# Are Geico's Commercials Getting A Bit Surreal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381 "2012-04-10T17:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/1 "2012-04-10T17:05:41Z")
I used “surreal” up there, because I think someone on Mad Ave. is on something chemical. The latest one has a “taste test” of some kind of red juice which is purportedly Geico insurance. Taster tastes it and likes it, is then offered sample “Y” and almost chokes and spits it out. Okay, I get it: The spot is a takeoff on supermarket samples, but come on! It’s _insurance_ fer Chrissakes! If it’s something that tastes that awful, I think I’d be worried about a lawsuit.:rolleyes: I’ve come to like “Flo” (Progressive) a little better (although I don’t think I’d wanna kiss her with those too red lips of hers), and her spots are at least a little more entertaining, if a little tedious. But the Geico one? Would it make me wanna buy their insurance? What do _you_ think? 🙂 Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/2 "2012-04-10T17:23:14Z")
Haven’t they always been pretty surreal, as well as playing with ad conventions? ---
**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:** [April 10, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/3 "2012-04-10T17:35:26Z")
Yeah, the cavemen have always seemed surreal to me. Not to mention that whole talking gecko bit. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/4 "2012-04-10T17:45:03Z")
Okay, you guys! I give. You’re right. 🙂 I miss the cavemen though! Didn’t they have a tv show that was on for about 10 minutes? And, while we’re talking insurance commercials. That Allstate guy with his car up a pole and in the middle of what he calls his “house” (looks more like a storefront to me). How the hell do you run a car up a pole??? The tires are on the frickin _side_! And is that a _pager_ he’s wearing on his belt??? Okay, I’m done bitchin’ about commercials for today! 🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/5 "2012-04-10T17:49:38Z")
Just a thought: would 4 wheel drive propel a car up a pole? Q ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/6 "2012-04-10T18:47:34Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Okay, you guys! I give. You’re right. 🙂 I miss the cavemen though! Didn’t they have a tv show that was on for about 10 minutes? > > And, while we’re talking insurance commercials. That Allstate guy with his car up a pole and in the middle of what he calls his “house” (looks more like a storefront to me). How the hell do you run a car up a pole??? The tires are on the frickin _side_! And is that a _pager_ he’s wearing on his belt??? > > Okay, I’m done bitchin’ about commercials for today! 🙂 > > Q That’s for State Farm. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/7 "2012-04-10T19:03:03Z")
Yep. I stand corrected, thank you, **Kimballkid**. Not one of my better days, sorry. Q ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/8 "2012-04-10T19:32:00Z")
Maybe so, but I just \*love \*the “squirrel jail” one. It makes me giggle every time. “Justice!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/9 "2012-04-10T19:33:39Z")
[We just had a little Journey Moment there, didn’t we?](http://youtu.be/jriGDrB41nA) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/10 "2012-04-10T19:38:12Z")
The taste test on is _bizarre_! But the one where the baby shows his “shocked” face makes me LOL every time! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/11 "2012-04-10T19:38:27Z")
Yup. Promote guys’ cheating on their Significant Others. Anyway you want it. 🙂 Sorry! I said I was done, didn’t I? Bad day, buds. Glad you’re here, though. Q ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/12 "2012-04-10T19:39:44Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Okay, you guys! I give. You’re right. 🙂 I miss the cavemen though! Didn’t they have a tv show that was on for about 10 minutes? Yeah, they did, on ABC. It was actually really good. But it got a lot of bad publicity, just for being a sitcom based on a commercial. It was suspended after six episodes and then the writers’ site was the final nail in the coffin. They didn’t even broadcast all the episodes that had been made. By Superbowl time, the cavemen in the commercial were making fun of the sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/13 "2012-04-10T19:40:08Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > The taste test on is _bizarre_! But the one where the baby shows his “shocked” face makes me LOL every time! Me too! Don’t know how they do that, but **D** and I love those things every time they come up! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/14 "2012-04-10T20:58:49Z")
Need I mention three hamsters rowing to generate power for a laptop, while a little hamster coxswain shouts “row!” “And such an easy word, too.” ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/15 "2012-04-10T21:14:38Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Me too! Don’t know how they do that, but **D** and I love those things every time they come up! > > Quasi :smack: JUST realized I’m thinking of the E-Trade baby! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/16 "2012-04-10T23:41:40Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Need I mention three hamsters rowing to generate power for a laptop, while a little hamster coxswain shouts “row!” > > “And such an easy word, too.” Guinea pigs, actually. Funniest part to me is, why have a water tank and row at all? A wheel would generate power (and probably more efficiently). It’s such a harebrained scheme that his focusing on the difficulty he had _training_ the guinea pigs is all the more hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/17 "2012-04-11T00:24:27Z")
I’ve been taking a big break from TV lately, but with the NHL playoffs about to start up I will be subjected to Geico’s inanity on a nightly basis. I hope I can come out of it with my sanity intact… ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/18 "2012-04-11T01:14:09Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Yup. Promote guys’ cheating on their Significant Others. Anyway you want it. 🙂 > > Sorry! I said I was done, didn’t I? > > Bad day, buds. Glad you’re here, though. > > Q I think you sort of missed the point of that one. Personally, I saw it as kind of a gay joke (because it’s guys riffing on Journey), until he says “place was filled with hot chicks” which indicates the guy isn’t gay. And the fact that his now (not then) wife looks at him funny and he hangs up, means he’s not cheating. And to me it’s funnier than the one where the guy’s talking on the phone to some guy at 3:00 a.m. and his wife catches him. Not because I think he’s cheating, just the he felt he had to make that phone call at 3:00 a.m. to some poor guy working nights and probably doesn’t need this crap from some jealous wife. 🙂 “She sounds horrible!” “Well, she’s a dude.” Really? ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/19 "2012-04-11T01:22:06Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Guinea pigs, actually. > > Funniest part to me is, why have a water tank and row at all? A wheel would generate power (and probably more efficiently). It’s such a harebrained scheme that his focusing on the difficulty he had _training_ the guinea pigs is all the more hilarious. It is complaining about how long it took to train the coxswain since it is such an easy word to say that seals it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381/20 "2012-04-11T02:05:41Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > That’s for State Farm. They have another ad where that guy has somehow managed to drive his car through a corner of a building, leaving it stuck there like a bone through a tribesman’s nose. Oddly, his headlights still look intact. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-geicos-commercials-getting-a-bit-surreal/618381.md?page=2)