For as much as I want to rip on New York City based newspapers and their armchair sports reporters, there are many things I can't say. Instead, I'll go a different approach and talk annoying commercials. It seems like most now these days aren't clever or even well made. Some might be ones I mentioned in other blogs. Others may be new. So without further ado, lets begin.
Truth: This is an anti-smoking ad that usually airs on something like MTV. Typically, they use cheap ways to say things about how bad smoking is. It wouldn't be annoying if they just backed what they say up. They don't put up anything that they reference. I'm not against smoking even though I don't smoke, but the effort is not there. It's a cheap gimmick, much like the Ad Council. People are still going to smoke and these commercials are a huge waste of time.
Little Caesars Pizza: I love a good pizza. Local or franchise based, a good slice is excellent. Little Caesars likes to promote how much more cheese and pepperoni they have on their pies. Do I have a problem with that? No. What I do have a problem with is how they act like it's a bad thing such as the one ad with the dad not getting a Little Caesars Pizza. It comes off rather obnoxious. A pizza is a pizza, no matter what. Honorable mention is the Di'Gornio commercials berating anyone who orders pizza instead of their overpriced ones.
Geico/Progressive: I'm lumping these two in since these are truly wastes of ad space. Geico's not even about car insurance anymore. It's a waste of resources and money to do set pieces such as the music ad with the triangle guy acting like Marty McFly from Back to the Future. It's a shame. One bright spot is that it doesn't have the abysmal mascot idea like Progressive. The less said about Flo, the better. One thing I forgot to mention in a previous blog is that talking insurance box. I don't think they even try with this ad. It feels forced and out of place. Yet, they have turned it into mascot type of campaign. Overall, it's a shame that they don't get the point across 95 percent of the time.
DirecTV: Most of the time, I don't have a huge problem with DirecTV commercials. Usually, they are funny. With the recent ones, however, I don't get it. In a nutshell, they are saying people that stick to cable are stupid, hence the bad things they show people doing. (spoiled milk, sleeping in poison ivy) There is trying to do things better than the competition, but this isn't even something I would put on the air. It's similar to ads they did five to six years ago, but today trying to act like cable people have a low I.Q. I'd rather see the "don't crash into a dinner party" ad again.
I suppose I'll end here and give the wrap up. These are the ones I find annoying. There are many more I wish I could write, but that will take forever. Why can't these commercial writers be smarter with how they come up with ads? We'll never know.
Showing posts with label progressive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label progressive. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Overused Campaign: Progressive
Not too long ago, I made a blog about car insurance commercials and their amount of time on the air with their campaigns. I'm going specifically on companies. I will go after Geico, but for today, it's Progressive. I've said before that they get their point across, but they only have one type of ad. Always, it has to do with bringing in their spokeswoman, Flo, played by actress Stephanie Courtney.
Courtney has been with Progressive ads since the mid 2000s. The early commercials, they got the point despite her over excited personality. For what they did, and they still do, they show rates compared to other insurance companies. I don't know what is in her contract, but I'm assuming they have to have either Flo in every ad or have stuff that makes you think of her when they don't have her on it.
Geico tried to expand their Cavemen commercials by giving them a TV show that ultimately blew up in their faces. I get this feeling Progressive is trying to do that, but with their commercials. They've brought in a sidekick for Flo that learns stuff from her. They have her with her own dimwitted family or living like a normal person. I think this is overkill, but the TMZ parodies, I don't know. For as much as I hate those paparazzi morons, as I said, I have this feeling that they want to imitate Geico. That being said, they are being smarter with this... for now.
I'm not saying Progressive has to learn a thing or two from other insurance companies, but they have to use do more than just Flo commercials. I know it's a money maker for them, but Courtney could one day die unexpectedly. This is what I would do. I would start thinking up a new campaign that still gets the point across, but doesn't need to be a big production like Geico commercials. They should get a fresh face that is new to wanting to do commercials, and start thinking of ways of doing them without them screaming rehash.
So basically, I think it's time for Progressive to retire Flo. They need to. It's become so overused the last five or six years, there comes a point when enough is enough.
Courtney has been with Progressive ads since the mid 2000s. The early commercials, they got the point despite her over excited personality. For what they did, and they still do, they show rates compared to other insurance companies. I don't know what is in her contract, but I'm assuming they have to have either Flo in every ad or have stuff that makes you think of her when they don't have her on it.
Geico tried to expand their Cavemen commercials by giving them a TV show that ultimately blew up in their faces. I get this feeling Progressive is trying to do that, but with their commercials. They've brought in a sidekick for Flo that learns stuff from her. They have her with her own dimwitted family or living like a normal person. I think this is overkill, but the TMZ parodies, I don't know. For as much as I hate those paparazzi morons, as I said, I have this feeling that they want to imitate Geico. That being said, they are being smarter with this... for now.
I'm not saying Progressive has to learn a thing or two from other insurance companies, but they have to use do more than just Flo commercials. I know it's a money maker for them, but Courtney could one day die unexpectedly. This is what I would do. I would start thinking up a new campaign that still gets the point across, but doesn't need to be a big production like Geico commercials. They should get a fresh face that is new to wanting to do commercials, and start thinking of ways of doing them without them screaming rehash.
So basically, I think it's time for Progressive to retire Flo. They need to. It's become so overused the last five or six years, there comes a point when enough is enough.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Insurance commercials: Overused
In today's world of television, you will constantly be seeing car insurance ads or any insurance ad. No matter the channel, it's that, car commercials, health, doctors, whatever. There was a time where the point of an ad was to show the rates of the insurance you might want to go to or switch to. Or even show that certain things can happen, and that your insurance company will be there for you at any time. Now these days, it's to do a fucking skit and then mention the company at the last second. Whatever happened to just explaining things?
Really, one of the worst offenders is Geico. For a company that has been around for 80 years, it's a travesty they can't get the point across. Even with their gecko ads which aren't horrible, they go overboard. I think it goes back to their days of the Cavemen in the mid 2000s. Unfortunately, it got popular to the point where they even got a TV show 10 years ago which was a big disaster. The last four to five years, it's been these "It's what you do" ads, "what's not surprising" commercials, and a couple other garbage ads. It's these overdone commercials that have nothing to do with car insurance. These are a huge waste of money, but legions of idiots will watch the commercials no matter what.
They get the point across a little more than Geico, but Progressive is a group that only has one advertising campaign. I don't even know when the last time they did an ad that didn't feature their spokeswoman, Flo. As far as the ads go, they do a decent job of showing rates and explaining their insurance depending on its ad. However, they go overboard with their campaign, which has gone on for a very, very long time. Even to the point where they try to put Flo in the real world stuff with family, TMZ parodies, and old TV show endings. They make as much sense as continuity in a sketch comedy show. Unless it's different anywhere else, I see no other ads that don't involve her. They are a little simple depending on the ad, but the over excessive use. Down the road, something new has to come and replace it. Or at the very least, try to do more than Flo ads.
State Farm's main thing is sports. You're bound to see an Aaron Rodgers or Chris Paul commercial where something bad happens to their house and/or car as the commercial explains for every good thing, there's a bad thing. It is to the point. If I were to make a point on that, it's that no matter what kind of person you are, you will have those highs and lows as seen in the ads. They haven't gone too overboard, but my big complaint is the fat Packers fan ads, which I think they stopped the last year or so. Still, State Farm knows it's not just sports ads. They show normal people through all parts of live and saying they will be there for the disasters and big moments for individuals. Whatever the case, they put up a better effort than Geico and Progressive.
The first time I really heard about Liberty Mutual was through their "Humans" commercials where people are in a bad situation and it gets worse. For example, a guy throwing a football, hitting someone's grill and setting a van on fire. I thought it got its point across pretty well. Then, they ditched it for people standing and explaining some bad situation with the Statue of Liberty in the background. It wouldn't be so bothersome if they didn't overuse some of the same ads. It's in the same boat as Progressive. I don't want to hear for the thousandth time the same black lady complaining about getting three quarters compensation for damages. They've done that with a few other people. Now they are trying to feel a little more down to earth with some of their latest commercials. They still got a way to go before they get incompetent.
There's not much to complain about regarding Nationwide, Farmers, MetLife, or even Allstate. Allstate has the right sense of not abusing the same ad over and over. They've done well at keeping the Mayhem commercials fresh. Still having Dennis Haysbert (Major League) is a huge plus. To be honest, I honestly haven't heard any MetLife stuff since last year when they used the Peanuts gang. Outside of NASCAR ads, I don't see much with Nationwide other than a few song ads (Brad Paisley as one example) Farmers commercials do seem overproduced, but the fact these are based on true incidents shows the point that even the weirdest can lead to talking to your insurance company. Something like a dog setting a house on fire. The ad was getting a pizza slice on a kitchen stove and turning a knob. The actual claim was for wanting a birthday cake that was set on the stove. It happens and it seems they would believe most stories, even if they feel wacky.
I'm looking to expand further with other blogs regarding commercials. This is something I hope to continue with other kinds of ads. (fast food for example like those Sonic morons) If you got anything else that would fit for a blog like this in terms of commercial overuse, let me know. I'll end by saying thank goodness for things like DVR and recording on your box. Without them, it would grow tiresome hearing the same robbery Geico ad. Five (or seven) minutes of commercials are gone with the power of fast forward.
Really, one of the worst offenders is Geico. For a company that has been around for 80 years, it's a travesty they can't get the point across. Even with their gecko ads which aren't horrible, they go overboard. I think it goes back to their days of the Cavemen in the mid 2000s. Unfortunately, it got popular to the point where they even got a TV show 10 years ago which was a big disaster. The last four to five years, it's been these "It's what you do" ads, "what's not surprising" commercials, and a couple other garbage ads. It's these overdone commercials that have nothing to do with car insurance. These are a huge waste of money, but legions of idiots will watch the commercials no matter what.
They get the point across a little more than Geico, but Progressive is a group that only has one advertising campaign. I don't even know when the last time they did an ad that didn't feature their spokeswoman, Flo. As far as the ads go, they do a decent job of showing rates and explaining their insurance depending on its ad. However, they go overboard with their campaign, which has gone on for a very, very long time. Even to the point where they try to put Flo in the real world stuff with family, TMZ parodies, and old TV show endings. They make as much sense as continuity in a sketch comedy show. Unless it's different anywhere else, I see no other ads that don't involve her. They are a little simple depending on the ad, but the over excessive use. Down the road, something new has to come and replace it. Or at the very least, try to do more than Flo ads.
State Farm's main thing is sports. You're bound to see an Aaron Rodgers or Chris Paul commercial where something bad happens to their house and/or car as the commercial explains for every good thing, there's a bad thing. It is to the point. If I were to make a point on that, it's that no matter what kind of person you are, you will have those highs and lows as seen in the ads. They haven't gone too overboard, but my big complaint is the fat Packers fan ads, which I think they stopped the last year or so. Still, State Farm knows it's not just sports ads. They show normal people through all parts of live and saying they will be there for the disasters and big moments for individuals. Whatever the case, they put up a better effort than Geico and Progressive.
The first time I really heard about Liberty Mutual was through their "Humans" commercials where people are in a bad situation and it gets worse. For example, a guy throwing a football, hitting someone's grill and setting a van on fire. I thought it got its point across pretty well. Then, they ditched it for people standing and explaining some bad situation with the Statue of Liberty in the background. It wouldn't be so bothersome if they didn't overuse some of the same ads. It's in the same boat as Progressive. I don't want to hear for the thousandth time the same black lady complaining about getting three quarters compensation for damages. They've done that with a few other people. Now they are trying to feel a little more down to earth with some of their latest commercials. They still got a way to go before they get incompetent.
There's not much to complain about regarding Nationwide, Farmers, MetLife, or even Allstate. Allstate has the right sense of not abusing the same ad over and over. They've done well at keeping the Mayhem commercials fresh. Still having Dennis Haysbert (Major League) is a huge plus. To be honest, I honestly haven't heard any MetLife stuff since last year when they used the Peanuts gang. Outside of NASCAR ads, I don't see much with Nationwide other than a few song ads (Brad Paisley as one example) Farmers commercials do seem overproduced, but the fact these are based on true incidents shows the point that even the weirdest can lead to talking to your insurance company. Something like a dog setting a house on fire. The ad was getting a pizza slice on a kitchen stove and turning a knob. The actual claim was for wanting a birthday cake that was set on the stove. It happens and it seems they would believe most stories, even if they feel wacky.
I'm looking to expand further with other blogs regarding commercials. This is something I hope to continue with other kinds of ads. (fast food for example like those Sonic morons) If you got anything else that would fit for a blog like this in terms of commercial overuse, let me know. I'll end by saying thank goodness for things like DVR and recording on your box. Without them, it would grow tiresome hearing the same robbery Geico ad. Five (or seven) minutes of commercials are gone with the power of fast forward.
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