Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads

[Trini]

11 hours ago, mbluecpa said:

I get the use of ‘softie’ as meaning emotional, but am nonetheless left with the thought of a soft turd instead of the intended product at the end of the commercial.

I'm sure somewhere along the process of making this ad someone knew this exact thing would happen, and they went ahead and approved it anyway, so it's on them.

[Gharlane]

In the commercial for a diabetes drug used for weight loss, are the people following the proverbial Pied Piper using it or want to use it? They're a mix of fat and normal sized people! 🤔

On 12/2/2024 at 8:41 PM, proserpina65 said:

I think it's a live video call and the camera is getting covered with the melting chocolate (or whatever it is).

But that's not how it works! The person on the phone is not going to see the molten chocolate encroaching on the phone screen! 

[dleighg]

1 minute ago, Gharlane said:

But that's not how it works! The person on the phone is not going to see the molten chocolate encroaching on the phone screen!

i gave more thought to this than it deserved. I think the face on the screen was the partner on the facetime call.

[Prevailing Wind]

2 hours ago, Gharlane said:

In the commercial for a diabetes drug used for weight loss, are the people following the proverbial Pied Piper using it or want to use it? They're a mix of fat and normal sized people! 🤔

The normal-sized folks started the drug earlier or weren't that fat, just diabetic, to begin with. The husky folk are in the process. You don't get slender overnight. Trust me. 3 weeks and I've lost just 1½ pounds.

ETA: There's a drug, ZepBound, being marketed as just weight loss - no mention of diabetes control. Yet it's the same exact drug as Mounjaro, the diabetes drug, both made by Eli Lilly.

Edited December 29, 2024 by Prevailing Wind

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, Gharlane said:

They're a mix of fat and normal sized people! 🤔

What are you referring to with normal sized?  Not fat, it would seem, given the phrasing, but since the majority of Americans are overweight (with around 40% considered obese), you've got the norm backward.

[Prevailing Wind]

2 hours ago, Bastet said:

the majority of Americans are overweight (with around 40% considered obese)

Yet the skinny girls' clothes get most of the floor space in stores. Go figure. Before Macy's bought 'em out, we had a department store in Atlanta named Rich's. They had a bakery.  At the store near my condo, they placed the bakery right in the middle of the fat girl department.

 

[Jaded]

I'm somewhere that I have access to a TV that has Directv. I was watching a L&O: SVU marathon and this commercial kept coming on during breaks. My first thought was how dumb it would be for any famous person to advertise that they were in a bus like that on the road. The rest of the commercial is just as absurd and weird especially with her on that fake stage pretending to do who knows what.
 

 

[annzeepark914]

On 6/29/2024 at 5:35 PM, Crashcourse said:

Yeah, I don't understand that one at all.

Haven't seen this ad but I immediately thought: the guest was acknowledging a Master BBQ King. 

[Browncoat]

On 12/26/2024 at 11:00 AM, mbluecpa said:

I’ve seen an ad recently for a hybrid underwear/diaper used for toilet training featuring two animated emoticons representing the two body functions.  The poop figure gets a little weepy as the toddler student apparently starts to master her skills.  At that point, the pee figure says “oh, turd, you’re such a softie.” 

I get the use of ‘softie’ as meaning emotional, but am nonetheless left with the thought of a soft turd instead of the intended product at the end of the commercial.

I guess it could be worse: a new iteration of ironically off-key Burger King guy was the next ad.

I just saw this ad for the first time today -- and am speechless that they not only have poop and pee figures talking about potty training, but their names seem to be "Turd" and "Urine."  I would have gotten in so much trouble if I'd said turd when I was a little kid!  

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/fv4t/huggies-turd-and-urine-training-pants-potty-training

 

[InDueTime]

I saw a Sprite ad a while ago where it was a remake of a previous ad that I remember from childhood. Between this and the remade Snickers ad, it seems like they're running out of ideas to try to tap into a viewer's nostalgia.

 

 

 

[Gharlane]

10 hours ago, InDueTime said:

I saw a Sprite ad a while ago where it was a remake of a previous ad that I remember from childhood. Between this and the remade Snickers ad, it seems like they're running out of ideas to try to tap into a viewer's nostalgia.

 

 

 

Ohhh, so that's why that new commercial seemed familiar!

[Tom Holmberg]

22 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I just saw this ad for the first time today -- and am speechless that they not only have poop and pee figures talking about potty training, but their names seem to be "Turd" and "Urine."  I would have gotten in so much trouble if I'd said turd when I was a little kid!  

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/fv4t/huggies-turd-and-urine-training-pants-potty-training

 

Yes.  In our home it was "number one" and "number two".

[proserpina65]

On 12/28/2024 at 7:43 PM, Gharlane said:

But that's not how it works! The person on the phone is not going to see the molten chocolate encroaching on the phone screen! 

If it's during a video call, wouldn't they see it as it encroaches on the camera?  Would that be on the same side of the phone as the screen if it was in selfie mode?  Honest question as I am a smart phone idiot.

 

[AgathaC]

I have no idea where to put this because it fits in multiple threads, but the Airsupra commercial with the dinosaur following the guy around? I love the dinosaur. He’s cute and genial and friendly. But because of that, I think the commercial is poorly thought out. You’re supposed to want to get rid of the Dino (representing breathing problems). He’s so cute, though, that I’d want to keep him around. But that may just be me and my lifelong over attachment to puppets, anthropomorphic animals and other such creatures.

[Trini]

9 hours ago, AgathaC said:

I have no idea where to put this because it fits in multiple threads, but the Airsupra commercial with the dinosaur following the guy around? I love the dinosaur. He’s cute and genial and friendly. But because of that, I think the commercial is poorly thought out. You’re supposed to want to get rid of the Dino (representing breathing problems). He’s so cute, though, that I’d want to keep him around. But that may just be me and my lifelong over attachment to puppets, anthropomorphic animals and other such creatures.

I haven't seen this ad; but it reminds of a campaign years ago by Weight Watchers(?) where the 'bad guy' was the Hungry Monster -- except the "monster" was a cute little orange fuzzy muppet that followed you around offering you snacks. What's not to love??

[Gharlane]

10 hours ago, Trini said:

I haven't seen this ad; but it reminds of a campaign years ago by Weight Watchers(?) where the 'bad guy' was the Hungry Monster -- except the "monster" was a cute little orange fuzzy muppet that followed you around offering you snacks. What's not to love??

Speaking of Weight Watchers, did I imagine seeing a commercial from them announcing they offer Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs?🤔

[lh25]

55 minutes ago, Gharlane said:

Speaking of Weight Watchers, did I imagine seeing a commercial from them announcing they offer Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs?🤔

You did not imagine it.  They do now offer such drugs.  Looks like Ozempic and then compounded versions of GLP-1 meds.

[Prevailing Wind]

I've been on Mounjaro and my blood glucose drops precipitously overnight. I'm concerned that these weight-loss people taking these GLP-1 meds are doing serious harm, especially if they're not under a doctor's care.

I was doing fine - but about every three weeks or so, I'd have god-awful stomach pains, bloating, & vomiting.  I dreamed I had pancreatitis, which turns out to be a possible side effect. My doc agrees with me - stop taking it. There are other ways to manage diabetes without endangering essential organs.

(I've had dreams like that before that turn out to be correct - my body is telling me the only way it knows how.)

[peacheslatour]

I just saw the Mutual of Omaha life insurance commercial. You know the one where the old guy says "I never wanted to talk about it" meaning end of life planning? They have a whole different actor. Whereas the last guy was an intellectual idiot, this one is sweet and kind of heartwarming. Weird.

[Ghost of TWOP Past]

I don't get the service that alerts you to subscriptions you didn't know you were paying for. Is everybody but me so rich that you don't read your billing statements? 

[dleighg]

There are two ads I see a lot where the "spokesperson" does such an awkward job, that I wonder why they didn't take another minute to re-tape it. The KeepSake app, where the guy is so awkward saying "from ... my wedding":

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=605659720014488

And then Lee Trevino who pronounces "arthritis" as "arthuritis":

 

[Mod-Tigerkatze]

Hi everyone, 

just a quick note to let you know that the car discussion has been moved to Chit-Chat: What's On Your Mind Today. 

Now, back to your regularly scheduled commercials. 

[SoMuchTV]

19 minutes ago, Mod-Tigerkatze said:

Hi everyone, 

just a quick note to let you know that the car discussion has been moved to Chit-Chat: What's On Your Mind Today. 

Now, back to your regularly scheduled commercials. 

Just curious, mightn’t it make more sense to move it to the small talk thread within this forum?

And I realize now that I was one of the guilty parties leading us down the Rabbit track. Sorry about that!

Edited January 30 by SoMuchTV

[Gharlane]

I did not know that David Lynch made TV commercials!

Naturally, they are just as mysterious as his film works. 🙂

 

Edited January 30 by Gharlane

[Dimity]

I don't hate these commercials but they do make me scratch my head - the ones for Nespresso with George Clooney.  All of them are odd but this newest one where, I guess, he's meant to be a private eye, is just nuts.

[proserpina65]

2 minutes ago, Dimity said:

I don't hate these commercials but they do make me scratch my head - the ones for Nespresso with George Clooney.  All of them are odd but this newest one where, I guess, he's meant to be a private eye, is just nuts.

The only one of those I liked was the one where he stepped out of some medieval-ish movie with Natalie Dormer and went looking for great coffee for her, all set to Peter Gabriel's Solsbury Hill.  It actually made a modicum of sense.  The rest?  Not so much.

[sempervivum]

Am I the only one baffled by the ad for 'Fanapt', some kind of drug for bipolar  symptoms? This is the one featuring an animated story about a girl with enormous fly-like eyes who ?owns a shop? something to do with some keys?

For some reason it's voice-over is in a heavy, possibly Scandinavian accent, which necessitates subtitling. 

Maybe you have to be bipolar to understand this?

Fanapt Ad

[Baltimore Betty]

33 minutes ago, sempervivum said:

Am I the only one baffled by the ad for 'Fanapt', some kind of drug for bipolar  symptoms? This is the one featuring an animated story about a girl with enormous fly-like eyes who ?owns a shop? something to do with some keys?

For some reason it's voice-over is in a heavy, possibly Scandinavian accent, which necessitates subtitling. 

Maybe you have to be bipolar to understand this?

Fanapt Ad

Anime meets bipolar meds.  The narrator sounds Danish, maybe being on that drug does help with understanding obtuse ads.

[Gharlane]

Not sure if this has been mentioned,  but there's a commercial for a gym franchise with this guy on a couch saying "I need an app" in a familiar deep smooth voice and  an old man working out claiming it's his " revenge bod". Whut? 

[Kimboweena]

14 hours ago, Gharlane said:

Not sure if this has been mentioned,  but there's a commercial for a gym franchise with this guy on a couch saying "I need an app" in a familiar deep smooth voice and  an old man working out claiming it's his " revenge bod". Whut? 

Ok, I'm gonna need to see this!  😄

[Gharlane]

10 hours ago, Kimboweena said:

Ok, I'm gonna need to see this!  😄

Found it! 

 

Edited February 3 by Gharlane

[Ancaster]

Ryze mushroom coffee.  So so wrong.  And Neil Patrick Harris is shilling it.  I'm weeping.

Edited February 4 by Ancaster

[Shrek]

19 hours ago, Ancaster said:

Ryze mushroom coffee.  So so wrong.  And Neil Patrick Harris is shilling it.  I'm weeping.

Why?

[proserpina65]

21 hours ago, Ancaster said:

Ryze mushroom coffee.  So so wrong.  And Neil Patrick Harris is shilling it.  I'm weeping.

Mushroom coffee sounds terrible, but I don't have any problem with Neil Patrick Harris shilling it.  It's not like he's shilling gambling aps.

[Gharlane]

On 2/8/2025 at 5:18 AM, KWalkerInc said:

Safelite has two new ads that are centered around annoying noises.  In one, a woman who discovers that her windshield has a crack first laughs in disbelief, but then lets out this distressed "HAAAAAAAA" noise before banging her head against the horn.  Maybe it could be funny if the noise weren't so grating.

I do not think I ever saw someone get anywhere near as upset as her about a cracked windshield.

[Gharlane]

Am I sppsd to recognize these two people?

 

[proserpina65]

37 minutes ago, Gharlane said:

Am I sppsd to recognize these two people?

 

I recognize Willem Dafoe.

[Babalu06]

38 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

I recognize Willem Dafoe.

And Catherine O’Hara (of Schitt’s Creek, the Home Alone movies, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and much, much more).

[proserpina65]

1 minute ago, Babalu06 said:

And Catherine O’Hara (of Schitt’s Creek, the Home Alone movies, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and much, much more).

I know that's who is in the commercial, but I wouldn't have recognized her from that shot.

[Gharlane]

44 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

I recognize Willem Dafoe.

Oh, I thought he might be Kevin Bacon.

Just now, proserpina65 said:

I know that's who is in the commercial, but I wouldn't have recognized her from that shot.

I don't feel so bad now.🙂

[Babalu06]

Gotcha, @proserpina65. That is a bad shot. I was 99% sure it was her but played the video for that extra 1%.

[Browncoat]

I like that ad.

[Haleth]

And I heard neither had ever played pickleball before filming this. 

[Gharlane]

9 minutes ago, Haleth said:

And I heard neither had ever played pickleball before filming this. 

They must really really like that crappy excuse for a beer!

[Red Bridey]

Every single Superbowl ad fit into this category for me. Most of the time I was scratching my head wondering what the F✓¢€ was going on and who that was, like, am I supposed to know who that person is? Because I don't.