In the December 31st, 2007 edition of USA TODAY, they published what they said were the best commercials in different categories of 2007.
They said the best ad was this for Doritos.
This Doritos ad is interesting especially since it was created by an amateur.
USA TODAY said the most annoying commercial was......drumroll please...
You know it's bad when even the Elvis Presley estate gets fired up because it's a ripoff of "Viva Las Vegas."
One of my current least liked commercials is this from Beyonce for Direct TV.
I don't really get how Beyonce is "selling" Direct TV in this commercial.
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The Dorito's commercial was done by amateurs? Good job for amateurs.
The reason the commercial was so annoying was that it was a bad rip off. I don't see Elvis doing commercials like some rock stars are doing nowadays. The viagra commercial does grab attention, though as it would cause you to do a double take as you hear it.
Only way Beyonce would sell Direct TV in this instance is if you were a fan of hers to begin with.
The USA TODAY says the Doritos ad was made on a budget of $12. I wonder what that $12 went to...bags of Doritos?
I think it's hilarious that guys get together and jam about a problem like e.d.
And lastly, the Beyonce ad irritates me because I think it's oversexed instead of selling Direct TV. WHY does she need to have the necklace in her mouth?
I am a nurse that works for a group of urologists so you can imagine that Viagra is common in the practice that I work for. You wouldn't believe the amount of money that these drug companies go to to sell their product. They spare no expense. And they make a lot of money doing it.
The Dorito's commercial is funny, but I am not a dorito fan because they have too much salt.
I love Elvis, and I like the singers, until they get to the "Viagra" part. If the pharmaceutical companies put as much money into research for cancer and aid, as they do for keeping men rock hard, we would have less folks suffering or dying from man made diseases.
Beyonce has a following, yes, but her doing this commercial is what "direct TV" is all about. They sell sex, it what the movie industries do -- and in that respect, Beyonce is very sexy according to the male population -- we all know, even looking at the Dorito's commercial that sex sells!
Amias brings up the great point that indeed sex does sell. Isn't it amazing that the relationship between men and women played a role in all three commercials?
Every tv station in this nation will eventually be broadcasting a digital signal and yet, DIRECT TV, has Beyonce suggesting you "upgrade."
The Beyonce commercial is absolutely the worst - and this coming from a male. I could care less about her and find the commercial to be so repulsive that I turn it off every time it's on.
The first time I saw it, I couldn't for the life of me even remember who or what she was representing. I just found the whole thing to be entirely annoying.
The Vive Viagra commercial is just plain campy - and weird.
Looks to me like there is too much hating on Beyonce. There are lots of white women doing the same type of commercials --- so much sex, who can't help remembering the woman who did the hamburger commercial, while masturbating on a car.
Beyonce is beautiful and has lot of talent -- if she chooses to use it to do commercials, it's business, nothing personal. If you don't like it, your choice --- but I see too many "so called" males, especially white males downgrading her, why? America is built on women being pimped by men. The richer the men, the bigger the pimp. Direct TV is a very big pimp. But at least Beyonce didn't have to lay on her back to get paid.
After all, the Direct TV commercial wasn't directed at women. Men watch sports and they buy things based on sex, and the corporate pimps know this, as most of them are men.
Since comments are moderated, chances of this one being posted is very slim to none .. but I felt I had to respond after reading Hog's comment.
Amias...good points. I, as well as probably MILLIONS
of folks, agree with you about the infamous Burger
King commercial with Paris Hilton. No doubt about
that. There was enough of an uproar that Burger King pulled that commercial. If my blog was around back when that commercial was around, I would have definitely criticized Paris and Burger King. Count on that.
You bring up a good point about when do people pick up
projects for "business" and nothing more than that. I
think we would hope that women (and men) would have
more morals than to do things for just "business." See WIXY's comment under the post about suggestions for today's students.
Amias, you wrote, "If you don't like it, your choice --- but I see too many "so called" males, especially white males downgrading her, why?" My wife, who is a minority, is as disgusted with ad as I am.
I didn't think race was an issue here. Race shouldn't be an issue. Whether it's white, black or whatever ethnicity, the oversexed ads are the point...not the skin color. It's a GENDER issue. Honestly, what do you think the reaction would have been if it was Paris Hilton in the Direct TV commercial as opposed to Beyonce? Would the reaction to Paris doing the ad be as "quiet" nationally as it was for Beyonce? I doubt it. I think Paris would have gotten blasted.
When my classes do commercials, they learn that the three most common causes why commercials fail are: they are poorly produced, the product isn't mentioned enough so it's remembered and the commercial insults the audience's intelligence.
You're right, the commercial is aimed at males but I think the approach of the ad insults the male "intelligence." I am honestly looking at dropping my cable and getting Direct TV. That ad did nothing to help me make my decision. Do I get local channels? Is it cheaper than basic cable over the long haul? Is the NFL Network on the most basic tier of Direct TV?
I'm disappointed in Beyonce because she is beautiful, very talented, and stays away from scandal. I don't think this ad is a good representation of her.
And lastly, no, you weren't going to be censored. I decided to let your post go on here. This is a blog for educational purposes with my students' work as well as past students' work. I welcome thoughtful, engaging, and civilized discussion. Your post was well thought out. I appreciate that.
Amias,
Hey check this out:
http://hogonsports.com/?cat=98
You defend Beyonce like she's a woman of color or something.....
...check out her SI cover photo from last year's edition. Does she look like a black female?
Go visit some celebrity sites that specialize in uncovering celebs with and without makeup and see what Beyonce really looks like without all of her makeup...She actually looks black in a natural state.
After all of the makeup and air brushing????...Cinnamon??? Nutmeg??? Coconut oil????
Beyonce's the anti-Jennifer Lopez. Lopez lathers on the bronzer to look darker. Beyonce lathers on who knows what to look lighter.
The pity is she actually looks more beautiful in her natural state. It's a shame.
I digress.
Struke said it best: Direct Tv's ad with Beyonce insults me as a male on several levels.
I hate Beyonce's stupid butt-griding Beyonce dance in the commercial.
I hate Beyonce's mouthing the chain in the commercial.
I hate Beyonce lying on her back and writhing on the ground in the commercial.
What exactly is the point Direct TV is trying to get across with this commercial? They need to focus on their perceived strengths compared to cable on Dish Network and quit the stupidity.
For the record, my reaction would have been just as vitriolic if it featured Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson (can't stand the cameras panning on her at Cowboys games with her wearing that pink Tony Romo jersey), Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan - all train wrecks - if they did the same commercial.
Quit playing the race card.
The Hog
Thanks Struke for your most insightful reply. It was very honorable of you.
As for you Mr. Hog, all I got to say is that you are in the minority when it comes to what other males are feeling about Beyonce. She sells millions of records, and I am sure that is why she was pegged to do the commercial in the first place. Of course it helped that she is beautiful and appealed to all males, regardless of "skin" color. If you look at demographic, most of her fans are male.
Now, I don't mean to say she doesn't have female fans -- but I am willing to bet she has more male fans than female.
Mr. Hog, I presented a valid point about "white males" based on the blogs I read, and there are times I read many of them. However, you went the way of all men who can't stick to the issue --- you took it below your belt.
I live in the same town Beyonce grew up in. I have watched her become the star she is from the little girl who use to come around and sing at our churches. She is very light skinned, based on the time of year. You see, most folks might not get it, but "colored" folks tan too, and we like to explore ourselves in different shades of skin color --- like the white person does when they are paying for a tan, or getting it on the beach.
Since this is an educational blog, I will leave this comment on an educational level. But I am willing to bet, and I say this based on my own personal observations, there are more men getting Direct TV after this commercial than before.
Now, I am going to enlighten you about the chain in Beyonce's mouth ... it represents being "enslave" to something. It was done in what they think is good taste, but the connotation is the same. One can become enslave to Direct TV, or the sex they have to offer.
Personally, I have had bad experiences with Direct TV. Like Cable, they start you off by trying to convince you that they have a better deal, then they hit you in the pocket book just as bad, if not worst than cable. their customer services is just as bad as Cable -- the only different in the two is, Cable will reimburse you when they are down, Direct TV will not.
Struke, this has been a very interesting dialogue, to say the least, and I have enjoyed participating. I hope I have added something to this dialogue that is of value to your students.
Amias...geez, it's good to have you onboard! I really appreciate you (as well as others) respecting the goals/intentions of this blog to be for education.
If more men are getting Direct TV after seeing that commercial, there are some sad excuses for the male population.
Thanks for sharing your experiences about Direct TV. I'm sorry they were bad. However, you are helping me with my decision. If/when I call Direct TV, I will question their service record. :)
Amias...without a doubt, you have added a lot to this. You will probably start seeing my kids posting on here soon. Observing the "conversation" on here will help them see that there are a lot of viewpoints to respect.
I liked the Doritos commercial. The Doritos commercial at least kept the words to the Deep Purple hit, Smoke on the Water. The Viagara commercial ripped off Elvis and then changed the lyrics to suit them. I don't mind people using old songs, but they should use them creatively and apply the original lyrics to the product in a unique way.
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