Worst Commercials Ever

[Windsor]

Inspired by a post on the 'Bacon' thread...what are your least favorite commercials (for the sake of peace and to keep this thread from getting bounced over to the PPB skip political ads of any kind) Individual commercials or series (same character(s) or theme) are acceptable.
My current least favorite are the Progressive Insurance spots with that bimbo cashier I want to smack upside the head...followed closely by Burger King's Reverse Pick Pocket anything with their King who gives me the creeps.
Also making the list:
Beggin Strips (it's BACON)
(Viva) Viagra

So which commercials send you diving for the remote to fast forward?

[YmoBeThere]

Beggin Strips (it's BACON)

So which commercials send you diving for the remote to fast forward?

I love animals, but you are right with that one. Thanks Lavabe!

[captmojo]

So which commercials send you diving for the remote to fast forward?

Damn near all of them. I watch tv with the remote in my hand.

[hc5duke]

free credit report dot com. it's a scam, and that's what ticks me off more than other commercials.

[EarlJam]

A couple of years ago - those "Buffalo Snacker" commercials from KFC.

GOD I hated them!

-EJ

[dcarp23]

the Charles Schwab commercials drive me the craziest. There is some theory out there that cartoons become realistic to a point where the natural human reaction is hatred--I think these commercials prove that theory.

[hc5duke]

the Charles Schwab commercials drive me the craziest. There is some theory out there that cartoons become realistic to a point where the natural human reaction is hatred--I think these commercials prove that theory.

YES! THANK YOU! I forgot about those. I actually have to change the channel when these commercials are run.

[Lavabe]

the Charles Schwab commercials drive me the craziest. There is some theory out there that cartoons become realistic to a point where the natural human reaction is hatred--I think these commercials prove that theory.

The A-ha video, in contrast, worked out very well, but they figured out that it had to look less realistic. You are very correct.

The GEICO cavemen commercials, aside from maybe the first one, are just lame. They don't disturb me nearly as much as either the Beggin Strips or the Viva Viagra commercials.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...

etc...

[YmoBeThere]

Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...
Applied directly to the forehead ...
HEAD ON...

etc...

You lost me on that one...I know, I know. I'm getting old for my age.

[Olympic Fan]

The A-ha video, in contrast, worked out very well, but they figured out that it had to look less realistic. You are very correct.

The GEICO cavemen commercials, aside from maybe the first one, are just lame. They don't disturb me nearly as much as either the Beggin Strips or the Viva Viagra commercials.



To me a really bad commercial is one that's so bad that it makes me determined not to use the product out of retaliation.

I strongly agree with both the Schwab commericials and the Geico caveman commercials. But you know, I also hate the Geico Gekko commericals -- a pretty amazing double for one product.

I also hate the Alltel Commercials with "Chad" ... the actor playing Chad was at the ACC Tournament last spring for a promotion and was greeted with a cascade of booes.

Overall, I have the sense that 75-80 percent of the truely unwatchable commericals are either (1) phone networks or (2) car insurance.

[Lavabe]

You lost me on that one...I know, I know. I'm getting old for my age.

It's an ad for a headache product that rolls directly onto the area for which you want relief. If you haven't seen it, consider yourself among the fortunate. If you want to watch it, simply youtube "head on."

Then again, I've never seen the Alltell Chad commercials.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[YmoBeThere]

I have a particular affinity for the Dungeon Master ad in the Alltel Chad line...

[wilson]

the Charles Schwab commercials drive me the craziest. There is some theory out there that cartoons become realistic to a point where the natural human reaction is hatred--I think these commercials prove that theory.

Those commercials are doubly insidious. By not showing the actors in the flesh, the Schwab people avoid paying them union wages or allowing them to accrue union time.

[YmoBeThere]

Interesting Wilson has a locaton of Atlanta, GA and post # 1996.

Oh, most of what Microsoft comes up with while not the worst, just needs a lot more work.

[wilson]

Oh, most of what Microsoft comes up with while not the worst, just needs a lot more work.

I think the new "I'm a PC" spot is really well done.

[YmoBeThere]

Always exceptions to the rule! :)

[captmojo]

I think the new "I'm a PC" spot is really well done.

I remember when "PC" meant privileged character. :(

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I remember when "PC" meant privileged character. :(

Yeah, before it meant politically correct.

I hate the gecko, ALL of the drug company commercials for their latest medicines, the injury lawyer commercials (sorry to James Scott Farrin, DBR loyalist and good friend) and pretty much all the rest of them, although the Bud Light commercials are generally OK the first couple dozen times you see them.

[2535Miles]

I'm rather annoyed by the Progressive Insurance commercials. If I were interested in purchasing their insurance, the commercials would definitely turn me off and I would end up going with another company.

[Lavabe]

Continuing on the horrible insurance commercials motif, they just showed the dancing Kasey Kahne/Allstate commercial.

HORRIBLE! UGH!!

Cheers,
Lavabe

[godukerocks]

Do they still show ads for motorized wheelchairs during The Price is Right? Those got old real fast.

And I haven't posted here in way to long. How is everyone.

[hurleyfor3]

the Charles Schwab commercials drive me the craziest. There is some theory out there that cartoons become realistic to a point where the natural human reaction is hatred--I think these commercials prove that theory.

You may be referring to the Uncanny Valley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley).


I think the new "I'm a PC" spot is really well done.

I dunno about that. The Mac commercials focus on the benefits of the product -- Macs are easier to use, the interface is less clunky, they crash less often and so on. The PC commercials say... lots of people use Windows, so get one so you can be like everyone else! Wonderful.

BTW, it's the baseball postseason, so where the heck is "This is ooooooooourrrrrrr countryyyyyyy?"

[DevilAlumna]

I dunno about that. The Mac commercials focus on the benefits of the product -- Macs are easier to use, the interface is less clunky, they crash less often and so on. The PC commercials say... lots of people use Windows, so get one so you can be like everyone else! Wonderful.


Interesting take on the "I'm a PC" ads. Pretty much opposite the intention, which is to say, nearly everyone uses PCs, and can use them for whatever they want, in whatever/whichever way they choose. In other words, you don't just have to be a too-cool-for-school, hoody-wearing, 20-something hipster.

[Bluedog]

I guess I'm the only one who actually finds the rotoscoping (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotoscoping) technique used in Schwab commercials is pretty cool. The Scwab commercials are far from the worst. I'd agree with Viva Viagra and Progressive...blech. And Geico Caveman. Drug commercials are usually terrible. Not a fan of the birth control commercial (once a month pill?) when they have animated swimmers with a day of the week on them and there's a song "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Everyday!!!" So annoying! Beggin Strips and Head on also terrible. Yeah, Insurance ads are bad. Particularly bad was Eagle Man, an Insurance Company in the Chicago area. Although they are kinda funny the first couple times because they are just so terrible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_y1xfzV8dM

But after the 100th time, it is painful. Another terrible ad: Enzyte. Local colleges frequently have awful commercials. Blech, I hate commercials! I think Head-On is the worst, though.

[BlueDevilBaby]

IMO, the VW adds with Brook Shields saying women are getting pregnant just to get a car are horrendous. Sick of all the Geico commercials.

I like the Beggin Strips commercials because that's exactly how my boys act around bacon and Beggin Strips.

[BD80]

The new Wendy's commercial where one friend loses the bet (that he can get a meal at Wendy's for $5) and marries a goat. The other friend whispers "She's hot"

So baa-aa-aaad it is disturbing.

[Windsor]

After watching football this weekend I need to add the Coors Light commercials where there idiots are 'talking' to an NFL coach.

The first one of these was original and funny...but now they are just stupid. Attention Coors: the horse is dead...dismount and find a new ad campaign (and 'Code Blue' ain't it!!)

[CLT Devil]

Any ad with Billy Mays trying to sell me something...why does he have to yell so loud?

[DevilAlumna]

Okay, the new Burger King ads for their Mushroom Swiss burger are horrible! It's like someone saw the "Free Credit Report dot Com" ads, and said, "I know, let's make them less funny, with uglier people, and worse music!"

I'd almost rather watch negative campaign ads. Almost.

[Lavabe]

Any ad with Billy Mays trying to sell me something...why does he have to yell so loud?

In case his audience has difficulty picking up the smooth sounds of his FM voice.:rolleyes:

If it wasn't for his yelling, I'd have forgotten about one of his early pitches, KABOOM!:mad:

As for the ground auger, I remain unconvinced that yelling will help sell that product.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

I'm rather annoyed by the Progressive Insurance commercials. If I were interested in purchasing their insurance, the commercials would definitely turn me off and I would end up going with another company.

FWIW, the character in these commercials is FLO, and she is played by actress STEPHANIE COURTNEY.

This has been your trivia moment of the day.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[cf-62]

I dunno about that. The Mac commercials focus on the benefits of the product -- Macs are easier to use, the interface is less clunky, they crash less often and so on. The PC commercials say... lots of people use Windows, so get one so you can be like everyone else! Wonderful.


Matters of personal opinion. I know many MANY a user that simply cannot get work done with a Mac. Maybe for playing with pictures or home movies, the Mac interface works better, but after seriously trying for 6 months to make a Mac work at work, I had to go beg for a PC. And I'll elaborate on what the problem is -- if you have multiple docs, browsers, presentation, and spreadsheet files open, switching to the exact one from which you want to cut and paste is near impossible.

Of course, I really like the Mac commercials (Novell's Linux take-offs of them are better). The two that debuted this week, though, (about Vista advertising) show why Apple just never seems to turn the corner. They're not just competing with Microsoft - they're competing with H-P, Lenovo, Sony, Dell, Intel, and -- of course -- Linux.

[jimsumner]

Worst commercial ever?

Ring-around-the-collar. Not even close, IMO. Just putrid.

Worst commercial today?

Hmmm. So many contenders, so little time. I confess that during the baseball playoffs, the Frank TV ads almost drove me to throw a remote control through a big-screen TV, but that was as much a function of the fact that they ran them every single commercial break.

The Embarq-Free-TV woman-made-of-gold-commercial absolutely reeks.

As a genre, almost every buy-our-cell-phone plan commercial insults our intelligence.

I'm sure I'll come back with more.

[jimsumner]

Okay, that didn't take long.

Let me nominate the messing-with-Sasquatch ads. Beef jerky. Part of a weird genre of commercials that includes almost all beer commercials, in which a company seems to be saying "we market out products to complete idiots, people so stupid they don't even know we're mocking them."

[Lavabe]

Worst commercial ever?

Ring-around-the-collar. Not even close, IMO. Just putrid.

Oh yeah, thanks a lot jim, for reminding me about that whole genre from my childhood.:mad:

One back at you: the Calgon "Ancient Chinese Secret" commercials.:eek:

Warning: These are offensive AND putrid commercials.:o

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Lavabe]

Okay, that didn't take long.

Let me nominate the messing-with-Sasquatch ads. Beef jerky. Part of a weird genre of commercials that includes almost all beer commercials, in which a company seems to be saying "we market out products to complete idiots, people so stupid they don't even know we're mocking them."

See my post #3 in the "Man kills bear with a stick" thread from earlier this morning.

Agreed 1000%.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[jimsumner]

I'm flipping back between the World Series and the Ohio State-Penn State game. The latter keeps showing that Brooke Shields Pregnant Women Volkswagen commercial. I think it makes the short list.

[kinghoops]

greatest..... terry tate office linebacker

worst...... any political ad