If you’re going to make an “ironic” commercial geared towards teenagers, please do not insult our fucking intelligence by NOT EVEN TRUSTING US TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT’S IRONIC. FUCK YOU, YOU CONDESCENDING BASTARDS. I GET IT. I GET THAT THE SINGING, DANCING UNICORN ISN’T ACTUALLY MEANT TO ADVOCATE “BIG TOBACCO” PRACTICES. I GOT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMERCIAL, WHEN THE GUY WITH THE BIG FUCKING MEGAPHONE WAS SCREAMING IT INTO A CROWD.
I DID NOT NEED THAT SNOTTY SON OF A BITCH TO SAY, “THE MAGICAL AMOUNT?? ARE YOU SERIOUS??”
I HATED THE COMMERCIAL BEFORE THAT GUY SHOWED UP, BUT AFTER HE SAID THAT, I WANTED TO GO OUT AND INHALE 3 PACKS OF UNFILTERED NEWPORT 100’S AND BLOW THE SMOKE INTO THE FACE OF A NEWBORN BABY WITH ASTHMA.
I LOATHE these obnoxious FUCKING commercials.
I personally think it’s a clever commercial- although the “It Must Have Been A Typo” ad has a catchier song. Although I don’t always appreciate them, many of the American Legacy Foundation’s ads are appealing when they aren’t spreading lies about cigarette-smoking Muppets.
Sista. Knew I should have chosen a more feminine username…
Another thing that annoys me about this commercial is the actual subject. Which, in case you didn’t catch it under all the pretentious, sarcastic asshattery, is that tobacco companies manipulate the nicotine levels in their cigarettes. Because Big Tobacco is Evil, and everyone who works in the industry’s dearest wish is to watch as many Americans as possible die a slow and painful death.
Anti-smoking commercials, IMO, should let you know how the risks of smoking greatly outweigh the benefits. The fact that some members of the tobacco industry are less than perfect, or even are a little in denial about the dangers of their product, means absolutely nothing to me. We are all out to make money. There are shady characters in every business. It shouldn’t be Americans vs. Tobacco companies, it should be Americans *for *good health and longevity. But God knows that it’s easier to unify people with common hatred than with a positive cause.
Wow, that would be like beer makers adjusting the level of alcohol in their beer! People wouldn’t stand for that!
Honestly I smoke once every other month or so, but when I see one of these commercials I make a point of stepping outside and lighting up. It is very satisfying.
I thought the commercial was funny but then I am unhip* and rather obtuse.
*I know this to be true because I’ve never felt compelled to smoke and it’s not because I am impervious to peer pressure. I am shamefully easy to manipulate. But smoking is stupid.
Course, then you have that whole issue with the furies, and who wants to put up with them? They’re like your drunken Aunt Mable who always shows up at the Christmas party, even though no one ever invites her.
Those commercials are so annoyingly condescending as well as full of hatred for the tobacco industry.
I would imagine that young people don’t appreciate those commercials either and don’t really care too much about the tobacco industry itself. I would be really surprised if those commercials were effective at all. At least in terms of convincing young people not to smoke.
I think the effective way to do it is to use the techniques that other advertisers use when selling to young people. Don’t bother with facts. Just have ads that incorporate images of the non-smoking teenager who is hip and cool and who gets the pretty girl/cute guy.
