# Again with the annoying commercials! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [June 28, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089 "2017-06-28T22:06:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 93
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1844 "2020-08-17T18:41:00Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I thought Motaur was created - like Robocop. Evidently Lady Gaga is one, and she claims to have been [born that way](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81s%2Bi2hv-eL._SL1500_.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1845 "2020-08-17T23:48:38Z")
Every night before Jeopardy! they play the same commercial - or commercials, however you want to look at it. A news-reporter-type woman is interviewing “Spokesperson Rob” from some ambulance-chasing law firm. Rob tells us how much free money we can get if we’ve been in an accident. Then they play another, unrelated commercial, after which news-lady exclaims “We’re back!” and Rob tells us more about how rich you can get if you’ve been injured. Finally, as they implore us to “call now,” there’s a shot of what looks like a very low-budget telethon, with ringing phone sound effects and a bunch of people sitting at tables with nothing but a single telephone in front of each of them, and a huge theatrical curtain behind the whole scene. As if these are the actual people who will answer when you call this shyster law firm looking for an easy payday. The whole little play is just stupid and ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1846 "2020-08-18T00:47:30Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > A news-reporter-type woman is interviewing “Spokesperson Rob” from some ambulance-chasing law firm. Rob tells us how much free money we can get if we’ve been in an accident. > > Then they play another, unrelated commercial, after which news-lady exclaims “We’re back!” and Rob tells us more about how rich you can get if you’ve been injured. Finally, as they implore us to “call now,” there’s a shot of what looks like a very low-budget telethon, with ringing phone sound effects and a bunch of people sitting at tables with nothing but a single telephone in front of each of them, and a huge theatrical curtain behind the whole scene. As if these are the actual people who will answer when you call this shyster law firm looking for an easy payday. You’d think they’d figure out that the very _last_ people who will respond well to having their intelligence insulted, would be fans of _Jeopardy!_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1847 "2020-09-02T04:47:06Z")
It’s ads like this one, from Senator Martha McSally, R-AZ, that make me not want to vote for that candidate. McSally is running for U. S. Senate against former astronaut Mark Kelly. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TMuhgTQABcw/hqdefault.jpg "Lemon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMuhgTQABcw) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1848 "2020-09-02T13:45:53Z")
Since when are a vice & power tools needed to create an app? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1849 "2020-09-02T14:03:24Z")
I’m willing to excuse that the power tools in that Farmers Insurance commercial as a metaphor, since an app is basically an abstraction. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1850 "2020-09-02T14:31:13Z")
I watched a marathon of…something, they seem to blend together at this point, I think it was Cobra Kai…on Netflix the other day. The way they set it up was watch 9 ads then no ads for the entire run, so, fine, cool, whatever. But the 9 ads were the same Limu Emu ad 6 times in a row, the a different Limu Emu ad 3 times in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1851 "2020-09-02T14:47:44Z")
That calls for sending Netflix threatening emu steaks. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1852 "2020-09-02T15:39:50Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > [Chewy.com](http://Chewy.com) commercial: “No one tells you what to expect when you get a new pet.” > > Uh, yes they really do. Maybe you’re not paying attention. And the clueless lady on the left wonders where to get leashes, bowls, etc. Uh… a local pet store? Walmart? Dollar General? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1853 "2020-09-02T17:08:05Z")
Local (?) personal injury law firm ad that starts with the guy saying that choosing a lawyer is too important of a decision to be made on the basis of a TV commercial, then spends the next 25 seconds telling you why you should choose his law firm. This is the same firm that, awhile back, was running ads featuring faked up newspaper headlines about injured people getting huge settlements, yet the photo accompanying each of these stories was not the victim, but the lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1854 "2020-09-02T20:49:58Z")
Has something exacerbated the relative challenge of gutter-cleaning? I’ve see ads for various gutter-guard products several times a day over the past few months, and can’t recall one before. They aren’t really annoying, per se, but the frequency is odd to me. Speaking of which - if you had an ad budget for a product that helps blind people who get their days and nights mixed up (which is surely a horrible problem for them and I’m sympathetic to their plight), would you spend it on teleVISION spots during the DAY? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1855 "2020-09-02T20:51:57Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > Speaking of which - if you had an ad budget for a product that helps blind people who get their days and nights mixed up (which is surely a horrible problem for them and I’m sympathetic to their plight), would you spend it on teleVISION spots during the DAY? That’s right up there with advertising ESL classes in English. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1856 "2020-09-02T22:24:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It’s ads like this one, from Senator Martha McSally, R-AZ, that make me not want to vote for that candidate. Oh, there are lots of reasons not to vote for her. For us, the silly one is that she bills herself as being a “fighter pilot”. She flew A10s. Which are way cool and i would fly one in a heartbeat, but they are NOT fighters. (Martha, what do you think the “A” in “A10” is for?) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1857 "2020-09-02T22:32:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > (Martha, what do you think the “A” in “A10” is for?) A fighter. :flees: ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1858 "2020-09-02T23:54:13Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > Has something exacerbated the relative challenge of gutter-cleaning? I’ve see ads for various gutter-guard products several times a day over the past few months, and can’t recall one before. They aren’t really annoying, per se, but the frequency is odd to me. Lots of people who used to be out at work most of the time, are home most of the time now. And their significant others are saying ‘honey, shouldn’t you get out the ladder and clean the gutters?’ And they are saying it A LOT. Hence the attractiveness of this solution: pay someone _else_ to do something to your gutters, so you don’t have to a) do something about your gutters, or b) listen to your significant other talking about you doing something about your gutters. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1859 "2020-09-03T11:36:15Z")
Lately, my biggest complaint hasn’t been a specific commercial, but a specific range of sounds that seem to be becoming ubiquitous in commercials: high-pitched whistle/squeak/flute/screech sounds. A local restaurant chain has bought what seems to be every third ad spot on Spectrum News, but they only have about 3 commercials and _all_ of them have an insipid little whistle playing behind the voiceover. That gorram [Mirror](https://www.ispot.tv/ad/o0w9/mirror-whole-body-fitness-machine-song-by-danger-twins) ad. There are others, but I can’t remember them off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1860 "2020-09-03T13:39:16Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Lots of people who used to be out at work most of the time, are home most of the time now. And their significant others are saying ‘honey, shouldn’t you get out the ladder and clean the gutters?’ And they are saying it A LOT. A few years ago there was a PSA about power line safety on local radio, which featured a man who was cleaning his gutters, when he accidentally touched the power lines to his house, and was electrocuted. It ended with the sound of his wife plaintively saying, “Mike? Oh, God, Mike!” Since hearing that PSA, I vowed never to clean my gutters again. You think I want to put my wife through that? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1861 "2020-09-03T15:45:43Z")
I was thinking of making an offshoot to this thread about inappropriate songs in commercials but I think that thread may have been done recently. So I’m going to add KFC’s commercial featuring Icona Pop’s I Love It to this thread. Sure, Royal Caribbean’s use of Lust for LIfe or Wrangler jean’s use of Fortunate Son may be more egregious, but you can argue that those company’s target audience is too young to know what those songs were about. I Love It is much, MUCH more recent and, not only that, it’s a song that their target audience still shout the words to for fun. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1862 "2020-09-03T18:27:56Z")
Well, yeah, duh, _the Lawyer_ gets the huge settlements. 😝 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089/1863 "2020-09-03T23:10:25Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > A few years ago there was a PSA about power line safety on local radio, which featured a man who was cleaning his gutters, when he accidentally touched the power lines to his house, and was electrocuted. It ended with the sound of his wife plaintively saying, “Mike? Oh, God, Mike!” > > Since hearing that PSA, I vowed never to clean my gutters again. You think I want to put my wife through that? You are truly an exemplar of virtue! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089.md?page=92) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-annoying-commercials/790089.md?page=94)