# commercials you love, hate or don't get **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046 "2009-02-16T04:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/81 "2009-02-17T19:30:07Z")
> [@alfonzos](#): > > Maybe because I’m a bachelor and just don’t get the husband-wife thing but the commercial for Cheerios … I find annoying. The one where Steve seems to digging himself a hole verbally by implying that his wife is eating cereal to lose weight. > > I cringe. This just seems like a doomed marriage to begin with. They’re obviously still fighting about something else from the night before and now it’s carried over into breakfast, dragging us down with them into their misery. Steve was stupid to bring it up and probably shouldn’t have even been in the kitchen yet to begin with. Take turns! What creeps me out most about that commercial is that they look more like brother and sister than husband and wife. They have the same sort of beady eyes and smushed faces and light brown wavy hair. Really creepy casting! EW! The one that makes me go 😕 is the one for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls that shows various people standing around clicking their heels and taking a big whiff of air in assorted random locales. They go home and BOING!!! there are rolls. So what? What am I missing? You smelled the air and there are rolls - isn’t that backwards? The tinkle-y music annoys me too. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/82 "2009-02-17T20:19:16Z")
I hate to even bring it up because it’s admitting that I’ve thought about this but Erin Esurance has given up all pretense of her day job and just shills insurance now. I guess there’s been layoffs around the international counter-espionage agency. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/83 "2009-02-17T20:29:07Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I kind of like the Brooke Shields VW ads. > I think the gist of the ad is customer sees a VW mini-van and thinks “That’s cool, I gotta have one.” > But society is saying to them “You can’t have a mini-van! Mini-vans are for people with kids.” > And the customer in turn is so desperate to have the mini-van that they will have children just to get one. > And Brooke Shields is there to report on this shocking behavior.😃 So there’s 2 of us that like that commercial. I also like the eyes-on-the-money Geico commercial. But then…I am a weird duck. ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/84 "2009-02-17T20:29:52Z")
I’ve seen this done by several companies (mostly local car dearlerships), but the one that sticks in my head is for Floors Direct. In the commercial, they crow that they will beat any competitor’s price by 15% or your floor is free! Huh? I wonder how many free ones they’ve given away? ---
**Author:** ![2\_Fat\_Cattle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/838e76/32.png) [@2\_Fat\_Cattle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_Fat_Cattle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/85 "2009-02-17T20:36:08Z")
I can’t stand the commercial for Netflix (maybe Blockbuster) where they show a lady watching something as the camera pans around to the back of her head. The back of her head is open and there are people watching a movie in there. I don’t like the expression on her face and the whole empty head thing creeps me out. I also dislike the America’s Best Eyeglasses ads with the photographs on cartoon bodies. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/86 "2009-02-17T20:43:06Z")
> [@2\_Fat\_Cattle](#): > > I can’t stand the commercial for Netflix (maybe Blockbuster) where they show a lady watching something as the camera pans around to the back of her head. The back of her head is open and there are people watching a movie in there. I don’t like the expression on her face and the whole empty head thing creeps me out. I can’t look at those either. I liked the earlier Netflix ads though – especially the one where the woman came home to the romance movie. Another one that’s fun (but I’m not sure what it’s for) is the one with the woman who kicks the bad guys out of her house because they’re too violent for the kids. They take it so well. Is it a PSA for the v-chip? ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/87 "2009-02-17T20:59:17Z")
Thank God Valentine’s Day is over so we don’t have to hear any more of those nauseating Kay Jeweler ads. They are all fucking annoying, but the one with Jane Seymour takes the cake. For one thing, her “open hearts” design looks like a butt. Then there’s her modest little goal of having her open hearts design become a universal symbol of love. Gaaack. I love the Hillshire farms “lunch meat on an aeroplane” commercial. My son and I always do the “FARM! GO MEAT!” thing at the end. I loathe whatever commercial it is that has that “Ground control to Major Tom” song as its theme. Hate, hate, hate it. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/88 "2009-02-17T21:13:53Z")
> [@blinkingduck](#): > > so there’s 2 of us that like that commercial. > > I also like the eyes-on-the-money geico commercial. > > **but then…i am a weird duck**. aAFLACK!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/89 "2009-02-17T21:14:37Z")
I don’t recall who it’s for but I don’t think the “open head” commercials are for Netflix. I want to say they’re for some gaming console but I could be wrong. Or they could be for the Netflix streaming capability for the Xbox 360 and we can both be right. Must be a real effective commercial, huh? > [@freckafree](#): > > Thank God Valentine’s Day is over so we don’t have to hear any more of those nauseating Kay Jeweler ads. They are all fucking annoying, but the one with Jane Seymour takes the cake. For one thing, her “open hearts” design looks like a butt. Then there’s her modest little goal of having her open hearts design become a universal symbol of love. Gaaack. Her painted heart thingie reminded me of the beginning of Hancock when Jason Bateman’s character is trying to sell that Caring Heart Whatever symbol thingie. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/90 "2009-02-17T21:14:57Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > aAFLACK!!! AND I like the aflack duck! My brother! ---
**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:** [February 17, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/91 "2009-02-17T21:34:24Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Then there’s her modest little goal of having her open hearts design become a universal symbol of love. Gaaack. Especially when her actual goal is to make money from this schlock. “Universal symbol of love”, my ass. Who the hell are they kidding with this crap? The AFLAK commercials are palatable because of the running gag with the black actor, who has a great face. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/92 "2009-02-17T21:43:45Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > When television is totally obsolete and they make a list of the alltime absolutely creepiest commercials, the #1 will be H&R Block’s one-eyed people. Hm, I came in specifically to mention how much I like that one. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/93 "2009-02-17T21:49:05Z")
Local car dealership ads…all of them but most especially the ones where the owner of the dealership feels it necessary to make their kids into shills for their dealership. The kids can’t act, the guy who owns the dealship can’t act they’re just pathetic. My my favorite (meaning the commercial I love to hate) is Appliance Direct. The owner is an asian guy with a bit of an accent and he’s talking about selling floor models except that he distinctly says fro modder. Cracks me up. Yes, I know it’s not nice to make fun of someone’s accent but this guy is just over the top. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/94 "2009-02-17T21:49:27Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Thank God Valentine’s Day is over so we don’t have to hear any more of those nauseating Kay Jeweler ads. They are all fucking annoying, but the one with Jane Seymour takes the cake. For one thing, her “open hearts” design looks like a butt. Then there’s her modest little goal of having her open hearts design become a universal symbol of love. Gaaack. MY daughter (who is 12) always says, “I’m Jane Seymour, and I hope my double-butt necklace becomes a universal symbol for love.” She’s a funny kid. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/95 "2009-02-17T21:49:41Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > And aren’t they like the only company to ever have their commercials/trademark figures turned into a TV show? Granted it wasn’t a GREAT show but it was definitely a show. [California Raisins](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284709/) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/96 "2009-02-17T23:47:35Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > From an advertising standpoint…Geico is an AMAZING exception to the rule > > You are never supposed to have more than one thing at a time that defines your company. Some of these never change (Tony the Tiger) some also change from time to time (Think McDonalds ads) but overall you want one central figure for your ads. > > Geico has three central figures going on all at once, all different from each other, and all equally recognizable. They have the cavemen, which I think was their first, then they moved on to the gecko; but never stopped making caveman commercials. Now they have the stack of bills with the eyes on it, and are running all three campaigns all at once. > > That breaks pretty much every rule in the ad book, but they work it beautifully and remain in the top spot in our minds because of it. Bravo Geico. Bravo. The Gecko came first. They also have the real-customer-testimonial-as-told-by-a-celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/97 "2009-02-18T00:06:18Z")
I’m currently liking the one where the man is going on a business trip, and his little girl hands him his briefcase. When he opens it, he discovers her stuffed monkey…so he uses his neato phone to send her pictures of the monkey in London, in the conference room, etc, then finally a picture of the monkey at the front door, and the little girl is so happy her Daddy’s home! I’m a mush. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/98 "2009-02-18T00:07:47Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > So there’s 2 of us that like that commercial. > > I also like the eyes-on-the-money Geico commercial. > > But then…I am a weird duck. And Cory makes 3. Ditto on the Geico-eyes-money ads. You’re on your own about being a duck. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/99 "2009-02-18T02:00:01Z")
> [@HolyFreakingMoly](#): > > I just saw a commercial this morning for some kind of dog food, tag line is “Why not get a dog?” or something close, but all these people have huge, ridiculous farm animals as pets… The last scene is of two guys throwing a frisbee for a cow, the frisbee hits the cow in the nose and the cow does, of course, nothing. Probably have to see it but it made me laugh out loud. Is that the same one with the old lady running after the ostrich, clapping her hands and yelling “Bruno! You bad bird!”? 'cause that part makes me laugh so hard I snort. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046/100 "2009-02-18T02:03:56Z")
I agree with the “butt dance commercial”. It’s not brilliant or anything, but I adore the little “Yay” dance the woman does. Also, the Alec Baldwin commercial for this “Hulu” thing is absolutely hysterical and I can’t not watch it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-you-love-hate-or-dont-get/486046.md?page=6)