Frankie the Fish has done just that. The Filet-O-Fish song is even available to purchase as a ringtone. While working at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of weeks ago, I came across Frankie the Fish. He is available to purchase and with the simple press of a button, sings the exact song from the commercial.
I personally enjoyed the original ad back in 2009 better than McDonald’s 2010 version. Unless the core concept is really strong, (Geico’s mascots) repeating commercials I feel can grow rather dull. Here are both the 2009 and 2010 Filet-O-Fish ads… enjoy!
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Aired: February 2009
Channel: N/A
Appeal: Humor
As a child I would get excited fairly easily. I remember some of my favorite times were obviously the last day of school, snow days and hearing that wonderful ice cream man’s song turning onto my block. Wait, I left one of the best out! When my mother would turn into the McDonald’s drive through. The mere sight of those golden arches could make my mouth water. Not only was I getting an exceptionally tasty meal but a toy comes with it too? That’s right, all for around $3 you could clog your child’s arteries and provide them with a sweatshop imported “toy” that cost ten cents and someone’s finger to make.
In 2009 McDonald’s started a new advertising campaign for the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which is served at all the fast food restaurant locations internationally. This singing largemouth bass, which goes by the name “Frankie the Fish” has become an advertising sensation. The premise of the two men having virtually no reaction to a talking fish along with the catchy song amounted to one of the most recognizable ads in the past five years. The commercial proved to be amazingly successful, especially during the Lent season. In advertising it is very difficult to become a part of pop culture, but Frankie the Fish has done just that. The Filet-O-Fish song is even available to purchase as a ringtone. While working at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of weeks ago, I came across Frankie the Fish. He is available to purchase and with the simple press of a button, sings the exact song from the commercial.
I personally enjoyed the original ad back in 2009 better than McDonald’s 2010 version. Unless the core concept is really strong, (Geico’s mascots) repeating commercials I feel can grow rather dull. Here are both the 2009 and 2010 Filet-O-Fish ads… enjoy!
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
WOW! That’s a Bad Commercial!
Company: Staples
Aired: Jan-Mar 2010
Channel: FOX, ESPN, TBS
Appeal: Humor, Exaggerated Statement
With over 2,000 stores scattered across twenty-seven countries, Staples has become the world's largest office supply store. Thomas G. Stemberg came up with the idea for Staples in 1985, while working on a proposal for a different business. He needed a ribbon for his printer, but his local supplies store was closed. A frustrated Stemberg decided on a business idea for an office supply superstore that would prove to be more reliable than a small local dealer. With his man’s aggravation, Staples was born!
A couple of ads I’ve seen too many times are about a man’s amazement on Staple’s low prices. Now many of you are nodding your heads because you know exactly which commercials I am referring to. If not, check it out.
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When I first watched this one back in January I thought it was entertaining. When the man first shouts, “WOW!” I was immediately looked up at the screen. His voice definitely grabs your attention. Similar to the Head On ad I loathed, he continues to scream the same thing throughout the entire thirty-second spot. My favorite line is when he says, “Hot Diggity Dog!” This guy is obviously insane along with the Staples employees. If I worked there and saw a man acting like this I not only would call security but also suggest they bring a straitjacket. Two months later and Staples aired another commercial with the same actor and premise. Enjoy!
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This ad features another customer who is annoyed by this man’s crazy antics. He jumps each time the man yells. This character finally gives the viewer a chance to see how a normal person would react to the situation. (Not Mike The Situation- yes I too think of him every time I hear those words together) These ads just do not cut it for me. Yes they are memorable and the original one got enough publicity that Staples decided to build on that idea, but they are annoying. Annoying advertising can often be quite effective. Whether for good or bad reasons, if you remember, think about or even talk about the commercial ever again, the ad was a success.
I give credit where credit is due; one Staples commercial I absolutely love is their back to school ads.
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This is a tremendous marketing concept that really appeals to parents. The ad begins with the Christmas song, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” as a grown man frolics down the aisle pushing a shopping cart. His two children slowly follow with their heads down. The father shows his son and daughter each item as he throws it into the cart. The camera then pans over to the children’s gloomy faces. Simply a classic commercial that I feel hasn’t gotten the amount of attention it deserves.
Aired: Jan-Mar 2010
Channel: FOX, ESPN, TBS
Appeal: Humor, Exaggerated Statement
With over 2,000 stores scattered across twenty-seven countries, Staples has become the world's largest office supply store. Thomas G. Stemberg came up with the idea for Staples in 1985, while working on a proposal for a different business. He needed a ribbon for his printer, but his local supplies store was closed. A frustrated Stemberg decided on a business idea for an office supply superstore that would prove to be more reliable than a small local dealer. With his man’s aggravation, Staples was born!
A couple of ads I’ve seen too many times are about a man’s amazement on Staple’s low prices. Now many of you are nodding your heads because you know exactly which commercials I am referring to. If not, check it out.
">
When I first watched this one back in January I thought it was entertaining. When the man first shouts, “WOW!” I was immediately looked up at the screen. His voice definitely grabs your attention. Similar to the Head On ad I loathed, he continues to scream the same thing throughout the entire thirty-second spot. My favorite line is when he says, “Hot Diggity Dog!” This guy is obviously insane along with the Staples employees. If I worked there and saw a man acting like this I not only would call security but also suggest they bring a straitjacket. Two months later and Staples aired another commercial with the same actor and premise. Enjoy!
">
This ad features another customer who is annoyed by this man’s crazy antics. He jumps each time the man yells. This character finally gives the viewer a chance to see how a normal person would react to the situation. (Not Mike The Situation- yes I too think of him every time I hear those words together) These ads just do not cut it for me. Yes they are memorable and the original one got enough publicity that Staples decided to build on that idea, but they are annoying. Annoying advertising can often be quite effective. Whether for good or bad reasons, if you remember, think about or even talk about the commercial ever again, the ad was a success.
I give credit where credit is due; one Staples commercial I absolutely love is their back to school ads.
">
This is a tremendous marketing concept that really appeals to parents. The ad begins with the Christmas song, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” as a grown man frolics down the aisle pushing a shopping cart. His two children slowly follow with their heads down. The father shows his son and daughter each item as he throws it into the cart. The camera then pans over to the children’s gloomy faces. Simply a classic commercial that I feel hasn’t gotten the amount of attention it deserves.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
All Work And No Play Makes This a Great Ad
Company: Bing
Aired: November 5, 2009
Channel: CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, ESPN, TBS
Appeal: Parody, Humor
This commercial gave me chills. Lets just say I will never walk the hallway of a hotel again without picturing those two twin girls standing at the end of the corridor. I’m serious! I first watched The Shining with my family when I was nine and was terrified. Maybe the fact that my father resembles Jack Nicholson and would burst into my room screaming, “Here’s Johnny!” Yeah, that definitely had something to do with it.
For all you Google loyalists, Bing is a search engine similar to Google from Microsoft. Bing first broke out onto the internet scene on June 3, 2009. The company has already invested $80 to $100 million into their advertising campaign. The ads never mention their competitors by name but simply try and convince the viewer to switch over by claiming Bing does a better job of finding more relevant, higher quality results at a faster pace. I’ve come across many of their television ads before but their spoof on The Shining is hands down my favorite.
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film based on the book written by legendary author Stephen King. The film is about writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) accepting the caretaker job of an extremely isolated hotel during the winter months. His son Danny (Danny Lloyd) has psychic abilities and is able to see ghosts from the past. A combination of cabin fever and supernatural events inside the haunted hotel eventually get the best of Jack. In this state of complete madness he attempts to murder his wife and son. Here is the Bing parody on this classic film.
This ad only appeals to people who have either seen the film or know enough about it to distinguish it as a spoof. It begins with a distant shot of the entire hotel as creepy music plays in background. We are then taken inside to the hotel main lobby, which looks identical to the set from the movie. The little boy on the tricycle also bears a striking resemblance to the actor who played Danny. He does his best “Redrum” impression and suggests to his mother to, “use Bing.” The twin girls in matching dresses appear along with Lloyd the bartender. The highlight of the entire thirty-second spot is obviously the end when the husband smashes through the door and exclaims, “Hey Hun! They got a maze out back!” This is the most famous scene from the movie and was a perfect way to end the commercial. Here is that famous clip which has petrified me for the past decade!
Aired: November 5, 2009
Channel: CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, ESPN, TBS
Appeal: Parody, Humor
This commercial gave me chills. Lets just say I will never walk the hallway of a hotel again without picturing those two twin girls standing at the end of the corridor. I’m serious! I first watched The Shining with my family when I was nine and was terrified. Maybe the fact that my father resembles Jack Nicholson and would burst into my room screaming, “Here’s Johnny!” Yeah, that definitely had something to do with it.
For all you Google loyalists, Bing is a search engine similar to Google from Microsoft. Bing first broke out onto the internet scene on June 3, 2009. The company has already invested $80 to $100 million into their advertising campaign. The ads never mention their competitors by name but simply try and convince the viewer to switch over by claiming Bing does a better job of finding more relevant, higher quality results at a faster pace. I’ve come across many of their television ads before but their spoof on The Shining is hands down my favorite.
The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film based on the book written by legendary author Stephen King. The film is about writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) accepting the caretaker job of an extremely isolated hotel during the winter months. His son Danny (Danny Lloyd) has psychic abilities and is able to see ghosts from the past. A combination of cabin fever and supernatural events inside the haunted hotel eventually get the best of Jack. In this state of complete madness he attempts to murder his wife and son. Here is the Bing parody on this classic film.
This ad only appeals to people who have either seen the film or know enough about it to distinguish it as a spoof. It begins with a distant shot of the entire hotel as creepy music plays in background. We are then taken inside to the hotel main lobby, which looks identical to the set from the movie. The little boy on the tricycle also bears a striking resemblance to the actor who played Danny. He does his best “Redrum” impression and suggests to his mother to, “use Bing.” The twin girls in matching dresses appear along with Lloyd the bartender. The highlight of the entire thirty-second spot is obviously the end when the husband smashes through the door and exclaims, “Hey Hun! They got a maze out back!” This is the most famous scene from the movie and was a perfect way to end the commercial. Here is that famous clip which has petrified me for the past decade!
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