Archive for the ‘television’ category

Rockin’ the House…

September 21, 2012

– – I’m glad to see that the Kia hamsters have developed a taste for the fine arts,  showing their trademark killer moves in an 18th-century opera house in their newest commercial for the Soul “party wagon!” 

The current campaign is called “Bringing Down the House,” and features a ballet performance and breakdancing to the Axwell remix of “In My Mind.”  It’s kind of an electronic dance rave type thing which is played to an audience of upper-crusty aristocratic types who seem to eventually tap into the energy and get into the groove…

The hamsters are good at what they do, BTW…sales of the Kia Soul are up 13% this year!

Fluzone’s “Hedgehog”

September 18, 2012

– – If he were any cuter, people probably wouldn’t be able to stand him…the Fluzone Hedgehog, that is!  Now there aren’t really many vaccines that have their own animal mascots…no tetanus shot tarantulas, for example.  But this little guy makes sense, since you get a shot from a needle, and he’s covered with quills.  But you really won’t mind, because he’s even  going to a barber shop to get his quills trimmed…the idea is, ‘ya see, that Fluzone uses smaller intradermal needles!

He’s an anthropomorphic hedgehog, talking a little…and he even adjusts his little red tie!  He’s such a cute little dickens that you want to hug him, even if it hurts!  One just wonders why he goes to a hair salon rather than an animal groomers, but maybe he’s trying to make time with the stylist…and I’ll be surprised if we don’t now see more furry hedgehog avatars and stuffed hedgehogs out by Xmas.

“Chipmunk Family Reunion” from Progressive’s “Good Night, Flo”

September 7, 2012

– – Be brave, and enter by commercial into the dream world of Progressive’s iconic “Flo,” an already otherworldly lady.  We are shown in the commercial the racing car bed that she sleeps in, and are witness to her dreams, appearing in a cartoon-like “thought bubble” appearing above her head.  Flo, perhaps not surprisingly, counts insurance discounts rather than sheep in her sleep state.

Then the parade of discounts is interrupted, and we are shown a dream deviation of a chipmunk family reunion!  They are as cute as the  dickens…but alas!  A dastardly squirrel steals the chipmunk’s nuts!  Despair not, however, for in Flo’s dream, the squirrel is apprehended, and winds up in “Squirrel Jail.”  Even in her dream state, Flo exults “Justice!,” and we are shown a victorious chipmunk holding aloft a liberated nut!   Wonder what a therapist would make of this one…

But don’t ‘ya just love happy endings, even though reunions tend to be nutty? 

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…

The Aussie Hair Care Company Purple Kangaroo…

August 15, 2012

– – She’s a purple marsupial, has big doe-eyes, and almost resembles a muppet or Claymation creation…the Aussie Shampoo kangaroo, that is!  Despite the name, Aussie Shampoo products are made in Cincinnati, Ohio by Proctor and Gamble.  The manufacturing process for the floral-scented product includes use of the Australian Kangaroo Paw Flower extract.

Australian aboriginal legends have existed about a purple kangaroo since ancient times, and in 1924 a biologist named Le Souf made the claim to the amusement of the scientific community that he had found such a  creature, even sending specimens to be studied that turned out to be run of the mill wallabies.  In 2001 through DNA testing and photographic evidence a purple-necked rock wallaby was identified as a new species.  It seems that these animals have a purple dye that they secret from glands in their skin around their neck and face.  The dye quickly fades after death, a fact which made the animal hard to identify…

Duke, the Bush’s Beans Dog…

July 22, 2012

– – Duke, the Golden Retriever mascot of the Bush’s Beans Company, got into the advertising business in an indirect way.  The actual family pet was originally brought into the commercials to help ease the jitters of Jay Bush when the commercial line was launched in 1995, and the idea of Duke threatening to spill the secret family recipe emerged as a tongue in cheek marketing ploy which has proven wildly successful. 

The real Duke, however, is actually a bit camera shy, not fond of traveling, and becomes nervous when given excess attention.  The dog who is portraying the family pet in commercials is accordingly a canine stand-in and stunt double who can handle the pressures of celebrity and life on the road.  The actual family pet goes by the name of Duffy “Duke” of Castlebury.   Duke in the commercials is voiced by Robert Cait, a Canadian comedian and voice actor…

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…

Cheetos “Bank Robbery” Commercial…

June 26, 2012

– – Chester Cheetah for “Cheetos” is one cool feline, almost unflappable.–Oh, I know, he can mess with people’s heads at times, but that’s part of his appeal, and he can put it to good use!  In a recent commercial, he’s working as a teller at a bank with a human, and they’re on their lunch break, which we all know is sacred, me time.- -Well, some robbers are stupid and inconsiderate enough to hit the bank at that time, so they more than deserve the disrespect that they receive from Chester, who repels the thugs by firing rubber bands at them!    On your way!,” Chester admonishes one robber as a rubber band stings the lout…

…some people are actually opposed to some of the newer Chester Cheetah commercials as they feel that they encourage bad behavior, but Chester has been with us since 1986, and I don’t look to see him going away anytime soon.  He is, after all, dangerously cheesy…

(Update:  This ad is only being aired on television, and is not available online.  Bank robbery victims are protesting the ad, and asking Frito-Lay to take it off the air.  A spokesperson for the company has said that they do not have any plans to stop running the spot, but that it is being looked into…)

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!