The worst commercials in TV history..

[jwgreek8606]

Don't know how we got on the subject of bank mergers - but remember that Nation's Bank acquired Bank of America, it wasn't the other way around. The new entity decided to use the B of A name - that's all.

I live in San Francisco, the former home of the original B of A. When it happened, it was touted by Nation's Bank as a "merger of equals,' but the B of A corporate managers were quickly shown the door (given buy outs and early retirement), and the headquarters were moved to the Nation's Bank home in North Carolina (can't remember the city). It was a big deal here in the Bay Area.

In Charlotte, Bank City.

 

[trusty]

...and (I may have said this before, but I'm getting older and this thread is, too .) ...the owner of a new restaurant in Charlotte who fired his ad agency and decided to talk directly to the public: "I guarantee that once you visit my restaurant, you'll be a regular."

 

[jwgreek8606]

When iwatch TPIR during breaks at work, they seem to be attracting young advertises again.

 

[searadiofreak]

Since we are off topic, I will continue the trend.

Bank of America's roots in this country are indeed from California. One of their first moves outside the state was to takeover Seafirst in the 80's, (Seattle First National Bank), but did not immediately change Seafirst's name, as there was a CA-WA civil war going on at the time, sorry Oregon was sort of in between.)

To bring this back to TV commercials, I do remember ads that talked about the Seafirst "Cash Machines", the name that was coined before ATM became the more common usage. Not sure of the exact year, but want to say early 70's, if not late 60's. Whether Bank of America was experimenting with these new fangled machines in CA before then, I don't know. I do know that the Seafirst "cash machine" was a relatively new concept in the 70's in Seattle. Once again, CA and/or WA seem to introduce new technology decade after decade.

I can't seem to find ads that mention the old cash machines, but I did find this, which is probably one of the first ads ever about debit cards, (circa 1981):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoHXIuCsREw

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I watched most of the special military edition of TPIR this morning (BTW, Happy Veterans Day and thank all of them and other servicemen and women past and present for all your work) and in the midst of the usual Scooter Store, Medicare, etc. ads geared toward the elderly there was a new (at least to me) Pampers commercial that is worthy of this list--kids crawling around and some appearing to be fighting/wrestling in their diapers. I know this may be "charming" and "cute" to some but I didn't like it and I nominate this ad to the list, but I couldn't find it on YouTube.

Also this will prompt a spin-off thread shortly, but I cannot stand the Stimulator rendition of Olivia Newton-John's 1980 hit "Magic" that is used in the recent Macy's ads. I have always enjoyed Olivia's version of the classic but I cringe hearing Stimulator's tripe. Their version of "Magic" is in its entirety on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNCMLd8TNqA

 

[azumanga]

...there was a new (at least to me) Pampers commercial that is worthy of this list--kids crawling around and some appearing to be fighting/wrestling in their diapers. I know this may be "charming" and "cute" to some but I didn't like it and I nominate this ad to the list, but I couldn't find it on YouTube.

Also worth nominating are the animated ads for Luvs diapers (I think), especially one where the babies were having a pooping contest -- bad taste, in my opinion.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Denver based Attorney Frank Azar... His "clients" showing off their settlement checks, people with smiles on their faces saying how much money they have for their "pain and suffering". Almost as if they were happy to be in an auto accident.

[/quote]
The real pain and suffering is inflicted on TV viewers. And we don't get any of those settlement checks!

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Also worth nominating are the animated ads for Luvs diapers (I think), especially one where the babies were having a pooping contest -- bad taste, in my opinion.

I can't help but wonder--have those animated Luvs ads with the pooping contest aired during "Price is Right," then followed by their usual commercial fare (Depends, scooter store, Medicare, etc.). It would have been a hoot for Luvs and Depends to be at or near the same commercial break during TPIR lately.

 

[crainbebo]

I can nominate a new one lately...

The Arco gas ad about "Goodbye 45c fee. Hello Credit Cards". The guy in the ad is SO annoying! He screams "AAAAAAAAAA" everywhere, at the workplace, the gas station, the drive-thru, etc...it's so stupid.

-crainbebo

 

[azumanga]

The Arco gas ad about "Goodbye 45c fee. Hello Credit Cards". The guy in the ad is SO annoying!

Funny that, for a time in the 1980s, Arco stopped taking credit cards and went cash only, as credit cards were too expensive.

 

[Kent T]

The J.G. Wentworth ad with the subway singers.

Rebuttal lyrics,

"Do you have a structured settlement and you want to get **rewed, Call J.G. Worthless. J.G. Worthless, 1-888-Get-**Crewed"

 

[azumanga]

The J.G. Wentworth ad with the subway singers.

I cringe every time I see or hear that ad -- they sing the praises of cash settlements in operatic format the entire length, trying to hammer that 1-800 number into our head. A worthy candidate for the Commercial Hall of Shame.

 

[BRNout]

I've got a new contender: the law offices of a Mr. James Ellis Gumbiner. This sleaze spends tens of thousands of dollars every month on Spanish-speaking media to teach newly arrived Latinos how to cash in on the "great American lottery." Also known as our joke of a legal system. I'll give him this: at least they pull no punches in his attempt to reach a new lowest common denominator in advertising.

This example of one of his ads is worth seeing (especially for the chick in a bikini ): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlfDAlTn3F0

By the way, "GANADOR" in Spanish means "WINNER". As in "don't be a loser, call 1-877-8-GANADOR and be a winner!"

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

The J.G. Wentworth ad with the subway singers.

I cringe every time I see or hear that ad -- they sing the praises of cash settlements in operatic format the entire length, trying to hammer that 1-800 number into our head. A worthy candidate for the Commercial Hall of Shame.

My personal take: The Wentworth spot wreaks of a predatory stench. The quick cash payout offer on structured settlements is a necessary evil at best. Great to have this option in the event of runaway catastophic circumstances, but those Wentworth spots sound to me like a group of corrupt bankers exploiting needy consumers. Hopefully, this fad will fade whenever ("if" ever?)our faulty economy finally recovers.

 

[dhett]

I've got a new contender: the law offices of a Mr. James Ellis Gumbiner. This sleaze spends tens of thousands of dollars every month on Spanish-speaking media to teach newly arrived Latinos how to cash in on the "great American lottery." Also known as our joke of a legal system. I'll give him this: at least they pull no punches in his attempt to reach a new lowest common denominator in advertising.

Talk about truth in advertising! Nothing says, "you're taking your chances with me" like having your name come up on a slot machine!

 

[FreddyE1977]

Should we even allow nominations for lawyer ads?
Seems to me it is impossible to do a GOOD commercial for an ambulance chasing scumbag.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

Should we even allow nominations for lawyer ads?
Seems to me it is impossible to do a GOOD commercial for an ambulance chasing scumbag.

I guess you can be dis-bared if you don't have an annoying ad

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I also posted this on the worst classic song commercial thread, but I now nominate the Volkswagen ads with people messing up the lyrics to Elton John's "Rocket Man." It was run all during the World Series and aired again on CBS (during Bears-Chargers in my area).

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

I also posted this on the worst classic song commercial thread, but I now nominate the Volkswagen ads with people messing up the lyrics to Elton John's "Rocket Man." It was run all during the World Series and aired again on CBS (during Bears-Chargers in my area).

Ditto, both threads!

 

[firepoint525]

I absolutely DETEST the McDonald's commercial in which the woman is whining that her sister's boyfriend thinks that Sunday afternoons are for football, and her own boyfriend is such a WUSS that he is afraid that she will throw him out for disagreeing with her!