Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads

[pinkandsparkly13]

Oh give me a break! 

[Moose135]

I don't understand why Applebees is getting grief over the commercial placement - I don't think they told CNN to run it side-by-side with war coverage...

[AnnA]

On 3/5/2022 at 5:54 PM, dleighg said:

I live in an "affluent" county north of NYC. Basically a bedroom community for people who work in NYC or in our suburbs.

I have now (in the last hour or so) seen four ads for Tractor Supply. They are saying that they are here for folks with feed, who are raising corn, cattle, and horses, or something like that.

Wow, what a serious waste of money!

I'm on the north shore of Long Island and see those same commercials.  I have no idea why though.   There are some homes on horse properties so I'm assuming there's a need for horse supplies.  I did a search and there's exactly ONE Tractor Supply location on Long Island.

Edited March 8, 2022 by AnnA

[SoMuchTV]

1 hour ago, Moose135 said:

I don't understand why Applebees is getting grief over the commercial placement - I don't think they told CNN to run it side-by-side with war coverage...

I don’t fault Applebees for the initial run - I think that’s on CNN. But after that clip became the poster child for insensitive ad placement, it seems like they (Applebees) should have put it it on hiatus until it was a little less fresh in people’s memories. Maybe re-edited it a bit as well. 

[Annber03]

I can't hear that commercial now without thinking of John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" show - they commented on the whole thing with it airing on CNN during the Russian invasion coverage, and then they did a darkly funny bit where they imagined that commercial following other significant historical moments, like Obama announcing the killing of Bin Laden, or the Kennedy assassination, or the news of Princess Diana's death, or so on.

So when I see that commercial now it just makes me think of that bit and laugh :p. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I dislike the Rocket Mortgage commercial where the woman keeps poking her head into the heat vent, various other places in the home, and at the end pops out of the sofa, holding the quarter and the Hamster. 

[proserpina65]

On 3/5/2022 at 5:54 PM, dleighg said:

I live in an "affluent" county north of NYC. Basically a bedroom community for people who work in NYC or in our suburbs.

I have now (in the last hour or so) seen four ads for Tractor Supply. They are saying that they are here for folks with feed, who are raising corn, cattle, and horses, or something like that.

Wow, what a serious waste of money!

They do tend to have the best prices on bird seed, though.

On 3/7/2022 at 7:39 AM, dleighg said:

CNN decided that they needed to go-to-commercial, but didn't want to completely break away from Ukraine reporting, so they had a split screen of bombings, with the Applebee's guy singing "a pair of jeans that fit just right" and shaking his behind. It was widely criticized as insensitive to put it mildly.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cnn-applebee-face-backlash-over-204331847.html

That's hardly Applebee's fault, though.  Blame CNN for the timing because their producers choose when to run the commercials other than just a general "during so-and-so's show".

15 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

I don’t fault Applebees for the initial run - I think that’s on CNN. But after that clip became the poster child for insensitive ad placement, it seems like they (Applebees) should have put it it on hiatus until it was a little less fresh in people’s memories. Maybe re-edited it a bit as well. 

Not really their decision, though.

[proserpina65]

16 hours ago, AnnA said:

I'm on the north shore of Long Island and see those same commercials.  I have no idea why though.   There are some homes on horse properties so I'm assuming there's a need for horse supplies.  I did a search and there's exactly ONE Tractor Supply location on Long Island.

So there is a store benefitting from that commercial being run.  Tractor Supply sells a lot more than horse supplies.  Anyone who does yardwork can find what they need for good prices.  They have a lot of gardening stuff.

Funnily enough, I live in a rural county in Maryland (a lot of which is still at least semi-rural) and I don't think I've ever seen a Tractor Supply commercial on tv even though there are at least two stores within a half-hour's drive.

[RedElf]

Are we supposed to know who this is?  The ispot caption says she's Becky G, but again I ask, are we supposed to know who this is?

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/bwx7/xfinity-mobile-comparisons-featuring-becky-g

 

[peacheslatour]

4 minutes ago, RedElf said:

Are we supposed to know who this is?  The ispot caption says she's Becky G, but again I ask, are we supposed to know who this is?

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/bwx7/xfinity-mobile-comparisons-featuring-becky-g

 

No idea. But I'm as old as dirt.

[Bastet]

I'm not familiar with her, either, but Wikipedia says she is a singer (that's why, in the commercial, she follows up "fewer concert tickets" with "and not just for my shows").  This explains why she isn't on my radar:

Quote

She first gained recognition in 2011 when she began posting videos of herself covering popular songs online.

 

[Gharlane]

On 3/7/2022 at 7:39 AM, dleighg said:

CNN decided that they needed to go-to-commercial, but didn't want to completely break away from Ukraine reporting, so they had a split screen of bombings, with the Applebee's guy singing "a pair of jeans that fit just right" and shaking his behind. It was widely criticized as insensitive to put it mildly.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cnn-applebee-face-backlash-over-204331847.html

Really? People are upset about that? <eyeroll>

It's a sucky commercial but this a what a real bad placement is. :-O

1 hour ago, RedElf said:

Are we supposed to know who this is?  The ispot caption says she's Becky G, but again I ask, are we supposed to know who this is?

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/bwx7/xfinity-mobile-comparisons-featuring-becky-g

I have no clue either. Is that the "don't worry folks, my wifi is crushing it!" bitch?

[Haleth]

I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has no clue who that girl is. 

[Welshman in Ca]

I'm guessing this has been talked about before but I'm not trawling my way through 200 pages. Any drivetime ad, STOP FUCKING SHOUTING, I watch tv to relax not be shouted at.

And I still have no idea what it's actually for. Is it for a loan for a down payment for a car loan for people who can't really afford to have 1 loan let alone 2?

[peacheslatour]

12 minutes ago, Welshman in Ca said:

I'm guessing this has been talked about before but I'm not trawling my way through 200 pages. Any drivetime ad, STOP FUCKING SHOUTING, I watch tv to relax not be shouted at.

And I still have no idea what it's actually for. Is it for a loan for a down payment for a car loan for people who can't really afford to have 1 loan let alone 2?

I have said this repeatedly. If you shout at me, you will never see a dime of my money.

[millennium]

There's no thread for "Commercials that make you sad," but my heart is kind of breaking for Sharon Stone, star of Basic Instinct, Casino, etc.

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Ms. Stone is also in a Lenscrafters (I think Lenscrafters, so if that's wrong please correct me), commercial too.    

[proserpina65]

18 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Ms. Stone is also in a Lenscrafters (I think Lenscrafters, so if that's wrong please correct me), commercial too.    

At least she's not photoshopped onto a thumb in that one.  At least I hope she isn't.

[millennium]

1 hour ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Ms. Stone is also in a Lenscrafters (I think Lenscrafters, so if that's wrong please correct me), commercial too.    

Hopefully she hasn't made a spectacle of herself.

[Haleth]

14 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Ms. Stone is also in a Lenscrafters (I think Lenscrafters, so if that's wrong please correct me), commercial too.    

Is that who that is?  I kept thinking I should know who that is but didn't recognize her.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

On 3/10/2022 at 2:08 PM, millennium said:

Hopefully she hasn't made a spectacle of herself.

I see what you did there.

[luckyroll3]

The thumb commercial is weird AF, but I actually really enjoy the Lenscrafter's one. I think it's kinda funny and she looks amazing in the frames!

[Haleth]

There's a Celebrity cruise ship commercial that runs constantly with a catchy song played over it.  I don't know the song but it sounds like the last line is something about broken bones.  Is that really what they want associated with their ships?

[dleighg]

49 minutes ago, Haleth said:

something about broken bones.

yup I looked it up. It's from a song by OneRepublic, and that line is "with every broken bone, I swear I lived." (The song is "I lived.")

Yeah, I don't really expect anything remotely approaching broken bones on a cruise ship.

[madmax]

This S&T Bank commercial:

 

She talks about the house being old, but the bank's been around for years, so it's all okay.

How are they the same thing?

[Gharlane]

On 3/10/2022 at 2:02 PM, millennium said:

There's no thread for "Commercials that make you sad," but my heart is kind of breaking for Sharon Stone, star of Basic Instinct, Casino, etc.

 

Why does she say "Slut O Star"? 

There's another commercial in which she does the same thing and makes a single-entendre. 

Edited March 14, 2022 by Gharlane

[CrystalBlue]

24 minutes ago, Gharlane said:

Why does she say "Slut O Star"? 

There's another commercial in which she does the same thing and makes a single-entendre. 

I replayed several times and it sounds to me Sharon is saying Slotostar correctly.

[shlbycindyk]

On 3/5/2022 at 5:54 PM, dleighg said:

I live in an "affluent" county north of NYC. Basically a bedroom community for people who work in NYC or in our suburbs.

I have now (in the last hour or so) seen four ads for Tractor Supply. They are saying that they are here for folks with feed, who are raising corn, cattle, and horses, or something like that.

Wow, what a serious waste of money!

I live in the country in North Carolina and there is a Tractor Supply about a mile away from my house.  I've never seen one of their commercials!  Maybe the ad agency needs to study a map.

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, shlbycindyk said:

I live in the country in North Carolina and there is a Tractor Supply about a mile away from my house.  I've never seen one of their commercials!  Maybe the ad agency needs to study a map.

I live in Montana, there is a Tractor Supply outside of the major town I go to for dr appts etc. I had no  clue they had pet food supplies. My yard tigers are eating me out of house and home hopefully I can find cheaper food for them there. 😸

[Bastet]

On 3/10/2022 at 11:02 AM, millennium said:

There's no thread for "Commercials that make you sad," but my heart is kind of breaking for Sharon Stone, star of Basic Instinct, Casino, etc.

Slotomania must pay well for its celebrity endorsements, because they first got John Goodman to appear as a finger - that one going up a nose! - even once he was raking it in anew with The Conners, so I figure the actors readily find it worthwhile given the pay.

Stone is presumably skipping all the way to the bank, so no need to feel sorry for her, especially since she's still steadily working, including starring in another commercial series that doesn't have a stink like this one does.

[millennium]

10 minutes ago, Bastet said:

Slotomania must pay well for its celebrity endorsements, because they first got John Goodman to appear as a finger - that one going up a nose! - even once he was raking it in anew with The Conners, so I figure the actors readily find it worthwhile given the pay.

Stone is presumably skipping all the way to the bank, so no need to feel sorry for her, especially since she's still steadily working, including starring in another commercial series that doesn't have a stink like this one does.

I have a soft spot for actresses of a certain age.   What happens to them isn't right.

[dleighg]

7 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

I had no  clue they had pet food supplies.

seems they ought to include that in their ads, rather than just horse and cattle feed. Particularly if you're showing the ads in communities that only have homes on 1/2 acre lots or less :) 

[Gharlane]

Am I sppsd to know the people in the Planet Fatness commercials? 🤔

I have to assume they're celebrities, but I haven't a clue. 🤷‍♂️

[proserpina65]

3 hours ago, Gharlane said:

Am I sppsd to know the people in the Planet Fatness commercials? 🤔

I have to assume they're celebrities, but I haven't a clue. 🤷‍♂️

I recognized Dennis Rodman, Jane whatsherface from 30 Rock and the dumb white guy from Black-Ish.  Not sure who the others are.

[Welshman in Ca]

3 hours ago, Gharlane said:

Am I sppsd to know the people in the Planet Fatness commercials? 🤔

I have to assume they're celebrities, but I haven't a clue. 🤷‍♂️

I think it's supposed to appeal to everyone. You wouldn't be expected to know who they all are but even if you know one depending on your age then that's good enough for them.

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I recognized Dennis Rodman, Jane whatsherface from 30 Rock and the dumb white guy from Black-Ish.  Not sure who the others are.

Some TikTok celebrity (Jeff Meacham - the actor from Black-ish - addresses him as "Angry Reactions Guy from TikTok"), and then one version also has William Shatner at the beginning.

I find the Lindsay Lohan one funny, but this one kind of a dud.

[Nicmar]

On 2/9/2022 at 1:22 PM, peacheslatour said:

Damn you, Weird Al! *shakes tiny fist*

Whenever I hear Michael Jackson's Bad all I hear is Fat by Weird Al

[smittykins]

I’ve read that sometimes, Don McLean has to fight the urge to sing Weird Al’s lyrics when he performs “American Pie” in concert.

[peacheslatour]

28 minutes ago, smittykins said:

I’ve read that sometimes, Don McLean has to fight the urge to sing Weird Al’s lyrics when he performs “American Pie” in concert.

I read that too!

[Gharlane]

Did I watch the world's sexiest commercial for men's sweatpants, or was I dreaming about him? 🤔

Edited March 21, 2022 by Gharlane

[Gharlane]

What the hell is going on in the VRBO commercial?

I think they're trying to say that the young man is hesitant about staying at someone's rented house and changes his mind at the end, but are all these people in the same place or are they different sets of people? 🤔

[dleighg]

there's this radio ad for indeed.com, where the narrator is a food truck owner whose cook has apparently quit, so she needs indeed to find a new employee. At the beginning she's calling out the food that needs to get prepared, and one of them is a ...

cucumber empanada

Now I cannot imagine a universe where a cucumber empanada is an actual thing. Am I just hopelessly unimaginative?

[peacheslatour]

51 minutes ago, dleighg said:

there's this radio ad for indeed.com, where the narrator is a food truck owner whose cook has apparently quit, so she needs indeed to find a new employee. At the beginning she's calling out the food that needs to get prepared, and one of them is a ...

cucumber empanada

Now I cannot imagine a universe where a cucumber empanada is an actual thing. Am I just hopelessly unimaginative?

People have been cooking and eating for thousands of years. In none of those years were cucumber empanadas a thing.

[Gharlane]

1 hour ago, dleighg said:

Now I cannot imagine a universe where a cucumber empanada is an actual thing. Am I just hopelessly unimaginative?

I barely know what an empanada is, not to mention a cucumber empanada! 🤣

[Prevailing Wind]

I didn't need to hear Kermit singing in a VRBO commercial.  I don't care how many different people have rented the house, Kermit does NOT belong there.

[chessiegal]

I just saw an ad for hippo home insurance. Joe is telling us how easy it was to use them. The smallest chyron says "Joe choose hippo...." instead of Joe chose or Joe chooses. No editors at these ad agencies?

[Red Bridey]

Usually I like the AirB&B ads a lot, but the Mambo Italiano one makes me scratch my head. Here's a mom and her baby going to Italy to visit her mother? grandmother? in the Old Country. The baby is experiencing Italy! She/He is totally adorable! The owner leaves a squash that is turned into some kind of pasta dish and then there's this guy eating the pasta holding the baby. Who is he? Why is he there? Is he the father? Uncle? Cousin? Why do I spend so much time thinking about that guy?

[SoMuchTV]

Two different retailers - Kohl’s and Old Navy - have been running ads for women’s dresses that make me scratch my head. They don’t look like something I would wear. They don’t look like something my daughters would wear. They don’t look like something my mother would wear. Who are the targets for these fashions?

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, SoMuchTV said:

Two different retailers - Kohl’s and Old Navy - have been running ads for women’s dresses that make me scratch my head. They don’t look like something I would wear. They don’t look like something my daughters would wear. They don’t look like something my mother would wear. Who are the targets for these fashions?

I've seen those ads and there is not one dress I would wear among the ones they show!

[CrystalBlue]

1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

I've seen those ads and there is not one dress I would wear among the ones they show!

I've only seen the Old Navy one so I don't know if the Kohl's fashion selections are the same but wow.  Every dress is fugly and those outfits with the T-shirts are stupid looking.  Then the guys are dancing (annoyingly) wearing those lame outfits.