Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, dleighg said:

as @Prevailing Wind wind said in much more detail, here's the bottom line:

Medicare Advantage is NOT THE SAME AS a Medicare Supplemental Plan

Going into details would be definitely off-topic, but my father deeply regretted going to MA from his supplemental policy in the last year of his life. MA is like an HMO with LOTS of restrictions. 

That's true, but if you have a good insurance agent they'll explain the difference to you and help you find a plan or combination of plans that may or may not include Medicare Advantage.  I can't speak for all agents especially the ones in those commercials and whether they just push MA or also include supplemental plans that you pay for.  I think the hook with those commercials is telling people they can get stuff free but from what I hear Medicare Advantage plans are not even available to everyone everywhere, or may not be very good even if available depending on the area.  And not disclosing that may be another misleading aspect of the commercial.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Yeah No

[cinsays]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Although I forgot to say that the commercials are still damned annoying!  And Joe Namath, ugh, please just make him go away already!!  I almost sprained my hand lunging for the remote to mute him the other day because I just can't take another minute of him!!

what? you prefer j j walker?  its FREEEEEE!!!

[Tom Holmberg]

2 hours ago, Yeah No said:

That's true, but if you have a good insurance agent they'll explain the difference to you and help you find a plan or combination of plans that may or may not include Medicare Advantage.  I can't speak for all agents especially the ones in those commercials and whether they just push MA or also include supplemental plans that you pay for.  I think the hook with those commercials is telling people they can get stuff free but from what I hear Medicare Advantage plans are not even available to everyone everywhere, or may not be very good even if available depending on the area.  And not disclosing that may be another misleading aspect of the commercial.

Or you can just go here: https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?lang=en&year=2022

 

[Yeah No]

33 minutes ago, Tom Holmberg said:

Or you can just go here: https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?lang=en&year=2022

 

That's a good website, I know it, but it still didn't answer the zillion questions we had regarding our specific situation which got a lot more complicated since the pandemic so having the guidance of a counselor was for us necessary.  It's like doing your own taxes online.  Simple if your situation is simple or you're an accountant that's up on the current tax laws, but not so simple if you have a complicated situation and not up on these things.

[Suzn]

18 hours ago, Yeah No said:

The only slightly shady thing is that the commercial doesn't make it clear that this is what the helpline is.  It's not a government agency in business to give you information like it may appear to be in the ad. 

They are so deliberately deceptive, so not only do they not identify who they are, they give every impression that they are a government agency.

15 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

I did find out later, though, that if/when I DO sign up for it, they figure out how many months I might have had it and didn't, and calculate a surcharge based on that number of months. That surcharge is added MONTHLY to the Part D premium in perpetuity. 

Yeah, I found out about that years later and can never get the coverage now.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Suzn

[AnnA]

16 hours ago, dleighg said:

as @Prevailing Wind wind said in much more detail, here's the bottom line:

Medicare Advantage is NOT THE SAME AS a Medicare Supplemental Plan

Going into details would be definitely off-topic, but my father deeply regretted going to MA from his supplemental policy in the last year of his life. MA is like an HMO with LOTS of restrictions. 

Thank you.  I should have included information about a Medicare Supplemental Plan in my original post.  Medicare Advantage Plans are crap compared to a Supplemental Plan.  They have restrictions on which doctors, hospitals, labs, etc.  you can use.  They have their own "networks" which is why they ask you for your zip code.  I'm on Medicare and have a Medicare Supplemental Plan and one for Rx.  Yes, I pay for them but it's not that much and I can go to any doctor, any specialist, any hospital.  Calling the 800 number on those commercials will get you an insurance agent whose job is to sell you a policy.

  I hate those commercials because they are so misleading.  They make it sound like a MA policy is a good thing.  It is not.  I went with the AARP recommendations and have no complaints.  

Edited October 28, 2021 by AnnA

[TVMovieBuff]

13 hours ago, AnnA said:

Thank you.  I should have included information about a Medicare Supplemental Plan in my original post.  Medicare Advantage Plans are crap compared to a Supplemental Plan.  They have restrictions on which doctors, hospitals, labs, etc.  you can use.  They have their own "networks" which is why they ask you for your zip code.  I'm on Medicare and have a Medicare Supplemental Plan and one for Rx.  Yes, I pay for them but it's not that much and I can go to any doctor, any specialist, any hospital.  Calling the 800 number on those commercials will get you an insurance agent whose job is to sell you a policy.

  I hate those commercials because they are so misleading.  They make it sound like a MA policy is a good thing.  It is not.  I went with the AARP recommendations and have no complaints.  

Some, maybe all of the Medicare Advantages Plans (there are many, I don't know specifically) do not cover physical therapy, or chemotherapy. Yeah, that's expensive. 

You have one shot at qualifying for Medicare without having to answer a set of questions. That is when you hit 65. If you don't get it then you have to answer questions that may limit you in what is covered by Medicare, for you. 

I have a Medicare Supplement policy. I chose it so it would cover what Medicare doesn't. I have Medicare. I also have a separate Part D prescription plan.  Don't listen to Joe Namath or Jimmie Walker.

[mmecorday]

The commercial for the Better Bedder bites. "Hi, I'm Douchey McDouchenozzle. And I'm lazy. That's why my mother invented the Better Bedder." Aw, your mommy wuved you so much she invented a headband for a mattress just for you! Because making a bed is such monkey business and can lead to broken backs and broken fingernails! Oh, the pain! The pain!

[KLovestoShop]

I have duct tape to wrap around Medicare Martha’s mouth, then I’m moving on to the guy who’s talking to Martha. 

[peacheslatour]

52 minutes ago, KLovestoShop said:

I have duct tape to wrap around Medicare Martha’s mouth, then I’m moving on to the guy who’s talking to Martha. 

Can I borrow whatever's left? 

[AnnA]

8 hours ago, TVMovieBuff said:

Some, maybe all of the Medicare Advantages Plans (there are many, I don't know specifically) do not cover physical therapy, or chemotherapy. Yeah, that's expensive. 

You have one shot at qualifying for Medicare without having to answer a set of questions. That is when you hit 65. If you don't get it then you have to answer questions that may limit you in what is covered by Medicare, for you. 

I have a Medicare Supplement policy. I chose it so it would cover what Medicare doesn't. I have Medicare. I also have a separate Part D prescription plan.  Don't listen to Joe Namath or Jimmie Walker.

You're so right.  Don't listen to them.   I'm glad people are realizing those commercials are total BS.  I have a separate supplemental policy and another for Rx.  When I was getting close to 65 and trying to figure out what to do I asked the woman who did the billing at my primary's office.  She told me what to get and I'm grateful for her help. 

Edited October 28, 2021 by AnnA

[CrazyInAlabama]

Taking the Medicare discussion to Small Talk. 

 

[Prevailing Wind]

Oh, now there's one with George Foreman..."It's FREEEeeeeEEEEEh."

 

[CattyK]

17 hours ago, BK1978 said:

I really despise that Old Navy commercial with Aidy Bryant from SNL in it.  Now all Old Navy commercials annoy me, I don't think there has been one in the past twenty years that has not annoyed me.  But this one really annoys me. 

I am not sure what annoys me more the annoying song that plays or the goofy faces that she makes.  I just find the commercial so annoying.

 

Hah!  I came to this thread hoping to find others who hate this ad!   I absolutely hate the music, it’s just iyiyiyiyiyi over and over, so annoying.  Then at the end she says “I’m a dancer now”.   Right, you’ve never danced before in your life until you wore old navy jeans and had this group of women surrounding you.  The whole thing is ludicrous.  
(I will say that I don’t dislike Andy Bryant at all, even though I haven’t watched SNL since about 1980.)

also I love your story about Al Lewis!  Car 54 was a really funny show.  

[Aqua]

WTAF with the Charmin teddy bear commercials? So graphic and disgusting! There should be a law  . . .

[peacheslatour]

Quote

One more commercial I hate but I have not seen it air in a while, is the one where they have kids from around the world condemn the adults about climate change.  These kids should be taught that the planet has been fucked for about a century so they can stop lecturing us as if the adults that are alive now are the only group of people who screwed up the planet. 

This is very true but the adults who are alive now are the only ones who can do anything about it.

[Crashcourse]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

This is very true but the adults who are alive now are the only ones who can do anything about it.

Yes, that's true, but we don't need admonishments and lectures from youngsters to do something.  

[peacheslatour]

5 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

Yes, that's true, but we don't need admonishments and lectures from youngsters to do something.  

They're the ones who have the most to lose.

Edited October 30, 2021 by peacheslatour

[Crashcourse]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

They're the one who have the most to lose.

Well, we're still here, too, so it's not like we don't care.   Doesn't matter how old or young, we're still breathing.   

[peacheslatour]

1 minute ago, Crashcourse said:

Well, we're still here, too, so it's not like we don't care.   Doesn't matter how old or young, we're still breathing.   

So, we should all be in it together, right?

[Crashcourse]

39 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

So, we should all be in it together, right?

Yes, and that's my point.  We are all in this together, which is why we don't need youngsters telling us what to do. 

[Browncoat]

Not everyone seems to be aware that we are all in this together, and that something should be done, like, yesterday, so good for the youngsters, reminding those who need it.

[nittany cougar]

There's a commercial for a hearing aid in which a daughter and boyfriend are visiting her parents.  She asks the boyfrined whether he brought condoms.  He can't hear her, so she repeats it.  When he still can't hear her, the father yells, "She wants to know if you brought the condoms."

I hate this commercial so much.  Why would a couple be talking about condoms in front of the lady's parents?  So fucking stupid.

[Aqua]

20 minutes ago, nittany cougar said:

There's a commercial for a hearing aid in which a daughter and boyfriend are visiting her parents.  She asks the boyfrined whether he brought condoms.  He can't hear her, so she repeats it.  When he still can't hear her, the father yells, "She wants to know if you brought the condoms."

I hate this commercial so much.  Why would a couple be talking about condoms in front of the lady's parents?  So fucking stupid.

Because they think they can't be heard.

[peacheslatour]

25 minutes ago, Aqua said:

Because they think they can't be heard.

I still wouldn't do it. Although it is kind of funny when she goes "Why would I be talking about condors?"

[Bastet]

18 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Although it is kind of funny when she goes "Why would I be talking about condors?"

I absolutely love her line delivery on "Condor?  Why would I say condor?"  It's pitch perfect.

Otherwise, the commercial is stupid.  Checking to make sure one of them packed condoms should have been done before they left or in the car, but if, once at the house, she realizes she didn't pack any and wants to make sure he did, she needs to scoot closer to ask (and maybe wait until they've been there more than 60 seconds, jeez - are they going to run off for a bathroom quickie or something?!), because apparently everyone - including Charlie - needs one of those Eargo things to hear.  Maybe the mom has hearing loss like the dad but doesn't use aids, but how the hell can Charlie not hear her?!

And the short version of the commercial cuts out the condor exchange, so that one just sucks.

[susannah]

8 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I absolutely love her line delivery on "Condor?  Why would I say condor?"  It's pitch perfect.

Otherwise, the commercial is stupid.  Checking to make sure one of them packed condoms should have been done before they left or in the car, but if, once at the house, she realizes she didn't pack any and wants to make sure he did, she needs to scoot closer to ask (and maybe wait until they've been there more than 60 seconds, jeez - are they going to run off for a bathroom quickie or something?!), because apparently everyone - including Charlie - needs one of those Eargo things to hear.  Maybe the mom has hearing loss like the dad but doesn't use aids, but how the hell can Charlie not hear her?!

And the short version of the commercial cuts out the condor exchange, so that one just sucks.

Yes it does seem odd that they start talking about it the minute they get in the door, and depending on whether they are visiting for a weekend or moving in, in which case they will need more groceries, why is it their priority? I think it all is skeevy.

[peacheslatour]

I'm kind of having a problem with the Amazon Prime commercial featuring Bear Hug Betty. Hey, if the kids don't mind that sort of thing then go for it. But I don't think children should be forced into physical contact if they don't want to. The sooner they learn about bodily autonomy, the better.

[Bastet]

1 minute ago, susannah said:

depending on whether they are visiting for a weekend or moving in,

They're just visiting; Charlie tells the mom, "Thanks for having us this weekend." 

[Tom Holmberg]

22 hours ago, Bastet said:

I don't watch SNL (and don't know who Aidy Bryant is),

I don't watch SNL either (I find most of the later SNL stars more creepy than funny), and had no idea the person in that ad is "somebody", but then a lot of the "somebodies" in recent ads who I have no idea who they are (and really don't want to know. The "somebodies" I know are bad enough).

[bankerchick]

On 10/7/2021 at 3:45 PM, Gharlane said:

Lil' Nas X looks like a pale imitation to Elton John, who dressed outrageously first and better.

And not to take anything away from Lil' Nas X because I don't even know who he is, but Elton's costumes are only part of the act.  He is also an excellent musician, singer and entertainer, which cannot be said for everyone who dresses up on stage.

On topic and still in reference to Elton John, I still hate the Rakuten commercial that has changed the words of Rocket Man.

Edited October 31, 2021 by bankerchick

[susannah]

16 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm kind of having a problem with the Amazon Prime commercial featuring Bear Hug Betty. Hey, if the kids don't mind that sort of thing then go for it. But I don't think children should be forced into physical contact if they don't want to. The sooner they learn about bodily autonomy, the better.

I agree. Kids should not be forced or guilted into giving or receiving kisses, hugs, etc, to anyone or to allow anyone to have contact with them unless it is for a good reason, cleaning, medical, etc.

19 minutes ago, Bastet said:

They're just visiting; Charlie tells the mom, "Thanks for having us this weekend." 

They can't keep their hands to themselves for 48 hours in someone else's home?

[Crashcourse]

22 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm kind of having a problem with the Amazon Prime commercial featuring Bear Hug Betty. Hey, if the kids don't mind that sort of thing then go for it. But I don't think children should be forced into physical contact if they don't want to. The sooner they learn about bodily autonomy, the better.

She is a bear.  I wouldn't want her to hug me 'cause I might get crushed. 

2 minutes ago, susannah said:

They can't keep their hands to themselves for 48 hours in someone else's home?

Exactly!  

[CattyK]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm kind of having a problem with the Amazon Prime commercial featuring Bear Hug Betty. Hey, if the kids don't mind that sort of thing then go for it. But I don't think children should be forced into physical contact if they don't want to. The sooner they learn about bodily autonomy, the better.

Oh man , I hate that one too!  The implication is that she can demand the hugs because she gave them gifts.  Poor aunt Betty, no one wants to hug the poor old thing if they don’t get a gift.  

[peacheslatour]

3 minutes ago, CattyK said:

Oh man , I hate that one too!  The implication is that she can demand the hugs because she gave them gifts.  Poor aunt Betty, no one wants to hug the poor old thing if they don’t get a gift.  

What does that teach the kids? That there are always strings attached to gifts? Nice lesson.

[susannah]

3 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

What does that teach the kids? That there are always strings attached to gifts? Nice lesson.

Plus making a kid even more vulnerable to a predator.

ETA, another ad that is extremely irritating is the one for Nyquil, where a woman, with a horrible cold, is asleep in the bedroom, and her jerky husband and his jerky friends are jumping up and down in the living room, screaming at the game on tv and spilling popcorn and whatever, all over the floor. First off, who wouldn't try to be quieter when someone is sick and asleep, and second, who is going to have to clean it all up when she is better? Imagine if the same situation was reversed? It would never happen!

Edited October 31, 2021 by susannah

[Crashcourse]

I thought those loud, rowdy guys were in an apartment next door.

[CrystalBlue]

Has anyone been seeing a commercial for a newfangled website called GoForward.com, which purports to be a new way of providing you with medical care?  The ad I saw promises a very thorough "baseline exam" which gets you started and offers you medical coverage for the low monthly fee of $149.00 a month.

Earlier we were complaining about the Medicare Advantage plans and some people think it's a scam.  Medicare and the supplemental plans available are real, maybe the commercials tout someone's helpline to get you started and promise it's all freeeeeeeee! and that is annoying to be bombarded with the ads especially if you have no interest in Medicare - yet.

Well, this IMHO IS a scam, so consumer beware!  Just Google it and read the reviews first before signing up for anything.  Speaking of Google, the company was started by former employees of Google, and Uber, and relies on AI.  It's been around since 2017.

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, Crashcourse said:

I thought those loud, rowdy guys were in an apartment next door.

Assuming it's the same commercial that came out a couple of years ago, I thought the camera panned to the next room and it was her boyfriend/husband and his friends, so I wondered why the hell they didn't just go to one of the other guys' houses.  Then I thought it could still work if they had the guys hoot and holler out of habit, remember she's sick in the other room, and hush up, then cut to her having slept through it because she's out like a light thanks to the Nyquil.

But then when I looked it up, to see if maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought, it was described in terms of being able to sleep through even rowdy next-door neighbors watching football.  So, yeah, I guess the pan is supposed to be through the wall to the next apartment, not an adjoining room.

[susannah]

44 minutes ago, Bastet said:

Assuming it's the same commercial that came out a couple of years ago, I thought the camera panned to the next room and it was her boyfriend/husband and his friends, so I wondered why the hell they didn't just go to one of the other guys' houses.  Then I thought it could still work if they had the guys hoot and holler out of habit, remember she's sick in the other room, and hush up, then cut to her having slept through it because she's out like a light thanks to the Nyquil.

But then when I looked it up, to see if maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought, it was described in terms of being able to sleep through even rowdy next-door neighbors watching football.  So, yeah, I guess the pan is supposed to be through the wall to the next apartment, not an adjoining room.

Could be! I will pay more attention when it comes on again. I will forgive them if they are next door, though, as a person in a first level apartment, and at times  would swear elephants are tromping through upstairs, I really hope they don't have anyone living below them!

 

[Prevailing Wind]

I used to live beneath a Thunderfoot. It was hell.

[susannah]

12 minutes ago, Prevailing Wind said:

I used to live beneath a Thunderfoot. It was hell.

Luckily it's not all the time, but sometimes I do wonder what the hell he or they are doing up there. Speaking of hell, there was a young child up there for a few weeks a while back. Oi vey.

[Cobalt Stargazer]

6 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

I used to live beneath a Thunderfoot. It was hell.

 

[Gharlane]

On 10/30/2021 at 1:31 PM, nittany cougar said:

There's a commercial for a hearing aid in which a daughter and boyfriend are visiting her parents.  She asks the boyfrined whether he brought condoms.  He can't hear her, so she repeats it.  When he still can't hear her, the father yells, "She wants to know if you brought the condoms."

I hate this commercial so much.  Why would a couple be talking about condoms in front of the lady's parents?  So fucking stupid.

For some reason, I only see the first few seconds of it, so all I see is them exchanging greetings and handing her flowers.

[Bastet]

1 hour ago, Gharlane said:

For some reason, I only see the first few seconds of it, so all I see is them exchanging greetings and handing her flowers.

Here's the original version, which at least includes the condor exchange to serve as one brief, shining moment of humor in the midst of the utter "But, wait, why ..." stupidity on which the commercial is based.

 

[blackwing]

On 10/30/2021 at 2:02 PM, peacheslatour said:

I'm kind of having a problem with the Amazon Prime commercial featuring Bear Hug Betty. Hey, if the kids don't mind that sort of thing then go for it. But I don't think children should be forced into physical contact if they don't want to. The sooner they learn about bodily autonomy, the better.

I don't like this one either.  But I also don't like their other one, featuring "Maureen the Merrier".  Maureen did all her holiday shopping on Amazon Prime, so she has more time to do what she really loves, which is cook for her family.  Then we see a scene at the dining room table with her doling out food to her large family.  She puts this enormous tomahawk steak onto the plate of an 8 year old boy.  The voiceover says "...and she REALLY loves her grandson".

1) Reinforces the stereotype that women have it so bad because they are expected to shop for gifts AND cook... oh the humanity!  This commercial makes it sound like "a woman's place is in the kitchen" but how can she be in the kitchen and still shop?  What a godsend that Amazon Prime exists, so now her butt can still firmly be planted in the kitchen so she can cook for everyone!

2) What a colossal waste of a tomahawk steak.  I'm quite certain that 8 year old boy cannot finish that steak and more than likely will need help cutting it into small bites.  That tray looked like it had one massive steak for each person so I am not sure if any of his family members could help him eat it.  I do realise that they can just save the leftovers.  But I would think that Maureen the Merrier can show that she loves her grandson without going so over the top.  Maybe it's me, but I have some issues with wasting food.  She could have cooked half the number of steaks for her family and everyone would still be satisfied.

Edited November 1, 2021 by blackwing

[Gharlane]

10 hours ago, Bastet said:

Here's the original version, which at least includes the condor exchange to serve as one brief, shining moment of humor in the midst of the utter "But, wait, why ..." stupidity on which the commercial is based.

 

I've seen the whole commercial in the past, but now I only see the first seven seconds of this one before it cuts to another one.  

[Aqua]

Okay the Lumes commercial, with the Happy Baby... I cannot.

[Dirtybubble]

They took the pure, thoughtful idea of A Christmas Carol and turned it into a luxury car commercial.  Charles Dickens is probably spinning in his grave right now!

 

[proserpina65]

On 10/30/2021 at 11:31 AM, Crashcourse said:

Yes, that's true, but we don't need admonishments and lectures from youngsters to do something.  

I hate the Australian kid who says about sustainability "It's a thing now".  No, honey, it's been a thing for a long time.  It's a bigger thing now, but people have been trying to farm sustainably probably since before you were born, you obnoxious little brat.

On 10/30/2021 at 12:23 PM, Browncoat said:

Not everyone seems to be aware that we are all in this together, and that something should be done, like, yesterday, so good for the youngsters, reminding those who need it.

Those who need to be reminded are not going to respond to annoying kids saying it.  (To be fair to the commercial makers, I'm not sure there's anything those people would respond to at all.)

Edited November 2, 2021 by proserpina65