As a cynic, advertising sometimes has the opposite of its intended effect on me. Basically, if I see a cheesy or just dumb commercial, it’ll convince me to NEVER buy that product. Well, I don’t like saying NEVER, but I’ll do everything I can to avoid having to buy it.
I haven’t watched much TV lately, but some bad commercials I remember include:
- Head-On – the repetitive, greenscreen ad for expired glue sticks
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car – People don’t get this excited about a rental car. Especially one that drives around in paper wrapping. Isn’t that dangerous? At least as dangerous as throwing your scarf onto people’s windshields.
- Bod body spray – I recall shirtless chiseled hunks of men playing basketball, chopping wood, and carrying out old Pentium III desktops (maybe not), while a woman grossly says “Nice bod… I want your bod.”
- Lexus Christmas ads – On Christmas morning, a crisply-dressed husband gives his crisply-dressed wife a small box with a bow. In it is a key with a bow. She looks outside with mouth gaping wide to see a new Lexus SUV with a bow.
On our Christmas mornings, we stumble out in faded boxers and t-shirts from middle school. The few bows under the tree have logged in several Christmases. You can tell how many by counting the layers of Scotch tape on their underside.
And there sure is heck ain’t no new SUV waiting in the driveway. Usually just a fresh layer of bird poop on our Corolla.
Granted, I’m unlikely to buy headache medication, body spray, or Lexii anyway. But even if I HAD to spend money (a la Brewster’s Millions), I wouldn’t touch these things.
Are there any ads that have made you feel this way?
This post is for Watercooler Wednesday on Ethos.
Related posts:
Axe body spray makes my wife want me.
that’s reason enough for you to audition for their next commercial. Which do you prefer?
1) being oiled up & running stadium steps
2) being oiled up & playing beach volleyball
3) being oiled up & blogging
Nice use of the word “Lexii”
Brody forget the Axe – Drakar is the stuff!
I’ll take “oiled up & blogging” for 1000 Alex!
As for Commercials… I really LIKE the cell phone comercial with Meatloaf…Amy and I crack up everytime we see it.
ah, i remember Drakkar. never had it. just the cool guys in high school.
Carl’s Jr. commercials.
“Don’t bother me. I’m eating.”
And food is falling out of their mouths as they stuff their face.
DISGUSTING.
i believe that Carls Jr is Hardee’s around here. they have some gross commercials for their Monster Burger where it plops down on the screen all zoomed in. not appetizing at all.
I don’t enjoy those caveman commercials…they aren’t funny, they are just pointless.
But i will say, i DO enjoy the new free credit commercials with the 3 guys singing! Hilarious!
Hey, I’m proof that the car thing really happens. Christmas morning there was a brand new Honda Odyssey sitting on my driveway with the big bow and all….my friends hate me. And, with three boys, we’ve had to ban Axe at our house, too many Axe bombs. Maybe Drakar or Polo is the answer.
I get annoyed by this one commercial for a paper cutter, the one with a light so you know where the blade will cut before you move it across the paper. They show someone cutting with regular scissors like they’re right handed cutting with their left. They’re cutting all zigzagged and whatnot. C’mon! It’s pathetic. I can see the convenience of having a paper cutter, but all that dramatization is crazy.
brooke – i’d say my favorite caveman commercial is the one where he’s on the people mover in the airport. coincidentally, there’s no talking in that commercial.
audra – cool! i figured someone has had that happen to them. we’re you crisply-dressed at the time?
mary – wow, laser-guided paper cutting! where can i get one??
I believe the enterprise rent-a-car commercials are meant to appeal to all the Sound of Music fans (like me) out there…we get excited by any “brown paper packages tied up with string”!
boffthewall–I too greatly enjoy that “credit report.com, baby” song with the 3 guys in the hatchback! =)
There’s some allergy medicine commercial that keeps playing over and over here…the opening line is, “You know that song, ‘Time in a Bottle’?” To which my roommates and I go…”Um, no…” It’s kinda confusing, too. I think the repetition of it is pretty much why I hate it. haha
Any local commercials make me cringe, considering they’re usually selling cars or tractors. And we live in Oklahoma. Not a good combo.
I hate any infomercials. Especially ones for exercise machines and cleaning products. The people always seem to be yelling don’t they?
cm – you are a clever one.
rachel – i haven’t seen that allergy med one. thanks for the warning!
frugalmom – i hope they use their exercise products to help them relieve stress.
the charmin commercials with the bears just gross me out, i don’t need to know about a bears wipping habits ummm, ewwww!!! i’m also mnot a big fan of the pads or diaper commercails with the blue liquid.. just stupid, does anyone go, “oh i see, they hold more blue pee… i’ll get those!”
Anyone with blue pee report directly to your urologist. Do not pass Go, do not collect diapers or pads.