MikeH / February 2, 2006 1:14 PM

Those Peyton Manning credit card commercials are funny...

DE-CAF! DE-CAF!!

Leah / February 2, 2006 1:30 PM

Even though I use Verizon, I LOVE the Nextel commercial with the guys dancing to Push It by Salt n Peppa.

It takes me back to roller skating days at the Wig Wam.

chocolatechipmint / February 2, 2006 1:32 PM

Annoying:
Peter Francis Geraci
Geico
Welch's Grape Juice

Favorite:
Toss up...
None, just change the channel
or the HP ones with the photographs.

kate / February 2, 2006 1:38 PM

I'm really confused by the commercial with the "Debbie Downer" trombone noise (Waaa-waa) and at the end it says "That's why monkeys live in the zoo!" ...huh?
I think the Tribune commercials with the little blue cartoon guy and the boppy music are cute.

Andrew / February 2, 2006 1:40 PM

I can't stand those Welch's kids. What was once possibly cute is now grating.

matty / February 2, 2006 1:46 PM

There was this commercial for a new Tostidos or whatever dip and all these people were eating it really gluttonously and then when they ran out they looked around and then simultaneously looked at the dog and the dog was like "oh no!" so then he went and looked at the cat and the cat was like "oh noes!!!??!111"

And then I saw that a few times and I was like, wait, those people were so hungry for more dip they were going to eat the dog? And then the dog was like don't eat me eat the cat? I mean, would the dog eat the cat and ten then people eat the dog? Would that be the only thing that could satiate their ravenous hunger? Why not just get more dip?

Then I changed the channel and forgot all about it.

m / February 2, 2006 1:49 PM

Hate:
The blue jean commercials using post-9/11 rah rah patriotic imagery to sell jeans as the anti-war, anti-establishment CCR song "Fortunate Son" plays in the background ... more arrogant than "Revolution."

I have to mute the "Woo-hooh, ooh-ooh-ooh" Vonage commercials.

The Toyota "zoom zoom" kid disturbs me.

And those "Where you at?" Boost commercials ... white advertising agency guys trying to appeal to "urban youth." I wish I could've been a fly on the wall in that meeting.

Love:
The Sprite "Sun Fizz" commercial from a few years ago. The stereotypical mom and kids in this commercial act the way people in real life would, running away and screaming in terror as the cute cartoon sun character on the pop bottle literally comes to life at their kitchen table. He runs after them asking why they'r afraid, since he's full of essential vitamins, etc. In the last shot, the camera zooms in on Mom, as she screams "RUN!!!!!" at her children. It was directed by Spike Jonze. http://www.migoto.com/western/HTML/work/cgi_sprite.html

I second the HP commercials. The Kinks are my favorite band and for some reason I was nothing but happy to hear "Picture Book" selling printers.

kelly / February 2, 2006 1:50 PM

there's a commercial for the radio station "love fm" on tv that i really like. it's an animation of 4 office workers in their drab grey cubicles and they look completely defeated until!

one of them turns on love fm. then they start smiling and shaking their fannies in their respective cubes (and pleasantville-style, they become colorful and bright).

i can't explain why i like this one, but it gets me every time (but i never tuned into the radio station)...

Bittersweet / February 2, 2006 1:50 PM

I hate the MGD (?) commercials where they won't sell beer to someone under 30. "But I'm 25! I'm a LAWYER!".

I agree with the Peyton Manning and Nextel commercials.

I'll also add the Bud Light ad with the guy who stays 2 minutes after 5 on a Friday. I can totally relate.

tina / February 2, 2006 1:52 PM

cheese you can listen to outside. love it.

j / February 2, 2006 1:58 PM

Oh come on ladies and gents, the Empire commercials, Menards etc... when these jingles come on I am transported to my youth in a wave of fuzzy nostalgia.

Currently the VW "On the road of life..." CRASH (text crashes and flies all over) commercial is earning a place in my heart

And I agree, I would do anything for 10 minutes alone with Peter Francis Geraci and a baseball bat!

m / February 2, 2006 2:00 PM

Found the Spike Jonze Sprite spot: http://highindustrial.com/movies/sprite-sun-fizz.mov

holden / February 2, 2006 2:01 PM

i like those Nationwide Insurance ones, "Life comes at you fast."
I've seen the ones with MC Hammer, one with the draft pick, and one with the kid and his science project robot.
funny.

carrie / February 2, 2006 2:06 PM

At first they scared me, but I've come to love the random Burger King creepy king commercials. I don't know why, I just do.

The new Starburst one with the klepto makes me laugh.

The weird dancing/singing things from the Quizno's commercials also made me laugh. Everyone I know hated them. "here at quiznos we accept any coupon..."

I hate the Welch's ones, too. The kids are always ugly and can't talk.

The new Bally's gym one where the guy is "just trying to cop a feel" is icky to me. That should never be said in a commercial.

I kind of miss the hideous Eagle insurance ones. As terrible as they were, they were really pretty great.

hench / February 2, 2006 2:07 PM

i don't have tv, d/l no-commercial tivo'd shows instead...

my favorite tho would be the ones for downer's furniture in springfield... where you always get a free onion.

also the tv station in northeast florida that only plays a loop of commercials for 'appliance direct!' two wigged out people yelling "appliance direct!" over and over while making googly eyes at washer/dryer combos... totally awesome & drug-soothing.

jenwomon / February 2, 2006 2:07 PM

I LOVE the commercial with the dancing office guys but I had no idea it was for nextel. It continues to crack me up, no matter how many times I see it.

saraheva / February 2, 2006 2:09 PM

I think the peer pressure ads with the squished teens are coming from a good place, but I can't imagine a 16yo who will identify positively with that visual communication. I want it to be compelling, but it's just not.

and regrettably, I love the lexus h ads, with the spontaneous, heart-breakingly beautiful de/reconstruction of an electric car and an suv. I know in my heart that it's evil, masquerading as environmental responsibility, but I can't take my eyes off of it. it's also a fabulous marriage of concept and graphics.

so, suv ad budget wins over social good ad budget. sad but true.

Gum Friend / February 2, 2006 2:19 PM

I was always partial to the trailers for Garfield: The Movie

Avril / February 2, 2006 2:51 PM

I hate the following:
1. ALL of the new U.S. Army commercials
2. Any Capital One commercial with David Spade and the effeminate fat guy
3. ANY Welch's Grape Juice commercial (They've been using the same ad campaign for too long.)

But I'm Lovin' the newish Trib commercials with the cute characters and perky music!

I miss the United Airlines commercials with Gershwin playing in the background.

sarah / February 2, 2006 2:55 PM

i can't remember what the product is, but what's that commercial where the tag line is "people make dumb choices all the time?" let's say it's geico, even though it's not. the commercial says, "people make dumb choices all the time. that's why there's geico." it's right up there with "nothing sucks like an electrolux."


of course, the best commercial of all time is the EAGLEMAN insurance commercial, complete with a male eagle laying an egg. but the best commercial of ALLL time is the little ceaser's commercial with the fake cheese that slowly slides out of a can and then keeps bouncing higher and higher like flubber. ("hey man...what is that?")

kate / February 2, 2006 2:57 PM

I forgot about the Perillo BMW commercials!
The slicked-back hair guy saying in a really thick Chicago accent "When you think caarrrs, think Perillo..."
Cracks me up every time. Thank you, family-run businesses for putting your homegrown boys in your ads.

katie / February 2, 2006 3:01 PM

I really, really HATE those Six Flags commericals with that dancing old guy (who looks kind of like uncle junior) and the annoying techno music. I shudder just thinking about it.

I like the careerbuilder commercial where the guy works in an office with a bunch of monkeys. Mostly because I identify with that guy.

slb / February 2, 2006 3:01 PM

i haven't had a tv in so long that seeing commercials now feels very strange. they seem so surreal, so crassly manipulative (yes, i know that's what they're for- it's just painfully obvious to me now), and hyper-annoying...

and now, to flash back to the previous thread, the empire carpet theme is stuck in my head. em-PIIIIIIIRE!

sky / February 2, 2006 3:06 PM

I can not believe no one has mentioned the commercial with the foot fungus where they lift the toe nail. Seriously, most disgusting ever!!!!!

flobear / February 2, 2006 3:10 PM

I love the Vonage one with the lobster in the background, and then his tail gets stuck in the door. It's great.

Plus, out east, the McDonalds are serving Green Mountain Coffee so they are hyping it up. They send a guy out from the office to the McDonalds to get some coffee, all are standing by the window as they watch, he takes a sip, then looks up, smiles, and gives a thumbs up. The office cheers.

Man, and I watch less than an hour of TV a day!

jima / February 2, 2006 3:21 PM

There's an excellent Spike Jonze Gap commercial that was discussed in Slate last December. They complained that the Gap was squandering it, because it's an ad for Gap stores that are being remodeled, so they only showed it in certain cities, when Slate argued that it was so great that it should have been used in a nationwide campaign.

For local commercials, my favorite would have to be for Your Snappy Shop, a dress store on W. Irving Park Road that features in its TV ad a pair of elderly women (I'm guessing they're employees) holding dresses in their arms and sort of rocking back and forth, as if trying to hypnotize you with the sparkly dresses. The ad airs late nights on Channel 7, and I usually see it when I've set the VCR to tape Ebert & Roeper Saturday nights.

Stephen / February 2, 2006 3:24 PM

SMITHE. With an E. They drive me nuts in a "family values" / Dan Quayle kind of way... but have you seen the Smithe-with-an-E guys in those bucket boys KFC commericals? What. The. Crap.

I like anything involving auto auctions though, especially if some no-name wannabe R. Kelly is singing in it. Also, this one takes the cake.

Mo / February 2, 2006 3:27 PM

I LOVE the Burger King ads. So weird and unnerving. And I'm sorry, but I loved the old iPod commericals that put music on top of an incongruous scene.

I hate the United (?) airline commercials that are animated, and one has a guy who goes to an interview wearing 2 different shoes,and one shows a man getting old and retiring. My god, are these spots an hour long or what? I feel like I'm actually getting old with that man when it comes on.

hater / February 2, 2006 3:29 PM

I hope no one takes offense to this, but generally I find a lot of good old fashioned self-righteousness on these threads. Which is okay as long as it's tempered with humor and humanity, which it often is here. But the one day I'd actually like to see some of that holier-than-thouness, it is no where to be found!!!

I expected (and would've applauded) a lot of the "I don't watch TV" crowd to stand up and say some very smart things, like: I'd rather play second-rate fiddle in a fourth-rate jugband than watch anything on TV--especially commercials!

Now, I don't consider myself to be the kind of person who takes things too seriously, but
the fact of the matter is, no matter how cute, funny, relatable, annoying, whatever commercials are, their whole raison d'etre is TO SELL YOU SOMETHING. And for me, personally, that takes all the fun out of it.

Stephen / February 2, 2006 3:29 PM

Forgot to mention how much I adore this Adidas commercial that Spike Jonze directed.

clodius / February 2, 2006 3:29 PM

For some reason, I like the Sprint ad with the business exec talking about sticking it to the Man.

Has anyone else noticed how messed up those Outback Steakhouse ads are, the ones where receiving boomerangs to the head compels everyone to go to Outback?

Not even blunt force trama could get me dizzy enough to eat there. I've lived this long without eating Xtreme Mango Chutney Garlic Poppers(tm), I'm sure I'll manage to go on.

And those Applebee's ads. "Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood"? Find me a person who lives within 500 yards of an Applebee's who isn't that homeless guy camped out under the TJ Max loading dock.

anna / February 2, 2006 3:52 PM

Anyone who lived in Champaign-Urbana (or surrounding communities) in the early 90s has got to remember this:

Scene -- a woman in an old-fashioned nurse's outfit walking down a busy street, right past a car dealership. There is a woman standing at the front of the dealership, near the sidewalk:

Woman (deadpan): Ma'am, why are you walking? You should be driving a car.

Nurse (deadpan): I just went through a divorce, and I had to declare bankruptcy. I have a good job, but nobody will finance me.

Woman (deadpan): If we can provide financing for her -- and we will! -- we can provide financing for you.

Then they say the name of the dealership, which I've forgotten, and then at the end they say "In Mattoon -- of course!". To this day I can't hear the name Mattoon without thinking 'of course!'

Alex / February 2, 2006 3:55 PM

really, really HATE those Six Flags commericals with that dancing old guy (who looks kind of like uncle junior)

Katie! I'm at work and just snorted coffee and started cracking up at my desk while reading that.

I can never see The Sopranos in the same light ever again....

leah / February 2, 2006 4:11 PM

I have a love/hate with that Mountain Dew commercial with the nocturnal singing animals.

Effing singing animals are my weakness.

The Eagle insurance ones were great, too. That was that moronic Mancow in some of them, right? Urban legend has it...

eep / February 2, 2006 4:13 PM

Those old Pepsi ads with Hallie Kate Eisenberg are my most-hated commercials of all time. I know she was just a kid, but every time I saw those chipmunk cheeks, pointy chin, and beady eyes, I just wanted to reach through my TV screen and punch her.

My most hated "hometown" commercial was for Biggers Mazda a few years ago. "We are. The Mazda Machine. On Route 19!" It was like a bad Devo rip-off jingle where people did the robot in the background. What, are we stuck back in 1983? That really doesn't make me want to buy a Mazda, people.

My favorite commercials now have to be the Burger King ones. I've always loved them, and will continue to laugh like a fool every time I see them.

Leah / February 2, 2006 4:15 PM

But didn't Walter E SmithE go out of business and aren't those brothers now in the KFC commercial with the Chicago Bucket Boys?

Erica / February 2, 2006 4:20 PM

Mo -- notice, too, that United's commercials and print ads are always white, middle-aged white-collar men? Because no one else flies the friendly fucking skies, you know.

I also hate car ads (any product, actually) that takes an indie/underground band and uses thir music to promote its brand. M.I.A., Catpower, Modest Mouse (that one's dating back a bit) ... I could go on. It's gross.

Music and product should not go hand-in-hand. Of course I realize M.I.A., for example, did not sign her song away, but some exec did and I'm sad about that. Especially because her message seem/ed kinda art-core/DIY and anti-corporate, etc.

Perch / February 2, 2006 4:34 PM

"Eagle Man...brrrring (giant egg is laid)...Wow, look at those low rates." Classic.

What about the Gillespie Auto commercials? They are awesome...866-FUN-Chevy

Co-signed on the Nextel dancing guys, especially the guy on the right who just looks so serious about his dance moves.

NSH / February 2, 2006 4:58 PM

National Auto Wreckers, where the guy opens the car door and it falls off. It's so hypnotising.
And it's been running for what? 25 years and counting, that's gotta be a record of some sort

bensch / February 2, 2006 5:24 PM

This ad for French Vanilla Cool Whip really gets under my skin. It was running back to back on some networks over the holidays.

Leelah / February 2, 2006 5:58 PM

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Moo and Oink....

The nextel ad is my ABSOLUTE favorite. I'm hypnotized by the dancing guys, and I laugh every time I see it, and I've seen it about a million times.

My current most hated is a Bay Furniture for Lovers (I think) ad. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be tongue in cheek or what, but it is horrible.

april / February 2, 2006 6:04 PM

Stephen- Arrrgh! I hate the Smithe with an E guys!! You guys aren't funny...with a Y!!!!

paul / February 2, 2006 7:36 PM

I am constantly reminded that I watch too much TV everytime I see one of those damned cell phone commercials that they've been repeating since the summer (every company that services Chicago has been doing this). God, please buy me a TIVO.

My most hated commercial is for Olive Garden where the grandfatherly patriach from Italy is taken to Olive Garden for his first meal in America. "When you're here, you're family". Yea right, if I tried that with my relatives I'd be sleeping with the fishes.

michelle / February 2, 2006 9:18 PM

Just last night I saw a commercial on TNT for Sultan's Market on North Ave - it was a couple that was attacked by a falafel muppet as they were discussing how wonderful the falafel is at Sultan's, and how other falafel is 'fal-awful." The muppet was amazingly cheesy, but it was a great ad.

And yes, the falafel is awfully tasty there.

Haha / February 2, 2006 10:31 PM

I've got a lot to say about commercials:

Worst: Smithe Furniture--an entire ad campaign built from LAME, forced outtakes. Esp the U2 parody. WTF?

Other worsts: the T Mobile commercial where the dad bursts in on his kid, who is in a dress and putting makeup on, and rather than freak out at his gender bending (so unacceptable!), the dad berates him for going over his cell minutes. I was surprised that no one caused a fuss over that one. That was a real low.

Kyra Kyles, the fake journalist from Red Eye, bravely spoke today about the Cher-ubic Weight Watchers commercial, and I have to agree with her thoughts.

I was also miffed by the SR-22 insurance ad (Lincoln Insurance?) where a scantily clad woman is in a courtroom for not having insurance, and tells the judge "she'll do anything" to not get in trouble. So the judge gets googley-eyed (literally--prop googley eyes were attached to his face) and he takes her to his chambers for a good old fashioned boffin', and afterward she is allowed to go free. Thank you, sexist advertising, thank you!

Best: Nextel's "Push It" ad, iPod ads (esp with the "Let it Out" song by Caesar). AND OF COURSE...SYBARIS! Sybaris had the most amazing ads a few years ago, where a man calls to confirm his reservation for the leather swing room or something, and all I can remember is the woman desk clerk saying in a very unconvincing tone, "Everything will be in order for your special evening, Mr. Jones." Great montage of heart-shaped beds and hot tubs. Ah, Sybaris.

printdude / February 2, 2006 10:33 PM

I have to say that my favorite tv commercial remains the Vitocry Auto Wreckers commercial with the 70's guy having his door fall off on him. i have made my own lines up for this commercial, too many times to count. Big time soft spot.
I cannot stand and will turn off the radio everytime that Auzzie come on the radio promomting his VW's from the Autobarn. he chaps my hide like no tomorrow. i want to shove a tailpipe in his mouth.

The newest Nike one, with AC/DC's " Rock and Rocll ain't noise pollution" gets me every time and makes me want to turn up the volume - it's far more the music that the commercial, but then they had that kickass Lance one with the birds and great footage, os it's a balance...

joshua / February 3, 2006 1:45 AM

this is a honda uk spot from Wieden + Kennedy (nike ad shop). it's called 'choir' and really brings the car to life as a source of art.

http://84.40.3.164/

girlwithaspirin / February 3, 2006 2:44 AM

Not much makes me rewind the TiVo... and I work in advertising. Sad, that.

The HP spots are brilliant. I also love the FedEx spot with one employee (the only remaining employee) sitting in a meeting with the boss. But hands down, my current favorite is the Cheese Nips spot. You know the one, right? A guy in a glassed-in cubicle watches as his co-worker accidentally sits on a sealed bag of Nips, exploding the entire office in a glory of cheese dust. The effect is so dead on, I giggle madly every time.

girlwithaspirin / February 3, 2006 2:46 AM

I forgot to mention: Joan Cusack for US Cellular? HATE.

mike-ts / February 3, 2006 3:13 AM

Best: Car sellers Big Daddy Woo Woo and his midget sidekick Half Off, whose only job is to snarl "half off" at the camera whenever Big Daddy tells him to.

slb / February 3, 2006 8:26 AM

i saw that nail fungus commercial with the lifted up toenail in a bar where i was eating, and i nearly threw up all over. it's the sickest, most fantod-inducing thing ever. shouldn't there be a law against it?

Spook / February 3, 2006 9:27 AM

very sad, very sad indeed

jen / February 3, 2006 9:38 AM

first things first:
the six flags old guy is really dude from queer eye... so, um, there's that.
second, i agree about the dermaphrodite (sp?) commercial about the nail fungus being the nastiest commercial EVER.

also, has anyone seen this commercial:
(i forget what it's for, but it was amazing....)
scene: little girl on a swingset. fish sticking out of the ground (we're talking 4' fish here). girl runs away.
"afraid of fish?" blah blah name of product here.

anyone?

matty / February 3, 2006 9:56 AM

Is anyone reading anyone elses comments?

You guys are posting the same thing over and over.

karen / February 3, 2006 10:10 AM

love...digger the dermatophite selling lamisil...
i SO want to be "digger" for halloween and have a
friend be the lamisil tablet where they chase me
around all night long.

hate...maxipad commercials where they marvel over
the products absorptive qualities by showing a woman pouring blue liquid onto the pad. so rank.

anne / February 3, 2006 10:34 AM

Hate: the Charmin cha cha bear commercial where the big bear tells the little bear "you're not clean yet" and to demonstrate how "not clean" the bear is they show toothpaste on someone's hand and when you wipe, some is left behind when using just dry tp paper instead of the wet wipes version. I can't look at toothpaste the same again. Also, hate all Nutrisystem commercials with that girl from Joe Millionaire. I cringe when she says "I can't believe how good it works!" Does it work good? Really?
Love: like everyone else - the Nextel dancing guys commercial and the Sprint THE MAN commercial "so you're sticking it to yourself" ; "maybe"

70s dude / February 3, 2006 10:41 AM

Here's the Victory spot.

Love it.

http://www.flatalbert.com/mg/victoryauto.mov

spiraljetty / February 3, 2006 10:44 AM

I also love the Snappy Shop ladies! And Victory Auto Wreckers! I love the shot when the money is handed to him, and it's four $20 bills.

Also, Tile Outlet, although they've replaced the old spokesmodel with another blond who also looks like she stepped out of the 80's.

There used to a terrible one for the Ford Focus, a PUNK ROCK cover of the nursery rhyme "Farmer in the Dell" but the lyrics were changed to "Buy a Focus get a Dell." Ew. Buy a crappy car and get a crappy computer free. Ew.

Annie / February 3, 2006 10:50 AM

Hate: Kristi Alley. She's not funny, I don't care if she's fat or skinny.

Pillsbury was running commercials a few years back that were very "family values" oriented. The stay at home mom is thankful that Pillsbury now makes these individual rolls so she can have dinner on the table when her family is ready to eat. I still don't buy anything from Pillsbury.

Love: Burger King. This Guinness ad.

Joe / February 3, 2006 11:02 AM

Primary season is coming up for the 2006 election, so I am holding my pick for "worst commerical" until we are absolutely inundated with commercials from politicians.

Also..who is the green eyed cutie in the rearview photolog today? I want to ask her out (or at least flirt with her)

Cary / February 3, 2006 11:28 AM

Two words: "Big Boy"

steven / February 3, 2006 11:58 AM

I can't stand the Walter E. Smithe commercials, with those 3 brothers trying to be all hip and cute and edgy. And now they're in other product's commercials. Argh.

Fav commercial at the moment: the phone/itunes ones where the girl/guy is walking down the street, but their reflection is dancing to the music. awesome.

Carrie / February 3, 2006 11:59 AM

Oh god, what was that online pet store that went out of business a few years ago? They had the funny dog puppet. He's made a comeback with an auto insurance company, at least I think it's auto insurance. Anyway, his first round of commericals were great. He was very funny.
He's kind of lost his appeal with his new company. Poor pup.

matty / February 3, 2006 12:03 PM

At Cellozi and Edison Cheverolet, in Elmhurst, "Where You'll Always Save More Money"

steven / February 3, 2006 12:13 PM

I second the Cheetos/orange puff cloud in office commercial.

I'll raise you the Bud Light robot ad, where the midget is in the robot suit, but his owner thinks it's actually a robot. He runs off of Bud Light. Best part: at the end the robot is in the bathroom and the wife is sticking her head out of the shower saying to the husband: "Honey, the Bud Light robot is creeping me out again."

Flynn / February 3, 2006 12:24 PM

Anyone else keep seeing the new US Customs & Border Patrol commercials and waiting for a punch line at the end that never comes? It's like they watched A-Team, Megaforce, and Reno 911 and thought, "Hey, let's make a commercial that looks like THAT."

Pete / February 3, 2006 12:43 PM

If anybody can come up with old video for any of the following advertisers, I'll be your friend for life (or not your friend, if you prefer):

1. Bert Weinman Ford
2. Harry Schmerler Ford ("Your Singing Ford Man")
3. Jim Sorenson Chevrolet ("You're a good wife, Carol." "You're a great Chevy dealer, Jim.")
4. Tower Oldsmobile (with the rotating Olds Toronado)
5. Union 76 (with Murph, Nick & the gang)
6. Tru-Link Fence (with Jack Brickhouse wearing yellow blazer)
7. Danley's Garage World
8. The College of Automation (with old-school rap jingle)
9. Tomczak Ford (with kid in sheriff outfit)

matty / February 3, 2006 12:57 PM

Oh i have one to beat you all. You have to have grown up here to remember it though:

DO LIKE STU AND YOU'LL DRIVE TOO!

PUSH IT! PULL IT! BRING IT TO GOLF MILL FORD!

And stu was this really really fat guy and all the text was in crazy early 90's flourescent colors!

Also one of the best of all time was the Loop one that they redid of the fat kid dancing and the hot chick walks past him and he walks with her but comes back to dancing.

Classics!

Carlotta / February 3, 2006 1:00 PM

I don't watch a lot of TV, but my favorite are for United Airlines, with the beautiful illustration, the slow motion animation (if you can call it that), and the simple yet effective stories they tell. They harken to emotions we can all relate to, regardless of race or gender -- anxiety, hope, jubilation, affection.

The commercial I hate to like: the Chicago Trib ones with el cheapo silhouetted figures doing dumb things with stupid background techno muzak. I despise them yet I find them strangely compelling, like junk food.

The commercial I hate: I can't remember which company it is, it's with two 20-something slightly overweight guys gyrating to loud music in a glassed-in office and an authority figure comes in to ask what's going on, the commercial ends with them still goofing off because the commercial's sponsor is taking care of everything for them.

Lody / February 3, 2006 1:12 PM

I like the commercial with the guys dancing to the salt n pepa song and also the one with the "man" talking about getting such a good deal on his cell phone and it's his way of "sticking it to the man". And his underling is like "so you're sticking it to yourself then" and the boss is like "maybe..." That just kills me.

I hate the cheetos commercial with the orange cloud.

wrecks / February 3, 2006 1:18 PM

I know *someone* who can't get enough of the "Garnier Fructis" ads.

I second and third the votes for the Snappy Shop (I love their color coordinated display windows too) and Victory Auto Wreckers, a vintage ad that still does the job.

jim / February 3, 2006 1:27 PM

What about those fantastic Room Place commercials with everyone dancing all crazy to the jingle "at the Room Place -- great looks for less!"

Or the ads for some other furniture store where it's animated in a really cheap way and the whole commercial is sung, and it goes something like "a dresser for his boxers", etc. And then they say you don't have to pay until 2016 or something, and they show the young couple now and then in 10 years with kids -- still sitting on the same couch. You have to wonder if those are intentionally bad.

Both of these commercials tend to play during morning news shows.

Staci / February 3, 2006 1:34 PM

I hate the Kirsti Alley commercials and the Suzuki commercial where the guy dives off the cliff to get into his car. I just hate the song that goes along with it.

I love the dancing Nextel guys and the sausage commercial where the dad of the family is the sun. I always laugh when his daughter asks him why he needs to have a more convenient breakfast and he says, "I have to get up early to light and heat the earth." I like it.

Adrian Holovaty / February 3, 2006 1:34 PM

If you're a fellow Victory Auto Wreckers fan, don't miss this Sun-Times article all about the commercial.

Excerpt:

"The Victory Auto commercial has been running on local TV stations nonstop since 1981, sometimes as often as 25 times a week. It may well be the longest-running unchanged commercial in Chicago TV history.

"And the skinny guy is Bob Zajdel of Elmwood Park. He is 45, drives a truck for a living and says he wasn't acting when he jumped back from that falling door."

spiraljetty / February 3, 2006 1:53 PM

Oh how can I forget. Matty, this could even rival Golf Mill Ford...

My name is Geek, I put em on as a shocker,
Man, I love these Blu Blockers, uh!

Blu Blockers mp3

Steve / February 3, 2006 1:53 PM

I really, really cannot stand the Tribune techno theme music. It's like prozac administered aurally. Makes me appreciate the TiVo all the more.

How can we have a sucky ad discussion without bringing up the Noid? I mean, it was nice to see Dominos wasting money on that campaign instead of funneling more money to anti-abortion groups, but still.

Local car ads always kick ass. Harry Schmerler, heh. Stu was still pushing Golf Mill Ford at some point in the past few years, much to my amusement. There was a great one on Rockford TV back in the day with some old woman yelling "Don't you buy no ugly truck" in a really demented hillbilly voice that always got me.

I still have to wonder about the wisdom of advertising for "adult talk" during the hours that only the unemployed are up watching TV. I mean, do they just rack up huge phone bills, then declare bankruptcy? Who are these people?

Seacrest out.

Steve / February 3, 2006 1:56 PM

Also, while I'm cognizant of the need to distinguish bad products from bad campaigns, were any of our grandparents really swayed by those ads for The Garden Weasel? And did anyone ever actually buy a Pocket Fisherman from Ronco?

katie / February 3, 2006 1:57 PM

I have a love/hate relationship with any commercial for prescription medication. Even though they annoy me, I find that the more horrible the side effects are, the funnier the commercial.

Who could forget the one that referenced "oily discharge"? Sign me up for those pills!

Avril / February 3, 2006 1:58 PM

I'm really suprised that Geico's caveman/political correctness commericals didn't end up on anyone's love/hate list. I've gotta admit I always stop to watch the 2nd commerical in that series -- the company spokesmen takes the two cavemen out to a swanky lunch to apologize for the wisecrack.

I love Yogi Berra in the Aflac commercial:
". . .And they give you cash, which is just as good as money" or "If you get hurt and miss work, it won't hurt to miss work."
Visit this link for more Yogisms: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra

paul / February 3, 2006 2:07 PM

I always wonder about the side effect disclaimers on the drug commercials - "tell your doctor if you have advanced HIV or liver disease" - shouldn't your doctor be telling YOU these things?

Leah / February 3, 2006 2:14 PM

Steve-

My cousin worked at Domino's during the era of Noid. She even had to dress up as the Noid and go to football games. Little kids would try to beat her up, after all--the Noid was the enemy.

Flobear / February 3, 2006 2:18 PM

..."and the sausage commercial where the dad of the family is the sun. I always laugh when his daughter asks him why he needs to have a more convenient breakfast and he says, "I have to get up early to light and heat the earth." I like it."

Staci, I just saw that sun commercial the other night, it is so cute!

Oh a new hate, what's up with the 100 calorie chips ahoy commercial with the guy from "Whose Line is it" with the fairy outfit on? He goes in to the house and is mistaken for an exotic dancer....what is that all about? Seriously, someone explain it to me!

katie / February 3, 2006 2:31 PM

he's the snack fairy!

dutch101 / February 3, 2006 2:46 PM

I HATE, with a vitriolic fervor, those burger king comercials with the "King". Especially the one with the MEAT-TASTIC OMELETE SANDWICH. WTF!!

Sorry my tastes run with the group here, but the NEXTEL "Push it" commercial and the Sprint "The Man" commercial do really rock. The man one makes me chuckle every single time.

My favorite all time is from my childhood in Billings, Montana. Any commercials for "Cranky" Ranky's Midland Dodge. Just had this old wierdo (Cranky Ranky himself) hollerin' and dancin' and singin'. He even had a song, to the tune of My Baby does the Hanky Panky but with Cranky Ranky instead. All these people put on these creepy Cranky Ranky masks and danced around. You just can't buy entertainment like that.

dutch101 / February 3, 2006 2:54 PM

Oh, I almost forgot, the one where all the doctors are walking about in a collegial fashion, talking about the advantages and drawbacks of CLAMADAM, or some damn drug. Can't stand that commercial at all, somehow so patronizing and lame.

sick-o-this / February 3, 2006 3:20 PM

This thread is now as bad as a commercial break anyway! Yeah, yeah, we all love the salt n peppa Nextel commercial, shut up already! Don't any of you have attention spans longer than 3 posts? Do you see the connection between seeing that commercial 15 times a day and having to be the 15th person in this thread to say how much you love it??

Also, hater is right above; there's far too little cynicism here about the fact that these are commercials. Funny as they may occasionally be, they're still not worth having products pushed on you for 24 MINUTES of every hour of television! It's too high a price to pay for the sake of a mild chuckle every 7th or 8th commercial. Now if y'all excuse me, I'm going to go save my pennies for a TiVo so I won't have to bitch about them anymore.

Big Purp Sippa / February 3, 2006 3:41 PM

Now I know this topic is technically about TV commercials, but some of my favorite commercials of all time were the old commercials for ANDRETTI’S HOUSE OF WHEELS in Rockford, IL. They were generally set to a rap hit of the day (I remember “Bling Bling” by BG and “Big Pimpin” by Jay-Z) with an announcer rapping/shouting about the various rims and things stocked by Andretti’s. With much enthusiasm. Most of the ones I remember were on in 2000/2001, does anyone know if they still do this type of thing? It would be amazing if they haven’t been sued by now.

hey / February 3, 2006 4:01 PM

woah, sick-o-this, you don't have to actually read this, you know. and it did as "which tv ads do you hate/love?" not "which tv ads do you hate/love THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED OH MY GOD DON'T YOU DARE LIKE OR HATE SOMETHING SOMEONE ELSE HAS BROUGHT UP".

chill. it's friday. go have a non-domestic beer and stop trolling.

sticky-sweet-still-sick-o-this / February 3, 2006 4:21 PM

I know, no one made me read this thread, just like no one makes me watch commercials. I just find it ironic that a thread about commercials should embody such syrupiness and annoying lack of attention span.

I'll just counteract it by going and drinking that bitter (non-domestic) beer...

gb / February 3, 2006 5:51 PM

this is my favorite commercial ever (though it really feels like a film short), but i think it only played in the uk in 1999/2000: guinness snail racing. it is flash, so you have to click on frank, then 'guinness bet on black'. its worth your time. lots of other good ads on this site too.

NSH / February 3, 2006 6:58 PM

Matty, Stu was awesome, I am now busy watching the golf mill ford comercial in my head!

paulg / February 3, 2006 7:03 PM

I hate san francisco, super balls, and fingerpicked guitars so naturally I HATE this sony commercial . Especially the extended version.

Spook / February 3, 2006 8:55 PM

I hate all T.V commercials. I hate the fact that given the present state of our country, some one would actually ask such a stupid question. As if we don’t watch enough TV already! I also hate the fact that when some one points out that spending so much time discussing what commercials they like and don't like, (which is symptomatic of our screwed up country) they get slammed. Of course we know from childhood, that the majority doesn’t likes smart people in America, hence Bush is our president- The dumber, the better. Or as Lincoln said, “the people get the type of government they deserve”

p.s

Of course thinking people drink imported beer! It’s called taste, instead of drinking what the commercials tell us to drink! So enjoy your bud lite every body, I know ignorance is bliss. But to the few of us who will be drinking heavy ales, stouts, porters, etc, Salute! See you in the deep end of the pool.

Heather / February 3, 2006 9:36 PM

It's not as good as I remember, but the Juicyfruit Strappleberry cracked me up when it was on:
http://www.character-shop.com/movies/pinata.mov

Totally second the HP commericals!

alisa / February 3, 2006 11:07 PM

come on guys- "novelty golf! novelty games! novelty golf & games!"

spankers / February 4, 2006 2:10 AM

So what about some bondage commercials?

Steve / February 4, 2006 11:03 AM

Man, I think a few of these posts show just how effective those Hatorade commercials are. Or maybe it's just the rageahol talkin'.

Mae / February 4, 2006 2:26 PM

They play the Lunesta commercial a million times a day. All I can figure is the drug companies feel they lost too much dough on all those recently recalled arthritis medications, so they have to make up for it, by tyring to put us to sleep.

granny / February 4, 2006 6:25 PM

here's a fun game to play with some kids, (assuming of course that you haven't killed and eaten the ones that accidentally strayed into your path) turn off the sound when you're watching tv and play "what are they selling?" or even better "what are they trying to trick you into wanting?"

the commercials I hate are the ones that prey on your emotions and make you cry a little bit like when that old guy gets the card from that sassy gal and.... smiles!

Mike / February 5, 2006 5:26 PM

All I know is that I would rather have that foot fungus creature invade my own toenails than hang out with Spook.

Blueper / February 5, 2006 6:13 PM

Anyone else despise the DeBeers diamond ad where a couple are in Venice and the guy shouts "I love this woman!"? I loathe it, and have to mute the TV or change channel as soon as I see it begin.

And, speaking of diamonds, why are the ads for Zales, Kays ("Every kiss begins with K") and Jared ("He went to Jared!") all so uniformly bad?

Da Spook / February 5, 2006 8:56 PM

Actually I wish I could write my own DeBeer commercial! I'd do a DeBeers commercial with a cool well dressed wall street hipster guy shouting "I love this women" and then a group of Angolan, Namibian, Botswanian, Congolese, Liberian and Tanzanian rebels and soldiers would rush up from behind with a machete, cut off his hand and then lop of his girl friends nose and ear. Then a calm voice would intone "DeBeers funding African wars and oppression since forever, because Diamonds are forever" DeBeers 1888 to forever.

lisa <3 peter / February 9, 2006 7:10 PM

best comercial in the world = Peter Francis Geraci he is my idol.... i love you!

I LOVE PETER FRANCIS GERACI!!!!!!!!!!

my life goal is to meet him and get his autograph

Lisa! / February 9, 2006 7:13 PM

oh yea once i meet him and achieve that goal i will do woah with him!!!!!!!

PETER FRANCIS GERACI IS DA BOMB DIGGADY!!!!
but seriously i love him

david / March 13, 2006 4:36 PM

What about the new fed-ex commercial with the cavemen? "Why didnt you use fed ex?" "Because they dont exist yet" "Not my problem" Then he runs outside, kicks a bird, then gets stepped on by the dinosaur. Cracks me up everytime I see it.

Jeff / April 2, 2006 11:33 AM

8. The College of Automation (with old-school rap jingle)

This exists only in my head.

I'm through flippin' burgers and fryin' fries
I've got it together and I realize
That to be a success takes determination
That's why I'm enrolling at
The College of Automation

Call S-U-C-C-E-S-S Success
S-U-C-C-E-S-S Success

Cindy / April 24, 2006 12:06 PM

I actually just did a 'search' on Empire commercials because I hate them so much. I would never, ever use their service. When that Empire guy's voice comes on it is a mad dash for the remote to hit the mute button. Menards, same thing. I like funny commercials, like ESPN SportsCenter spots. I'm so happy to be able to voice this!

Melissa / June 6, 2006 12:33 AM

Oh god. So many good AND bad ones. I seem to like the weird/creepy commercials that you either love or hate. My favorites currently are:

The VW commercials with the crazy German guy and girl who do the "pimp-my-ride' parodies. My favorite is the one where they drop the car in a crate onto the "rice rocket" car and the guy says in a German accent, "Vee just drahped it like it's hawt!" and the one where he says, "Holdin' it down on engineering...JA!"

those make me die each time.

And the creepy Burger King Commercials. My favorite is the BK Joe one where the guy is riveting and all of a sudden the King slowly reveals his face from behind the metal. So creepy that it's funny.

And out of all the weird/creepy skittles commercials i love the one where the kid comes out with blenders on his hands so they can have "creamy fruit smoothies anytime they want", and they all just stare at him like he's an idiot and say something about Smoothie Skittles. Poor kid.

Melissa / June 6, 2006 12:39 AM

Ohhh and I can't forget the skittles commercial where the guy falls from the rainbow because he doesn't "believe".

And the FedEx caveman one...makes me laugh every time!

I hate the new anti-drug commercial with the girl who is all squished because of "pressure to drink and get high". It made my friends and I laugh so hard that the commercial defeated its' own purpose.

Mike Koepp / June 10, 2006 7:26 PM

Any political ad.
Most Local advertising.
And I'll have to agree with Melissa. Those anti-drug commercials make me want to do drugs.

Kathy / August 28, 2006 12:54 AM

Anyone else here ever seen those commercials for Webb Ford in Northwest Indiana? They even used to show the words to their theme song on the screen with a bouncing ball so you could sing along:

"The whole town's talkin' about the Weeeeebb Boyyyyys..."

Really shouldn't be one of my favorite commercials, but the tune is just so catchy!

Nothing beats Eagleman, though.

Commercial hate: US Cellular spots with Joan Cusack. Can't stand her. Her presence makes me resent the fact that they own the home stadium of my favorite baseball team.

Craig / September 8, 2006 9:57 AM

Does anyone have a link to the Cheetos "orange cloud" commerical?

kayla / November 23, 2006 7:58 PM

WHATS THE FRENCH VANILLA COOL WHIP SONG!!!!!!!!!!!