I Never Cease to be Amazed by Television Advertising
Posted 20 April 2008 in Television by Catriona
This must be about the fifth entry I’ve written on television advertising, but I never cease to be amazed by what they actually think is suitable for advertising.
On the one hand, I’ve just seen an advertisement for the Trading Post that suggests the best way to deal with your uncontrollable son and his tendency to violently shove his sister is to buy a swing-set.
True, I suppose it channels that strong desire to experiment with the potentialities of kinetic energy.
But what happens when the child ends up in an environment with no swing-set?
But the strangest advertisement I’ve seen all night is one for APIA, with Max Walker—at least, I’m fairly certain it was Max Walker—talking about being duped in the purchase of a diamond while on an African tour.
I think, from what I can remember, that the whole point was the idea that age brings wisdom.
But I saw it and said to Nick, “Did they really just build an entire advertising campaign around Max Walker attempting to buy an unregistered African diamond? A blood diamond?”
Honestly, I thought the Pepsi Max advertisement where they suggested that drinking that particular soft drink would make random businesswomen rip off half their clothes and wrestle in a spilled consignment of jelly was the oddest thing I’d ever seen on television.
Share your thoughts [7]
1
Tim wrote at Apr 20, 12:29 pm
My housemate and I had much the same thought about the Max Walker ad. Apparently trying to con a citizen of the Third World is funny if they con you back.
2
Catriona wrote at Apr 20, 12:56 pm
I thought for a while there that advertising was actually getting more intelligent. I loved the—was it Foxtel?—ad. with the man picking the ninja master up from the bus-stop. And Carlton United Breweries put out some funny ads for a while there.
But lately they’ve just been making me boggle.
3
Tim wrote at Apr 21, 12:40 am
These things probably go in cycles.
4
Catriona wrote at Apr 21, 04:17 am
To every thing (turn, turn, turn), there is a season?
5
Matthew Smith wrote at Apr 22, 03:46 am
You should watch the stuff that is advertised during children’s tv programming. Especially ads aimed at parents like the one for a computer game that makes your kid into a genius. There are also many other toys that will make your kid love you: e.g.
Mother: Hey son come and give me a cuddle
Son: grunt
Mother: I bought you a <insert product>
Son: gets up and gives mum a big hug
6
Catriona wrote at Apr 22, 06:47 am
Ooh, is that the one where she then turns around and tells him they might spend the money on a maths tutor instead?
The first time I saw that I admit that I did giggle—I think it was because the actress playing the mother had a really infectious laugh—but then almost immediately thought, “Actually, that’s kind of dysfunctional.”
But I do admit to a soft spot for the NRMA ads starring the Brisbane Broncos players, especially the one where the car’s been storm-damaged (“I hate those Melbourne players!”) and the one where the chap goes back to “re-boot” the server—I think it’s the look of horror on the IT guy’s face that gets me in that one.
7
Tim wrote at Apr 22, 01:19 pm
The ‘reboot’ ad is one of my favourites. I also like the Carbonators set, especially for Tonie ‘The Mind’ Carroll.