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Hey, Flo: Enough Already!!

DToTheJ

DToTheJ

It's been five years since Progressive Insurance has introduced us to Flo, the perky, makeup-addled fictional representative for the company. And for five long years, we've sat through many commercials, on radio and TV, in which Flo tries really hard to be nice, but ends up (at least in my opinion) being overly annoying.

But have you heard the new radio campaign Progressive has come out with? In these ads, Flo SINGS in them! That's right, you can hear Flo in all of her off-key glory, with such hits (misses) as, "We compare rates..." I never thought I would hear a commercial that would actually make me pine for the Kars 4 Kids jingle!

The good news is that it appears this "singing" set of spots has more or less replaced Progressive's previous radio campaign, in which Flo is taking calls in the guise of hosting a fake radio show. You may recall these ads begin with the upbeat sounder, "Live from Progressive..." I'm surprised they've gotten away with that campaign for so long without being sued for false advertising (after all, the ads were not "live" - especially if you're hearing the same exact ones for months).

But the bottom line here is that Flo's buoyant novelty is wearing off. It has to be if they're resorting to new ways to jam her face and her voice down our throats, on radio, TV and even banner ads on the Internet. It is time for Progressive to try something new. Since her debut in 2008, GEICO has churned out nearly a dozen different ad campaigns - and that's not including the "Cavemen" campaign! And guess what, it's working: GEICO is consistently one of the top radio advertisers, each and every year. Look at the list of the top 10 advertisers on radio for 2012. GEICO is number 2. Even State Farm is there. I don't see Progressive.

It's time for Flo to go.
 
Nooooooo! I like Flo (although I have to admit never hearing her on radio).

Even my wife mentioned just last night that the new TV commercial with the actors standing in the rain parodying an old movie was good.

And the Flo-bot? Priceless! (er, I mean Progressive)
 
Sometimes Flo is annoying, sometimes she's the high point of comedy and pathos and deserves accolades. We all have our days.
Maybe GEICO needs to change their approach and have some variety because they do the most commercials? And maybe they feel they need more commercials because people are still saying "You're the insurance company with the Flo ads, right?" instead of "That gekco made me wanna call you up."
It's only been 5 years though?
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
Isn't Flo something of a parody of the Dolly Parton personna?
Click to expand...

I don't remember Dolly having applied the level of cement to her face that Flo does.

Nor do I recall Flo making much of Dolly's.....uh....."assets".
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
Isn't Flo something of a parody of the Dolly Parton personna?
Click to expand...

Flo doesn't have "personna" like Dolly. ;D
 
You guys need to go back and think about the word parody, and it works in our culture. I think years ago of Homer and Jethro doing parodyies of popular country music songs.

I didn't say Flo was a REPLICA..... but maybe a parody.
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
You guys need to go back and think about the word parody, and it works in our culture. I think years ago of Homer and Jethro doing parodyies of popular country music songs.

I didn't say Flo was a REPLICA..... but maybe a parody.
Click to expand...

I haven't been a Country fan over the years but I always thought Dolly was one of the best examples of what a Country performer should be.

Sorry, but I don't see the parody at all.
 
landtuna said:
I haven't been a Country fan over the years but I always thought Dolly was one of the best examples of what a Country performer should be.

Sorry, but I don't see the parody at all.
Click to expand...

Dolly is a great singer. Dolly is a great person. But more than once I have head Dolly say: (talking about her make up, her appearance and style) "It costs a lost of money to look this cheap!" Dolly for years seems to have been sending the message: "Do some of you ladies realize how silly you look when you lay on too many layers of grooming and style?" I think it was Joan Rivers one night on the Tonight Show made a snide remark about some other entertainer looking like "a peacock in heat.... too much feathers, too little bird."

I guess you have to live among "the southern women" to see the picture I am trying to paint. You had to stand in line at the cafeteria on Sunday 30 and 40 years ago and find yourself behind the women who had just come from Pentecostal Churches.

I have always seen Dolly as getting a big laugh out of strutting across the stage with a twinkle in her eye that seems to say: "Not bad looking for a deficient peacock....<wink>"

To parody that and keep a straight face takes some talent. And Flo seems to do it and give you the 'deer in the headlights' look instead of the wink.
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
I guess you have to live among "the southern women" to see the picture I am trying to paint.
Click to expand...

I spent more years than I care to mention living in Richmond, VA and married to a "well dressed Southern woman". Saw her this past weekend actually and she ain't changed one bit! ;D

One of the things I always admired about Dolly was her sense of humor and ability to laugh at her stage personna. And right after she did that she could tear your heart out with a sad song.
 
landtuna said:
One of the things I always admired about Dolly was her sense of humor and ability to laugh at her stage personna. And right after she did that she could tear your heart out with a sad song.
Click to expand...
The same has often been said of Flo, especially after this most recent campaign where she sings....

But yeah, if you don't know that Dolly Parton has caked on makeup and other accoutrement, parodying herself in many ways, you ain't been paying attention since the 70s, man.
 
quadraphonic said:
The same has often been said of Flo, especially after this most recent campaign where she sings....
Click to expand...

Haven't heard her sing yet. I know she has a career as a stand-up comic but have no idea whether that includes singing. I've never seen her perform outside her commercials.

quadraphonic said:
But yeah, if you don't know that Dolly Parton has caked on makeup and other accoutrement, parodying herself in many ways, you ain't been paying attention since the 70s, man.
Click to expand...

I fully agree that Dolly parody's herself but I thought we were talking about Flo parodying Dolly. If that were true I would think the producers would have used....uh...."other" props so the parody would be fully visible. Pancake makeup could remind one of Marcel Marceau as well.
 
landtuna said:
quadraphonic said:
The same has often been said of Flo, especially after this most recent campaign where she sings....
Click to expand...

Haven't heard her sing yet. I know she has a career as a stand-up comic but have no idea whether that includes singing. I've never seen her perform outside her commercials.

quadraphonic said:
But yeah, if you don't know that Dolly Parton has caked on makeup and other accoutrement, parodying herself in many ways, you ain't been paying attention since the 70s, man.
Click to expand...

I fully agree that Dolly parody's herself but I thought we were talking about Flo parodying Dolly. If that were true I would think the producers would have used....uh...."other" props so the parody would be fully visible. Pancake makeup could remind one of Marcel Marceau as well.
Click to expand...
It's not a full-on parody, just reminiscent in parts. Flo's an amalgamation.
The "other" parts would be too easy. Plus, it's been done so many times before.
 
And let's please remember that Progressive, as well as the other big insurance companies, have become one of radios' largest revenue streams. They've been increasing radio budgets while so many other advertisers and catagories have been going the other direction. Flo, Denzel, even Oscar de la Hoya (for Fred Loya Insurance) are welcome on my stations anytime.
 
At least Tracy is easier on the eyes (and ears) and more genuine to me than Flo...

@Analog420: That's actually Dennis Haysbert in those Allstate commercials, not Denzel...
 
Hmm....hard to believe there were actually people laughing at that. Sounds forced. Either that or it's a (very poorly done) laugh track.

After having heard that mess, her "Flo" character suddenly doesn't seem so obnoxious any more!
 
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