# Most tone-deaf/out of touch commercials? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** commercials-ads\ **Created:** [July 30, 2026, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017 "2026-07-30T11:04:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/161 "2026-08-03T20:39:48Z")
“Out of touch” in the sense of failing to communicate: It’s been too long for me to recall the details (especially since I didn’t pay much attention at the time), but I recall that some years ago there was an ad campaign featuring animated talking cars aimed at women. The article I read that talked about it said that studies showed that women liked the ads, but had no idea _what_ was being advertised. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/162 "2026-08-03T21:18:18Z")
Was that those Claymation cars? I thought that was Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), but my memory ain’t… ummm, what it… zzzzzzzzzzzz ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/163 "2026-08-03T21:19:39Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > They could have borrowed the US Navy’s term: “Midrats”, short for midnight rations. Which is a limited meal prepared for the folks either starting or ending their work shift on the ship at midnight. I was just going to say - if you want chicken nuggets at midnight, then you’re having midrats ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/164 "2026-08-03T21:20:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Was that those Claymation cars? I _think_ so…or at least they looked Claymation, might have been CGI for all I know. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/165 "2026-08-03T21:20:40Z")
Mac and Me! ET was ugly-cute, but Mac was repulsive ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/166 "2026-08-03T21:49:31Z")
No, I think they were Chevron, pushing their fuel additive, Techron. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/167 "2026-08-03T21:55:29Z")
Bobby Darin’s son was not happy about ‘Mac Tonight’ and filed a lawsuit, so McD’s pulled it. Bobby Darin’s son was also not happy about being contacted by a previously unknown biological son of Darin’s, and thru a lawyer told him (the half-brother) that any further contact would be considered harassment. Gotta say, he’s protective of his dad. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/168 "2026-08-03T22:03:19Z")
One hell of a lot of ads are like that. I recall many examples of an entertaining story about [whatever], but what were they selling? I have zero clue. Not then, and not now. But the dramatic mastery necessary to stuff a three-act play into 30 friggin’ _seconds_ is a sight to behold. One of the modern miracles of the 20th Century. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/169 "2026-08-03T22:04:35Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > No, I think they were Chevron, pushing their fuel additive, Techron. Correct, it was for Chevron. The claymation was done by Aardmore Studios, which also does “Wallace and Gromit.” It looks like the campaign ran from 1995 to 2010; it was revived with a CGI version a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/170 "2026-08-03T22:18:48Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > A few months ago IndyCar sold an official teeshirt for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC that read “ONE NATION ONE RACE.” There is a large annual 12K race in Spokane, WA called Bloomsday. They had a similar billboard mishap this year: [![](https://thumb.spokesman.com/buAEMKkgMfCC4urGvVi9gX2DNj0=/1200x0/media.spokesman.com/photos/2026/04/06/69d41a4ae7f0f.hires.jpg) ](https://thumb.spokesman.com/buAEMKkgMfCC4urGvVi9gX2DNj0=/1200x0/media.spokesman.com/photos/2026/04/06/69d41a4ae7f0f.hires.jpg) Did anyone vet that? > **['OUR CITY, OUR RACE': Bloomsday officials remove billboard after complaints...](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/apr/07/our-city-our-race-bloomsday-officials-remove-billb/)** > > Bloomsday officials removed a billboard advertising the run that contained an unintentional double entendre associated with the word “race.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/171 "2026-08-03T22:32:20Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Aardmore Studios It’s actually Aardman Animations. [Wallace & Gromit - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_%26_Gromit) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/172 "2026-08-03T23:04:27Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Back in the 2000’s Taco Bell had a campaign that revolved around what they called the “Fourth Meal” - encouraging people to go to Taco Bell late in the evening, to order a substantial amount of unhealthy food after already eating three meals earlier in the day. I think this might be a case where you were out of touch because you weren’t the target audience. To be generous, Taco Bell was advertising to people who were out late having a good time. To put it realistically, Taco Bell was advertising to drunks and pot smokers. People who were suddenly going to have a craving for Taco Bell at 10:00 PM. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/173 "2026-08-03T23:08:47Z")
Or shift workers. The key message being: “You’re not stuck with just Denny’s anymore.” But yeah, I agree that it’s sorta unrealistic for anyone here to think that TB management actually expected rank and file America to suddenly decide that e.g. “Letterman’s over, time to go buy some truly crappy burritos!” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/174 "2026-08-03T23:11:00Z")
Have I ever mentioned that I hate prescription drug advertising? Anyway, a lot of those commercials, especially for cancer treatments are WAAAY out of touch. I also remember an ad for an Alzheimer’s drug where Grandma, who’s supposed to have moderate Alzheimer’s, is neatly dressed and coiffed, eating off a plate with utensils. Sorry, that’s not how moderate Alzheimer’s presents, even with “treatment.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/175 "2026-08-03T23:12:02Z")
Absolutely correct. In addition there are lots of people who because of a very unusual for them circumstance are out in the middle of the night and need food. Like maybe they had to take someone to the ER and they finally admitted at 10:30pm. You just want a little protein before going to sleep and you want it quickly. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? The quesadillas aren’t too toxic. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/176 "2026-08-03T23:18:42Z")
Absolutely.About 35 years ago, I had to take someone to the ER at 5 or so and was there until 11:30 (when the operation was over - a wait at an ER is bad, but when the doctors decide you can’t wait, that’s not a good thing), and I couldn’t find any fast food place that was open, which surprised and annoyed me (I had some canned soup at home). ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/177 "2026-08-03T23:31:57Z")
I’ve been in that approximate position; needing _something_ to eat after hours. I appreciated it when McDonald’s had all-day breakfast, because for me, an Egg McMuffin is the perfect little thing to get me through. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/178 "2026-08-03T23:33:53Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Bobby Darin’s son was not happy about ‘Mac Tonight’ and filed a lawsuit, so McD’s pulled it. I thought for many years that the character was supposed to be Stevie Wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/179 "2026-08-04T00:41:55Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Bobby Darin’s son was not happy about ‘Mac Tonight’ and filed a lawsuit, so McD’s pulled it. They’re damn lucky that Kurt Weill never had any kids… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017/180 "2026-08-04T00:43:19Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I used to see McDonald’s billdboard ads with a dude looking at a hamburger saying, “I’d hit that.” I’m pretty sure McDonald’s didn’t understand the phrase was an idiom for having sex. See, I always assumed they knew exactly what it meant, even if they protested to the contrary. It’s the exact sort of plausible deniability that would get them a bit of publicity without actually making them seem crass. And, yes, I think that’s exactly what’s happening with the stuff about a single race. They can pretend they don’t know what they’re doing while winking at the disproportionate number of racists in their audience. And I’ll add that Taco Bell basically pioneered being open late for fast food, and that fourth meal was just a good advertisement for that concept. Of course, they now compete with McDonalds which went 24 hours, and actually kept that up post 2020, unlike most other places. (Even the local Taco Bell closes for a few hours early in the morning, and only opens at 9am instead of 7 when they started adding breakfast to their menu.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-tone-deaf-out-of-touch-commercials/1032017.md?page=10)