Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads

[partofme]

There's this commercial I keep seeing for Realtor.com with Elizabeth Banks that doesn't make any sense.  A couple show up at a housewarming party and say they're there for the open house and Banks tells the homeowners that the other couple is "not you".  It makes no sense, why would anyone show up at a housewarming and think it's an open house?

[theatremouse]

It is a stupid premise, but they seemed to be going for: that house was on the market, the party-crashing people were so slow in whatever method they used for trying to go see the house (without a realtor who would've told them it was sold) that when they arrived at the house and saw there appeared to be a party happening, they assumed it was an open house and sauntered on in, and they were in fact, so friggin late to the game that not only was it not still on the market, but the new owners had already closed on the damn thing and moved in enough to be willing to have guests over. Which would make the other couple just about the stupidest house shoppers ever because at best they're probably a month too late, if not more so. I take it the ad was going for intentionally exaggerated for effect so the gist was supposed to be they missed out because they weren't fast enough, but it falls flat because it's so preposterous. 

[Maverick]

 The couple showed up for an open house, but the house sold so quickly that another couple has already closed, moved in and is holding a housewarming party.  The other couple is "not you" because they beat them to the punch.  And yes, the whole damn thing is stupid.

[Fishy]

Hate the Toujeo commercial with the idiotic dancing guy.  Dancing while he's seated at his computer, dancing on his way into his staff meeting.  Ugh - Idiotic.

[Ubiquitous]

On ‎6‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 3:53 PM, partofme said:

There's this commercial I keep seeing for Realtor.com with Elizabeth Banks that doesn't make any sense.  A couple show up at a housewarming party and say they're there for the open house and Banks tells the homeowners that the other couple is "not you".  It makes no sense, why would anyone show up at a housewarming and think it's an open house?

The other couple is the same people from a parallel universe in which they didn't use the website. Yes, it is stupid.

 

There's a new ad from Geico in which an airplane take off is delayed due to traffic on the runaway. They cutaway to reveal a bunch of models walking the runway (ha ha), but how are the passengers seeing them through the side windows when they are strutting in front of the cockpit?

[riley702]

Excellent point. I hadn't caught that.

Edited June 13, 2017 by riley702

[ennui]

23 hours ago, Fishy said:

Hate the Toujeo commercial with the idiotic dancing guy.  Dancing while he's seated at his computer, dancing on his way into his staff meeting.  Ugh - Idiotic.

I like the music, but the guy seems so happy that Toujeo should be an anti-depressant. I want to take Toujeo so I can dance through my day, too.

[peacheslatour]

23 hours ago, Fishy said:

Hate the Toujeo commercial with the idiotic dancing guy.  Dancing while he's seated at his computer, dancing on his way into his staff meeting.  Ugh - Idiotic.

That much Disco would make anybody depressed.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

Isn't this kind of thing illegal? If not, why not?

[crazycatlady58]

My first thought  is freedom  of religion ,  but on further  reflection  it must be   to prove P.T, Barnum  theory  that there is a sucker born  every  minute . 

Edited June 14, 2017 by crazycatlady58

[katalizt]

1 hour ago, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Isn't this kind of thing illegal? If not, why not?

I'm guessing they get away with it because the water is "free" and with "no obligations". Whatever money they ask for after you get sucked in is another matter.

[bilgistic]

This has come (pun...wait for it) up before in discussions on the forums about this scam. Someone said (paraphrasing poorly) that a "preacher" having that name was the biggest missed opportunity to be a porn star without having to come (pun) up with a stage name.

[bad things are bad]

I used to watch Jim and Tammy Bakker back in the day for the lulz (oh that runny mascara!).

But I always wondered how freaking stupid you'd have to be to send those two any money. 

[Sandman87]

On Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at 5:10 PM, bilgistic said:

Someone said (paraphrasing poorly) that a "preacher" having that name was the biggest missed opportunity to be a porn star without having to come (pun) up with a stage name.

With a name like that he should be sending out vodka, not water.

[janie jones]

On 6/13/2017 at 2:52 PM, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Isn't this kind of thing illegal? If not, why not?

 

That one woman got a check from her employer.  Was that not her paycheck?

[ennui]

On 6/13/2017 at 4:21 PM, katalizt said:

I'm guessing they get away with it because the water is "free" and with "no obligations". Whatever money they ask for after you get sucked in is another matter.

http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_woman_who_took_on_popoff_the_hidden_story_of_crystal_sanchez_the_peter_

Preying on desperation.

[bilgistic]

Quote

The once-pastor’s-son became CEO of Redwood Industries, a company that sells male enhancement pills. When I visited Redwood Industries (just a few miles from Popoff’s office) and asked them to substantiate their claim that their pill, Prolongz, “has been tested and proven to increase ejaculatory control and increase intercourse duration,” they promised to contact me with supporting information. I never heard back, and my follow-up calls and emails went unanswered.

Another missed opportunity for the name Peter Popoff!

Redwood Industries. :|

Edited June 15, 2017 by bilgistic

[Haleth]

10 hours ago, ennui said:

http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/the_woman_who_took_on_popoff_the_hidden_story_of_crystal_sanchez_the_peter_

Preying on desperation.

That is so sad.

[mmecorday]

The Dominos ads with the store owners destroying their stores drive me up the wall. The song is annoying and so is that woman who brags about using her college savings to buy her store.

The Lime-a-Rita ads with the twenty-somethings deciding to hang out on someone's rooftop instead of going out are on all the damn time. They wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the accompanying song being so ear wormy.

And freakin' VIPoo needs to get flushed already! It's a big movie premiere and yet the only bathroom is unisex and there's just one toilet. I had never heard human turns referred to as "devil's donuts." That's just dumb.

[Brattinella]

1 hour ago, mmecorday said:

The Dominos ads with the store owners destroying their stores drive me up the wall. The song is annoying and so is that woman who brags about using her college savings to buy her store.

The Lime-a-Rita ads with the twenty-somethings deciding to hang out on someone's rooftop instead of going out are on all the damn time. They wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the accompanying song being so ear wormy.

Both of these songs are completely incomprehensible.  The first one is screamy, and the second one sounds like 2 or 3 singers singing different songs at the same time!

I do like devil's donuts, though.

[bilgistic]

"Devil's donuts" makes me think of the chocolate-enrobed "Sweet Sixteen" donuts by Merita (RIP).

I couldn't find a picture of the old-school chocolate donuts. This is an updated bag from the one I remember. I remember 1960s sockhoppers (in the 1980s).

[Calamity Jane]

On 6/13/2017 at 2:52 PM, Cobalt Stargazer said:

Isn't this kind of thing illegal? If not, why not?

 

I've been wondering about this one for months.  Almost every person who speaks talks about receiving money, so the premise seems to be that the "free" (yeah, right) Miracle Spring Water will bring you wealth, and that seems all kind of wrong to me.  Besides being ridiculous in the first place.  I cannot understand how it persists, except that indeed P.T. Barnum was correct. 

[Ubiquitous]

On ‎6‎/‎14‎/‎2017 at 8:21 PM, janie jones said:

That one woman got a check from her employer.  Was that not her paycheck?

Yeah, I wondered about that as well...

[Ubiquitous]

How did the guys ordering new Gillett razor blades on their smarty-phones not know they would need them before they got all lathered up and wouldn't it be too late to do so at that point?

[Brattinella]

1 hour ago, Ubiquitous said:

How did the guys ordering new Gillett razor blades on their smarty-phones not know they would need them before they got all lathered up and wouldn't it be too late to do so at that point?

Would anyone REALLY throw out their last blade if they KNEW they didn't have a fresh one?  A used blade is better than NO blade!

[Ms Lark]

On 5/28/2017 at 4:19 PM, ennui said:

One of the Geico closer look ads, with the pigeons. It made me laugh. "Fire at Will!" "Bye, Will!"

Funny, yes, except pigeons can't perch on wires. They need a flat surface since their feet are made for walking. Makes me crazy!

[Prevailing Wind]

Oh, great. Now my mental jukebox is playing Nancy Sinatra singing, "These feet are made for walking; that's just what they'll do..."

[Sandman87]

Does Wendy's really want me to think that their new salad has mongols in it? Because that's what it sounds like the guy is saying, not "mangoes."

[Brattinella]

8 hours ago, Sandman87 said:

Does Wendy's really want me to think that their new salad has mongols in it? Because that's what it sounds like the guy is saying, not "mangoes."

Oh MAN that guy makes me mad!  MONGOLS, juicy ones!  YUCK.

[peacheslatour]

16 hours ago, Sandman87 said:

Does Wendy's really want me to think that their new salad has mongols in it? Because that's what it sounds like the guy is saying, not "mangoes."

" You GODDAMN Mongolians. Stay away from my shitty wall!"

Edited June 30, 2017 by peacheslatour

[janie jones]

17 hours ago, Sandman87 said:

Does Wendy's really want me to think that their new salad has mongols in it? Because that's what it sounds like the guy is saying, not "mangoes."

Apparently you don't find his accent as sexy as they were hoping.

[QuinnInND]

With regards to Wendy's, is it my imagination, or does the collar or necklace or whatever the cartoon Wendy is wearing say "Mom"? 

[Moose135]

43 minutes ago, QuinnInND said:

With regards to Wendy's, is it my imagination, or does the collar or necklace or whatever the cartoon Wendy is wearing say "Mom"? 

It's not your imagination, although they claim it is unintentional...

http://www.adweek.com/creativity/hidden-message-new-wendys-logo-so-subtle-not-even-wendys-noticed-it-151251/

Edited June 30, 2017 by Moose135

[ennui]

I think the Match commercial that tracks everyone and shows where your paths crossed during the day is kind of creepy.

[CoderLady]

3 hours ago, ennui said:

I think the Match commercial that tracks everyone and shows where your paths crossed during the day is kind of creepy.

In their relentless quest to increase paranoia in their viewers, Lifetime already has a movie, "Wrong Swipe," that plays up the worse case scenario involved in using a tracking dating app. It's part of their library of "Wrong ________" movies that make it clear that new experiences are a really bad idea.

[Haleth]

19 hours ago, ennui said:

I think the Match commercial that tracks everyone and shows where your paths crossed during the day is kind of creepy.

I know!  Why would anyone think this is a good idea?

[ennui]

The Yoshi Copper Grill Mat -- it turns your grill into a frying pan. Whoo!  

Edited July 5, 2017 by ennui

[Blakeston]

On 7/4/2017 at 4:55 PM, CoderLady said:

In their relentless quest to increase paranoia in their viewers, Lifetime already has a movie, "Wrong Swipe," that plays up the worse case scenario involved in using a tracking dating app. It's part of their library of "Wrong ________" movies that make it clear that new experiences are a really bad idea.

It says a lot that I had no idea if you were serious or not. But it turns out you were!

Edited July 6, 2017 by Blakeston

[ennui]

On 7/4/2017 at 1:55 PM, CoderLady said:

In their relentless quest to increase paranoia in their viewers, Lifetime already has a movie, "Wrong Swipe," that plays up the worse case scenario involved in using a tracking dating app. It's part of their library of "Wrong ________" movies that make it clear that new experiences are a really bad idea.

Funny review here -- http://www.alloy.com/entertainment/lifetime-movie-wrong-swipe-review/

Hodor has a KFC commercial in the UK.

Quote

The ad, titled “Lunchtime Is Coming…,” is meant to promote new “Ricebox” offerings at KFC locations in the U.K. It kicks off with Nairn standing behind the fast food counter nervously anticipating hoards of hungry customers barging through the store’s doors as the clock strikes noon. Patron after patron orders “chicken and fries,” “chicken and fries,” forcing the Irish actor to repeat the phrase “hold the door”-style until it no longer means anything. Eventually, the phrase evolves into “chicken and rice.”

And lastly, I'm thinking that the Ring doorbell and their floodlight security thingie are going to add a whole new dimension to Halloween and trick-or-treats.

[Silver Raven]

"And now get new Bounty with Despicable Me prints, only in theaters."  Er, you can only get the Bounty paper towels in theaters?  I think they're trying to say that Despicable Me is only showing in theaters, but that's not the way it comes across.

[theatremouse]

It might be kind of hilarious if there were a sponsorship deal with a chain of movie theaters and the bathrooms did temporarily have said paper towel prints.

[Jamoche]

11 hours ago, ennui said:

Funny review here -- http://www.alloy.com/entertainment/lifetime-movie-wrong-swipe-review/

 

" which is totally different from Tinder because you swipe up and down instead of left and right"

Call me an olds, but that makes more sense than left/right - I don't know (and don't care) which direction is good or bad. But I am a UI designer so I am a firm believer in the idea that you shouldn't have to guess; it should either be obvious or make sense once you know.

[mmecorday]

Every time a commercial for Little Caesars comes on, I swear the announcer is saying "extra asbestos" pizza when he's actually saying "extra most bestest."

[peacheslatour]

Angie's List can verify "that what goes down, doesn't always come back up". Said no one ever.

[Mittengirl]

Every time I hear commercials for pico sandwiches, I swear it sounds like they are saying "fecal".  Fecal guacamole sandwiches - yum.

[Brattinella]

7 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Angie's List can verify "that what goes down, doesn't always come back up". Said no one ever.

Yes, it is a stupid bastardization of "what goes up must come down", and it does not make sense in reverse.

[chessiegal]

My husband and I always crack up at the "A Place for Mom" commercials that Joan Lunden hawks. I saw a new one, and if Joan hadn't said "Hi, I'm Joan Lunden", I wouldn't have recognized her. She didn't look bad, looked attractive, but I swear it looked like she got a new face. Weird.

[Brattinella]

2 hours ago, chessiegal said:

My husband and I always crack up at the "A Place for Mom" commercials that Joan Lunden hawks. I saw a new one, and if Joan hadn't said "Hi, I'm Joan Lunden", I wouldn't have recognized her. She didn't look bad, looked attractive, but I swear it looked like she got a new face. Weird.

I think she looks that way because she is a cancer survivor.

[riley702]

9 hours ago, Brattinella said:

I think she looks that way because she is a cancer survivor.

What? Are you referring to her hair being different or her face being different?

[Jaded]

I think her face looks like that due to fillers.