I couldn’t think of a better way to put this. If you know a better word or phrase for the phenomenon, I’d love to know it.
The main theme is exemplified by Taco Bell when they try to create some new dance or hand gesture to allow Taco Bell insiders to pass along the code.
The one that I hate most is that “chipotle dance” that was running recently where the guy is doing some awkward looking dance move sort of thing to demonstrate that he is favorably impressed with whatever it is that the chipotle concoction is doing to his metabolism. His moves are then copied by bystanders who wonder what sort of hallucinogen he’s on.
Then there’s the little hand move for “good to go” displayed by the fans of the folded over soft shell glop meal-on-a-soft-shell whatever.
Surely you can name similar ones that you have to wonder what imbeciles in the ad company decided this would become the new thing for geeks who really need some new hand signals or dance moves to show how cool they are with the product or service.
That old Dr. Pepper gimmick with the dance company coming down the street all West Side Story like with “I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper, etc.” ditty, would be another example.
Still no clue. Either it didn’t play in this area or I managed to avoid it. Any particularly noteworthy features I might recognize?
One I’m reminded of is that Vonage use of the 5-6-7-8’s thing from Kill Bill that is ultra-annoying. I can’t help but think it’s a putdown of blues changes. One of the Chevy models (I’ve repressed which) used it for a while, too. But the main abuse was when there were all sorts of goofups going on behind the music, like the kid driving a golf ball through a plate glass window.
I don’t remember much of it. Guys wanting to use ‘leaper’ in casual conversation as in, ‘That’s leaper!’ (The ‘leaper’ is the leaping jaguar hood ornament.)
I don’t remember seeing the ad on TV. But then, I usually don’t watch commercials. ISTR hearing the ad on KROQ (L.A. radio station).
I don’t know if this counts, but I hate when companies try to make up nicknames for their own products.
Like Sunny D and KD. With KD meaning Kraft Dinner - I clarify this because I seem to recall that in the US it’s just called Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, or at least it used to be.
Yes, that’s the spirit of the thread. All those pompous displays by the ad department or agency to accelerate the acceptance of some previously unheard of idea. I can accept things like hula hoop, pet rocks, chia pets, to some degree since the public at least assisted in those things becoming fads. But when the company or their agents try to imply the fad is “already here” when it isn’t is the height of presumptuous gall to me. It makes me want to avoid the product or service so the sponsor will have to get another advisor for their advertising – or go out of business!
I seem to recall during my early childhood a number of companies attempting to get us to add, as a synonym for “cool,” “awesome,” etc., the word “tubular.”
The reaction - at least among Winnipeg fifth-graders - was distinctly unimpressed.
The champion corporation of all time of this sort of thing has to be Old Navy, who will present as the latest craze whatever surplus clothing they happen to need to get rid of. A few months ago it was “Everybody in madras,” because they had a lot of it lying around. The ads are slick and people fall for it. You have to admit, they’re good at it.
