Sunday, March 11, 2012

Post From the Couch: When TV Marketing Fails

I like commercials, generally. I don't even mind the ones with a catchy little jingle I can still remember 25 years after it aired.


((ahem))


Baked Poooo-tato skins got baked potato appeal,
cuz they're made with potatoes and skins that are reallllll.....




Do-doop!!         




Who wears short-shorts?
We wear short-shorts
If you dare wear short-shorts
Nair for short-shorts..


You get the idea, right? 


The point of commercials is to remind people about the product each time they see it, and jingles and things like talking lizards with catchy tag lines is exactly the point. But some, many it seems have decided that they can...
Annoy me into remembering.
Irritate me into recognition.
Gross me out into buying


Check out some of the all-time worst examples:


Unnecessary Noisiness
Noisy, annoying commercials makes me cringe and mute the TV. Not effective, folks. Especially not coupled with new and improved campaign which has subdued messaging and neat, simple graphics. This bunch of idiots yelling at their mail is annoying. And ineffective; I had to look up the commercial via Google search to realize who it belonged to. JCP - Fail.





Gross humor isn't funny
This bunch of toe fungus monsters whipping up toenails like the hood of a Chevy and digging into the tissue underneath literally makes me GAG. And CRINGE. And it makes me produce excessive saliva from the cringing and gagging feeling. ((shuddering)) Fail. ((GAG)) FAIL.







Feminine ANYTHING
I find nothing shameful about bodies, feminine or masculine. Still, I don't need to hear about all of the different accouterments people may or may not require to take care of themselves in their nethers. This goes for feminine products, itch cream, ass trouble, diarrhea, or yeast issues. It's even worse when they attempt to make nice on the subject by flowering up the commercials with soft lighting and a wind machine (wind = fresh, yo). Thank God douches are no longer featured.





In the same vein, this Charmin campaign (playing on the whole "does a bear..?") is really a bit more than we needed to think about what may be left behind..on our behinds...





There are many, many, many more. What commercials do you DESPISE? Lay the ones you love to hate in the comments below. Don't hold back, yo...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who doesn't remember the Slinky jingle? Or "I'm a Pepper, your a Pepper....". You're humming it now aren't you?? I didn't care for the whole "Head On, Apply directly to the forehead." I still am not totally sure what it's purpose is! ~Allison

Anonymous said...

Crap, I know you're a grammar junkie, AND I know it's "you're a pepper" not your... Lol

Random Girl said...

Overly cutesy things in commercials drive me crazy. I started a twitter movement called #randomsnugglepunch because every time I see that damn snuggle bear, I want to punch it, and whoever is standing close enough to me to be punched as well. That bear makes me mental!!

Sadie Wilson said...

I am so glad you are writing again, yet unsettled that I have been singing "I wear short shorts" all day.

Anonymous said...

Same subject as the bear/toilet paper commercial. My absolute least favorite opening line in a commercial is "It's time to get real about what happens in the bathroom." And I hate the lady's voice too!!! Michele

Nicki said...

Man, my DVR is my best friend. I haven't seen a commercial in YEARS.