Archive for the ‘animal spokepersons’ category
December 3, 2013
– – Geico’s Maxwell the pig is back in a commercial spot again, this time at a football game where he is again demonstrating the capabilities of his Geico app to a friend, even in the midst of a a crowded stadium. It’s evidently a chilly day prompting some extra covering in the outdoor facility, and pretty soon the stadium cam zooms in on Maxwell, causing his image to appear on a giant screen, together with the legend, “Pig in a blanket!” For the uniformed, this refers to a recipe for hot dogs prepared wrapped in crescent rolls. We’ll overlook the additional fact that footballs were once referred to as “pigskins.”
“Guess I walked into that one,” quips Maxwell, who at this point could use some better material…
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, furry, furry commercials, television
Tags: Maxwell the pig at a football game
Comments: 4 Comments
November 15, 2013
– – Enlightenment can apparently be found anywhere, even on aircraft, when you have Pepto To Go! We’ve already seen the zen-oriented rodent in the forest, and now he pops up on a flight, where he tells a female passenger that he can see that she’s packed…her stomach! Such a pronouncement would be unwelcome from a human, but coming from a squirrel, we marvel at his sage perception.
He appears out of a seatback compartment that looks like a medicine cabinet, and before we know it, the squirrel has somehow teleported into the woman’s pocket, emerging with a vial of Pepto, and telling the passenger that relief can be hers. There is a price to be paid, however, for the woman’s airline peanuts belong to the squirrel, and are shown in his tiny paws as he reappears in the seatback compartment in front of her, and the commercial ends. Wisdom, like the squirrel, is where you find it…and perhaps the squirrel will come when the student is ready…
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, furry, furry commercials, humor, television
Tags: Pepto squirrel
Comments: 2 Comments
September 9, 2013
— Love them or hate them, cats have been a powerful presence in advertising, and since at least the 20th century, they’ve also been associated with music, especially jazz. They’re part of the language; consider idiomatic references like hep cat, swing cat, cool cat, and the list goes on. Perhaps it’s because cats are independent and tend to choose their own focus that they’ve come to be associated with music forms that are cutting edge and a bit outside of the mainstream, at least at their inception and at one particular point in time.
It’s perhaps only natural then that cats should update and transition into studio and technology based forms of musical expression, functioning as disc jockeys and engineering today’s sound in a Fresh Step kitty litter commercial…
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, cool things, furry, furry commercials, television
Tags: cats, cats and music, Fresh Step
Comments: 3 Comments
July 12, 2013
— I, for one, have always found the Charmin Bear family rather dysfunctional and somewhat disturbing. Now, we all know that bears defecate in the woods, but I just don’t think that it’s normal or healthy for there to be so much preoccupation over the matter of toilet paper. I mean, the episode where Leonard, the father bear, is basically alone stroking the toilet paper by himself while almost in a trance-like state as he mutters “so soft!” strikes me as being rather creepy, or reflecting an unhealthy and unnatural obsession. Then there are control issues reflected, as when one or another of the bears (usually the males) are told (by Momma Bear Molly) how much toilet paper to use, and that they can be using less. — I mean, this is ‘merica, right, and I can be using as much dang toilet paper as I want to! The tag line is even “less is more;” what are these bears, Republicans?! Also we have the episode where one boy bear has little bits of TP all over his bear behind, and is called to task for it by Momma Bear, Molly…this seems to violate his body space, dignity, and personal privacy rights! There are also unresolved issues that beg to be addressed in this psychodrama, such as the apparent use of toilet paper (“bathroom tissue,” excuse me) without toilets or even bathrooms…and what of the minimally-rendered forest in which these bears reside? Where is this unreal estate located, the Twilight Zone?
All in all, we haven’t seen this much obsession over toilet paper since the days of store owner Mr. Whipple, who chastised customers for squeezing the Charmin while secretly engaging in the same behavior himself, a paragon of hypocrisy. The Mr. Whipple character was retired, by the way, when the actor portraying him died, death being the ultimate form of retirement…
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, furry, furry commercials, humor, television
Tags: advertising, Bears, Charmin
Comments: 2 Comments
July 9, 2013
– – The latest Geico commercial is a hoot! Now everyone knows that 15 minutes with Geico can save you 15% or more on car insurance, but “did you know that some owls aren’t that wise?,” asks one woman on the road to her male car companion.
The scene then shifts to the woods at night, where a female owl is reminding her mate that she’s having brunch with Megan tomorrow. “Who?,” responds the male owl. “Megan, my co-worker,” clarifies the female owl. “Who?,” again calls the male owl. “Seriously, you’ve met her like three times!,” adds the female owl. “Who?,” replies the male once again. At that point, it’s time for an exasperated sigh from the female owl as her head turns away…I’m sure that many of us guys have experienced this kind of thing, but honestly, we’re not all clueless!
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, avian, feathered friends, furry commercials, television
Tags: Geico owls, some owls aren't that wise
Comments: 4 Comments
July 6, 2013
– – Although I never cease to be amazed at the things which offend some people and cause them to go on the warpath, cute, cuddly Geico spokesman Maxwell the pig seems an unlikely target. He’s sweet, innocent, resourceful, and just trying to make his way in the world like the rest of us.
Nonetheless, this unlikely target has at least in some of his commercials drawn the ire of certain far right groups, including the conservative group One Million Moms, which reports having received numerous complaints over such ads as the one depicting Maxwell parked in a car on a date with a girl. The female in question appears, shall we say, to wish to advance their relationship to the next level. Maxwell, the hip but at times clueless innocent, occupies himself instead with a phone app game of “Fruit Ninja.” Not amused, the One Million Moms group sees the commercial as promoting bestiality, termed it repulsive and unnecessary, and wished to see it pulled from airing immediately.
Puh-leeze! While there’s some innuendo going on in the commercial, it’s light-hearted, and so ridiculous as to be more absurd than shocking. Humor when devoid of any satirical content fast becomes bland and meaningless. One might also argue that Maxwell in unintentionally or otherwise blocking his date’s advances has substituted a more “wholesome” activity, yet we do not see conservative watchdog groups marketing Maxwell chastity rings. The group in question also objected on similar grounds to a Skittles commercial featuring a girl and a walrus.
To paraphrase an old popular song, all we are saying…is give pigs a chance! And some people need to find better things to occupy their time as well…
Categories: animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, controversial, famous furries, furry, furry commercials, television
Tags: Geico pig, Maxwell
Comments: 3 Comments
June 3, 2013
– – Hipster Maxwell the pig may have hail damage to his baby blue VW Cabriolet, but he’s so slick that he speedily gets an appointment through his Geico app with an insurance adjuster, and as fellow hail damage sufferer Ted struggles on hold with his insurance company, Maxwell even has time to steal Ted’s girlfriend away, and go boating with her! “Later, Ted!,” chortles the nameless fickle girl. –What is it with pigs, anyhow, that makes them “chick magnets?” Perhaps because they’re both farm animals…
Now if only they could have attached Maxwell’s trademark pinwheels to the handles of his Skidoo! This porker gets out and about more than most of us do…but just remember that relationships with pigs are illegal in most states!
Categories: absurdities, animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, furry commercials, television
Tags: Geico's Maxwell the pig, Maxwell and hail damage, Maxwell in a boat
Comments: 3 Comments
May 30, 2013
– – Camels haven’t figured in commercials much since the days of tobacco pitchman Joe Camel, who was, it must be admitted, extremely cool. Now at last we have an anthropomorphic camel figuring in a Geico commercial, who parades around an office interrupting and distracting workers by happily asking them what day it is. The answer to the dromedary’s query is that it’s Wednesday, also known as hump day. Our two amiable musical hosts then appear, one asking us how happy people are that save hundreds of dollars on car insurance; the answer is that they’re happier than a camel on Wednesday…
The camel is gleefully upbeat, moves with graceful realism, and just might lead the way to a camel revival in American advertising.- – As an expression made famous in advertising days of yore said, I’d walk a mile for this camel!
Categories: animal presence, animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, furry, furry commercials, television
Tags: Geico "Hump Day" commercial, Geico camel
Comments: 4 Comments
April 17, 2013
– – As you’re likely aware, the Aflac Duck was recently injured, suffering damage to his beak and a wing. Now the waterfowl is fighting his way back, with help from physical therapy and the inspiration of Rocky Balboa! In the 60 second commercial, we are shown the duck struggling with such therapy tasks as climbing stairs, treading water, working on a gym station, and jumping rope…slow and sad piano-accented music plays in the background. It’s so hard for the doggedly-determined duck…but then he starts to get his energy and range of motion back, and as the soundtrack of “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor plays in the background, we see the duck working out like a champ!
The underlying message is that with Aflac to pay his bills so he doesn’t have to worry, the duck can focus on therapy and getting better…and there’s no keeping a good duck down! He’s gotten 35,000 get-well cards, according to Aflac’s chief marketing executive, who considers the duck and the brand to be not an image but an experience. But will he suffer from post-traumatic stress, and require therapy? This is the 58th commercial to feature the Aflac duck, if you’re counting…
Categories: absurdities, animal spokepersons, animals, anthropomorphic, Brilliant but twisted, furry commercials, television
Tags: Aflac Duck therapy
Comments: 2 Comments
April 10, 2013
– – In a recent Geico commercial, the company spokes-gecko travels back to the ninth century to book passage on a viking longship and comment on the difficulty of mobile phone communications in that time period. The viking-era ship forges through a nasty storm at sea, its stalwart oarsmen keeping pace with the thudding drumbeat provided to synchronize their efforts. As the gecko traverses the water-soaked deck of the viking vessel, the absurd juxtaposition somehow works!
The spot cross-promotes Geico with the new History Channel series, Vikings. Well-written and acted, the Vikings show is worthy of your attention for its characterization and attention to detail. There’s death, decapitation, spirited combat, and political scheming…and talk about tough! One viking wife beats off two would-be rapists with a sword, while another on a raiding party dispatches her lusty assailant with a dagger! Defending English warriors are outclassed by the Vikings after a hard day’s raiding, and they seem to relish the workout. Vikings is a gritty and unflinching show about some of history’s toughest warriors, so pass the mead, and let us feast!
Categories: animal spokepersons, anthropomorphic, furry commercials, television
Tags: gecko with the Vikings, the Vikings
Comments: 2 Comments
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