Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage

[riley702]

I'm imagining a robot from Futurama singing it this way too, and it would totally make sense.

 

Unless it was Bender, and then it would be hilarious. So much so, that I'm now wondering if he already has.

[SmithW6079]

[Oprah]'s ad bugs me because her issues with weight are well known to the general public and nothing about this ad explains why this time, unlike all the other times, this is going to work for her. It's just basically saying "I'm going to do this now. Do it with me!" Sort of relies on her legions of fans just doing whatever she tells them without explanation. Plus it's been much publicized that she bought a controlling interest in the Weight Watchers company, which also makes the ad somewhat disingenuous.

If Oprah, with her personal chef and personal trainer, presumably on staff, can't keep the weight off, a generic Weight Watchers program is supposed to ensure Average Joe loses weight and keeps it off?

[CoyoteBlue]

There is always a dramatic increase in WW and other weight loss programs after Christmas. I wonder if this year's increase is comparable to most other years'? 

 

Also gym memberships and probably anything that makes people think "I really should / want to,,," Our knitting/crochet group on Meetup got a lot more new members in December and almost all of them didn't actually know how to knit/crochet and "wanted to learn".

[RCharter]

If Oprah, with her personal chef and personal trainer, presumably on staff, can't keep the weight off, a generic Weight Watchers program is supposed to ensure Average Joe loses weight and keeps it off?

I kinda think thats the beauty of Oprah -- I know I sound like a mindless fan right now, but I swear I'm not.  However, one of the things I've enjoyed about Oprah is she doesn't talk down to her audience.  She doesn't pretend that she is "just like them," because she isn't.  But, in some ways she is.  She tries things and she fails spectacularly.  That she struggles with her weight in spite of a personal trainer, and a personal chef makes me feel like anyone can have that struggle and its not all about just having the money to stay thin.  Maybe there is something else you have to do, and perhaps you have to keep trying even after you constantly fail.  

 

Okay....enough about Oprah

I love me some Johnny Depp, but dang, this is as bad as the Strange perfume commercial from Boomerang! (referenced below)  Now, everytime I see a commercial that is confusing I'm going to have to assume its for perfume.  And was all that guyliner really necessary?  Is that all really Sauvage?

 

Edited January 5, 2016 by RCharter

[proserpina65]

That's true of any diet, though - once you lose the weight you want, if you go back to eating the way you used to, of course you're going to gain the weight back. You have to change the way you eat forever, not just until you lose the amount of weight you're hoping for. So it's not really fair to blame any one particular diet.

 

The thing is, Oprah knows that, I'm sure. She's not dumb. Her ad bugs me because her issues with weight are well known to the general public and nothing about this ad explains why this time, unlike all the other times, this is going to work for her. It's just basically saying "I'm going to do this now. Do it with me!" Sort of relies on her legions of fans just doing whatever she tells them without explanation. Plus it's been much publicized that she bought a controlling interest in the Weight Watchers company, which also makes the ad somewhat disingenuous.

Oh absolutely, WW is one of the better plans in that it does at least try to teach you how to change your approach to eating in the real world, and if you stick with that approach, it can really work.  But you have to stick with it, and for me (like Oprah), that is always the problem.  (If only there were a magic pill!)  And, as you say, the Oprah ads don't really go into why this time will be any different, although I hope for her sake, it actually is. 

 

 

That Johnny Depp fragrance ad is so stupid, it's actually hysterically funny.  (And I hate Johnny Depp!)  I did wonder if the bit where he drives past the buffalo is an homage/parody of the weird Matthew McConaughey Lincoln ad with the bull.

Edited January 5, 2016 by proserpina65

[WescottF1]

Here's the thing, though, young people are used to doing everything online.  They (at least the ones I know) really don't like to go into brick and mortar stores.  Millennials would rather not deal with face to face encounters. That's just the way of the world now.

 

I've had good success using the MyFitnessPal app on my phone.  You put in what you weigh, what you want to lose a week, and then input food/water/exercise.  It has a HUGE food database and a barcode scanner for packaged food.  Once I got used to it and saw how far over my caloric goal I go on a regular basis (I like wine - a LOT), it's was easy to see how I can scale certain things back to stay under goal.  I don't exercise at all but when I stick with the app, the weight comes off steadily.

[blackwing]

Cringe-worthy!

 

Seriously, what thought/feeling is behind Julia's LEERING grin at the very end??  I'm so hot?  I beat them all?  I'm high as a kite?

I just hate this ad.

 

It does seem to go along with her personality.  "I'm a rich and powerful award-winning actress.  How stupid are all of these hoi polloi that they are letting these weird chains of light hold them down?!  I'm a rich and powerful award-winning actress.  Nobody puts baby in a corner!  I'm going to be strong and do something about it.  Hey, look at meeeeee!  I flicked my wrists and smashed the chains.  I am FREE!  Let me be the shining exemplary light of the world to show all of these stupid people how to be as incredibly awesome as me.  I love my life!  Look at all of my teeth!"

Edited January 5, 2016 by blackwing

[Brattinella]

It does seem to go along with her personality.  "I'm a rich and powerful award-winning actress.  How stupid are all of these hoi polloi that they are letting these weird chains of light hold them down?!  I'm a rich and powerful award-winning actress.  Nobody puts baby in a corner!  I'm going to be strong and do something about it.  Hey, look at meeeeee!  I flicked my wrists and smashed the chains.  I am FREE!  Let me be the shining exemplary light of the world to show all of these stupid people how to be as incredibly awesome as me.  I love my life!  Look at all of my teeth!"

 

Just beautiful.

[peacheslatour]

 

That Johnny Depp fragrance ad is so stupid, it's actually hysterically funny.  (And I hate Johnny Depp!)  I did wonder if the bit where he drives past the buffalo is an homage/parody of the weird Matthew McConaughey Lincoln ad with the bull.

At first I thought it was a nod to Where the Buffalo Roam because of Hunter S. Thompson.  But, Bill Murray played Thompson in that movie not Depp, (Depp played him in Fear and Loathing) so who knows.

[brickthru the tv]

My rant for this year is the - Car ads when they drive thru snow and there IS NO SNOW on them? (and they can drive thru 2" of it) Or even better yet there is one ad where the snow doesn't fall on the road - but all the cars are driving in sync - what a life according to the D-ass marketers

I don't know anyone who has ever received a  car as a Christmas gift, let alone opening the door on Christmas morn to find a Lexus or Mercedes parked outside sporting a big red bow on the roof.

 

And yet these one-percenter commercials are ruining the experience of watching TV at night.  Every single commercial break.    I suppose if you're a Wall Street type, a doctor, or the owner of a tech company, these spots may seem charming.   But to someone who always seems to have more bills than money, they evoke nothing but resentment.   The one where the parents giddily wake up their kids on Christmas morning and run outside to find their Lexus/Mercedes/Audi/whatever is especially irritating.

 

It used to be that commercials sold to broad segments of the population (i.e., the middle class, which I hear no longer exists).   These days it seems advertising is more focused on saturation of specific demographics and to hell with everybody else.    Another example is daytime TV where you can't escape the constant catheter/adult diaper/new unpronounceable drug commercials. 

 

 

YOU said it all buddy:)

[millennium]

Kirstie Alley is doing a weight loss ad now. I do not know who is more obnoxious-her or Marie Osmond. They both can leave my television at any time.

 

I just saw a Kirstie Alley weight loss ad ... she was on a mock-up of the Cheers set.   Aging Norm and aging Cliff were there, admiring her new and improved figure ... 

 

It was sad.

[DeLurker]

 

I never understood that song. WTF is a "natural" woman?  I used to go around singing, "You make me feel like a synthetic woman..."

*googles* - I'm surprised nobody's written a filk of that.

Isn't that Lars and the Real Girl?

 

I've been seeing this ad for Hyrdoxycut recently.  It looks like they lost the weight by cutting off their arms.

[RCharter]

Isn't that Lars and the Real Girl?

 

I've been seeing this ad for Hyrdoxycut recently.  It looks like they lost the weight by cutting off their arms.

 

They must have seen that one coming because they were sure to show all of them (except Brian) dancing around with their entire right arm visible for the camera.  Sneaky Hydroxycut!

[Cobalt Stargazer]

 

I never understood that song. WTF is a "natural" woman?  I used to go around singing, "You make me feel like a synthetic woman..."

 

*googles* - I'm surprised nobody's written a filk of that.[/q]

 

 

Isn't that Lars and the Real Girl?

 

Or Ex Machina

[Rick Kitchen]

This sounds like one of those Volkswagen commercials.

[sloopjohnc]

I hate the new GM truck ads where the new GM owner asks his innocent neighbor an innocuous question and the GM truck owner shows how much better he is with his new GM truck.

 

I wish the poor non-GM truck owner would respond, "That's why we never talk - you're an arrogant jerk."

[Cobalt Stargazer]

I hate the new GM truck ads where the new GM owner asks his innocent neighbor an innocuous question and the GM truck owner shows how much better he is with his new GM truck.

 

I wish the poor non-GM truck owner would respond, "That's why we never talk - you're an arrogant jerk."

 

On a related note, there's a commercial for either Dole or Del Monte fruit, where these two women are sitting at a table opening their plastic cups, and one woman starts draining the syrup into a separate bowl or something. The second woman talks about how the fruit she's eating in packed in natural juices, so she doesn't drain it, she drinks it.

 

Now, my question is, why is the woman who drinks the juice out of her fruit cup acting so damn superior? Yes, syrup is less healthy for you, but it isn't as if the woman draining her cup is going to die just from the secondary contact, since she [ii]doesn't[/i] drink it. Although I do wonder why she seems so aggressive when she's punching holes in the plastic film, acting like she's literally trying to kill it, not just break through the plastic. Annoying.

[chessiegal]

On a related note, there's a commercial for either Dole or Del Monte fruit, where these two women are sitting at a table opening their plastic cups, and one woman starts draining the syrup into a separate bowl or something. The second woman talks about how the fruit she's eating in packed in natural juices, so she doesn't drain it, she drinks it.

 

Now, my question is, why is the woman who drinks the juice out of her fruit cup acting so damn superior? Yes, syrup is less healthy for you, but it isn't as if the woman draining her cup is going to die just from the secondary contact, since she [ii]doesn't[/i] drink it. Although I do wonder why she seems so aggressive when she's punching holes in the plastic film, acting like she's literally trying to kill it, not just break through the plastic. Annoying.

They are trying to differentiate the brand that has natural fruit juice vs sugar added syrup liquid. The message is you don't want purposely added sugar syrup vs juice that naturally comes from the fruit. What I take away from it is that I'm reminded to buy fresh fruit and pack it myself. Skip the middle processor.

Edited January 9, 2016 by chessiegal

[ennui]

My rant for this year is the - Car ads when they drive thru snow and there IS NO SNOW on them? (and they can drive thru 2" of it) Or even better yet there is one ad where the snow doesn't fall on the road - but all the cars are driving in sync - what a life according to the D-ass marketers

 

There was a recent editorial in my local newspaper (yes, I do receive delivery of a paper newspaper, so sue me). Rant about people who don't know how to drive in snow or on ice, because they've seen tv commercials and think Their Vehicle will perform Just. Like. That. on snow and ice.

[RCharter]

On a related note, there's a commercial for either Dole or Del Monte fruit, where these two women are sitting at a table opening their plastic cups, and one woman starts draining the syrup into a separate bowl or something. The second woman talks about how the fruit she's eating in packed in natural juices, so she doesn't drain it, she drinks it.

 

Now, my question is, why is the woman who drinks the juice out of her fruit cup acting so damn superior? Yes, syrup is less healthy for you, but it isn't as if the woman draining her cup is going to die just from the secondary contact, since she [ii]doesn't[/i] drink it. Although I do wonder why she seems so aggressive when she's punching holes in the plastic film, acting like she's literally trying to kill it, not just break through the plastic. Annoying.

Whatever, natural fruit juice is probably as high in sugar as the syrup and that dummy is probably eating shitty the rest of the day to "reward" herself for drinking 2 teaspoons of fruit juice.  The woman draining her syrup is probably doing much better.  And what, she wants the Nobel Prize for buying processed fruit packed in juice?  I get what they are trying to do from a marketing standpoint, but I feel like most rational, thinking human beings would realize that its not that big a deal.

[Prevailing Wind]

 

I wish the poor non-GM truck owner would respond, "That's why we never talk - you're an arrogant jerk."

There IS one where the guy mumbles, "...if you're into that kind of stuff."  Took me 3 views to figure out what he was saying, though.

[DeLurker]

There was a recent editorial in my local newspaper (yes, I do receive delivery of a paper newspaper, so sue me). Rant about people who don't know how to drive in snow or on ice, because they've seen tv commercials and think Their Vehicle will perform Just. Like. That. on snow and ice.

Is getting home delivery a faux pas?  Yikes!

 

Never mind that there's usual a disclaimer saying professional driver on a closed course or similar.  And since the ad is for the car, maybe they've put on high performance tires?  Unlike what you roll out of your car dealership or garage with.

[RCharter]

Is getting home delivery a faux pas?  Yikes!

 

Never mind that there's usual a disclaimer saying professional driver on a closed course or similar.  And since the ad is for the car, maybe they've put on high performance tires?  Unlike what you roll out of your car dealership or garage with.

I wouldn't say faux pas, but my parents are the only people I know who still get the newspaper delivered to them.  And much like the OP, they actually read it cover to cover (except the sports section - my dad only likes soccer)

 

And come on, you know people watching those commercials aren't paying attention to the "professional driver on a closed course" tiny print.  They just see a Lexus with a giant red bow zooming through the snowy night.  But honestly, people should know better once they actually get IN snow.  Driving in real snow is scary!

[zentropa]

If Oprah, with her personal chef and personal trainer, presumably on staff, can't keep the weight off, a generic Weight Watchers program is supposed to ensure Average Joe loses weight and keeps it off?

 

In one of the Oprah ads, she actually seems...drunk or something? Her voice is really deep and slurred. It's bizarre.

 

As for the above, I could not agree more! I would be a lot more fit if I could afford a personal trainer every day, but I'm breaking the bank at 2x a week!

Edited January 9, 2016 by zentropa

[spaceytraci1208]

In one of the Oprah ads, she actually seems...drunk or something? Her voice is really deep and slurred. It's bizarre.

As for the above, I could not agree more! I would be a lot more fit if I could afford a personal trainer every day, but I'm breaking the bank at 2x a week!

I think she's just trying to come across as relatable to us commoners. My eyes damn near rolled out of my head when she said "honey-child". I respect the hell out of Oprah, but sometimes she gets on my damn nerves...

[arejay]

The pisspoot in the My Pillow commercial that claims not to have made the connection between his pillow and a good night's sleep deserves neither.

[BradandJanet]

Because I watch the ID channel a lot, I get 20 repeats of the Doctor on Demand commercial every evening--the one with the young woman whose unseen husband tells her to get out their computer and report her UTI infection to some random doctor on DoD. Besides the frequency of the ad, the actress repeatedly and annoying bobs her head right to left like a bird as she talks about her quick diagnosis and cure. It's not a good pairing with shows about people who kill for far less.

Edited January 10, 2016 by BradandJanet

[Brattinella]

Because I watch the ID channel a lot, I get 20 repeats of the Doctor on Demand commercial every evening--the one with the young woman whose unseen husband tells her to get out their computer and report her UTI infection to some random doctor on DoD. Besides the frequency of the ad, the actress repeatedly and annoying bobs her head right to left like a bird as she talks about her quick diagnosis and cure. It's not a good pairing with shows about people who kill for far less.

I hate her SOOOOO much!

[Cobalt Stargazer]

The pisspoot in the My Pillow commercial that claims not to have made the connection between his pillow and a good night's sleep deserves neither.

 

Firstly, 'pisspoot' is the Best.Word.Ever.

 

Secondly, I'm always amazed in a bad way at how stupid people in commercials are. They don't know how insurance works or that some random guy's apartment is not a restaurant or how to buy the right cat food without supervision. How do these folks even get out of the house in the mornings?

[Sandman87]

How do these folks even get out of the house in the mornings?

No kidding. They can barely interact with a roll of cling-wrap without suffocating themselves, they keep 911 on speed-dial in case of potato-peeling disasters, and any attempt to boil water only results in burned water.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Sandman87

[bitchin camaro]

How much would it cost to hire a hitman to take out the Care.com kid? I bet Mr. Tickles would pitch in a few bucks.

[arejay]

Firstly, 'pisspoot' is the Best. Word. Ever.

Isn't it just? I couldn't wait to use it. Next stop? In line at the Walgreens.

[TattleTeeny]

On a related note, there's a commercial for either Dole or Del Monte fruit, where these two women are sitting at a table opening their plastic cups, and one woman starts draining the syrup into a separate bowl or something. The second woman talks about how the fruit she's eating in packed in natural juices, so she doesn't drain it, she drinks it.

Now, my question is, why is the woman who drinks the juice out of her fruit cup acting so damn superior? Yes, syrup is less healthy for you, but it isn't as if the woman draining her cup is going to die just from the secondary contact, since she [ii]doesn't[/i] drink it. Although I do wonder why she seems so aggressive when she's punching holes in the plastic film, acting like she's literally trying to kill it, not just break through the plastic. Annoying.

I posted about this one here too! I just hate how that lady says "I drink it." I don't know why I care not a bit about damn Peter Pan but this bugs me.

No kidding. They can barely interact with a roll of cling-wrap without suffocating themselves, they keep 911 on speed-dial in case of potato-peeling disasters, and any attempt to boil water only results in burned water.

I am not a dumb person (in most things, anyway) but OH MY GOD! I had to wrap up a plate of damn cookies for a party with the stupid cling wrap and I nearly had a meltdown of sheer frustration! Cling wrap can be a real PISSPOOT, haha!

Edited January 10, 2016 by TattleTeeny

[Ubiquitous]

On a related note, there's a commercial for either Dole or Del Monte fruit, where these two women are sitting at a table opening their plastic cups, and one woman starts draining the syrup into a separate bowl or something. The second woman talks about how the fruit she's eating in packed in natural juices, so she doesn't drain it, she drinks it.

 

Now, my question is, why is the woman who drinks the juice out of her fruit cup acting so damn superior? Yes, syrup is less healthy for you, but it isn't as if the woman draining her cup is going to die just from the secondary contact, since she doesn't drink it. Although I do wonder why she seems so aggressive when she's punching holes in the plastic film, acting like she's literally trying to kill it, not just break through the plastic. Annoying.

I doubt that liquid is really "fruit juice", or much better than the syrup.

[Muffyn]

It is a highly concentrated fruit juice that is super sweet. So it's not exactly good for you. I had to explain this in detail to my great aunt who was diabetic. She knew she shouldn't drink syrup but had no problem slurping down this juice product.

[RCharter]

It is a highly concentrated fruit juice that is super sweet. So it's not exactly good for you. I had to explain this in detail to my great aunt who was diabetic. She knew she shouldn't drink syrup but had no problem slurping down this juice product.

Ugh, its probably marinating in Capri Sun.

 

This is just as bad as when people refer to Sunny Delight as "orange juice"

[Brattinella]

Ugh, its probably marinating in Capri Sun.

 

This is just as bad as when people refer to Sunny Delight as "orange juice"

 

Truly.  Not even close.  UGH!

[Sandman87]

I've never tried Sunny Delight, but I've heard it described as tasting like orange juice and perfume.

[90PercentGravity]

Sunny D is like a ton of Tang mixed in milk.

[mojoween]

The Ben Stiller "Zoolander" Fiat commercial makes me want to burn every Fiat dealership to the ground.

Was there a clamoring, for him to look like an asshat, in a second film?

[SmithW6079]

I'm indifferent to the Flo Progressive commercials -- although I like the ones that play like afterschool specials -- but I hate the Progressive box ones, especially the one at the airport. What is he, a box of douches?

[Brattinella]

I'm indifferent to the Flo Progressive commercials -- although I like the ones that play like afterschool specials -- but I hate the Progressive box ones, especially the one at the airport. What is he, a box of douches?

 

Bravo!

[Ubiquitous]

Ugh, its probably marinating in Capri Sun.

This is just as bad as when people refer to Sunny Delight as "orange juice"

Remember when Sunny Delight was known as "the stuff people who couldn't afford orange juice bought"? I can only assume the years of annoying "Sunny D" ads have changed that perception since they're still in business.

Edited January 11, 2016 by Ubiquitous

[RCharter]

Remember when Sunny Delight was known as "the stuff people who couldn't afford orange juice bought"? I can only assume the years of annoying "Sunny D" ads have changed that perception since they're still in business.

Oh I think Sunny D was masterful.  They advertised to poor people and used things like "as much vitamin C as orange juice" which made you think of orange juice....and over the years suddenly people who may not have known better were convinced that something that vaguely tasted like orange juice syrup and had as much vitamin C as orange juice must actually BE orange juice.  And so now you have people who actually think they are buying orange juice when they are buying Sunny Delight....which is sad.

[mmecorday]

I just want to know what the purple stuff was in the refrigerator that was passed over for Sunny D! Grape juice? Pinot noir? Grimace's urine? It could have been so many things.

[proserpina65]

The Ben Stiller "Zoolander" Fiat commercial makes me want to burn every Fiat dealership to the ground.

Was there a clamoring, for him to look like an asshat, in a second film?

I haven't seen the commercial, so I can't comment on that, but yes, among those of us who love the first Zoolander movie, there has been something of a clamoring for a sequel.  (Not sure how many fans are required for it to equal a 'clamoring' though.)

[Eliot]

I have been dithering as to whether to put this in the "earworm," "headscratcher," or "annoying" category, because it is all three...but can someone please explain to me the colossally stupid VW Passat "Beth What Can I Do" piece of utter NONSENSE that has been infesting the airwaves of late?

 

I keep getting the feeling that someone at the ad agency just really liked that song so they constructed this whole ridiculous commercial around some douchebag husband who ignores his wife's (the aforementioned Beth) phone calls in favor of romping around town with his equally douchey sons, then gets all guilt-stricken so he calls her and it turns out all she wants is for him to pick up some milk. 

 

Why doesn't she just fucking text him? Why does she appear to be nothing but lounging around in a bathrobe all day long? He's been ignoring her all day; if she wants the milk that badly why doesn't she just get dressed and go buy some? Is the Passat their only car? Why is she married to such a douchenozzle in the first place?

 

Also, the kids look like stupid brats and I hate them.

[SmithW6079]

I'm indifferent to the Flo Progressive commercials -- although I like the ones that play like afterschool specials -- but I hate the Progressive box ones, especially the one at the airport. What is he, a box of douches?

Which makes him a douchebox.

[riley702]

I have been dithering as to whether to put this in the "earworm," "headscratcher," or "annoying" category, because it is all three...but can someone please explain to me the colossally stupid VW Passat "Beth What Can I Do" piece of utter NONSENSE that has been infesting the airwaves of late?

 

I keep getting the feeling that someone at the ad agency just really liked that song so they constructed this whole ridiculous commercial around some douchebag husband who ignores his wife's (the aforementioned Beth) phone calls in favor of romping around town with his equally douchey sons, then gets all guilt-stricken so he calls her and it turns out all she wants is for him to pick up some milk. 

 

Why doesn't she just fucking text him? Why does she appear to be nothing but lounging around in a bathrobe all day long? He's been ignoring her all day; if she wants the milk that badly why doesn't she just get dressed and go buy some? Is the Passat their only car? Why is she married to such a douchenozzle in the first place?

 

Also, the kids look like stupid brats and I hate them.

 

Magog, is that you? ;)

[smittykins]

Oh I think Sunny D was masterful.  They advertised to poor people and used things like "as much vitamin C as orange juice" which made you think of orange juice....and over the years suddenly people who may not have known better were convinced that something that vaguely tasted like orange juice syrup and had as much vitamin C as orange juice must actually BE orange juice.  And so now you have people who actually think they are buying orange juice when they are buying Sunny Delight....which is sad.

For many years, Tang advertised itself as having "more vitamin C than orange juice", banking on the hope that not many people realize that vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning that you pee out what your body doesn't need.