Least Favorite National TV Ads

[LikaNui]

Does anybody else detest that awful commercial for RoadRunner with teenybopper Vanessa Carlton singing "Time Is On My Side"? It's like some kind of water torture. Every time it comes on and I hear the first two notes of the song I lunge to hit the Mute button.
The first time I saw it I thought Vanessa's song was awful and thought it was perhaps a joke, like she was some instant reject from American Idol. Her voice is nasal and flat, and her piano playing is like something you'd hear at an elementary school recital.
Sorry to vent, but the commercial is just horrible.
:mad:

[helen]

These past few weeks I have been watching the shows I want to watch via VCR, so whenever the commericals appear I just fast forwarding them.

Didn't notice the commerical you taking about but I know there is another one about Roadrunner and gaming. That too I have been fast forwarding whenever it comes up.

[kimo55]

Most of the time warner commercials are awkward and jezz plain bayuuud.

hate the Linsdey wagner comm. where she is answering the phone talking about the sleepnumber bed. halfway thru the commercial while taking to us, she goes;
Hi. I'm lindsey wagner.
What happened. did she go through a time warp?\




swiffer, where they describe to thers, and show up close, everything the wiper picks up.
yuk,

[1stwahine]

I just adore that commercial. Many times I can sing it and it start at the same time too...weird but everybody in the house just cracks up! Yep,"time is on my side...yes it is" Life is beautiful and although days can be filled with hate, ignorance, prejudice, ugliness, etc. Time dear friends is all we got to change it all! GOD BLESS ALL!

[kimo55]

More!
From the "very awkward gimmick" file. commercials that show us ad agencies have completely lost their mind and their imaginations, leading them to parrot each other;

The commercials where we see hundreds of people lining up across city streets. or country roads.

commercials featuring strange, dumb animated icons above or around people's heads. Or within frame.

Ad agencies! Can't live with em, can't kill em.

[kimo55]

about Roadrunner and gaming. That too I have been fast forwarding whenever it comes up.

Hate that one. Sorry eh, but da haole dude is unconvincing as an announcer. Need someone who has more presence.

btw:
the first kid he approaches was in alotta stuff a few years ago;
He was in a "let's talk story" local production series. One was the lemon tree billliard parlor, with Ray Bumatai.
Very cute piece.

[pzarquon]

LikaNui, that ad grates on me too. I must confess to having once actually liked one of her overplayed singles, but overall, her voice is to thin and flat to be the basis of a "singing career." And the RoadRunner ad is awful. Didn't someone anywhere along the production chain notice that she sounded like a terminally ill waterfowl? The worst part is, it's composed so badly, I wasn't sure if she was going to sell me something like teeth whitener or a tampon or something.

I mean, what is she selling? Her CD, or Time Warner services, or what? And if it's the CD, who would buy it after hearing that?

As far as other bad national ads go? I keep a mental list! Specifically? KFC has been annoying me for a while now. And Overstock.com? Stupid ads, too.

Categorically? All jewelry ads, ads about diarrhea or gas or toenail fungus, ads featuring disembodied or talking body parts... Oh! And that whole large class of ads that rely on the "dads as incompetent boobs" as the punchline. (Or the even larger group of ads that presume all cleaning or cooking is done by women.)

[kimo55]

Oh! And that whole large class of ads that rely on the "dads as incompetent boobs" as the punchline. (Or the even larger group of ads that presume all cleaning or cooking is done by women.)


Yea. and animated candy and gum.
stew peed.

Or the egocentric genre
"gitcher own box".
'me first and only' Ah dun share with any family member.
idiotic. What is this teaching kids?! (or even reinforcing to dimwitted adults?)

and that disgusting toenail animation. The gremlin lifts a toenail and... o too dusgusting to even think about.,
And the cambell's commercials;
that british twit;
Gwodunn Elleey utt.
"Try Key ayum bulls eeeyin sted."

I wanna slap him stupid!

[kupomog]

My mom really hates that Carlton commercial. "Ugh, she sound so sick!" she says, heh. It didn't bother me until she mentioned it. Now I always notice when it's on and it's starting to get to me. Seems like it is on during every commercial break on every station now. It's almost worse than those Jamster phone commercials I see all the time.

[LikaNui]

Gawd help me, but as of yesterday there's a second RoadRunner commercial with Vanessa Carlton and she's still singing her horrible version of "Time Is On My Side"!
:mad:

[1stwahine]

Gawd help me, but as of yesterday there's a second RoadRunner commercial with Vanessa Carlton and she's still singing her horrible version of "Time Is On My Side"!
:mad:

Yes it is...Have a wonderful weekend everyone! "TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE"!

[cezanne]

Haha I like that rendition! I don't know who the singer is (well now I do) but the first time I heard it ... I liked it. Maybe they play it too much.

But yeah that RR gaming commercial gotta go.

Hmmm good subject. The ones that come to mind for me are the WaterPark ones and the Support UH Athletics (remember the couple sitting at the table then doing the wave?) ones... all of those to me are pretty bad.

[Linkmeister]

I'm sorry, but the only version of "Time Is On My Side" that should be heard is the Stones. The ad's annoying enough, but every time I see/hear that thin voice singing(?) those lyrics...

For one thing, it's meant to have a terrible world-weariness about it, and she's not old enough. :D

[kimo55]

gettin tired of that cell phone comm. with catherine zeta jones
she tells us
get moe....
toke whenever....

[YoungNeil]

I'm sorry, but the only version of "Time Is On My Side" that should be heard is the Stones. The ad's annoying enough, but every time I see/hear that thin voice singing(?) those lyrics...

For one thing, it's meant to have a terrible world-weariness about it, and she's not old enough. :D


The original version by Erma Franklin (Aretha's sister) is worth hearing as well.

[malia]

Maybe they play it too much.



They do play it too much! Just yesterday on FOX, they had that "Time on My Side" commercial...then the P Diddy Diet Pepsi commercial...then, they played that same "Time on My Side" commercial again!!! Twice in a minute and a half!!! Even my little one was "Not again!" heeheehee :p

[cezanne]

For one thing, it's meant to have a terrible world-weariness about it, and she's not old enough. :D

You got a point there. :D I just saw it again and this time it shows the singer... yeah she's just a kid.

[kimo55]

You got a point there. :D I just saw it again and this time it shows the singer... yeah she's just a kid.


the whole commercial is fulla giddy lil teenage girls. maybe this is their market.
The singer, (never heard of her before, and don't care to again...) has a whiney thin voice. Anything will sell nowadays I suppose.

[1stwahine]

I told you that I just adore this commercial and I like singing it everytime it comes on which is all the time...well, my 80 yrs. old MAMA finally couldn't take it. She usually doesn't say anything negative, or shout at me...she told me, "SHUT-UP,SHUT-UP!" That song is driving me CRAZY! I wen jump so high my salad wen go all ova. I ain't going to even hum them f**** notes.

[kimo55]

another horrible commercial:
eharmony :

This is one of those that ya just can't relate to. At least i hope you don't.
After seeing it, I say; "I don't wanna end up like ANY one of those dimwitted syrupy chumps!"
...you know that commercial where that strange dude goes on glowingly about all these couples ending happily ever etc. and then we see a buncha couples right outta kmart central casting acting basically exactly the same.
One girl's line is just this: "...and then he said the words: 'I luuuuvv yew', and then that's when... I knew!"
knew what; that he loved you?

and another girl:
"...we have seewww much in cahm MiiiiiEEEN!"
and the the look on her face at the last moment, like:
"EEEEE a mouse!"


depressing thing is; this site stands to make millions.

[scrivener]

another horrible commercial:
eharmony

I like that commercial. The people on it seem like nice people and they seem sincere. That's rare to find in commercials like this. Plus, I'm a lonely, single, mid-thirties professional who lives alone, so it strikes a note.

[kimo55]

I like that commercial. The people on it seem like nice people and they seem sincere. That's rare to find in commercials like this. Plus, I'm a lonely, single, mid-thirties professional who lives alone, so it strikes a note.


nooo, dude. they are fake. white bread christie minstrel types.
EeeeHarm has a rep for having a heavy Christian, anti-gay focus.

[scrivener]

nooo, dude. they are fake. white bread christie minstrel types.
EeeeHarm has a rep for having a heavy Christian, anti-gay focus.

Well. I'm heavy. I'm a Christian. That's two-thirds of the target

[kimo55]

Well. I'm heavy. I'm a Christian. That's two-thirds of the target


you ain't heavy, you mah bruddah!


akshuly, when I say heavy christian, I mean to an exclusionary level. and that ain't a very christianlike thing to do.

[pzarquon]

I think the eHarmony ads (they do radio too) are just right for what they're sellling.

Hell, there are dozens of matchmaking sites out there, many of them quite huge (besides eHarmony, I think Match.com and Yahoo! Personals are the most commonly cited). So, while some sites might differentiate themselves as, say, the place for satan-worshipping vegetarian furries to find dates, eHarmony is going for the "discerning, wholesome single person" demographic.

Their whole business is modeled around their detailed profiled matching thingamagig, and whether or not they intended it to turn out the way it did, I wouldn't be surprised if conservative white upper-class Christians turned out to be the most enamoured of the ability to... well, filter out others.

If you don't like the people eHarmony wants to attract (thus the people in the ads), don't go there. Even you seem to agree that the people in the ads are representative of the user base... so your issue seems more with the people, not the ads.

[kimo55]

" eHarmony is going for the "discerning, wholesome ugly single person" demographic."


so your issue seems more with the people, not the ads.

hate em both!

[Surfingfarmboy]

An observation from Kimo55: Or the egocentric genre "gitcher own box".
'me first and only' Ah dun share with any family member.
idiotic. What is this teaching kids?! (or even reinforcing to dimwitted adults?)

I was going back looking at the older threads in this post, and I was thinking to myself this observation by Kimo55 about the Cheez-Its ads is what makes Hawaii the great state is above the other 49. I can't think of any other place where a viewer sees the now quite obvious to me...the selfishness that the "gitcher own box" promotes. Geez..I've watched the commericials dozens of times, and I didn't think anything of it at the time. Me thinks I've been away from the islands too long...I too am becoming more of an East Coast jaded know-it-all than the humble island boy I used to be.

[kimo55]

gotta rant on dis one:
AMC.
"Movies for movie people".
but all we get is:
some chick:
"And I'm all like: Oh, EEEuuuu! that's so skeh-WEEE!"

and other couples basically telling us their reaction to other films
"I like when the car goes flying over the hill, i like car crashes, she doesn't." "Well, not too much" "yea. She likes some..." duuuh.
and quoting the most basic lines that everyone knows, with inane imitations:
"I'll make him an offuh he can't refuse.."
These are not "movie people"! They are the collective villiage idiots of Slobjerkistan! They have nothing perceptive to say about films! They give us no insight into their level of appreciation or understanding of the Hollywood product. because they have none.
This collection of buffoons are as much "movie people" as that road runner technician is a heterosexual.
infuriating.

[Keith H.]

OK, here's one that gives me that fingernails-on-a-chalkboard feeling. Those commercials for Enzyte (http://www.enzyte.com):

Narrator (in Don Pardo-ish voice): "This is Bob!"
Camera on a guy who is wide-eyed, smiling idiotically, dressed in garb that looks like it came out of the 1950s. Subject matter usually implies that after taking Enzyte, his golf swing improves and so does his performance in bed.

etc...etc... :mad:

[BKHale2007]

The commercial I really don't like is the Road Runner technician spot. He's boring his date with his virtuous proclamations of loving to shop for women's shoes, volunteering at the hospital, etc. Then he reveals he's a Road Runner technician. She pretends to be suddenly amorous, just to get him to fix her computer. Then, when he says he's finished: Thanks, can you see your way out? What a user.

[kimo55]

The commercial I really don't like is the Road Runner technician spot. He's boring his date with his virtuous proclamations of loving to shop for women's shoes, volunteering at the hospital, etc. Then he reveals he's a Road Runner technician. She pretends to be suddenly amorous, just to get him to fix her computer. Then, when he says he's finished: Thanks, can you see your way out? What a user.


and he's an, uuhh. "enabler"
wet noodle.
wuss.
whipped.
guhlee mahn. as ahnowd would say.
we decimated this commercial a lil while back, too.


(http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=543
half way.)

[DaveNSoKona]

another horrible commercial:
Burger King

Where the tall guy makes the short guy act like a fool to "reel in" his BK fish.
I think that is degrading and makes me mad every time I see it.

Did any one notice that the BK commercial with the black guy in a cowboy hat singing, all the guys are black and most of the girls are white? I'm not racist, but it seemed like a strange demographic to me.

[kimo55]

Where the tall guy makes the short guy act like a fool to "reel in" his BK fish I think that is degrading and makes me mad every time I see it.



yea. that, as mentioned before, is a new trend taken up by all ad agencies; emulating the insulting prank, girls behaving badly, ridicule everything trend in tv shows and entertainment in general.
too bad.


Did any one notice that the BK commercial with the black guy in a cowboy hat singing, all the guys are black and most of the girls are white? I'm not racist, but it seemed like a strange demographic to me.

no, never saw that one yet. but vive la integracion, eh!?

[Glen Miyashiro]

no, never saw that one yet. but vive la integracion, eh!?Kimo, yes you have. That's the same commercial we've been laughing over in the "The Breasts They Grow On Trees" (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=5081) thread. And I know you've watched that one. :D

[1stwahine]

We are Kaiser Permanente. Live and thrive! yeah right!

On another thread, the question was HMSA or Kaiser Permanente. I was a strong supporter. I've been a member many years and had nothing gone wrong. Today, I'm suffering and it may be permanent.

Horrible commercial? Anything that mentions or is about Kaiser Permanente! Auwe or in my case Owweeeee! :mad:

[pzarquon]

Are we judging companies or their ads? Both, I guess.

I like Kaiser, having been an HMSA guy most of my life. And those "Live Long and Thrive" ads? I've seen much worse. I like the voice (Allison Janey?), the simple music, and the soliloquy is clever enough without being smirky. The one that ends with the beaming pediatrician? Love it.

I forgot one ad that really chaps my hide. It's for L.A. Weight Loss Centers (http://www.laweightloss.com/). Like all weight loss ads, it features a spokeswoman who's actually a paid spokesperson rather than a customer, supposedly reading "real" customer testimonials. But what crosses the line is the "Before and After" photos they show. While any weight loss program could probably work a little to find a customer who'd make a good visual like that, the L.A. Weight Loss Centers ads fake it! There's fine print when the "Before and After" shots come up that say, "Photo digitally manipulated to simulate excessive weight" or something like that.

Sure, the twist is that they're faking the "Before" (stretching it out) rather than the "After" but it's pretty dishonest.

[hitech redneck]

The worst commercial has to be the Oceanic Keiki Club commercial. It is the same worn out commercial that airs day in and day out randomly on oceanic channels. I hope that the parents of that commercial had the contract based on # of times aired.

[Keith H.]

Are we judging companies or their ads? Both, I guess.

I like Kaiser, having been an HMSA guy most of my life. And those "Live Long and Thrive" ads? I've seen much worse. I like the voice (Allison Janey?), the simple music, and the soliloquy is clever enough without being smirky. The one that ends with the beaming pediatrician? Love it.

Of course, the ironic thing is, the first time I saw that commercial was while I was working out...in HMSA's employee fitness center. ;)

But in my opinion (and before I say another word, the standard disclaimer applies...I speak for myself, not my company), I'm surprised no one brought up "93/7" here...

[helen]

I'm surprised no one brought up "93/7" here...

As a seperate thread (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=337) in another forum yeah, was around last summer when they first started to appear on various media (newspapers and TV). For me I didn't think it was horrible, more mysterious. I thought it was the start of another local radio station.

In any event I think I have seen about one 93|7 ad in the last couple of months or so.

[kimo55]

The worst commercial has to be the Oceanic Keiki Club commercial. It is the same worn out commercial that airs day in and day out randomly on oceanic channels. I hope that the parents of that commercial had the contract based on # of times aired.


yea. would like to see the script on that throwaway piece of...

"What's so keeseecod?

"I'm veshmutchafuuush.."

"Mommymommymoommy!"

[1stwahine]

Is this the horrible commercial thread? I don't like the fat guy on the Well Patches commercial singing. Uuugh, can even see his bottom stomach a peek. Guy looks like a fool danceing and singing for "Well Patch"! :mad:

[kimo55]

Is this the horrible commercial thread? I don't like the fat guy on the Well Patches commercial singing. Uuugh, can even see his bottom stomach a peek. Guy looks like a fool danceing and singing for "Well Patch"! :mad:


translayyyshunnn, please?!

[kimo55]

I PM Ryan eariler this evening about this situation and suggested to move responses #48 and later to some other forum (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=5146) in HawaiiThreads.

Ryan, we have a situation, here!

Let's keep this topic back to "Horrible Commericals".
uh, yea. that's what I said!

(topic's been played out by now. we covered the ground.)



oh, yea. any time-warner cable commercial.
One where the guy is watching football. Camera framed on only his hands wiggling, then shooting outward. strange.
and freeky people. ohohohooo.

Many of the tmobile "toke anytime" catherine zeta jones.
except the one where the family is talking like auctioneers. that one is well done. Funny.
and check da marquee behind the teenage girl:
4 finger poi
it sez.


oh, and the latest
I'm Jellin
scholls commercials.
not right. kid's baseball crashes thru window, straight into new plasma TV on the wall. shatters it.
Kid apologizes, Dude sez;
No worries ya cute lil brat. It's just my new plasma TV.
Oh you must be jellin, kid sez.

OK; this teaches kids it's ok to damage 5000.00 worth of new electronics as long as ya give the guy a 2.99 pair of insoles first.

it also teaches spoiled yuppies to NOT wring lil vandal's necks if and when they happen to be in the opportune vicinity of inches away from yer two hands.

aaaand I'm spent.

[DaveNSoKona]

That hearing aid aid commercial...what the heck are they laughing about?

[kimo55]

can't recall the hearing aid commercial, but by and large, I don't like the reactions of "actors" on many commercials:
That one where the low oil lite comes on as the family drives the blvd. then at a stoplight, the engine shakes itself outta the suv, and bounces down to the nearest oil change place.
The mom and family are doing nothing more then looking slightly concerned at a point over the hood.
as if a dog were wandering across the road.
An engine popping out and taking off requires much more than a dumb deadpan expression, which seems to be the nonactor's response to anything in all commercials.
And, no, I don't believe the nonexpressiveness adds to the comedic touch of the commercial.
They need more reaction.
Fire them all and get real actors.

[zztype]

Oh, yeah! That hearing aid commercial!!! The one, "I'm Randy Wohlers and I have a speech impediment which makes it appear that you have a hearing impairment, so why don't you come down and get a $5,000 hearing aid from me?" guy...

The guy sounds like he's got a stuck nose and is speaking into a cardboard box!

Then at the end of the commercial, he, his wife and I presume his grandkids are sitting around a table when he says something like, "Can't we all just get along?" and all the grandkids laugh like he just told a joke!!

Aaaugh!

[kimo55]

... speech impediment...
why don't you come down and get a $5,000 hearing aid from me?" guy...
... he says something like, "Can't we all just get along?" and all the grandkids laugh like he just told a joke!!



No, to pay for the hearing aid, he asked his family members:
"Can't we all just get a loan?"

[LikaNui]

Then at the end of the commercial, he, his wife and I presume his grandkids are sitting around a table when he says something like, "Can't we all just get along?" and all the grandkids laugh like he just told a joke!!
Aaaugh!
Yeah, I actually wrote about that one here a while back. As I recall, what he actually says is "Life is too precious to waste a single moment." and then he and the wife and kids all crack up as if life is not precious.
Go figgah.
:(

[DaveNSoKona]

Yeah, thats the one. It's almost creepy :rolleyes:

[1stwahine]

I saw the Geico Commercial about the cave man and the one showing the commercial with the cavemen in a home saying, "ssshhh!"

Talk about horrible and ugly! :eek:

[kimo55]

I have an intense dislike for commercials with the bored, smarmy or just plain downright condescending voiceover.
Monotone. Two octaves at most, that drops at the end of sentences. Terrible. Not appealing, nor is it convincing that I should invest in their product or any of my time with their commercial.
How bout that guy who sounds as if he either just woke up, or is trying to scare or outgrowl his bulldog.

"cheezits. gitchur ownbokksss."



****
any and all A1 steaksauce commercial. Bad, bad baaad.

balanced out by all those ala moana Sh. Ctr commercials. very cute and catchy. great music.

[kimo55]

I saw the Geico Commercial about the cave man and the one showing the commercial with the cavemen in a home....

reminds me of the caveman commercials where tv announcer is saying sumpin like: "So simple, even a caveman can figure it out"
and one caveman on the sofa looks at his 'partner' and says "huh. that is SO condescending"
Funny.

[1stwahine]

reminds me of the caveman commercials where tv announcer is saying sumpin like: "So simple, even a caveman can figure it out"
and one caveman on the sofa looks at his 'partner' and says "huh. that is SO condescending"
Funny.

Kimo, das da same one, dude! :confused:

[kimo55]

Kimo, das da same one, dude! :confused:


no. the one you saw is horrible and ugly. One I saw was clever and funny. Attractively put together production.

[DaveNSoKona]

no. the one you saw is horrible and ugly. One I saw was clever and funny. Attractively put together production.

I vote for clever and funny. Geico Commercials, except for the incessant repetition, are a bright spot on an otherwise vast wasteland, ranking right up there with Alka Seltzer and Volkswagon commercials of yore. I think the small house, reality show spoof, is my fav.

[kimo55]

I think the small house, reality show spoof, is my fav.


this one got me. couldn't believe I was fooled by that.
and their old navy parody was well done, too.


speaking of repititious, watching cheap seats
http://cheapseats.tv/
on espnc most every nite, and each and every commercial break has the same damned commercials over and over.
A1 steaksauce where that creepy guy eats at a stranger's table, and the lady doesn't raise hell. teflon car care. the car shakes mud off.
(don't understand it: "keep your car looking pit crew perfect" hey a pit crew's job isn't to keep the hood spotless or the tires wetblack looking!)

[LikaNui]

How about baby Bob on the Quizno's commercials?
Love 'em!

[DaveNSoKona]

Anything’s better that those talking rats ala Beavis and Butt-Head, yuck. I have to grudgingly give them points for originality but after the n-th viewing it's just obnoxious.

[Miulang]

Hate hate hate any and all of the recent www.vehix.com ads.
I'm usually multitasking when I watch TV, so no ad has really caught my eye enough to make me stop whatever else I'm doing to watch it.

Miulang

[helen]

Let's use this thread to discuss any non-local TV commericals that you don't like to see.

[tutusue]

Let's use this thread to discuss any non-local TV commericals that you don't like to see.

Okay, I'll bite, Helen!
Lamisil, where the animated 'fungus' lifts up the toe nail and crawls under it. I turn it off everytime. Gross...gross...gross! Notice, tho', that I remember the name of the product. That's all that matters in advertising!

BTW...a belated Happy Birffday!

[Lalalinder]

i really hate all of the vehix commercials too. they are so tired and annoying.

[tutusue]

another horrible commercial:
eharmony :
[snip]
depressing thing is; this site stands to make millions.

That's exactly why they roll the dice with national advertising.

[kimo55]

whuddah co-inky dink.
JUST saw the latest of these sappy cliche ridden things.
ugly people doing self concious dance twirl steps....

that saccarine sweet whiney voice guy who started it....
uuuugh!

[Mokihana]

any one that screams at me. gets um one automatic "Mute".

[mel]

I know several national ads have already been mentioned here, and I'd probably agree with most of them being "least favorite."

To me what is most irksome are those ad logos and promos they insert on the bottom of the TV screen promoting the next show or some upcoming event or worst a product when the program, movie, TV series or whatever is running. I especially hate the ones that animate themselves causing a distraction from the content that you thought the regular ads were already paying for!

It's already bad enough that the networks themselves have to leave reminder bugs of who they are in the corner of the screens, but those animated bugs take the cake.

Also ruins things if you want to record something to save for later (which I rarely do nowdays because of logo and animation overload).

[Fondoo2]

all drug adds,I mean come on thats just too obvious and they need too shadup having the so called foundations crying give more money for research when big pharma can throw 100's of millions buying T.V. time to market crap drugs to frigging non-MD consumers
Heh you know me I'll get on a evil big-pharma rant with little or no provoking :D

[lavagal]

...because of the topic of Quiznos "Singing Rats" commercial. It "revolted and disgusted" the public so much that Quiznos corporation's national gross sales were cut almost in half! :

We LOVED that commercial. My husband downloaded it onto the kids' computer and they'd play it nonstop, and sing it, too. It was ear-blistering! But ya know, I have eaten at Quiznos twice in my life, thanks to a coupon. Who needs that much bread?

I'm from the Philly area in South Jersey. You DO NOT toast a hoagie. No friggin way. Not even a cheese steak. Whatsamatta with those guyz? And then the other abomination: mayo or mustard on a hoagie? Where is my HIT MAN when I need him?

[Glen Miyashiro]

You mean the Spongmonkeys? Or were these "singing rats" some other musical Quizno's critters I missed?

I thought the Spongmonkeys were great. :D

We love the suuuuubs!

[Pomai]

You mean the Spongmonkeys? Or were these "singing rats" some other musical Quizno's critters I missed?

Yup. The crooked-toothed sombrero-wearing, guitar-strumming "SpongeMonkeys" singing, "We love dee subs.. dee Quiznos Subs... Bring in any coupon.. and get a dollar off".

I actually loved those commercials.. thought it was a riot! Unfortunately (for Quiznos) a good part of the American public didn't. And reflected that by NOT eating there.

Ate at Quiznos only twice.. it's aight. Gotta' admit, the roast beef with Au Jus is tasty. Grew up eating at Subway, so I prefer there.

What do you folks think of Quiznos "Baby Bob" mascot? Love 'em or lose 'em?
I really dig it. The raspy adult voice is perfect.

They just need to work on matching the kid's body language and facial expressions a bit more. It still looks like talking lips plastered on a "still", like they do with celebrity mugs on the Conan OBrien show.

[LikaNui]

What do you folks think of Quiznos "Baby Bob" mascot? Love it! But I loved the SpongeMonkeys too. Whenever they came on, they were just so bizarre that you could not take your eyes off of them.
And of course that's what any advertiser wants.
There are so many other ads out there now that seem to do nothing more than show how creative the ad agency is instead of marketing the product. Some of these spots will go 20 or 25 seconds before you ever find out who or what the ad is for. Wasted money, in my book.

[kimo55]

hate that baby bob thing.


also am ready to shoot
shout elmo.

damn. is that thing ever annoying.

[1stwahine]

I don't find the Jack-In-The-Box commercial with the man sleeping being pushed in his bed to the Resturant...waking up startled in his BB-dez going hysterical! I find it totally disgusting and disrespecting! :mad: :eek:

Auntie Lynn

[tutusue]

I don't find the Jack-In-The-Box commercial with the man sleeping being pushed in his bed to the Resturant...waking up startled in his BB-dez going hysterical! I find it totally disgusting and disrespecting! :mad: :eek:


I saw that spot for the first time a day or 2 ago and, well...I love it! Sorry, Auntie...you can whack whack me if ya want! That entire JitB campaign is great, esp. Jack Jr. winning the spelling bee..."Peace out.". I laugh every time! The voice casting for both Sr. and Jr. Jack is spot on, bringing both characters, with no facial expressions, to life.The bed being pushed thru the drive thru reminds me of the start of the Carole Kai Bed Race!

That said, I find it impossible to view any commercial impartially. I watch 'em from 'behind the scenes' and try to imagine the ad agency creative meetings, the 'grabber' for the casting session and the out takes during production! I woulda loved to have been a fly on the wall at all of 'em for the 'drive thru' spot. I'm sure there were some very funny moments that none of us will ever see.

Ok, ok...so I have a 30 second mentality! It's hereditary! Oops...I've taken this reply a bit off topic. Before I get a whack whack from you-know-who-who I'll be redundant and say I still detest the animated Lamisil toenail fungus commercial and, for some reason, it's being aired to death right now. Yuck! I'm seriously wondering if the timing of these airings might have something to do with the hurricanes and all of the bugs and germs the victims were subjected to. (shrug)

[1stwahine]

Nah, you no get whack whack from me. HT is where we express our "views, comments" as we see it. I respect you even more because you're an expert in this field and explained why you liked it. Thank you.

Auntie Lynn

[tutusue]

Nah, you no get whack whack from me. HT is where we express our "views, comments" as we see it. I respect you even more because you're an expert in this field and explained why you liked it. Thank you.

No...thank YOU! An expert? Huh-uh. I've been in the industry for over 50 years and I'm still learning. That's what makes it so much fun.

Then there's that danged awful Lamisil spot. In case you haven't guessed...I think that ad should be yanked from the air or, at the very least, banned during dinner time! Ditto for the Fear Factor promos 'cept I haven't seen any in a long time. Has that show been cancelled or is it on hiatus?

[1stwahine]

It's been so long that I get to see any commercials now...my 81 yr.old MAMA is addicted to KOREAN Soap Operas --non stop! Only when she sleeps I get to watch if anything. That's usually the news.

Auntie Lynn

I hated that Lamisil commercial too. Reminded me of my ex-boyfriend.

[SouthKona]

"Gross" to da max: that horrid commercial where the wife takes all the vegetables and puts them into the garbage disposal and then blends it to make a "juice drink". Then she scoops out some of the infected juice into a glass and serves it to her idiot husband, who smacking his lips "yummy". A blurb comes on about if you are tired of waiting for your ..... points from a charge card??.... to use to buy a blender (instead of using the garbage disposal to make your fresh juice). It's really baaaaad.

[tutusue]

"Gross" to da max: that horrid commercial where the wife takes all the vegetables and puts them into the garbage disposal and then blends it to make a "juice drink". Then she scoops out some of the infected juice into a glass and serves it to her idiot husband, who smacking his lips "yummy". A blurb comes on about if you are tired of waiting for your ..... points from a charge card??.... to use to buy a blender (instead of using the garbage disposal to make your fresh juice). It's really baaaaad.
Agreed! I saw it for the first time recently and made a mental note to watch it more closely the next time. I've seen it a few more times and wouldn't be surprised if the advertiser gets more than a few complaints.

Speaking of complaints...has anyone ever complained to an advertiser or it's ad agency about an ad you find offensive? I've complained only once and that was the national Imodium AD spot featuring Gary Sprinkle oh, gosh, 15 years ago or so. It portrayed Hawaii as a 3rd world country complete with digestive disturbances, if ya know what I mean! While I didn't want to see Gary or any of the other talent lose a tidy sum in residuals, I felt strongly that the concept portrayed Hawaii in a bad enough light that it could affect tourism, even if just a little.

[kimo55]

yea. I was gonna post my complaint about that smoothie in da garbage disposal ad.
I have a hair-trigger gag reflex.
this commercial almost sets it off.
everyone leaves the room in fear of exorcist mode vomiting.
sorry....

[tutusue]

yea. I was gonna post my complaint about that smoothie in da garbage disposal ad.
I have a hair-trigger gag reflex.
this commercial almost sets it off.
everyone leaves the room in fear of exorcist mode vomiting.
sorry....
I don't have a hair-trigger gag reflex but that gross Lamisil spot does the same thing to me.

Have I mentioned I really dislike the Lamisil spot? :D

[Kilinahe]

yea. I was gonna post my complaint about that smoothie in da garbage disposal ad.
I have a hair-trigger gag reflex.

I very nearly barf at the sound of that commercial alone. That's the most revolting thing I've seen outside of Fear Factor.

They brought back the ads with the exploding onions. I love those.

[1stwahine]

Ok, I have nothing against giving for the victims of Katrina or Rita. I have given too. There's commercial that has started to air with Johnny Cash singing...it has started to get me irritated. Granted, he is a Legend for some. He just was not my type of singer. Why couldn't they pick someone else with a more mellow voice?

That's all I have to say. I guess it got to MAMA too. It's back to Korean Movies! Worse. :mad:

Auntie Lynn

[kimo55]

those avis commercials:
creepy wimps:
hello orca. hello orca

rude creeps:
uh yea. i'll be in the car.

[kimo55]

that yelling bearded billy mays snake oil hawker on commercials.

[Kalalau]

Yes, Billy Mays yelling. I hate getting yelled at. Don't know anybody who doesn't. If he comes on I stop whatever I am doing and change the channel. Not just kill the volume, change the channel as a small vote against getting yelled at. I also hate all well crafted political ads because they cost a lot of money to make so nice and whoever is paying all that money certainly expects a lot more in return.

[alohabear]

Saw this ad lastnight....Comcast using old game show footage...as "comicbook guy" would say, "Worse ad ever!"

[AuntieNellieKulolo]

I also hate all well crafted political ads because they cost a lot of money to make so nice and whoever is paying all that money certainly expects a lot more in return.

While on the topic of political ads, I hate all the political ads that only speak to 'families'. Hello, I am single, as is 40% of the voting-age population! I left Hawaii in 2000 so missed Lingle's campaign, and wonder if she laid the pro-family rhetoric as thick as the other pols, considering she is single without children... I didn't mean to turn this into a political rant but when I see those commercials I run for the mute button! Next time say 'voters' instead of 'families'. Mahalo!!!!

[SouthKona]

Speaking of complaints...has anyone ever complained to an advertiser or it's ad agency about an ad you find offensive?
It wasn't about an ad, but rather a product... I once got an "empty" envelope of hot cocoa mix, and wrote the company that only the invisible man would like their product. :) I never heard anything back.

Years ago, I read where Hawaii had paid for a criminal's "one way ticket leaving Hawaii", and it gave the name of the destination city. I wrote that city's police dept, thanking them for taking our criminals off our hands. I did not hear back on that, either, but later learned that it was posted on their employee bulletin board.

Anyone else had fun with complaints?

[Pomai]

The Eclipse Mints "Hot Dog" and "Onion" spots.

"Mr. Hot Dog" studies Spanish and realizes the sentence he's reading spells his own demise. Then an Eclipse Mints truck drives up and he runs away yelling then blows up.

"Onion Man" gets blown up by a pack of Eclipse Mints thrown under a door crack.

Something about those costumes and voice-overs just totally creep me out. :eek:

[kimo55]

Anyone else had fun with complaints?
maybe fodder for anodder thread but:

Taco bell drive thru one day. waited long time in line only to hear apathetic voice on that old scratchy intercom thing. then when i pulled up they all but tossed me my order, which wasn't even the correct order. This was years ago, so don't remember the other things i bitched about when i called their 800 number, but they sent, by way of apology and compensation, a 15% coupon for my next visit.
whoptee f#&!n dooo!


in contrast to the time I was a got spoiled carton of milk at da Waimanalo jack in da crak. Called the number, they were very conciliatory. Sent me coupons for two full free lunches or dinners...

[backwoodlessons2]

Does anybody else detest that awful commercial for RoadRunner with teenybopper Vanessa Carlton singing "Time Is On My Side"? It's like some kind of water torture. Every time it comes on and I hear the first two notes of the song I lunge to hit the Mute button.
The first time I saw it I thought Vanessa's song was awful and thought it was perhaps a joke, like she was some instant reject from American Idol. Her voice is nasal and flat, and her piano playing is like something you'd hear at an elementary school recital.
Sorry to vent, but the commercial is just horrible.
:mad:
I agree. I haven't heard that comm. in a while, but whenever it came on I would quickly change the channel.

[helen]

I have been meaning to post this one for quite some time but the TD Waterhouse commericals with Sam Watterson sort of turns me off with him speaking and the camera is moving around at different angles and at times it shows that he is not facing the camera.

Static subject, dynamic camera angles somehow doesn't work for me.

[kimo55]

Static subject, dynamic camera angles somehow doesn't work for me.
get ready for more hair pullin' helen. It is spreading like wildfire and ad agencies and their dumb clients think this look is just as hot. To our detriment and chagrin. Dayum their eyes!

[kimo55]

BOOOooooOOO!

..on direct tv with their commercial of two smarmy yuppie execs one upping each other with their crap. shows them at the urinals in the men's room. THAT is why there are doors on bathrooms, ya clucks; cuz that should remain private.
Sheesh. ya eatin dinner, and haveta see that.


and that sean combs take on how proactive affects him;

"it smooths out muh situation. It elevates muh sexy..."


UUUGGGGHH!

[kimo55]

Oh, yea. that burger chain commercial where the son and dad are dressed in big burger costumes and they exchange snide rude disrespectful ass insults back and forth. yea thanx burger chain. way to go, teaching our kids how to show even more rudeness to parents and the world, as if they need more help.

[Pongs]

Speaking of fast food ads, anyone else NOT like that Jessica Simpson Dominos ad? Maybe its just me but i think its mad wrong how they put that little boy in there w/ her. boo!

[kimo55]

Jessica Simpson Dominos ad? Maybe its just me but i think its mad wrong how they put that little boy in there w/ her. boo!
exactimo, compadre.

[CranBeree]

i think its jessica simpson with pizza hut.

[tutusue]

Speaking of fast food ads, anyone else NOT like that Jessica Simpson Dominos ad? Maybe its just me but i think its mad wrong how they put that little boy in there w/ her. boo!
I have a problem with it, too, even tho' they're aiming that spot at a certain demographic. Based on the boy's reaction to Jessica, he should look at least 18. She's a little over-the-top sexy to be flaunting a minor's reaction like that within the context of a commercial. Sure, there are boys his age lusting after her. But, well, never mind! 'Nuff said! :D

[helen]

Is this the commerical where the music is set to "These boots are made for walking"?

[kimo55]

carnival or carribean cruise lines...

my luvvah stains own gowl dun say unz...


hate that singer and his song.

awe ful.



******

oh, yea. and that lousy terrible awful national trend among advertisers that dictate the v/o MUST employ that new modern absolutely smarmy but mostly very condescending tone of voice.

"know the shows yer supposeta know."

[kimo55]

suuup wi dat Burger king commercial where that bizzarre overgrown plastic king wakes up in bed with a mexican construction worker and the dude gives the king raised eyebrows, the king serves him breakfast in bed, and a circus village people crowd goes crazy.
Ugh.

[LikaNui]

Ugh.
Double UGH. It's just awful. And weird. And... kinky. (Remember, there's a crowd of people standing next to the bed.)
That ad kinda makes me want to, you know, not go to Burger King.

[Erika Engle]

Double UGH. It's just awful. And weird. And... kinky. (Remember, there's a crowd of people standing next to the bed.)
That ad kinda makes me want to, you know, not go to Burger King.

... not that there's anything wrong with that.

:p

My kids' favorite BK spot with the King was the first one we saw where he runs onto the field from out of nowhere, intercepts a pass and runs all the way for a TD ... "It's just so random," they say, laughing.

[kimo55]

oh, no, that ad IS soooo wrong, on so many levels.

[tutusue]

Resurrecting this thread with a current Sears Kenmore Elite refrigerator ad...the one with the lady carrying a large sheet cake on a journey between home and party. One scene has her exiting a public restroom stall balancing the cake in one hand. She arrives at the party to witness another guest removing something large from the fridge which will allow the large sheet cake to fit inside.

IMNSHO, there's something just plain icky about insinuating anything edible, not to mention sizeable, spent some time in a public bathroom stall while the loo was in use! Eeeeeuuuuwwww! :eek:

[Lei Liko]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but...

You Can't Over Love Your Underwear (http://www.fruitcountryvideo.com/video.html)

The concept is funny, but the fact that the chorus replays over and over again in your head is enough to make you go nuts.

[pzarquon]

IMNSHO, there's something just plain icky about insinuating anything edible, not to mention sizeable, spent some time in a public bathroom stall while the loo was in use! Eeeeeuuuuwwww!Man, I got the same icky feeling from that ridiculous ad. Why, given the montage of other random everyday locations, did the public toilet even get included -- in the script, or in the final ad? Nothing else in the ad implies that they were trying to be quirky or edgy, so it baffles me that something like that could get on the air without someone going, "Um, you know what..."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but that cake has been flagged (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bookstore_%28Seinfeld_episode%29)."

[helen]

Been noticing CITI credit card commericals using the same spokeperson over several commericals. Anyone know who this person is?

[joshuatree]

This one is just irritating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOvFIxUz2XY

[Serenity]

That stupid Geico ads/commercial on TV with those cavemen guys!.

They "may get their own tv series". GAWD!! Give me a break already!. :rolleyes:

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=253853&GT1=7703

[pzarquon]

I don't mind the cavemen. Though I think they've had a good run, and definitely don't think they can sustain a series.

Funny. I was just thinking of this thread when my wife called me into the living room to watch a commercial for the Barbie toy, "Tanner," (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58r0hHgjWLs) the dog. This thing poops. To get the poop out, of course, you need to put it in, first. In his mouth.

I can't even begin to imagine how this toy made it to full-scale production.

[Random]

That stupid Geico ads/commercial on TV with those cavemen guys!
I felt sympathy for the cavemen like I felt for the Trix rabbit.

Now stop picking on our ancestors!

[WindwardOahuRN]

I LIKE some of the caveman ads.

"I'll have the roast duck, with the mango salsa."

"I don't have much of an appetite."

LOL...:)

[Serenity]

I LIKE some of the caveman ads.

"I'll have the roast duck, with the mango salsa."

"I don't have much of an appetite."

LOL...:)


Sure, the first couple of times was funny, after that, it just gets more stupid. They just keep on running it to the ground. GAWD!!.

The Commercial on: the caveman guy talking to his therapist. He got mad about it, & said "it's so easy that a therpist can do it"

She said, "it just wont makes any sense",

The caveman guy says "why? becuse tharpists are smart? (phone rings), it's my mother, I'll put her on spaker". (end of commercial).

What's next for the commercial for the caveman guys?.

I think, I would have prefered watching that cute gekko with an english accent lizzard.

I wouldn't mind having him as a pet.:p

[Serenity]

I felt sympathy for the cavemen like I felt for the Trix rabbit.

Now stop picking on our ancestors!


I'm with you on that.

[tutusue]

Sure, the first couple of times was funny, after that, it just gets more stupid. They just keep on running it to the ground. GAWD!!.[...]
Serentity..."they" keep on airing it "to the ground" because it's selling the product and they will keep airing those spots 'til there's clear indication that they need to update them or change the campaign entirely.

And, yes, I preferred the gecko spots, too!

[ChicagoGuy75]

I don't know if anyone saw this commerical, I think it was for Starburst.

It was the one for the Berries and Cream with that creepy guy that sings that, "Berries and Cream, Berries and Cream, I am a little lad that likes Berriesssssssssss and Crrrrrrream."

================================
About those Burger Kind commericals, what was stranger than the commerical was the Xbox game Sneak King. If you clicked the left stick it would show two eye holes staring at people and heavy breathing. Almost like Jason from Halloween.

[Random]

I don't know if anyone saw this commerical, I think it was for Starburst.

It was the one for the Berries and Cream with that creepy guy that sings that, "Berries and Cream, Berries and Cream, I am a little lad that likes Berriesssssssssss and Crrrrrrream."
Felt like I was watching a sequel trailer of Omen High School Musical.

[helen]

I am kind of frowning on the GE commerical that has a fishing trawler that nets in bottle shaped ice with the announcer saying how much sea water gets turned in fresh water.

Show what the plant looks like, not give the impression that all you have to do is to fish it from the sea.

[Kittrick]

my vote goes to the:

"idk my bff jill"

or

"idk my bff rose"

commercials

[escondido100]

saw a taco bell commercial that i felt was offensive and racist.... produced by taco bell hawaii.... they show 3 obviously local guys acting like goofy mexican mariachi clowns....very stereotypical and very much a put down to mexicans..... someone had there head where there is no light to produce an offensive ad such as this. as long as this ad is running i will NOT be going to taco bell. Totally Racist.