Archive for the ‘Brilliant but twisted’ category

Getting Bugged…

November 19, 2012

– – Don’t the bugs seem to get bigger each year?  And there’s something marvelously surreal about going along in a big RV with a human-sized blue bug riding shotgun up front!  I could get into this scene…well, this is an ESPN RV marketing campaign commercial that features New Orleans rookie Anthony Davis traveling in the RV together with ESPN commentator Mike Breen and Hugo, the team mascot.  They are all very comfortable in one another’s company, a cozy group…thank heavens for cultural diversity!

The driving commentator is conversing with the big blue bug when, Thwack! – – A standard-size bug hits the windshield, leaving the predictable bug splat on it.  Thoughtfully, the commentator offers his condolences to the mascot, and then turns his attention to the problem of the bug smear.  The wipers are tried, which only smears the bug splat…then the washer fluid is resorted to, which makes the smear worse.  Needing to take care of business, the driver then advises the bug mascot that there are napkins in the glove compartment, and asks the big blue insect if he would reach out, and try and grab some of the big pieces of the bug remnants!  I think we’ve all been there, don’t you?

Happier Than An Antelope…

November 9, 2012

– – You’ve probably seen at least some of Geico’s “Happier Than” series in which we are shown people basking in the glee of improbable situations, such as Gallagher smashing watermelons at a farmers’ market and Christopher Columbus with a speedboat.  Two comfortably scruffy folksingers called Ronnie and Jimmy then appear to draw the parallel that people saving money on Geico insurance sure are happy, happier than say, a witch at a broom factory…

My fave in the series involves two anthropomorphic antelope standing in the savannah equipped with night vision goggles that easily enable the duo to see a lion lurking in the tall grass.  “Look who’s back…again!,” quips one antelope to the other.  “We can see you, Carl,” an antelope addresses the lion.  “Yeah, we can totally see you!,” confirms his companion.– So much for the stealth advantage!  “Have you thought about going vegan, Carl?,” they ask the apex predator, and laugh.  This could totally disrupt the food chain…and if the lion sleeps tonight, it will be with an empty belly!

 

– – Vote!

November 6, 2012


– – Those of us who reside in the United States should remember to vote on November 6th, and preferably for the party which is science and education friendly…

Meat Ponchos!

October 3, 2012

– – In another of the Degree Chain of Adventure commercials, three average guys are equipped with “meat ponchos” and then have a pack of wolves released upon them!  “Sweat is like tasty gravy to a hungry wolf,” explains survival expert Bear Grylls.- –Well, only one of the three meat poncho wearers is still standing alive and dry at the end of the commercial, and it should come as no surprise that he’s the guy wearing Degree deodorant!  

I think we’ve all learned something here today…and while I’m glad the wolves got some fresh food, wouldn’t wearing a meat poncho be disgusting, to say nothing of costly?–And wouldn’t Meat Ponchos be a great name for a punk mariachi band?!

Red Bull’s “Hunter” Commercial…

August 27, 2012

– – Man, the hunters hate this commercial with a passion, calling it anti-gun, anti-hunter, and even “sacrilegious.”  I could tell you other things they’ve called this ad, but we strive to be mostly family friendly here.  It’s the Red Bull “Hunter” commercial, alternately referred to as “Animal Killer!”  In the commercial, a hunter that could make Elmer Fudd look good goes into the woods, wearing a ludicrous outfit that includes a feathered cap, and whistling a tune.  There’s a bit of a commotion in the woods that we don’t see, but it undoubtedly involves a reversal of fortunes…

…next, the hunter is high-tailing it out of the woods, effortlessly pursued by a wild hog or boar.  It’s an easy chase; the buck-toothed hunter loses his gun then his pipe, and trips over a rock and falls flat, the boar not even breaking a sweat.  The hog, looking mildly amused, taps the prone hunter extracting his face from the ground on the back with his hoof.  “Hey, animal killer!,” says the hog, who continues to offer the hapless Nimrod a Red Bull energy drink.  “Then what?,” asks the clueless mighty hunter.  “Then run faster!,” patiently explains the victorious hog.- -Red Bull, you see, gives you wings!

I haven’t seen such a masterful rout and lambasting of a hunter since Bugs Bunny’s many humiliations of Elmer…  😉

Cheetos “Break Bot”

August 24, 2012

– – Science fiction has long warned us that technology is a double-edged sword with the potential to be used for either great good or great evil, and we see a little bit of both emerge in the Cheetos “Break Bot” commercial.   We are witness to a scene where two nerds/geeks together with the iconic Chester have constructed a robot apparently on their lunch break to feed them Cheetos when given the command of, “Cheese me!“- -Well and good, right?  The problem is that the homemade robot bitch slaps the recipient in the face following the delivery of the Cheeto…

…being that Cheetos are delivered, however, the one inventor tells the other, “I can live with it!,” and his companion is in full agreement.  We all suffer for our arts and passions, I suppose…

Planters Peanuts “The Team”

July 12, 2012

– – Mr. Peanut has underwent a significant evolution over the years.  In days of yore, he would basically be shown wearing a top hat, monocle, and spats.  He might perhaps tip his top hat at you, but was certainly no action hero; heck, he even carried a cane!   Mr. Peanut rather came across as kind of a legume Mr. Monopoly whose image suggested Richie Rich rather than Secret Agent Man.  That all has changed, however, in a recent re-imaging that suggests more of The A-Team than the idle rich.

In a recent very manly commercial that plays like an action movie, Mr. Peanut teamed with (-what else?) an almond and a pistachio is shown performing spectacular stunts.  Now every good guy combats arch-villains, so we are shown the nutty trio in a near parody of a James Bond pursuit skiing  just ahead of an avalanche, hotly pursued by a squirrel!  Not to worry, however…the pistachio wheels around and brings weaponry to bear on the squirrel.  We are shown a startled look on the squirrel’s face as he realizes that he’s taken on more than he can chew…

Other scenes in the same commercial show the nuts performing a Rocky-style exercise regimen, and Mr. Peanut getting cozy with a female bee…is he going to pollinate?  Yes, this is one tough and funky snack mix, merchandised with men in mind…

Hannah Montana Raccoon Repellent!

July 7, 2012

– – In case you are ever assaulted by a  flesh-biting raccoon, you may want to have a bottle of Hannah Montana perfume spray with you!  A recent video going viral on YouTube shows a kind of redneck Santa Claus, a white-bearded and shirtless man with a pet raccoon by his side that has an annoying habit of biting him painfully on the upper arm and back, which we see happening.–Well, the mountain man resourcefully snatches up a spray bottle of a Hannah Montana branded product, spritzes himself with it, and viola!  The ‘coon wants nothing more to do with him, and is held at bay!–Problem solved!

This is American ingenuity at its finest!  One wonders, however, if the same effect might have been achieved if the gentleman had begun singing Hannah Montana songs…and might this spray be a viable alternative to Mace and the Taser?  (“Sir, calm down and comply or I’ll have to Hannah Montana spray you!”)

Progressive’s “Rocket Cat”

June 23, 2012

– – He’s not to be confused with “Courageous Cat” or “Rocket Man,” but Progressive Insurance currently features a commercial in which a Progressive associate tries to “bundle” a sweet mewing cat with a rocket in a miniature pod that is reminiscent of the concept and device in the sci fi/horror classic, “The Fly.”  Fret not, however, because this associate is interrupted by the cheerfully demented Progressive icon Flo before this unnatural scheme can be carried out!

“Rocket Cat” is also reminiscent of Nyan cat, originally a YouTube video from 2011 that became an internet meme.  The video merged a Japanese pop song with an animated cartoon cat who has the body of a Pop-Tart, flies through space, and leaves a rainbow trail behind him.  Video games are now available for both “Rocket Cat” and “Nyan Cat,” if this floats your boat.  Either is preferable in my opinion as a flying feline to the dead cat helicopter we’ve blogged about here earlier. 

As for me, I’d like for Flo to place me with a fox in one of her “bundler” machines to see if I may through that means achieve the fusion that I desire.  I’ll even buy her insurance if she’d swing that for me!

The Gecko and Looney Tunes…

June 13, 2012

– – In a recent series of Geico commercials, the gecko is traveling across America, his journey leading him in this installment to the American Southwest where he runs across two iconic figures from the Looney Tunes world, none other than Wile E. Coyote  (Super Genius!) and The Road Runner.  An anvil impacts with the Earth first, embedding itself deeply, followed by a piano…then the Road Runner himself screeches to a brief halt by the gecko, but obviously soon must be off, leaving the gecko to consider the meaning of, “Meep meep!”   Wile E. Coyote follows, and we are privy to his thoughts where he envisions the gecko as dinner…

…but not to worry!  A large safe smashes down on top of the coyote, the brand on such product being, of course, “Acme”…and the gecko is again free to continue his journey, pondering “What a strange place!” as he walks off. – – It’s all vintage Chuck Jones stuff in this worthy crossover effort!