|
Post by robeiae on Jul 1, 2018 13:16:39 GMT -5
Usually, I don't watch much network TV. But it's the World Cup, so that's changed for me, thus I'm also seeing more commercials than usual. Here are two commercials--from a couple of heavyweights--that have produced decidedly different reactions from me: 1) Amazon's "Trophy Shelf" commercial
Every time I see it, I actually choke up a little. It's like the first run of AT&T's "Reach out and touch someone" spots, in that respect. 2) Google's "Yo, Google" commercial, featuring Kevin Durant. This spot really rubs me the wrong way, as it makes me embarrassed for Durant. I don't really watch the NBA and know little about Durant, but the spot makes it seem like he's an idiot or an arrogant prick. Plus, in commercial that very obviously tries to be "diverse," Durant is the lone black man. Thoughts? Got any other commercials that move you, one way or the other?
|
|
|
Post by Christine on Jul 1, 2018 17:13:16 GMT -5
Yo, Rob. John Legend is black. Chrissy Teigen is half Asian, and there's another female black actor.
I didn't think Durant seemed like an idiot or arrogant in the least. I think they were going for humor and missed, but it was cute, and his smile at the end was really cute.
The real crime here is the appalling number of people who must be saying "Hey, Google" several times a day, all over the world.
The first commercial gave me that little choked up feeling too.
I'm watching the World Cup but didn't see either of these or any others that I recall. I guess because I do stuff during the half and in between games. Gotta say, no commercials for 45-minute stretches is pretty great. Unless you have to pee.
|
|
|
Post by celawson on Jul 1, 2018 18:29:29 GMT -5
I LOVE that Trophy Shelf commercial. Both of my girls played softball, and I soooo remember those long days outside and the drive home where they fell asleep with the glow of the sun on their cheeks. It just captures it so well. I've seen it several times and I love it each time. I'd never seen the Durant one before. Awkward. Not funny. And weird how he looks at the camera at the end. I hate it. Edited to Add: there is one commercial that always makes me laugh, and it's really not even clever or that funny. It's the expression on their faces. The tecate beer commercial with the guys in the yard holding their cans of beer. www.adforum.com/creative-work/ad/player/34561665/the-ice-cold-tecate-can-challenge/tecate
|
|
|
Post by Optimus on Jul 1, 2018 19:13:41 GMT -5
Hadn't seen the Google one, but it didn't really bother me. The joke with Durant was dumb but inoffensive to my sense of comedy. One thing that I have noticed, though, is a recent Walmart commercial, "Ring My Bell." www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWNVRN5nS7wYes, it has the words "ring my bell" in it and, yes, the delivery person is ringing their doorbell. I get it. It's about their delivery services. But in the song it's a euphemism for getting home from work and f@$king. So...that just seems like a poor choice, like maybe a clueless advertising exec made that decision? It reminds me of Apple's clueless (I'm assuming) use of the Pixies' song "Gigantic" in their commercials a few years ago for their new, bigger iPhone. I mean, sure, maybe they actually knew that it's talking about a big black dick. But, at the same time, I seriously doubt it. Ever since McDonald's had an unfortunate ad campaign promoting sex with cheeseburgers, and the fact that so many ad companies were totally oblivious to what "Netflix and chill" meant , I mostly view ad agencies now as being clueless-like-grandparents buffoons when it comes to pop culture, so I always assume the answer is simple stupidity on their part.
|
|
|
Post by robeiae on Jul 1, 2018 19:33:33 GMT -5
Yo, Rob. John Legend is black. Chrissy Teigen is half Asian, and there's another female black actor. My bad on Legend. Didn't know who that was. But then, he didn't say much. The others you mention are women. I specifically said black men. And the point there is that he's the only one who can't seem to get it right. And yeah, I'm sure they were going for funny, but it was Durant's expense and it missed badly in my view. It's hardly end-of-the-world stuff, though. I just thought it kinda wrongly stereotypical that Black Male Athlete 1) couldn't follow simple directions or 2) wouldn't follow simple directions for a spot he was getting paid to do. 'Course, if Durant's okay with it, I guess that's the end of it.
|
|
|
Post by robeiae on Jul 1, 2018 19:34:58 GMT -5
Hadn't seen the Google one, but it didn't really bother me. The joke with Durant was dumb but inoffensive to my sense of comedy. One thing that I have noticed, though, is a recent Walmart commercial, "Ring My Bell." www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWNVRN5nS7wYes, it has the words "ring my bell" in it and, yes, the delivery person is ringing their doorbell. I get it. It's about their delivery services. But in the song it's a euphemism for getting home from work and f@$king. So...that just seems like a poor choice, like maybe a clueless advertising exec made that decision? Yeah, they should switch that up and use "Afternoon Delight," instead.
|
|
|
Post by Optimus on Jul 1, 2018 20:05:28 GMT -5
Yeah, they should switch that up and use "Afternoon Delight," instead. I'm sure that'll be a future ad for Starbuck's frozen lattes.
|
|
|
Post by gaild on Jul 21, 2018 4:16:00 GMT -5
Since TV commercials are inevitable (even with our satellite tv) I really appreciate it when ad companies get creative and use intelligence and humor. Here's one that is showing at the moment. The dialogue in Afrikaans is: 'My wife and I have been having some problems - romantic - and the English doctor in the town said...' I would love to see the good/smart/funny ads you're seeing in your country.
|
|