# Commercials may have finally hit rock bottom **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198 "2022-10-13T17:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/81 "2022-10-16T16:48:13Z")
I came expecting to find what I consider the most annoying commercial of all time and was surprised to not see it listed! Lets check the categories 1. Host that _obviously_ has no problems? Check. 2. Super annoying catch-phrase? Triple (heh) check! 3. Absolutely zero content about need for product? In spades! 4. Earwurm / meme-ability? Dear gods, yes. 5. BONUS TRIPLE POINT SCORE: Homeopathic ‘cure’ which already has plenty of known options? BING BING BING BING BING BING BING We have a winner! I give you, “HeadON!” I accept your scorn for bringing this back to your attention. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f_SwD7RveNE/hqdefault.jpg "HEADON! Apply directly to the forehead!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SwD7RveNE) ---
**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:** [October 16, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/82 "2022-10-16T17:20:47Z")
That commercial was pretty bad, but I still think the [Kars4Kids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kars4Kids) ad was worse. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/83 "2022-10-16T17:29:03Z")
How about some love for the Venus shaver for pubic hair. > **[Ad of the Day: Gillette Venus cuts to the chase with singing pube redux](https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/07/14/ad-the-day-gillette-venus-cuts-the-chase-with-singing-pube-redux)** > > Gillette Venus is reprising its reclamation of pubic discourse with a music video grabbing the short and curlies by the short and curlies. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/84 "2022-10-16T19:09:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > and they can’t reach their crevices This is why some people have a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/85 "2022-10-16T21:17:17Z")
Cool so this is like the **CS** thread, except we can say fuck, n’shit. Rad. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/86 "2022-10-17T09:06:25Z")
We shan’t notice that we’ve had complaints about ‘feminine hygiene’ product commercials but no mention of all the commercials, aired in the same era, for ‘jock itch’ remedies. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/87 "2022-10-17T14:34:10Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Next you’ll be filling up the medicine cabinet with marbles, so’s to catch snoopers. Be sure to call me, there’s a tenner in it for you. 😁 Like this? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xIK0kzhEJzM/hqdefault.jpg "wanna get away?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIK0kzhEJzM) Whoever came up with this is an advertising genius. > [@wolfpup](#): > > At any rate, the idea of someone at a classy dinner party engaged in odourous activities in the bathroom and then trying to cover it up with an “air freshener” that turns out to be a foghorn that can be heard from ten miles away, is definitely an idea worthy of a Nobel prize, or at least the Mark Twain Prize for Humor. I will happily contribute whatever it takes to bribe the award committee. That idea is priceless bathroom humor. Thanks for sharing. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/88 "2022-10-17T14:41:56Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > the idea of someone at a classy dinner party engaged in odourous activities in the bathroom and then trying to cover it up with an “air freshener” that turns out to be a foghorn that can be heard from ten miles away It would be much easier to put out a can that ostensibly covers up a bad odor but actually makes a worse odor. I used to see such things in the Johnson Smith catalog. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/89 "2022-10-17T14:46:35Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > It would be much easier to put out a can that ostensibly makes odors go away but actually makes a worse odor. No, no, the whole point of the thing is that someone attempting to use a spray to mask an odour they’ve created instead announces their action with a hugely loud air horn! 😃 ---
**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:** [October 17, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/90 "2022-10-17T14:56:22Z")
Yeah, I know – you want [this sort of thing](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x308d7h). I’m just saying that there are other ways you can get people to announce their action, like chasing them out of the bathroom by creating an odor worse than the one the one they’re trying to cover up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/91 "2022-10-17T15:15:46Z")
Well, this thread went to shit. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/92 "2022-10-17T15:37:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > No, no, the whole point of the thing is that someone attempting to use a spray to mask an odour they’ve created instead announces their action with a hugely loud air horn! 😃 Some of us already come equipped with our own loud air horn that sounds in those circumstances. Often repeatedly. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2022, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/93 "2022-10-17T16:33:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, this thread went to shit. Here., let me spray this airfreshener, sitting right here in the thread. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YyzySBQLd14/maxresdefault.jpg "Seachoice Portable Air Horn Product Demo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyzySBQLd14&t=26) ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/94 "2022-10-17T16:38:40Z")
I understand the humor element (and would likely laugh myself), but I’m not convinced that you want to discourage people from spritzing some deodorant if they’ve dropped a load. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/95 "2022-10-17T16:43:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > And do we seriously need a deodorizer specifically targeting one’s ass? When I shower, I user a body wash for my entire body. i can’t imagine suddenly searching for different products for various parts of my body. That strikes me as ridiculous and a little weird. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/96 "2022-10-17T16:48:42Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > They moved indoors at some point after the first commercial. One of the original “Charmin Bear” ads, which, indeed, was a “bears shit in the woods” reference: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PAbvOJkZdJM/hqdefault.jpg "Charmin' Toilet Tissue Bear Commercial from 2001") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbvOJkZdJM) These days, if one pays close attention, one will realize that there are actually several different varieties of Charmin bears: - The red bears are used to sell Charmin Ultra Strong, and they obsess about “being clean” after wiping. - The blue bears are used to sell Charmin Ultra Soft, and they obsess about how soft the toilet paper is. - When the bears are brown, they are generally promoting the Charmin brand. [![](https://preview.redd.it/34h6ty9tzfg61.png?auto=webp&s=9dccfe965477f6cf05993d9d3f9902fb4e58e942) ](https://preview.redd.it/34h6ty9tzfg61.png?auto=webp&s=9dccfe965477f6cf05993d9d3f9902fb4e58e942) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/97 "2022-10-17T16:50:44Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > And do we seriously need a deodorizer specifically targeting one’s ass? > > When I shower, I user a body wash for my entire body. i can’t imagine suddenly searching for different products for various parts of my body. That strikes me as ridiculous and a little weird. Shampoo? It’s a new thing; perhaps it’ll catch on some day. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/98 "2022-10-17T16:53:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > These days, if one pays close attention, one will realize that there are actually several different varieties of Charmin bears: > > - The red bears are used to sell Charmin Ultra Strong, and they obsess about “being clean” after wiping. > - The blue bears are used to sell Charmin Ultra Soft, and they obsess about how soft the toilet paper is. > - When the bears are brown, they are generally promoting the Charmin brand. Fascinating. And leave to our keen-eyed ad man to see the details. I find it interesting that the blue = masculine color was chosen (no doubt after careful thought and/or focus group work) to represent comfortable softness, and red = semi-feminine color was chosen to represent rugged robustness. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/99 "2022-10-17T16:53:34Z")
Shampoo is just soap. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198/100 "2022-10-17T16:57:31Z")
Disclaimer: I worked at a personal-care products company for seven years; while I primarily worked on anti-perspirants, I also worked on haircare products for several years. Chemically, most shampoos are actually detergents, which are different (chemically) from a soap. One big difference is that soaps tend to leave films (“soap scum”) behind, especially when used in hard water. Those of us of a certain age may recall ads for Zest, in which they said, “Zest isn’t soap” (even though it looked just like a bar soap) – that’s because Zest was a detergent, in solid/bar form. > **[What’s the difference between a soap and a detergent? – Safe Household Cleaning](https://www.safehouseholdcleaning.com/difference-soap-detergent/)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-may-have-finally-hit-rock-bottom/973198.md?page=6)