If Mad Men is any indication of what its like to work in the real advertising world, then the writing process alone must cause more migraines than swimming in radioactive sewage.
That's still no excuse for stealing material, if that is in fact the case with this British ad. UK comic Micky Flanagan claims an ad agency stole a joke from his act for a phone service commercial and is a stone's throw away from filing a lawsuit. Punchline Magazine posted videos of the joke and the ad. Is this just a coincidence or is the ad pulling a Carlos Mencia?
First, listen to Flanagan's joke...
And now, watch the ad, which is after the jump.
Commercials-related stories
British comic claims TV ad ripped him off
Continue reading British comic claims TV ad ripped him off
Was Fox rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series?
Considering the incredible overnight ratings that Fox got for Game Six of the World Series, you might think I'm crazy to suggest that the network would be rooting for the New York Yankees last night to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, but I have evidence. All through the game, Fox was promoting Fringe and Bones, urging viewers to tune in tomorrow night -- tonight -- for new episodes. Why would the network be sending that message when there was a possibility of a Game Seven?
Continue reading Was Fox rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series?
Commercial spoofs take shots at DirecTV's Chris Farley spot
Controversy raged last weekend as fans and media types reacted to a new DirecTV ad using the late Chris Farley in scenes from Tommy Boy. Now, some aggressive YouTubers are taking their shot at offending some people (with DirecTV execs at the top of the list).
The original ad featured a live action David Spade discussing DirecTV against Farley's antics from Tommy Boy. While Spade insisted Farley wouldn't mind, a lot of his fans took offense to using a dead man to hawk a product.
But the video below, from a YouTube page, The Landline, lights up the satellite TV provider with an edgy send-up of the "dead talk cash" stunt with faked DirecTV ads featuring a pseudo Heath Ledger, John F. Kennedy, and someone else you'll recognize.
There's a conspiracy theory floating around that this is actually clever viral marketing from DirecTV itself -- since no publicity is bad publicity. But, if that were true, and word really got out, it'd be "deadly" to the company's business.
The original ad featured a live action David Spade discussing DirecTV against Farley's antics from Tommy Boy. While Spade insisted Farley wouldn't mind, a lot of his fans took offense to using a dead man to hawk a product.
But the video below, from a YouTube page, The Landline, lights up the satellite TV provider with an edgy send-up of the "dead talk cash" stunt with faked DirecTV ads featuring a pseudo Heath Ledger, John F. Kennedy, and someone else you'll recognize.
There's a conspiracy theory floating around that this is actually clever viral marketing from DirecTV itself -- since no publicity is bad publicity. But, if that were true, and word really got out, it'd be "deadly" to the company's business.
The Shake Weight is either the most erotic or hilarious exercise ad ever
Tuesday's Daily Show with Jon Stewart brought a pressing and shocking concern to my eyes, something the American people as a whole have largely ignored: the ridiculous ad for the Shake Weight.
Most exercise infomercials are already crazy and unintentionally hilarious in and of themselves, but this ad deserves the Mark Twain Prize.
Most exercise infomercials are already crazy and unintentionally hilarious in and of themselves, but this ad deserves the Mark Twain Prize.
My commercial of the week: The Boost Mobile pigs
I haven't always been crazy about the Boost Mobile commercials. The one with the girl and guy riding the bike, and her horribly long armpit hair flapping back in his face, was just gross and made me want to turn the channel. Then there was the bizarre topless commercial featuring Danika Patrick (not topless, mind you). I don't really understand ads that make us want to turn the channel. What's the point? To get us talking about them, I guess. I mean, here I am talking about it and bringing attention to it. But in a bad way!
Anyway, this Boost Mobile ad with the pigs is kind of funny. What is it about talking pigs that makes them funny? Some psychologist can weigh in on that one. Not to mention the fact that they're eating one of their own, but it fits with the "that's just wrong" theme of these ads. I especially like the little wave he does with his little hoof at the end.
Continue reading My commercial of the week: The Boost Mobile pigs
The most annoying commercial of the week: Miracle Whip's "Don't Be So Mayo"
I realize all writers, reporters and bloggers are supposed to be objective or at least attempt to pull a thin veil of objectivity over their work. There are, however, some things that just can't be overcome because of basic human logic, emotions or feelings. So here it goes. I HATE MAYO. And since this Paper Chase-ish diatribe is clearly going to be about Miracle Whip, I know you're thinking "Whahuh?" as your brain screeches to a cartoonish halt. "But Miracle Whip isn't mayo."
Yes, it is. Miracle Whip is just mayo with an extra sweetener or two and if anyone wishes to debate that with me, stop and think about the stand you are actually about to take in life. Arguing about which Darren from Bewitched could kick the other Darren's ass is a step up, and for the record, it's the Dick Sargent Darren.
Continue reading The most annoying commercial of the week: Miracle Whip's "Don't Be So Mayo"
For the love of (Fruit of the Loom) underwear
You gotta love it when a commercial makes you laugh out loud. I know that in my memory, if an ad can make me laugh, I'm more likely to remember it and -- maybe -- buy the product. Here's a couple of commercials from Fruit of the Loom that are just hilarious. Both extol the virtues of the company's underwear -- for men and women -- and use humor to sell the stretchy privates.
Continue reading For the love of (Fruit of the Loom) underwear
The most annoying commercial ever this week: FreeCreditReport.com
Those FreeCreditReport.com guys have been on my snark radar for a long time. But I deactivated my head-mounted quip laser and turned the sarcasm cannon over to "stealth mode" when the ads came up because it seemed like a little, heh, overkill.
Sure, the ads are designed to be hokey and cheesy so they'll get your attention and get guys like me writing about them, scoring tons of free publicity that only a corporate-sponsored puppy flood could replicate. If anything, they should be applauded for being ridiculously short.
But the latest song from the FreeCreditReport.com "band" has been playing more frequently than the others and its incessant tune feels like a cheese grater being rubbed against my ear drum. So I turned on the sniper scope and aimed directly for the spot between each of their glazed-over eyes.
Continue reading The most annoying commercial ever this week: FreeCreditReport.com
USA scores with Monk tribute promo
Sometimes when I'm watching USA Network, I'm as tickled with the promotions for the shows as I am the shows themselves. That's saying a lot, because as a rule, networks are not very clever about commercials hawking their shows. However, USA is the exception to the rule. Just yesterday, Kona wrote about the Psych promo that took a shot at The Mentalist -- completely justified, too -- and here's another that caught my eye. It's a tribute to Monk.This is the last season for Monk, so USA gathered some of the stars -- in character -- from its other programs to give a little tribute to Adrian Monk. What a stroke of genius!
Continue reading USA scores with Monk tribute promo
Discovery renews Pitchmen
When Billy Mays died a couple of weeks ago, we were trying to figure out what exactly Discovery was going to do about their show Pitchmen. Would they cancel the show? Renew it with just Anthony Sullivan as the star? Try to find another pitchman (or woman)? Turns out it's going to be none of those things.Instead, the show is going to continue with the addition of Mays' son, Billy Mays III. No word yet if the younger Mays will step into the co-host role with Sullivan or be involved in other ways, but I'm sure he'll have at least some on-screen role.
SyFy wants you to forget Sci-Fi and just Imagine Greater
Joel told you a while back about the Sci-Fi Channel changing its name to SyFy for some reason. Now they've unleashed a series of promos and commercials to get you used to the name change, which happens tomorrow. One of the longer promos features several cast members of SyFy shows getting together for a big party in a big house (must be a running theme this season). I think it's less sci-fi and more Willy Wonka/Beatles acid trip.
(UPDATE 7/7: If you tune over to SyFy now, you'll see that the changeover took effect. So long, Sci Fi...)
Blue shirts honor Billy Mays
This isn't usually a blog with photos from funeral services, but I thought this one was appropriate for TV fans to see. Pallbearers at Billy Mays funeral the other day all wore blue shirts in a tribute to the commercial king.
We're going to keep seeing Billy Mays in commercials
First off, everyone keeps using the word "infomercial" when describing the ads that Billy Mays did, including this piece at TampaBay.com. Actually, infomercials are longer form ads, usually 30 minutes. What Mays did were commercials (though yes, he did infomercials too). After a meeting between his widow, his son, friend Anthony Sullivan, and marketers, they have decided to resume running all of Mays' ads next week. I'm sure that's going to seem weird to some viewers.I guess it's not completely odd, because we still watch a TV show that a celebrity has starred in after they die. But commercials are more recent, more "alive," more "of the moment" than some TV show that we all know is a repeat from one, ten, thirty years ago. And that's what's going to be odd about seeing these ads.
What should happen to Pitchmen now?
The season finale of Discovery Channel's Pitchmen airs tomorrow night at 10PM (after a day-long marathon of the show). But now that Billy Mays has passed away suddenly, what should happen to the show?Discovery hasn't made a decision yet. They could continue the show will just Anthony Sullivan, they could get another commercial/product icon to take Mays' place, or they could simply cancel the show. What do you think they should do?
Farrah slathers Joe Namath (and other early ads)
With all the Michael Jackson news, let's not forget that another huge star, Farrah Fawcett, also passed away yesterday. All of the obits I've seen of Farrah pretty much start her professional biography with her breakout role in Charlie's Angels. But Farrah was almost 30 when she landed the role as Jill Munroe. A quick look at her IMDb profile shows that Farrah had a number of guest-starring roles well before Aaron Spelling made her a megastar.
Farrah also starred in a ton of commercials in the early '70s, including this famous spot with Joe Namath. Here, the Jets QB is advertising Noxema shaving cream, and Farrah lustily covers his face in the stuff.
More ads after the jump.
Farrah also starred in a ton of commercials in the early '70s, including this famous spot with Joe Namath. Here, the Jets QB is advertising Noxema shaving cream, and Farrah lustily covers his face in the stuff.
More ads after the jump.
Continue reading Farrah slathers Joe Namath (and other early ads)
The Prisoner -- An early look
Sesame Street's 40th: Five funniest characters
Sesame Street's 40th: Five biggest controversies
