# Again with the commercials we hate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324 "2008-09-19T15:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/81 "2008-09-22T22:24:32Z")
I like the Free Credit Report singer. I have to change the channel when the Planters monobrow chick comes on. For some inexplicable reason, she makes me queasy. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/82 "2008-09-22T22:28:16Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Another thread reminded me of this: Ruby Tuesday (I think) commercial with a generic couple eating, when some tool pops up to grab the Tiffany lamp and lamely snark “the 80s called, and want their lamp back”. > > Only to replace it with a lamp that is _just as out of date_, and so lamer, 'cause it isn’t even a recognizable style like the Tiffany lamp. Ever since the commercial where they cheerfully smashed up a Tiffany lamp with a sledgehammer, I’ve decided I’ll never set foot in a Ruby Tuesday again. I’ve just remembered another set of commercials: they’re all for some kind of toddler food, and they feature the mother in front of the camera trying to talk while the little ankle-biters keep interrupting with some jarring squeals or other noise. Every time she’s interrupted, the mother starts her little speech at the beginning, regardless of where she was interrupted. And the mother always has this goofy, vacant smile plastered on her face. Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/83 "2008-09-22T22:43:00Z")
"The world calls us ‘small business owners’ " “But in reality there’s nothing small about us” If you’re such an idiot that you don’t understand a thing about how adjectives and modifiers work, I don’t think you’re going to be owning your own business for long. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/84 "2008-09-23T01:09:34Z")
[Hughes.net](http://Hughes.net) finally got rid of that obnoxious witch in the green that opened their ads;“Don’t believe it!”. The new one in blue is much nicer. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/85 "2008-09-23T18:38:01Z")
> [@cruel\_butterfly](#): > > I can’t stand ads that depict parents tolerating intolerable behavior with a wink and a smile. For instance, the commercial for Totino’s Pizza Rolls where just as the mom gets the plate out of the microwave, a hand crashes through the tiled backsplash, grabs one roll, and disappears. Her response? “Oh my! [chuckle chuckle] Well, okay then! [chuckle chuckle]” Other examples include paper towel ads and almost any household cleaning product ad in which some kid has virtually destroyed a room with mud/orange soda/crayons and mom just laughs and cleans up the whole mess with one swipe. Yes! I haven’t seen it in a while, but Comcast used to have one with a mother calling her grade-school age son’s school (from which he’s been expelled) and begging them to take him back. In the meantime, he’s in the background vacuuming fish out of an aquarium and setting the curtains on fire. It’s made clear in the comercial that she’s not calling because she’s concerned about his education or whatever, she just doesn’t want to deal with him anymore. How about you try actually parenting your child, instead of desperately trying to foist him off on someone else! Grrr. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/86 "2008-09-23T19:20:46Z")
I like Flo too, but agree that the “tricked out name tag” one is silly. And I like the E-Trade baby. Also hate the redheaded HughesNet woman, but my husband thinks she could do porn. ::shrug:: The Vonage ad is almost as bad, mostly because it’s on **all the time**. Most of my hate is reserved for [hotels.com](http://hotels.com) and the guys blowing bubbles in the guy’s bath. For one thing, a hotel bathroom that nice (fancy tiled tub) is probably gonna have a jacuzzi. For another thing, would you want two strangers watching you take a bath? And why would those guys care if the guy gives the hotel a good review? It won’t make their paychecks any bigger. As for Sally Field and Boniva, you’re supposed to stay upright (sit or stand, don’t lay down) and not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after taking it. It’s really no big deal to do that once a week. I think once a month would be harder to remember. I’m hating the Long John Silver’s ads where people are drenched as they eat their burgers. My husband loves the Sony ad where the guy says he doesn’t like sports and the chicken comes over the table at him. He laughs every single time! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/87 "2008-09-23T20:03:23Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I like Flo too, but agree that the “tricked out name tag” one is silly. And I like the E-Trade baby. Also hate the redheaded HughesNet woman, but my husband thinks she could do porn. ::shrug:: The Vonage ad is almost as bad, mostly because it’s on **all the time**. > > Most of my hate is reserved for [hotels.com](http://hotels.com) and the guys blowing bubbles in the guy’s bath. For one thing, a hotel bathroom that nice (fancy tiled tub) is probably gonna have a jacuzzi. For another thing, would you want two strangers watching you take a bath? And why would those guys care if the guy gives the hotel a good review? It won’t make their paychecks any bigger. My first response to that commercial was “So…if I use their service, they’ll blow me in a tub?” I’m still not convinced that wasn’t the real intent of the ad. I like the E-Trade baby, too. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/88 "2008-09-23T20:23:30Z")
I hate those damned “I’m a Mac” ads. I am not a violent man. I never was a bully in school. But I really want to give Macboy a wedgie and then stuff him in a locker. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/89 "2008-09-23T20:27:03Z")
Every time I open a browser window, and that goddamn smiley face ad appears hollering, loudly and obnoxiously and nerve-gratingly, “Helloooooooooooooo!? Helloooooo, heeeeeeee-ll_ooooooo_ooooooooo!!?” I get this inexplicable eye twitch. Can’t figure out why. _spasm_ ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/90 "2008-09-23T20:31:00Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > My first response to that commercial was “So…if I use their service, they’ll blow me in a tub?” I’m still not convinced that wasn’t the real intent of the ad. Yeah…I hope not, too. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/91 "2008-09-23T20:48:55Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > As for Sally Field and Boniva, you’re supposed to stay upright (sit or stand, don’t lay down) and not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after taking it. It’s really no big deal to do that once a week. I think once a month would be harder to remember. I switched from once a week to once a month. I put a reminder in my calendar. The reason it’s easier is because not only do you have to sit or stand for an hour (with the 1/mo version), but you have to take it on an empty stomach…with WATER! That means I can’t have coffee until the sitting/standing period is over. I’d much rather do that just once a month. I know…I’m a wimp. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/92 "2008-09-23T21:01:48Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Most of my hate is reserved for [hotels.com](http://hotels.com) and the guys blowing bubbles in the guy’s bath. For one thing, a hotel bathroom that nice (fancy tiled tub) is probably gonna have a jacuzzi. For another thing, would you want two strangers watching you take a bath? And why would those guys care if the guy gives the hotel a good review? It won’t make their paychecks any bigger. Wait – they’re _blowing_ bubbles??? I only see that one while I’m working out at the Y, and there’s no sound, only CC. It looks like they’re _drinking_ his bathwater through straws! … I try to blot it out of my mind, usually. Because, ick. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/93 "2008-09-23T22:03:39Z")
I like the tricked-out nametag one. Because I’m the kind of nerd who would be so excited about my new, custom name tag that I had to inject it into conversations with strangers. I’d also go to the trouble to find and design and buy a tricked-out nametag. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/94 "2008-09-23T22:06:28Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Yes gang, it is time once again to bitch about the commercials we hate. You know the ones I mean: they do a stellar job because we hate 'em so much that we are talking about them. They made us remember them, so give the advert guys a bonus. > > Mine right now are: > > The credit card commercial that is trying to make us believe their card is better than others because \*they \*don’t put cute pictures on it! I’m sorry guys, but if that is your differentiator, I’m not buying. Actually I think the point of that commercial is that certain cards are less BUSINESSLIKE than others. It’s like not wearing clogs when you’re trying to sell annuities. ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/95 "2008-09-23T22:13:16Z")
Any commercial where some kind of food object careens downwards at terminal velocity and spawns a tsunami of condiment from the impact crater/mayonnaise. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/96 "2008-09-24T00:28:52Z")
I watch a lot of things on Hulu, and one of the ads they show over and over and over and … is this woman who can’t manage her incredibly hectic life which involves getting one son to band, one son to football, and a daughter to ballet. Best Buy will sell her an electronic gadget to help! There’s something about that ad that just makes me burn with hatred like Satan with IBS. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/97 "2008-09-24T00:51:01Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Most of my hate is reserved for [hotels.com](http://hotels.com) and the guys blowing bubbles in the guy’s bath. For one thing, a hotel bathroom that nice (fancy tiled tub) is probably gonna have a jacuzzi. For another thing, would you want two strangers watching you take a bath? And why would those guys care if the guy gives the hotel a good review? It won’t make their paychecks any bigger. This one. This is what I came to post. It’s just so disgusting!!! The other one I hate is the Activia one with Jamie Lee Curtis (I think) interviewing someone about their digestive problems. I mean really- would YOU talk to Jamie Lee Curtis about your digestive tract? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/98 "2008-09-24T00:59:06Z")
There’s a Gillette Fusion Power Stealth Turbo Bastard™ ad currently playing on TV here - it’s apparently targeted at users of another Gillette product - Mach 3 Turbo. It consists of footage of three prominent sportsmen pelting a hapless would-be shaver with balls, to discourage him from shaving with the Mach 3. What I learned from this commercial: -Gillette thinks the Mach 3 product range is shit, but still sells it. -Sportsmen are fucking wankers. -Something about blades. ETA: Here’s the ad: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CicL-v4hHJM/hqdefault.jpg "Gillette Fusion Power Advert - Sept 2008") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CicL-v4hHJM) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/99 "2008-09-24T01:02:05Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The other one I hate is the Activia one with Jamie Lee Curtis (I think) interviewing someone about their digestive problems. I mean really- would YOU talk to Jamie Lee Curtis about your digestive tract? I know. Jamie Lee Curtis and gas? Nuh uh. Just saw another dumb one for fast food. People are watching TV and there’s this doofus in a van full of electronics and he’s breaking into their TV programming – not to take over the world or show us some porn, like any self-respecting saboteur would do – but to talk about tacos. Who’s coming up with this stuff? Trump’s apprentices would do better. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324/100 "2008-09-24T01:19:27Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I think she’s (the actress, not the character) in one of the Glade scented candles commercials, too…the one where the woman has her friends over for yoga class. She’s one of the friends. Her face isn’t visible for more than about 3/4 of a second total, but I’m pretty sure it’s her. Just when I thought I had nothing more to add to the thread… I hate those Glade commercials. Not content with having a pleasantly fragrant home and being a gracious host, she tries to affect some kind of elitist air and is a little bit of an ass to her friends. Then she further irritates me at the end by whispering to me “… and, yes, it’s Glade.” I know! We all saw you using it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-commercials-we-hate/464324.md?page=6)