Kindest Sir or Madam January 23, 2008

Dear Ooops Spamfilter,

I adore your new print ads for a couple of reasons. First of all, this is a situation (receiving absurd spam) that pretty much everyone can relate to, and the matter-of-fact reply emails really add to the ludicrous nature of the spam. Second, I love copy heavy ads. I am constantly lamenting the small number of them these days. Your ads are intelligent and clever, and I commend you. Now all you need to do is roll out a few replying to that guy who is going to help me refinance my mortgage (at no cost to me!) and that fella who is going to give me a great deal on “viagra.”

Sincerely,

K

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Dear Cheetos,

Although I am not a fan of your laundromat commercial, I have to hand it to you for drumming up a lot of interest. There have been tons of searches about it and my post about it is, by far, my most popular. Although it wasn’t for me, you have struck a chord and gotten people talking. Well played, I say, for creating a campaign that has placed Cheetos in the minds of many consumers.

Sincerely,

K

Mission Accomplished (Sort of) January 20, 2008

Dear Jiffy Lube,

Imagine my delight when you rolled out a new spot that took the same theme of your other ad (Break down, who knows what you’ll miss) and removed the total creep factor. This time around, somone broke down and missed out on a rockstar at a wedding reception. This situation still sends the message that you could miss out on some important/cool situations because you failed to take care of your car, but leaves out the part that makes me people feel uncomfortable that a seemingly nice guy’s family has been stolen by a Russian janitor. Once you stop airing the missed birth commercial I will officially consider my work here done.

Cheers,

kr

Ruining Society January 16, 2008

Dear Cheetos,

I guess if I eat your disgusting cheesy fried things (which I hate more than Doritos), I will be convinced by Chester Cheetah to be a terrible human being. In your recent television spot, at Chester’s urging, a young woman gets revenge on a fellow laundromat user by pouring Cheetos into her dryer full of white clothing.

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. As if people didn’t already think television was unraveling the moral fabric of society, you have to literally send a message for people to be total assholes. My only guess is that your target market is total assholes and you are just trying to relate and offer them a snack that will justify their evil doings…I just don’t know…

As for generally nice people and those worrying that television erodes our values, I don’t see them giving you very much positve feedback or buying your nasty cheesy snacks.

I can only imagine what Chester will encourage some jerk to do in the next spot…

Disdainfully,

K

UPDATE: Just to clear things up, I’m all about advertising pushing the limits. Give me ads with sex, drugs, and booze and I will probably send out a shoutout if it’s creative and on-target. Many would say ads like these are “unraveling the moral fabric of society,” which would contradict my statements above. To clarify, my problem with the commercial is the way the commercial encourages viewers to treat others in an unkind manner. That’s it. I don’t think it’s very a nice message. I saw the ad and immediately was turned off and was just sharing my thoughts. No need for anyone to get nasty.

Elf Food January 13, 2008

Dear Citi,

Wow. I just love your new “story” campaign. Every new ad actually makes me feel delighted and the most recent certainly does not disappoint. I’ve spoken before about how “too much funny” can be a bad thing, but your ads are so craftily clever and on target that I can’t get them out of my head. Plus, by adding these little details, it really enhances how the commercials are telling a story. My examples after the jump.

Sometimes It Is Not Golden January 10, 2008

Dear Converse,

I’m sure you are trying to be really poignant, but television was created to avoid awkward silences like the one you so kindly provided here:

At least give me some quiet, emotive music.

Thanks,

K

Maybe It Is Just Me… January 9, 2008

Dear Texas Instruments,

That little “It’s the Mirrors” girl is downright adorable.

That being said, I really don’t get a few things. First, you made up the “blur.” Obviously this “blur” is not a real problem, because if it were you would not have to use special effects to prove to us it exists. Plus, why two commercials about the “blur”? I’m sure you could have thought of other problems your zillions of mirrors solve.

Second (and here is where I get really lost), why is the elephant there??? I know it has to mean something. Bigger is better? DLP never forgets? WHAT IS IT?????

Please reply so I can sleep at night.

LOVE,

k

Screw the Super Bowl January 2, 2008

Dear Advertisers during the New Year’s Day Bowl Games,

Bravo! There were a lot of great ads (particularly, in my humble opinion, from Monster.com and All State) and you probably saved a ton of money, or at least got a lot more ads from the same amount you’d have to dole out for a 30-second Super Bowl Spot.

Not to mention, people were probably paying much more attention as they lay as still as possible on their couch (in typical New Year’s Day fashion) than if they’d been at a Super Bowl party jockeying for a spot around the buffalo chicken dip.

Job Well Done,

K

P.S. Seriously, check out the buffalo chicken dip recipe, but completely disregard the part about celery. Tortilla chips, all the way. You’ll thank me.

Buzz Kill December 21, 2007

Dear US Department of Transportation,

First off, I really do like your tagline “Over the Limit, Under Arrest.” It’s clever and gets the message across.

HOWEVER…

Hey Guys! Im Callin the Cops! December 12, 2007

Dear Pepsi/Coke,

Maybe I did watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in the same night – maybe I didn’t. (Okay, I did.)

Either way, something really stuck out to this strat comm junkie.

Prior to Home Alone Original starting on VHS there was an ad for Pepsi, and then during the film I got to see Fuller guzzling Pepsi. As I moved on to the sequel I noticed that Fuller no longer drank Pepsi, he was now a Coke kid.

Now, American Airlines held onto the product placement from film 1 to 2…what happened to Pepsi?

Alright, I hate Pepsi, so I’m actually glad to see them disappear from the Home Alone franchise, but who on EARTH would let go of the contract? Anyone who has ever seen the first movie knows that even if the second movie totally sucked it was still guaranteed to be a freaking gold mine!!!

Like I said, Pepsi sucks.

Sincerely,

K