Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads

[AntiBeeSpray]

Re: Fake Words.  HEALTHING!   Aargh I want to tear out my hair at that one, just STOP it!

That doesn't make any sense O_o.

 

And neither does Underwearness.

[Bastet]

Or "swap-ortunity."

 

Or "hangry" and whatever else Tina Fey has to say in her AmEx commercial.

 

This trend can fizzle out any time now.  Language is dynamic, yes, but it should evolve, not devolve.

[Rick Kitchen]

"hangry" is a thing.  The commercial didn't make that up.

[Bastet]

Well, someone did, because it isn't a word.

[Watcher0363]

Ad men have dreams. They dream of the day when a word or term they created is immortalized in the Oxford English dictionary. In the begining as the 1st. definition. Later, on their death bed, they will have the comfort of knowing that the last definition of their word or term with the phrase archaic in front of it, is still their baby all grown up. The dream of immmortality through words, for they woo women and boost the ego.

[SeriousPurrs]

Not to be a smarty-pants, but "hangry" is a state of anger caused by lack of food.

 

I'd say I'm hangry at least 60 percent of the day.

[Ubiquitous]

Re: Fake Words.  HEALTHING!   Aargh I want to tear out my hair at that one, just STOP it!

"Melty" and "Stabby".

 

What the hell is Papa John saying so slowly? "Pullllled" or "Morrrre"?

[Sandman87]

Language is dynamic, yes, but it should evolve, not devolve.

More to the point, it should evolve naturally rather than becoming the freakish offspring of a Madison Avenue Doctor Moreau.

 

"Melty" and "Stabby".

Stabby.

Stabbier.

Stabbiest.

Moby Stabosity.

[Rinaldo]

And Coupling pushed "melty" years ago, at which time its fans seemed to find it fun.

 

I guess I'm of the mind that coining novel words and striking ways to use the language is part of the job description of advertising writers. They're aiming for something memorable and distinctive, after all. I may dislike this or that example, but I'm not against the principle.

[Prevailing Wind]

 

What the hell is Papa John saying so slowly? "Pullllled" or "Morrrre"?

"ssuuuucccckkkkeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

[Watcher0363]

This week, Oxford Dictionaries announced some new additions to their online database. Listed alongside "clickbait," "douchebaggery" and "side boob" is everyone's favorite uncomfortable experience -- "mansplaining."

mansplain

 

The etymology of "mansplain" can be traced back to 2008, when Rebecca Solnit wrote an essay titled "Men Explain Things To Me." The author touched on the idea that being talked down to and corrected -- primarily by men -- was a common occurrence in almost every woman's life. In her words:

    Every woman knows what I’m talking about. It’s the presumption that makes it hard, at times, for any woman in any field; that keeps women from speaking up and from being heard when they dare; that crushes young women into silence by indicating, the way harassment on the street does, that this is not their world. It trains us in self-doubt and self-limitation just as it exercises men’s unsupported overconfidence.

 

So many readers were familiar with the experience that "mansplained" popped up soon after Solnit's piece came out. It was a 2010 New York Times Word of the Year, and has inspired at least one Tumblr account where women share their cringe-inducing stories.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

And Coupling pushed "melty" years ago, at which time its fans seemed to find it fun.

"Beware the Melty Man!"

 

Edited because I quoted the wrong post.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Cobalt Stargazer

[riley702]

The malt Ovaltine doesn't have chocolate in it at all...which makes my boss very happy.  Slightest hint of chocolate and she's down with a migraine. Poor woman!

Maybe it depends where you are? Ovaltine USA shows they offer chocolate OR malt OR chocolate AND malt. Take your pick. 

 

http://www.ovaltineusa.com/#/product

[riley702]

Not to be a smarty-pants, but "hangry" is a state of anger caused by lack of food.

 

I'd say I'm hangry at least 60 percent of the day.

I actually knew "hangry", but thought it was coined by these two coworkers of mine, because they were the only ones I'd ever heard say it. And then it popped up in my Bitstrips the other day, so now I'm just feeling behind the curve. I've been hangry and also whatever it is when you're so tired, you're a raging bitch. But I'm not going to make up a word to describe that.

I actually don't mind organic alterations to the language, because it's constantly changing, but I loathe some smug smartass trying so desperately to make their coined word or expression happen. Throw it out there and then LET IT GO. If people like it, they'll pick it up. If they don't, you just look like a ginormous ass pathetically using it as many times as possible.

Edited August 17, 2014 by riley702

[90PercentGravity]

Experien has a commercial where the talking computer accidentally distributes the guy's ID to everyone when the guy is asking for identity protection. Given this: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/10/experian-sold-consumer-data-to-id-theft-service/ isn't this a bad thing to be drawing attention to?

[Prevailing Wind]

I'm on vacation and have the dubious blessing of cable tv in the hotel room.  Oh, big whoop!  I saw an NCIS marathon!  I wouldn't even have turned on the TV, except I was playing Dueling Annoying Noises with the screaming child next door.  Anyway, I saw that Carnation commercial a coupla'dozen times.  Yes.  It sounds very much like she's saying,"breast milk."

*********
I have noticed other flavors of Ovaltine at the supermarket, but I stick to the malt; I haven't investigated the other two, which do mention chocolate on their label.

[Prevailing Wind]

We don't need "hangry."  We don't care WHY you're angry, just cut it out.  You're making excuses for your bad behavior, just like those Road Rage people.  Stop being asshats & you won't have to make up a word to attempt to rationalize uncivil behavior.

 

I don't believe in a special category for "hate crimes" either.  How does anyone know why someone else does something?  Calling it a hate crime when there's already a law against whatever the hell it was that they did just smacks of the Thought Police.  We don't need people in authority trying to read the minds of criminals.  If it's a crime, it's a crime.  The only modifier should be "misdemeanor" or "felony."

[Rinaldo]

I don't believe in a special category for "hate crimes" either.  How does anyone know why someone else does something?  Calling it a hate crime when there's already a law against whatever the hell it was that they did just smacks of the Thought Police.

I agree with this so much, and this has been my position (sometimes annoying my fellow gay brethren) since the term came into use. It's already a crime, just prosecute that fairly and that's enough. 

[Watcher0363]

In another one of those "The chorus may be catchy and appropriate for what you are advertising, but the lyrics are totally not." ads, ESPN is running a promo for SEC football featuring the Johnny Cash song The Man Comes Around. 

 

The song is about the Biblical apocalypse. I know they take their football seriously down there, but. . . .

But hell yeah!!!!!. When the SEC walks into the stadium the earth quakes. The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse pack their pussy bags and go home.

[Jamoche]

What the hell is 'fresh milk'? Is Carnation concerned that I may use two-month-old expired milk if they don't specifically instruct me not to??

Possibly because there are people who will mix Instant Breakfast with powdered milk. It's just as disgusting as you think. 

 

(Note that the cheapskate parental unit who pulled this stunt was not drinking it himself.)

[Brattinella]

LOL!  Ditto on the cheapskate parental unit!!  A real treat in my childhood household was WHOLE MILK.

[ethalfrida]

 This commercial is forva local car dealer, Cal Worthington. He'd been in the busness since the 60s but recently passed away. We all thought they were saying Pussy Cal...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOCNphyw2OE

[Bastet]

My best friend and I thought it was "pussy cow."  As big fans of all the animals in his commercials, we really wanted to see the pussy cow. 

[ethalfrida]

My best friend and I thought it was "pussy cow."  As big fans of all the animals in his commercials, we really wanted to see the pussy cow. 

Now, that's hilarious! Are you close to Worthington? Always wondered how far away those ads broadcast...

[Bastet]

I'm in Los Angeles, so as kids of the '70s we grew up inundated with those commercials.  My best defense for "pussy cow" is that in all those "This is Cal Worthington and his dog Spot" commercials Spot was some other kind of animal, usually rather exotic (at least to a kid).  So we really thought there was an animal called a pussy cow, and we wanted to see it.

[xls]

I kind of still think that. The commercials with the kids annoyingly, sing-songingly asking for "More Ovaltine, please!!" doesn't sit well with my lizard brain.

A Christmas Story-"Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine!"

 

 

Salon Paws?

Edited August 18, 2014 by xls

[ethalfrida]

I'm in Los Angeles, so as kids of the '70s we grew up inundated with those commercials.  My best defense for "pussy cow" is that in all those "This is Cal Worthington and his dog Spot" commercials Spot was some other kind of animal, usually rather exotic (at least to a kid).  So we really thought there was an animal called a pussy cow, and we wanted to see it. 

In my FB high school group there is a discussion about Cal. Your comment would keep the laughs going...

[Sandman87]

(Oops, wrong thread.)

Edited August 18, 2014 by Sandman87

[Sandman87]

Red Lobster is advertising that they're having a crap-fest, and I'm going to assume that they've done some major expansions and renovations to their restrooms. I doubt they'd be honest enough to refer to the food that way.
 

As big fans of all the animals in his commercials, we really wanted to see the pussy cow.

Here you go.

[xls]

Remember this Juicy Fruit gum commercial? "Take a sniff, pull it out. The taste is gonna move you when you pop it in your mouth"

[ethalfrida]

Red Lobster is advertising that they're having a crap-fest, and I'm going to assume that they've done some major expansions and renovations to their restrooms. I doubt they'd be honest enough to refer to the food that way.

 

Here you go.

That's just so wrong... (still laughing)

[Prevailing Wind]

I do like RL's cheddar bay biscuits.  Not enough to eat one of their meals without coercion from a companion, though.  Real friends don't let friends eat at Red Lobster.

[Brattinella]

Would you want the recipe, Prevailing Wind?

[bilgistic]

Salon Paws?

It's "Salon Pas", which is French, and should be pronounced "sah-lohn (very soft "n") pah", but they've weirdly started saying "pahz" instead. There was a commercial that ran for a while that had both pronunciations, because that didn't confuse everyone. I don't even recall what the product is--self-adhering heat packs (for injuries or sore muscles) or something like that?

[Prevailing Wind]

 

Would you want the recipe, Prevailing Wind?

Thanks, but no.  Borderline diabetic doesn't need to be scarfing down biscuits.  LOL.  One or two, yeah, but certainly not a whole batch.  That's the stinkiest part of living alone.  The cats won't eat biscuits. <big sigh>  Poor Poor Pitiful Me. 

[Brattinella]

I am sorry for that.  I wish I had the energy to make the darn things, they are so delicious!  My cats and hubby would gladly eat the leftovers.  Hey, you could always eat one or two and freeze the rest in baggies!

[Rick Kitchen]

I just saw an ad talking about how the NFL and the NFL Players' Association have come to an agreement in court concerning players' head injuries.  And then it went on to say, "If you have not received your pamphlet detailing your benefits", contact some website.

 

Just how many people is this ad aimed at?

[Portia]

A Christmas Story-"Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine!"

 

"A crummy commercial?  Son of a bitch!"

[LoneHaranguer]

 

Just how many people is this ad aimed at?

At any one time, an NFL team roster has 90 players on it, so potentially thousands; more than for the ads related to obscure illnesses. In any of these cases, the court agreement would include money for getting the word out to potential victims, coming from someone with deep pockets, so it doesn't have to make sense.

[Watcher0363]

I just saw an ad talking about how the NFL and the NFL Players' Association have come to an agreement in court concerning players' head injuries.  And then it went on to say, "If you have not received your pamphlet detailing your benefits", contact some website.

 

Just how many people is this ad aimed at?

This is more about getting the word out. If you just consider the modern era of football starting in 1966 this could effect a hundred thousand or more people. Your average player in the NFL only plays about 3 years. Some players are also on the pratice squad. If you consider players come from all over the US a lot of them from impoverish areas. They may not even know this has become an issue or that some kind of settlement has been reached.

[merylinkid]

The settlement required getting the word out.   Ironically the NFL is paying for these ads -- some of which run on the NFL owned NFL Network.   So they are getting some of their settlement money back.

[backformore]

I do like RL's cheddar bay biscuits.  Not enough to eat one of their meals without coercion from a companion, though.  Real friends don't let friends eat at Red Lobster.

There is a boxed mix available - i bought it at Walmart.   I know, the recipe is probably easy, but I'm more likely to cook when stuff is pre-measured for me.   The biscuits made from the mix taste EXACTLY like the RL biscuits.  They  should, the box  has the Red Lobster logo on it.

[xls]

I found possibly the creepiest commercial ever.

 

[Rick Kitchen]

Well then @xls you haven't seen the sequel:

 

[xls]

Well then @xls you haven't seen the sequel:

 

OMG they're horrific!

[Cobalt Stargazer]

I would just like you to know, @xls and @Rick Kitchen, that I will not be sleeping tonight, and its All. Your. Fault.

[bilgistic]

WHAT THE FUCK?!?

[riley702]

That is SO wrong.

[FormerMod-a1]

I did not need to know about those commercials.  Yikes!

[The Crazed Spruce]

GAAAAAHHH!!!

 

That makes your average Skittles commercial seem downright sensible.