Yes, and I actually like Debbie Boone. But I seriously doubt marketing intended to associate the song with the product. Debbie Boone is a relic of the past; I believe the intention was to undergird her prestige by reminding even older viewers who she is (was).Tim from Springfield said:The "Lifestyle Lift" ads that have aired in recent months featuring Debby Boone and "You Light Up My Life." The use of that song in that commercial automatically qualifies that ad for this list.
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The worst commercials in TV history..
- Thread starter mleach
- Start date
jfrancispastirchak said:Yes, and I actually like Debbie Boone. But I seriously doubt marketing intended to associate the song with the product. Debbie Boone is a relic of the past; I believe the intention was to undergird her prestige by reminding even older viewers who she is (was).Tim from Springfield said:The "Lifestyle Lift" ads that have aired in recent months featuring Debby Boone and "You Light Up My Life." The use of that song in that commercial automatically qualifies that ad for this list.
I recently caught an informercial for an Oldies collection with Peter Marshall and this incredibly attractive woman who appeared to be in her mid- or late-40s. She looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place her. Turns out, of course, that it was Debbie Boone, and she's actually 56. I was never a big fan, and I always changed the station when You Light Up My Life was played, but she sure looks great. She probably takes after her dad - good genetics, and very clean living.
In another thread I linked to a 1966 Dutch Masters Presidents ad with the guys in the box singing--not only scary but very off-key too--and worthy of being one of the worst commercials in history:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1SQlqO0YOI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1SQlqO0YOI
crainbebo said:
I've seen the One Reverse Mortgage ads with "the Fonz" himself (Henry Winkler) frequently in recent years--and I think I recall seeing them on TPIR whenever I've been able to see it (work vacations, holidays, etc.). And a free magnifier with LED light if you call right now! ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhhGparW6KQ
J
jwgreek8606
Guest
There is a new McDonald's commercial that I can't stand where a hotel guest calls the conceierge to get him to walk across the street to McDonald's. Where the test coud go to McDonald's himself. Talk about laziness!
Also, that e-trade commercial with that baby dubbed with an adult voice. You know, where he is in time out for riding the dog like a horse.
Also, that e-trade commercial with that baby dubbed with an adult voice. You know, where he is in time out for riding the dog like a horse.
J
jwgreek8606
Guest
You don't put a baby in time out! Give me a break!
Tim from Springfield said:
I beleive that Jeopardy and Wheel, are barter programming, that is the stations receive the programs for free in exchange for pre-sold advertising time, the rest of the ad spots are open to to the broadcaster, hence the ads for old folks. METV has a similar ad demo.
In honor of the 3rd anniversary today of this thread--another nomination:
It may be too new to make YouTube but has anyone seen the latest Christmas version of the 5-hour Energy commercials? Where the gift recipients are opening their presents with traditional holiday music in the background--and their excitement over their "gift pack" of 5-Hour Energy. The music was more suitable for a jewelry or even an electronics commercial, IMO. I saw it for the first time on one of the cable news channels last night. Then again, I think most 5-Hour Energy commericals are lousy to begin with.
You will have to see that ad (if you haven't already) to believe it--and I'm sure someone will get it uploaded to YouTube soon.
It may be too new to make YouTube but has anyone seen the latest Christmas version of the 5-hour Energy commercials? Where the gift recipients are opening their presents with traditional holiday music in the background--and their excitement over their "gift pack" of 5-Hour Energy. The music was more suitable for a jewelry or even an electronics commercial, IMO. I saw it for the first time on one of the cable news channels last night. Then again, I think most 5-Hour Energy commericals are lousy to begin with.
You will have to see that ad (if you haven't already) to believe it--and I'm sure someone will get it uploaded to YouTube soon.
For a product that supposedly provides energy, most 5 Hour Energy commercials just seem...Lifeless.
This is the umpteenth Sunday that I've replied to this thread--but I've seen this commercial multiple times today during NFL games, including a few minutes ago on SNF, but that Samsung ad ("Santa, Santa!") with Santa Claus sliding on his belly on the banister only to fall on his back is worthy of nomination for this thread. Not funny, IMO.
The Madison Ave culture seems bullet-proof; it thrives, no matter how poor the product. Wonder how the newly encacted CALM act will affect them. As I speak, a cable news channel is playing a very creatively written Geico commercial, which inspires this observation: thanks to CALM, commercials must now compensate flamable audio with gentler, more creative scripts.
jfrancispastirchak said:
I don't know...lower volume in commericals will be great. But I'm always suspicious of companies that do TOO MUCH advertising. GEICO is one of those. Another is Capital One ("What's in your wallet?"). In fact, Capital One and GEICO both send me junk mail on an almost daily basis. GEICO in particular, will send a piece of mail to every driver in my house at least twice a week - there are 4 of us.
Maybe I'm weird, but this ticks me off - to think of the wasted trees, not to mention the effects of saturation TV advertising.
I did break down and check out GEICO once for a car insurance quote. They were considerably higher than my current carrier. Maybe that's because they waste so much money on advertising.
And that is one of the media-maddening head-scratchers of our time. Imagine how much cheaper consumer products would be if advertising budgets were trimmed, if not eliminated. And think too how USPS would benefit, reaping the savings from handling far less junk mail.Lkeller said:
azumanga said:
Perhaps there is a real reason why there's a lot of elderly-oriented commercials on TPIR (and to some extent on "Jeopardy"). Due to the holidays and vacation days I was able to catch a couple TPIR episodes last week, and on this past Friday's episode there was a woman in her 80s (Bernice) who won $25,000 on the Big Wheel (but I can't remember OTOH if she won the showcase).
And also returning to the subject of commercials geared toward the elderly: have any of you noticed such commercials airing during your local newscasts? During the 5PM news on local ABC affiliate WICS-20.1 (Springfield) there have been two such ads, one for a local nursing home and the other for a caregiver firm.
KeithE4 said:
You're no doubt right about that, but it's a new age and things change. It's analogous to newspapers going bankrupt because they can no longer get advertisers, and because so many people now get their news online.
I think of the paper wasted for both newspapers (mostly in the past now that newspapers have shrunk), and junk mail (not going away anytime soon, sadly).
I have owned a local business that advertised in newspapers, and have also worked for a public agency who used to advertise for open jobs in newspapers. Those papers had advertisers by the short-hairs, and could charge ridiculous rates because they were the really the only game in town. A help wanted ad that used to cost $500 a week in a newspaper now costs $70 a month on Craig's List, and the advertiser has a lot more room (sometimes unlimited) in the ad. Now, the internet has made the papers irrelevant - advertisers can do much more advetising at much lower costs.
Same with junk mail and the Post Office. Both are a waste of natural resources (paper, gasoline, etc). I DO feel sory for people who will lose their jobs, but that's about it.
D
desertv
Guest
Speaking of Santa....this year he seemed to do everything in the car biz--Making Mercedes, selling Chevys, driving Acuras ???Tim from Springfield said:
The evil of Flo continues! Now she's saving a man from a broke down car in a storm! Annoying...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NPwa-Z8JD18
-crainbebo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NPwa-Z8JD18
-crainbebo