Snickers - Don't Stop

This ad for Snickers is like West Side Story with walk signs. Seeing these little men pop out of their pixelated metal posts is as exciting as watching gang wars re-enacted with ballet. Rocking my J-walking world, this animated spot also lives up to street-fighting standards. With red and green crossing signals bringing all of their boys for the ultimate stop vs. go beat-down, I put my money on green!

iPhone - Hello

As if I didn't want the iPhone already, Apple released this fantastic slice of movie history during last night's Oscars. This clever little mash-up was the only commercial that I didn't fast-forward through. In fact, I scrolled backward to re-watch.

With Apple's previous ad campaigns ranging from the friendly Mac computer guy to the iPod's urban hipster jive, it was unclear who this new campaign would target. After the debut of this first commercial teaser, it's obvious that the new iPhone is not only one of the most coveted devices in the film industry, but it is also being marketed as such.

A Viral Slap in the Face

An online sketch comedy troupe is claiming that Budweiser stole their “slap in the face” concept and used it in their Superbowl commercial, Bud Light: Slapping.

The similarities are rather striking. Much like The Whitest Kids U'Know's online short (above), the Bud Light ad uses the concept that in the world of friendly gestures, the “slap” is the new “pound.” Read more

Here's the Bud Light Ad. What do you Think?

Best Superbowl Commercial: GM Robot

Amidst a sea of lame Super Bowl commercials, the GM robot stands out. I was watching the Super Bowl in a room full of beer-guzzling guys who fell silent at the sight of this lonely metal fella -- he just struck a chord with everyone.

Like the Bud and Geiko commercials of Super Bowls past, GM created a character that people could relate to, a shiny yellow robot who embodies fear and vulnerability. Though I'm a sucker for suicidal robots, my favorite part of this commercial is when the GM bot finds work as one of those street-side sign wavers. Can you imagine seeing a robot hanging out in front of your local condo development?

KFed is a Fry Cook

Kevin Federline, you may have outdone yourself. Just when the public view of Brit Brit’s trailer-trash ex-hubby began to steer away from images of the "rapper" selling off his designer hat collection one at a time, Fed makes another move to take advantage of his soon-to-be-fleeting fame. As a baby daddy with not one, but two, ex-wives with bank, it's no surprise that KFed’s all-about-the-money attitude has lead to this life-sux-then-you-find-a-new-cash-cow advert.Check it!

Ford Ranger- Secret TV Ad

This buy-your-way-out-of-national catastrophe spot is a little too reminiscent of the recent string of deadly hurricanes for my taste. Rumored to be filling the million-plus dollar time slots on Super Bowl Sunday, this “built Ford tough” ad appears to have cost as much hurricane relief itself.

Reasons why I argue against this Super Bowl claim: Americans like their Ford products to be All-American. No one wants to see a Ford commercial where the driver’s side is a$$-backwards. I mean how un-American is it to shift with your left-hand. We are a wave the flag with our dominant right-hand culture. So I think that this potential Super Bowl add just won’t fly.

Happy Morning

To kick off 2007, I want to flashback to my favorite example of commercial insanity from the oh-so-far-away year that was 2006. This Folgers ad features freakishly happy townies cheerfully singing praises of morning. Emanating a brilliant yellow light, these happy singers remind me of something I once saw on the Teletubbies.

The spot features happy oompa-esque creatures creeping into bedrooms and bringing the joys of coffee. And the website that accompanies this ad campaign is equally as absurd. With helpful services, such as a Boss Tracker, an automated morning email response, and a personal wake up call, Folgers seems to have noticed that not only do we need coffee to wake up -- we need the blinds drawn and the sheets pulled off of our beds.

Rolling Rock's Gone Ape

When Bud and MGD are bigger sellers and can afford the high price of TV spots, what is a small higher-quality brewery to do? With excessive competition in the funny, original beer ads category, Rolling Rock's answer was to cause controversy.

Last week, Rolling Rock posted this funny, bikini-clad advert for Rolling Rock on the web. To get consumers looking for the ape spot, the brewing company also started to run an ad on TV that pretended the ape spot had created controversy.

My personal qualm: The web ad isn't nearly provocative enough to be pulled from television. I feel like people who go to the web looking for this ad will feel gypped, by its friendly and not even mildly offensive nature.

Cingular: You'll Run Your Bill Up

Over the past decade, A Christmas Story has become the holiday films that you just can’t help but watch. Airing hundreds of times during the holiday season the film has developed a cult following. With classic lines like “You’ll shot your eye out kid” and “Frag-i-le, must be Italian” seeping into the mainstream, the movie is referenced year round and making it a cultural institution.

A spin on Ralphie’s constant nagging and the film’s classic quote “You’ll shot you eye out kid,” this cell phone commercial ads a modern twist by combining footage from the movie with newly recorded voiceover. This Christmas, Ralphie wants a Motorola phone “with texting, games, and graphics.” The adult response to his Christmas wishes is “You’ll run the bill up.” It’s a good thing Cingular cell phone came to Ralphie’s rescue, otherwise he may start asking for a such hard to find gifts and a PSP or Nintendo Wii.

iPod Shuffle

A welcome accessory to any outfit, the new shuffle is small enough to clip to any shirt of pocket; you'll forget it's even there. Just in time for the holiday season, this gigabyte-sized mp3 player can play up to 12 hours of continuous music and weighs about a half an ounce.

For this new spot, Apple abandoned their rockstar attitude and went with an anyone/anywhere vibe. A fresh change from previous iPod campaigns, this ad features a composite of torsos putting on different layers of clothes and attaching an iPod shuffle to them.

Another obvious change from iPod’s previous ad campaign, the song Who's Gonna Sing? by the Prototypes is in French. Roughly translated, the lyrics mean: "I really like what you're doing, I like your style, I like your game."

Smokung Fu

Who needs gum or a patch, when you can have your very own Kung Fu master to help you kick that dirty little habit.

First of all, any PSA with a man dressed up as a big fat cigarette with a cloud of smoke billowing from the top, will grab my attention. But when you mix a nicotine-clad man with a Karate master, you are just asking for trouble.

Via NoFatClips:

A PSA sponsored by California Department of Health Services. The spot was directed by Kevin Donovan (the director of The Tuxedo) at Form.

I will admit that in general, I have noticed that there are far less smokers in California than in New York. (Note: I feel like when you move to Manhattan, the local gov. gives you a complimentary carton and teaches you to inhale).

But after watching this video, I almost want to start smoking so that I can have my own Kung Fu master to help me quit.

You’re a Turkey

For all you young folks who might be finding yourselves at a hippie Thanksgiving, here’s a post-dated note from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Drugs are bad, and if you do them you are a Turkey. Not that this zinger makes any more sense than being called a goose or a pheasant, but I do remember the tragic year -- somewhere around '92 -- when the mention of the holiday bird somehow became a horrific slur. The only respectable come-back to which was “I know you are but what am I,” or “No you’re a turkey!”

So while you are cooking your bird of choice this holiday season, enjoy this Turtle-tastic PSA. And remember…Don’t be a Turkey.

Xbox Cops and Robbers

In a closed course-game of “good guys” and “bad guys”, every one has a chance to put on a badge or ski mask and wreak havoc. Weaving through traffic and jumping off buildings, at the end of round one… they switch? Is this what people did before the advent of 3D video games?

This made-for-TV game of hide-and-seek is nothing short of child’s play. Created for Microsoft's Xbox 360 “Jump In” campaign, this spot shows a group of adults playing a full-scale game of cops and robbers.

Kids, don’t try this at home.

Silent Night: Direct TV Ad

The tales of Christmas are full of mean-spirited who are overwhelmed by the joy and spirit of the holiday. From Scrooge to the Grinch, there are several selfish and sinister men who are changed by the gift-giving holiday.

This commercial for Direct TV builds on the plot that magical transformations take place during the holiday season. In a manner that is horrifically wrong, the angelic Christmas song Silent Night is juxtaposed with frightful film icons transformed into sensitive man.

The satellite provider not only tries to sell the idea that everyone is good, but they would be even better if they could watch their favorite movie on demand.

The Darkside

This commercial for a Star Wars movie marathon on Cinemax takes an already overplayed Coldplay song and meshes it together with some sensitive clips from the sci-fi epic that needs no introduction.

This Cold Play ballad lacks the suspense and the good vs. evil conflict that the legendary film series was built on. And even worse, the commercial is for Cinemax, the channel that after 10 turns into skin-amax, and has very little respect my the film community as it is.

This should not be allowed. Will the commercial madness ever stop?

Windy Miller Oats

Willy, the claymation character from the British TV series Camberwick Green, has viewers "choking on their breakfasts," in the TV commercial for Oatso Simple porridge.


I had to watch this one a few times to realize that the farce revolves entirely around a crazy naked uncle. Much like the opening to the second Austin Powers movie, the creators of this "natural" oatmeal ad had to find creative ways to cover his private parts.

It is hard to tell if there is any real "flashing" involved, though The Mirror claims that "Windy accidentally revealed Guber's big secret when he moved a bowl from the microwave." There's definitely an extra piece of Plasticine in his nether regions," said one viewer. Quaker Oats, who made the advert, said there have been no official complaints so far.

Best McDonald's Commercial Ever

This is why McDonald's gives out toys and has the bright, colorful play gyms...so that you always remember how simple life was at age 5 when you were climbing up the slide, covered in chocolate milkshake.

The younger cuter version of myself used to love going and getting it a Chicken McNugget Happy Meal. The fact that my mom didn't want us to make a habit of it made the whole experience even better. McDonalds was a "special treat" only to be allowed when on the run or when my dad was out of town and my mom didn't want to cook.

As a child, there was never a care in the world when you trusted that clown and dined-in at the "golden arches".

I feel like this commercial capitalizes on the innocences of youth and the simplicity of life as seen by the eyes of naive children. But, I love it anyway. The image of one's inner child crawling out of his or her body is amazing. Plus,kids acting like grown-ups are always pretty darn cute.

Andy Dick GAP Commercial Parody

I'm personally not a fan of Dick's humor and after the William Shatner Roast, I felt like much of his audience may have tired of the puns on his open bi-sexuality. But, this video clip is actually pretty clever.
It would be even more so if Jay Leno hadn't spoofed the Audrey Hepburn Gap skinny black pant commercial on The Tonight Show.

If you are unfamiliar with the original Gap advertisement, I suggest reading Adfreak's commentary on the campaign:

a Funny Face-era Audrey Hepburn dancing to AC/DC’s “Back in Black”? The new commercial, which landed in my e-mail box over night, is meant to relaunch Gap’s skinny black pant, according to creative director Trey Laird, who talks about the ad in this video on the Gap site. While I get the point, there’s something so discordant about Angus Young teamed with Audrey Hepburn.