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1.bobm posted on October 06, 2011 at 11:15 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I guess the woman in the AT&T ad never heard that Jack Clark went bankrupt because of all the fancy cars he bought. Maybe she could've kept him on the straight and narrow.
OK, this is the worst commercial on television. The worst. Nothing is even close… I have never seen two less likable people in one commercial.
How bout those awful girlfriends in the McDonalds ads and their boyfriends who say to themselves "hey, I'm smart, so I'm going to be a big pansy and tell her whatever she wants to hear."
Not necessarily on topic, but: When did McDonald's ads stop featuring honkies?
5.zack posted on October 06, 2011 at 02:08 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
5-years ago.
All the worst ads, non-cialis division, are bad relationship jokes. That AT&T ad and the klondike bar ad with the guy listening to his wife for 5 seconds are among the worst of those, the latter of which is just insulting to everyone.
6.Dale Sams posted on October 06, 2011 at 02:11 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I have never seen two less likable people in one commercial
Well, they're obviously hurting, what with owning that huge greenhouse and all.
edit: Then again, maybe they just work there.
7.BDC posted on October 06, 2011 at 02:21 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
That's the one where she's spraying her plants, probably with Roundup ... kind of "Helen Mirren regrets marriage to aging hobbit"?
Not necessarily on topic, but: When did McDonald's ads stop featuring honkies?
Probably after losing substantial market share due to that white dude who was a thoroughly insufferable ####### until he had his morning coffee (and probably after, but we're spared that).
All the worst ads, non-cialis division, are bad relationship jokes. That AT&T ad and the klondike bar ad with the guy listening to his wife for 5 seconds are among the worst of those, the latter of which is just insulting to everyone.
And that guy that needs an energy drink to get up in the morning, much to the ire of his ###### wife.
10.esseff posted on October 06, 2011 at 02:45 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
. . . And furthermore . . . if you're going to do a big ad buy for the baseball postseason, shouldn't you come up with a new ad each year rather than repeat the one that was seen over and over and over and over and over [homage to Posnanski] last October? I'm talking avocados. It's not as if they broke their budget for top-shelf acting in the interaction between partygoers and baseball player/umpire on their TV.
No ad about people getting up in the morning is as awful as the one with the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE, who looks like he's about to go off to his job as a Rockbiter. I got an HDTV a month ago and now feel wistful for the days when I would have just seen the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE as a weird-looking giant person.
No ad about people getting up in the morning is as awful as the one with the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE, who looks like he's about to go off to his job as a Rockbiter. I got an HDTV a month ago and now feel wistful for the days when I would have just seen the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE as a weird-looking giant person.
Just think of the unluckiest person on that body!
14.Dale Sams posted on October 06, 2011 at 04:04 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I like that the viagra commercials are tinged blue...if their actors walked around with splitting headaches, it'd be perfect.
Has there been one funny Conan commercial? Then again, if I only watch Conan once a year, I can find him amusing, so it might be me.
17.BDC posted on October 06, 2011 at 04:31 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
if you're going to do a big ad buy for the baseball postseason, shouldn't you come up with a new ad each year rather than repeat the one that was seen over and over and over and over and over
Well, her father is still the District Attorney.
18.adenzeno posted on October 06, 2011 at 04:33 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
No ad about people getting up in the morning is as awful as the one with the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE, who looks like he's about to go off to his job as a Rockbiter. I got an HDTV a month ago and now feel wistful for the days when I would have just seen the GIANT PERSON MADE UP OF TINY PEOPLE as a weird-looking giant person.
Football Outsiders had a funny analysis of that commercial. Best quote: "It's like getting a penny stock in exchange for kissing Cthulhu."
That flower watering wife is just as dumb as her husband, considering that she allows herself to be put in her place with regard to all the minutes by not even having the brain power to realize that signing up for unlimited messaging, to get those minutes, costs money!
That flower watering wife is just as dumb as her husband, considering that she allows herself to be put in her place with regard to all the minutes by not even having the brain power to realize that signing up for unlimited messaging, to get those minutes, costs money!
It really is an annoying commercial. It actually reminds me of Philip Roth's American Pastoral in microcosm. Joe Pos's remarks are almost exactly what I said to my girl about it. I like to annoy her by commenting on the commercials.
It actually reminds me of Philip Roth's American Pastoral in microcosm.
Wait, what? Is it because you found American Pastoral similarly annoying, or is there some subtext in that commercial about how the Jewish-American dream of affluence and assimilation went horribly awry in the 1960s?
25.Darren posted on October 06, 2011 at 05:25 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
It's a bad commercial, sure. But it's not close to the worst. There must hundreds worse on every day. And I don't pick up the negative feelings toward the guy. He seems alright, just beaten down by the horrible relationship he's in.
That flower watering wife is just as dumb as her husband, considering that she allows herself to be put in her place with regard to all the minutes by not even having the brain power to realize that signing up for unlimited messaging, to get those minutes, costs money!
It's still not clear to me if we're supposed to see that look on her face as; "I just got put in my place" or "does he really think I don't know the unlimited messaging cost money".
That giant person made out of people creeps me the hell out.
Wait, what? Is it because you found American Pastoral similarly annoying, or is there some subtext in that commercial about how the Jewish-American dream of affluence and assimilation went horribly awry in the 1960s?
American Pastoral is great--I love Roth (when's he going to get the damn Nobel Prize already?). But yeah, it gave me that tinge of the successful Jewish man who marries the blonde, goy wife and moves to a suburban American paradise and it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. It's cool how much story you can tell in 30 seconds, though I'm not sure it's the story they're going for...
That giant person made out of people creeps me the hell out.
I hate that ad in pretty much every way. For one thing, the alarm clock at the start sounds like a lot like my alarm clock (also, to be fair, probably every alarm clock in the universe) so if I've wandered away from the TV for a moment I think my alarm is going off for some unknown reason. Also, it is the creepiest ad ever made. I know advertising people say focus groups butcher concepts, and etc. etc. (and they're probably right) but I cannot believe that made it through a focus group. It's horrifying.
The Phil Jackson ad is pretty clever. I'm with Pos on this one. And his line about what the Frontier commercials are like for selling an iPhone is laugh out loud funny.
29.Blastin posted on October 06, 2011 at 05:44 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
SO CREEPY. We yelled at the TV when we saw it.
I do like the Jackson commercial.
I also like the two-second joke at LeBron's expense during the current Monopoly McD's commercials.
American Pastoral is great--I love Roth (when's he going to get the damn Nobel Prize already?). But yeah, it gave me that tinge of the successful Jewish man who marries the blonde, goy wife and moves to a suburban American paradise and it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. It's cool how much story you can tell in 30 seconds, though I'm not sure it's the story they're going for...
That's fascinating. I don't see the ethnicity in there that I think is necessary to all of Roth's work; I see more of a parable about the banality and inertia of the modern American marriage, which makes it more Raymond Carver than Roth. Or maybe it's "Rabbit Is Rich."
What bothers me about it is that they're wealthy enough to afford the greenhouse, and even though the husband - let's call him "Phil" - is still striving to save money, his harridan of a wife is still busting his chops over it. Her opposition clearly doesn't come from concern over their finances; she obviously has begun reflexively dismissing and insulting everything poor Phil ever proposes. Which makes you wonder what sort of problem this phone plan is supposed to solve.
31.Darren posted on October 06, 2011 at 06:16 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
And although I appreciated and enjoyed this article, I think Poz is also wrong about the end of the Jackson commercial. It's necessary, in part, because we finally get to see the car. But it's also funny to see Jackson going out of his way to be respectful to an average Joe by learning his name.
That's fascinating. I don't see the ethnicity in there that I think is necessary to all of Roth's work; I see more of a parable about the banality and inertia of the modern American marriage, which makes it more Raymond Carver than Roth. Or maybe it's "Rabbit Is Rich."
Yeah, Updike might be the better reference. I really like Roth so he's just foremost in my mind, maybe. That couple is too wealthy to be Carver-esque.
Stop it! It's a ####### phone commercial not a Don DeLillo novel.
Now, see, this post reminds me of an Alice Munro short story. The quiet desperation, the subtle shading. Very nice.
36.phredbird posted on October 06, 2011 at 07:32 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I love Roth (when's he going to get the damn Nobel Prize already?)
i actually think there's some anti-semitism involved. he's politically incorrect to the academy these days. besides, they've already given one to a postwar jewish-american writer (bellow).
37.pthomas posted on October 06, 2011 at 07:38 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
What's a "commercial"?
38.Zach posted on October 06, 2011 at 08:01 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
41.Guapo posted on October 06, 2011 at 09:02 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I don't like the Captain Morgan commercial where everyone is sitting at the boring dinner listening to the White Stripes, and they start smashing all the dishes and cups. That's not particularly my idea of fun.
You would think the good Captain would just give everyone some rum and they would get happily drunk, instead of breaking ####.
Michael Stipe almost certainly cracks up after the "Dr. Seuss" line. Damn, someone else noticed that, too.
Fox will never do a promo hell ad again to compare with Skin, so I think we'll have to settle for the MLB "OOOOOOOHHH IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS" promo as contender for this year's promo hell.
44.Ebessan posted on October 06, 2011 at 09:39 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
I don't like the Captain Morgan commercial where everyone is sitting at the boring dinner listening to the White Stripes, and they start smashing all the dishes and cups. That's not particularly my idea of fun.
...A reference to the "Blue Orchid" video? But that's maybe the sixth most notable Stripes video, and not even top ten for Jack White.
Fox will never do a promo hell ad again to compare with Skin, so I think we'll have to settle for the MLB "OOOOOOOHHH IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS" promo as contender for this year's promo hell.
Oh, yeah, it's astounding how TBS seemingly hit bottom on their annual theme songs with Kid Rock, but then they pull out an ersatz Lupe Fiasco/Muse collaboration that's even WORSE than what it'd be if those guys teamed up in 2011.
45.Srul Itza posted on October 06, 2011 at 09:48 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
The "giant" one -- is that the one where the giant breaks up into people and they all drive off in their own car? It really did seem too stupid for words.
46.Tripon posted on October 06, 2011 at 10:02 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
Why didn't Ray Romano surprise other restaurant goers? Or was that the only time someone didn't mind him interrupting a lunch conversation and actually wanted to have a photo taken with him?
48.Tripon posted on October 06, 2011 at 10:25 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
Why didn't Ray Romano surprise other restaurant goers? Or was that the only time someone didn't mind him interrupting a lunch conversation and actually wanted to have a photo taken with him?
The whole notion is that the two women donated to a charity that is fighting cancer.
Now that I think about it, I have no idea which phone company that Updikean greenhouse commercial is touting. And I have no idea even what kind of product the giant man-of-men is for, or the Ray Romano ad, which I've seen several times.
I don't think these ad people are doing a very good job.
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1 2 >How bout those awful girlfriends in the McDonalds ads and their boyfriends who say to themselves "hey, I'm smart, so I'm going to be a big pansy and tell her whatever she wants to hear."
All the worst ads, non-cialis division, are bad relationship jokes. That AT&T ad and the klondike bar ad with the guy listening to his wife for 5 seconds are among the worst of those, the latter of which is just insulting to everyone.
Well, they're obviously hurting, what with owning that huge greenhouse and all.
edit: Then again, maybe they just work there.
Probably after losing substantial market share due to that white dude who was a thoroughly insufferable ####### until he had his morning coffee (and probably after, but we're spared that).
And that guy that needs an energy drink to get up in the morning, much to the ire of his ###### wife.
Just think of the unluckiest person on that body!
Well, her father is still the District Attorney.
Football Outsiders had a funny analysis of that commercial. Best quote: "It's like getting a penny stock in exchange for kissing Cthulhu."
Fools!
It really is an annoying commercial. It actually reminds me of Philip Roth's American Pastoral in microcosm. Joe Pos's remarks are almost exactly what I said to my girl about it. I like to annoy her by commenting on the commercials.
Wait, what? Is it because you found American Pastoral similarly annoying, or is there some subtext in that commercial about how the Jewish-American dream of affluence and assimilation went horribly awry in the 1960s?
It's still not clear to me if we're supposed to see that look on her face as; "I just got put in my place" or "does he really think I don't know the unlimited messaging cost money".
That giant person made out of people creeps me the hell out.
American Pastoral is great--I love Roth (when's he going to get the damn Nobel Prize already?). But yeah, it gave me that tinge of the successful Jewish man who marries the blonde, goy wife and moves to a suburban American paradise and it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. It's cool how much story you can tell in 30 seconds, though I'm not sure it's the story they're going for...
The Phil Jackson ad is pretty clever. I'm with Pos on this one. And his line about what the Frontier commercials are like for selling an iPhone is laugh out loud funny.
I do like the Jackson commercial.
I also like the two-second joke at LeBron's expense during the current Monopoly McD's commercials.
That's fascinating. I don't see the ethnicity in there that I think is necessary to all of Roth's work; I see more of a parable about the banality and inertia of the modern American marriage, which makes it more Raymond Carver than Roth. Or maybe it's "Rabbit Is Rich."
What bothers me about it is that they're wealthy enough to afford the greenhouse, and even though the husband - let's call him "Phil" - is still striving to save money, his harridan of a wife is still busting his chops over it. Her opposition clearly doesn't come from concern over their finances; she obviously has begun reflexively dismissing and insulting everything poor Phil ever proposes. Which makes you wonder what sort of problem this phone plan is supposed to solve.
Yeah, Updike might be the better reference. I really like Roth so he's just foremost in my mind, maybe. That couple is too wealthy to be Carver-esque.
Now, see, this post reminds me of an Alice Munro short story. The quiet desperation, the subtle shading. Very nice.
i actually think there's some anti-semitism involved. he's politically incorrect to the academy these days. besides, they've already given one to a postwar jewish-american writer (bellow).
HIS FATHER IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!
You would think the good Captain would just give everyone some rum and they would get happily drunk, instead of breaking ####.
The greenhouse ##### one I have seen
Fox will never do a promo hell ad again to compare with Skin, so I think we'll have to settle for the MLB "OOOOOOOHHH IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS" promo as contender for this year's promo hell.
...A reference to the "Blue Orchid" video? But that's maybe the sixth most notable Stripes video, and not even top ten for Jack White.
Fox will never do a promo hell ad again to compare with Skin, so I think we'll have to settle for the MLB "OOOOOOOHHH IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS" promo as contender for this year's promo hell.
Oh, yeah, it's astounding how TBS seemingly hit bottom on their annual theme songs with Kid Rock, but then they pull out an ersatz Lupe Fiasco/Muse collaboration that's even WORSE than what it'd be if those guys teamed up in 2011.
The whole notion is that the two women donated to a charity that is fighting cancer.
I don't think these ad people are doing a very good job.
Were they the only ones standing up to cancer that week?
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