Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads

[SoMuchTV]

6 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

* I remember where I was when Kennedy was shot and when the Twin Towers came down.

I'll take this to small talk...

[proserpina65]

On ‎01‎/‎26‎/‎2020 at 12:51 AM, elle said:

There is a travel site commercial with a short version and a long version.  In the one we just see her and her dog, she is searching for a hotel with spa then adds a search for a pet friendly hotel.  Then in the longer one, we see the whole family where she is searching for flights.

My head scratching moment is me wondering why she would subject her dog to a plane trip just for a vacation?  And, why an ad agency would think this was a good idea.

Great point, and yet the expression on the dog's face is just so adorable that I like the short version of the commercial a lot.

17 hours ago, dleighg said:

And Captain Crunch.

Cap'n Crunch, thank you very much.  My favorite was the one with Crunch Berries.

 

[Prevailing Wind]

18 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

And my complete breakfast included SUGAR Frosted Flakes, thank you very much. 

🙂

 

Mine sometimes was apple pie & a glass of milk. I had a teacher that was appalled that I ate pie for breakfast, but, really, there was probably less sugar in the pie than in my favorite Sugar Frosted Flakes.  I also preferred Post Raisin Bran to Kellogg's because the raisins were sugar-coated.  My dad never ate any cereal other than Corn Flakes. Every morning, corn flakes with warm milk and a cup or two of coffee.  Every lunch was two sandwiches - bologna & mayo and PB&J.  He had a very unimaginative palate and my mom indulged it.

[HighMaintenance]

I keep seeing the Trivago commercial where an indignant “not Lauren Hutton” discovers that her hotel room cost 25 dollars more than Trivago Guy’s. 
 

So many weird things in this commercial.
The desk clerks announce out loud the total bill for the customer’s stay.  Excuse me, I don’t need you telling everyone within earshot how much I paid to stay in your fleabag hotel. Are you going to tell everyone that I ordered a extra large pizza from room service and watched 3 pornos on the pay per view?

”Not Lauren Hutton” gets all bitchy because she is charged more than Trivago Guy.  Honey, why are you under the impression that every hotel room costs the same? Maybe his room had a single bed and a view of the dumpster.

The way the desk clerk yanks the credit card out of “Not Lauren Hutton’s” grip. Excuse me! No! I will give you the card when I am ready. Even if I’m being a Karen and having a snit fit. 

Finally, Trivago Guy snarking to other customers that maybe THEY should use the app next time.  Rude! Mind your own bidnezz!

[Ubiquitous]

On 1/24/2020 at 2:54 AM, Ghost of TWOP Past said:

So I've been seeing a lot of those late night adverts for gimmicky devices, and they keep saying something like, "And now you can get two! Just pay a separate fee." So, the deal is to get two for the price of two? Or what? 

Yesterday,  there was an ep of "World's Dumbest Inventions", complete with bizarre commercials.  I am not sure if they were ever played on TV, but the one with a visual of a sped-up pet pissing everywhere rang a bell.

On 1/25/2020 at 6:50 PM, SoMuchTV said:

I think since the dawn of time, sugary cereals have been advertising themselves as “part of a complete breakfast “.  They’re just adjusting things around the edges. 

I remember when "part of a complete breakfast" included eggs, bacon, coffee,  and a pack of cigarettes! 

On 1/25/2020 at 8:45 PM, shapeshifter said:

IMO this is a terrible PSA-type commercial. The concept was solid but the script is horrific and pretty much ridicules the message —again, in my opinion:

That reminds me of "The Meanest Man in the World!" Commercial, in which the titular character,  among other things, kicked out the crutches from little Timmy.

[mmecorday]

Quote

I keep seeing the Trivago commercial where an indignant “not Lauren Hutton” discovers that her hotel room cost 25 dollars more than Trivago Guy’s. 
 

So many weird things in this commercial.
The desk clerks announce out loud the total bill for the customer’s stay.  Excuse me, I don’t need you telling everyone within earshot how much I paid to stay in your fleabag hotel. Are you going to tell everyone that I ordered a extra large pizza from room service and watched 3 pornos on the pay per view?

”Not Lauren Hutton” gets all bitchy because she is charged more than Trivago Guy.  Honey, why are you under the impression that every hotel room costs the same? Maybe his room had a single bed and a view of the dumpster.

The way the desk clerk yanks the credit card out of “Not Lauren Hutton’s” grip. Excuse me! No! I will give you the card when I am ready. Even if I’m being a Karen and having a snit fit. 

Finally, Trivago Guy snarking to other customers that maybe THEY should use the app next time.  Rude! Mind your own bidnezz!

I hate this commercial! I worked at the front desk of a Hampton Inn for thirteen years and we were told NOT to tell the guest what the rate was when they were checking in. If they asked, we were supposed to circle the rate on the registration card and show it to them. Plus, different rooms have different rates. Perhaps the woman was booked into a room with a balcony or a king bed instead of a standard full. The look on that woman's face is positively maniacal like she's thinking of torching the place if she doesn't get a room for the same price as the Trivago guy.

[GHScorpiosRule]

I don't know if this comment should go here, or in the ones that "irritate or enrage." Mostly, it just makes me roll my eyes. It's the commercial for those stackable, double iron coated whatzit pots. The ones that show a harried woman, tossing and pushing plastic containers aside, and a stupid voiceover of how you can't find space to put all your pots in one space.

What gets me is that Voiceover guy is sooo excited, in trying to convince idiots viewers that they probably think they'd have to pay $400! Nope! $200! Nope! Just "Five "easy" installments of $39.95!" which pretty much comes to $200! Plus, don't forget the shipping and handling fee, folks!

Oh, Brother!🙄

[janie jones]

5 hours ago, HighMaintenance said:

”Not Lauren Hutton” gets all bitchy because she is charged more than Trivago Guy.  Honey, why are you under the impression that every hotel room costs the same? Maybe his room had a single bed and a view of the dumpster.

I hate this commercial.  If I learned what the random guy next to me paid, my first thought would be that he had a different room, not that I got a rip off.  Unless this lady is so sure she got the crappiest room in the hotel and there's no way anyone should get anything cheaper.

[elle]

7 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

Great point, and yet the expression on the dog's face is just so adorable that I like the short version of the commercial a lot.

I liked the short version too but then they had to add the long version into the rotation and that ruined it for me.

But the dog is still cute.  

Speaking of the dog, do you think it is the same one that is in the Zillow-ish commercial where the guy in the tub is saying to his dog that he knows they need a bigger tub.  I think they are both Greyhounds, but I'm not sure if it is the same dog.

[Colleenna]

7 hours ago, Ubiquitous said:

remember when "part of a complete breakfast" included eggs, bacon, coffee,  and a pack of cigarettes! 

Heh. When I was in my 20s my "complete  breakfast" was 3 cups of coffee (black, no sugar) and 3 cigarettes.  Actually,  come to think of it,  that was pretty much  breakfast until I  hit 40.

[Haleth]

17 hours ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

The ones that show a harried woman, tossing and pushing plastic containers aside, and a stupid voiceover of how you can't find space to put all your pots in one space.

Is she in black and white?  A big red X?

[GHScorpiosRule]

1 hour ago, Haleth said:

Is she in black and white?  A big red X?

I don't think so. I mean, I see her blonde hair. Though it's possible.

[friendperidot]

why "Third Love" for bras and panties for real size women? I don't mind seeing the real size women in their underwear, but why are they all lounging around together and doing housework and preparing their child's lunch, some in bra and skirt or trousers and some in bras and panties, one doing an all over shake like my dogs do, one jumping up and down. Well, I guess those are to show that the undergarments stay in place, which is important. But it's just odd and I don't understand what the name means. I think self love should be first, or if you are religious, maybe second, and this doesn't take in to account narcissists.

 

[dleighg]

9 minutes ago, friendperidot said:

why "Third Love" for bras and panties for real size women?

I've had the same thought. Maybe first love is boob 1, second love is boob 2, and third love is the bra? That's all I got.

[Bastet]

14 minutes ago, friendperidot said:

I don't understand what the name means.

That's addressed in one of the company's blog posts; it is rooted in the idea of the three things they want women to love about their bras - style, feel, and fit - but ambiguous, so that it prompts people to wonder and ask "What does ThirdLove mean?"

 

[friendperidot]

I guess the answer to some of my questions is, "I dreamed I cleaned the house, sat around with my friends, fed the children, in my Third Love Bra.

This just came to me a few minutes ago, some days, I'm slow.

[Colleenna]

1 hour ago, friendperidot said:

I guess the answer to some of my questions is, "I dreamed I cleaned the house, sat around with my friends, fed the children, in my Third Love Bra.

This just came to me a few minutes ago, some days, I'm slow.

Maidenform! Heee! And Thirdlove doesn't  make any  bras in my cup size 😠 I'm a  real person  too! 

Edited January 30, 2020 by Colleenna
Autocorrupt struck again!

[friendperidot]

31 minutes ago, Colleenna said:

And Thirdlove doesn't  make any  bras in my cup size 😠 I'm a  real person  too! 

I am too. I do think their ad mentions 1/2 cup sizes and I need to look on their site. I'm bigger around the chest and not so big in the cup size and it's hard to find bras. It's like jeans, I am short and fat and apparently manufacturers think you can be short, but not that fat. I had lost 30 lbs, took me 3 years. Then last summer, one of my meds was changed and while it works most of the time, it causes weight gain, I put 20 of those lbs back on within 4 months. We adjusted the meds again and I'm not putting back on so fast now, but I go for a med check at the end of Feb., I'll see. I have a scale at home, but I have to drag it out from under the dresser and that's too much work for a fat person, lol. But on the positive side, I no longer have Ambien blackouts. 

And I do think I'll look at Third Love's site and see if they can accommodate me. I'm tired of sports bras.

[Colleenna]

2 minutes ago, friendperidot said:

I am too. I do think their ad mentions 1/2 cup sizes and I need to look on their site. I'm bigger around the chest and not so big in the cup size and it's hard to find bras. It's like jeans, I am short and fat and apparently manufacturers think you can be short, but not that fat. I had lost 30 lbs, took me 3 years. Then last summer, one of my meds was changed and while it works most of the time, it causes weight gain, I put 20 of those lbs back on within 4 months. We adjusted the meds again and I'm not putting back on so fast now, but I go for a med check at the end of Feb., I'll see. I have a scale at home, but I have to drag it out from under the dresser and that's too much work for a fat person, lol. But on the positive side, I no longer have Ambien blackouts. 

And I do think I'll look at Third Love's site and see if they can accommodate me. I'm tired of sports bras.

G cup. My options are  limited. 

[shapeshifter]

All commercials and ads that hawk supposedly comfortable bras irritate me almost as much as all bras do...

17 hours ago, dleighg said:

17 hours ago, friendperidot said:

why "Third Love" for bras and panties for real size women?

I've had the same thought. Maybe first love is boob 1, second love is boob 2, and third love is the bra? That's all I got.

...so I wish this was the real thinking behind the brand name, since it would make just about as much sense as a comfortable bra for the majority of us for whom a bra serves the purpose of holding up a part of the body by exerting pressure on other parts.

[Bastet]

I have about a dozen bras, and none of them are uncomfortable (and they're all underwire, D-cup).  I go to a local lingerie shop run by a woman who really knows her stuff and stocks high-quality bras that provide support but still come in pretty colors, patterns, lace, etc. (I hate boring underwear, so have a colorful and varied selection of bras and panties).  (She also offers a variety of mastectomy bras, which I don't need, but I appreciate how wonderful she is with the clients [including my mom] who do).  She can take one look at you for the first time and tell you what styles of bra are best for your breast shape, and does a proper fitting.

Not everyone has that kind of access, or can afford the offerings.  A quick perusal of the ThirdLove website yesterday (looking for info on the origin of the name) indicated it attempts to provide as much fit and style service as can be provided over the internet.  The one bra I clicked on because it caught my eye from the home page was available in B-G cups, but I saw something else on the homepage with a little "sticker" advertising its availability in A-I cups, so they seem to offer a good range of sizes.  I didn't check pricing on anything, though.

Anyway, I hadn't seen the commercials or heard of ThirdLove until the posts here, but if I didn't have a local option, I'd probably have been inspired to do some browsing.

[proserpina65]

12 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I have about a dozen bras, and none of them are uncomfortable (and they're all underwire, D-cup).  I go to a local lingerie shop run by a woman who really knows her stuff and stocks high-quality bras that provide support but still come in pretty colors, patterns, lace, etc. (I hate boring underwear, so have a colorful and varied selection of bras and panties).  (She also offers a variety of mastectomy bras, which I don't need, but I appreciate how wonderful she is with the clients [including my mom] who do).  She can take one look at you for the first time and tell you what styles of bra are best for your breast shape, and does a proper fitting.

Not everyone has that kind of access, or can afford the offerings.  A quick perusal of the ThirdLove website yesterday (looking for info on the origin of the name) indicated it attempts to provide as much fit and style service as can be provided over the internet.  The one bra I clicked on because it caught my eye from the home page was available in B-G cups, but I saw something else on the homepage with a little "sticker" advertising its availability in A-I cups, so they seem to offer a good range of sizes.  I didn't check pricing on anything, though.

Anyway, I hadn't seen the commercials or heard of ThirdLove until the posts here, but if I didn't have a local option, I'd probably have been inspired to do some browsing.

They have a little questionnaire which asks questions about various fit issues.  My problem is that more than one of those issues applies to me and I didn't see bras that covered them all.  But I was just looking quickly.

I wish I had access to your woman.  Honestly, I probably need custom-made bras because my breasts aren't the same size, but I can't afford that.

[Prevailing Wind]

I've a bra place near me that's allegedly that good, but anytime anyone's ever tried to fit me, the damn band is too tight. I have trouble with the straps sliding off my (incredibly smooth) shoulders, so they say, "Tighter band!" which hurts like hell and doesn't explain WHY camisole straps and nightgown straps do the same thing. The nightgown HANGS there - you'd think gravity would keep the straps in place - but, Noooooooo.  I wish I had the nerve to go braless.

[Bastet]

Continuing loose straps discussion in Small Talk ...

[janie jones]

The Progressive commercial with the Smashmouth halftime show...I feel like this should have been saved for the Super Bowl.

[proserpina65]

9 hours ago, janie jones said:

The Progressive commercial with the Smashmouth halftime show...I feel like this should have been saved for the Super Bowl.

I love that commercial, but you do have a point.

[peacheslatour]

I'm sure the Navage nasal system is a perfectly lovely product but Lol, the way the VO guy says "Navaaauuuge" cracks me up every time.

[Colleenna]

5 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm sure the Navage nasal system is a perfectly lovely product but Lol, the way the VO guy says "Navaaauuuge" cracks me up every time.

Meh. I foolishly  bought one.  I think  my neti  pot works  better.  

[Ubiquitous]

On 1/31/2020 at 2:00 AM, janie jones said:

The Progressive commercial with the Smashmouth halftime show...I feel like this should have been saved for the Super Bowl.

I thought that was a Super Bowl commercial!  

 

[janie jones]

58 minutes ago, Ubiquitous said:

I thought that was a Super Bowl commercial!  

 

I wondered if they would end up showing it during the Super Bowl, but it's been on for a few weeks now.

[xaxat]

Just because your car can park in tight spaces doesn't mean you should.

Because the guy parked next to you in the non-smart car might decide to give your fancy new car a permanent mark, letting you know how hard it was for him to get in his car.

[Kiki777]

I love Rainn Wilson but hate that he’s in an ad for Little Ceasar’s pizza.  That stuff is gross and my friends and I call it ‘diarrhea pizza’.   Though it does make sense that Little Cesar’s now delivers.... maybe they’ve caught on to the diarrhea thing and figure it would be easier on their customers to stay home?

[peacheslatour]

3 hours ago, Kiki777 said:

I love Rainn Wilson but hate that he’s in an ad for Little Ceasar’s pizza.  That stuff is gross and my friends and I call it ‘diarrhea pizza’.   Though it does make sense that Little Cesar’s now delivers.... maybe they’ve caught on to the diarrhea thing and figure it would be easier on their customers to stay home?

If that were the case you'd see Taco Bell delivery all over the place. 😉

[bad things are bad]

I thought Smaht Pahk would elicit some "gee whiz" reactions with  most people not realizing the level of tech available in regular cars. I could see the use of it, particularly for those times where YOU get parked in by some bozo. 

I had to park my F-150 a couple of weeks ago in a spot right next to a snowbank. If I had the Smart Park I wouldn't have had to crawl out of the truck into the snow 🙂

[Bort]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

If that were the case you'd see Taco Bell delivery all over the place. 😉

We do. Taco Bell also has delivery commercials. 

[proserpina65]

On ‎02‎/‎05‎/‎2020 at 1:30 PM, bad things are bad said:

I thought Smaht Pahk would elicit some "gee whiz" reactions with  most people not realizing the level of tech available in regular cars. I could see the use of it, particularly for those times where YOU get parked in by some bozo. 

The non-Super Bowl commercial for Hyundai shows a woman using the smart park feature to get out of just such a situation.  I think it's brilliant, but can't afford a car which would have the feature.

[Ubiquitous]

On 2/4/2020 at 11:27 PM, xaxat said:

Just because your car can park in tight spaces doesn't mean you should.

Because the guy parked next to you in the non-smart car might decide to give your fancy new car a permanent mark, letting you know how hard it was for him to get in his car.

Why did they hire actors with major speech impediments?  😉

[AuntiePam]

Not confused but a question: The new Domino's Risky Business commercial, the guy who delivers the pizza -- who is that?  He looks like Booger from Revenge of the Nerds.  He definitely looks like somebody.  A google search brings up lots of info on the guy doing Tom Cruise, but that's all.  Anyone know who the delivery guy is?

[bad things are bad]

23 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I think it's brilliant, but can't afford a car which would have the feature.

But that's the thing...it's a freaking HYUNDAI. It's a very basic car, which I realize still puts it out of reach as a new car for a lot of the population, but it's an illustration of technology moving downmarket. 

[proserpina65]

20 minutes ago, bad things are bad said:

But that's the thing...it's a freaking HYUNDAI. It's a very basic car, which I realize still puts it out of reach as a new car for a lot of the population, but it's an illustration of technology moving downmarket. 

Except it's not available on all Hyundais, only the Sonata and only on the most expensive trim of the Sonata, the one with the $33,500 starting price.  So no, not a very basic car, and no, not an affordable car, and no, not particularly downmarket yet.  When it's available on the base level of the Accent, then maybe.

[bad things are bad]

I get what you're saying. Average transaction price for a new vehicle in the US is right around $35K currently, which is why I'd classify the Sonata as a "regular" car (not a BMW or Cadillac)

But, to go back on topic, as a commercial that raises awareness that this type of feature is even available, i think the ad did a good job. 

[Bort]

3 hours ago, AuntiePam said:

Not confused but a question: The new Domino's Risky Business commercial, the guy who delivers the pizza -- who is that?  He looks like Booger from Revenge of the Nerds.

That’s who it is. 

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, AuntiePam said:

Not confused but a question: The new Domino's Risky Business commercial, the guy who delivers the pizza -- who is that?  He looks like Booger from Revenge of the Nerds. 

Yep, Curtis Armstrong (he was in Risky Business).

[Ubiquitous]

In the Life Alert ad, why is the man who fell in a park or golf course calling them for help? Is everyone ignoring him? 🤔

[peacheslatour]

Why does Doug feel he has to spew Liberty Mutual's motto, first in English, then in Spanish, then in English two more times? I could see it if he were speaking four languages. 

Edited February 10, 2020 by peacheslatour

[proserpina65]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Why does Doug feel he has to spew Liberty Mutual's motto, first in English, then in Spanish, then in English two more times? I could see it if he were speaking four languages. 

Because Doug is a bit thick, and thinks he has to say it into each and every microphone.  Apparently he is an insurance savant but doesn't understand how microphones work.

Edited February 10, 2020 by proserpina65

[peacheslatour]

17 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

Because Doug is a bit thick, and thinks he has to say it into each and every microphone.  Apparently he is an insurance savant but doesn't understand how microphones work.

Shoulda had the emu collect the award. He's more articulate.

[Haleth]

But then we wouldn't have their slogan pounded into our heads 4 times.

Edited February 11, 2020 by Haleth

[Prevailing Wind]

3 hours ago, Haleth said:

But then we wouldn't have their slogan pounded into our heads 4 times.

Three times for me. I don't speak/understand Spanish very much.

 

[Ubiquitous]

On ‎2‎/‎10‎/‎2020 at 2:26 PM, peacheslatour said:

Why does Doug feel he has to spew Liberty Mutual's motto, first in English, then in Spanish, then in English two more times? I could see it if he were speaking four languages. 

One of the microphones belonged to Telemundo.

Yeah, it was stupid.