Laughing to Fill the Gaps

Commercials infiltrate your television sets everyday, unless you don't watch TV, which is ludicrous. Hopefully by the time you read that sentence you glanced over at the TV to make sure sportscenter isn't back on yet. Some of those commercials just make you want to gouge your eyes out and reach for the mute button so you don't have to rip your ears off too. These are not those commercials. These are the 6 Funniest Ad Campaigns.

6. Limp at the Plate
Product Endorsed: Viagra
What's UP with that? Once in a while, Viagra will score a sports star sponsor to star in their commercials. "But, Mike, why is THAT funny?" Are you kidding? Erectile dysfunction is funny, especially if you see Rafael Palmeiro walking down the streets. (Insult Example: Hey there buddy, did your dealer tell you those steroids were Viagra?) We idolize sports stars to a point where they are almost above human. So to think that they couldn't get it up in the heat of the moment has to make you smile to yourself and think "Me 1, Famous Sports Viagra Endorser 999." It's a lopsided score, but at least you didn't get shutout. Also funny: the thought of Bob Dole on Viagra, not knowing what to do with his bones since he's basically senile. Now that's a commercial.
Not Hard to Find a Clip: Actually, it was, that was just a pun. I actually couldn't find this commercial. But you remember it. So let's move on.

5. Super Trading
Product Endorsed: E-Trade Financial
Bang for your Buck? Perhaps you remember a string of E-trade commercials during the Super Bowl that were as wasteful as a Russian nuclear power plant. They literally had the stupidest and most ridiculous things happening while spending an enormous amount of dough on it. Verdict: Success achieved. The commercials just make you shake your head and wish you had enough cash to have an old man sitting rocking his head to a tune being drummed by another. Props, e-trade, mad props indeed.
Perhaps Some Stock in Bananas? A monkey with an e-trade shirt on = more customers.


4. Different Colored Roofs
Product Endorsed: Red Roof Inn
Inn the Money: Perhaps you've seen these, perhaps not. What makes these gold are the purposely over-the-top performance by the guest who just cannot get enough of the Roof. With a fast paced humor and ridiculousness, Red Roof Inn succeeds in making sure you at least remember their name. If you saw one of these commercials, then had a choice between a Red Roof Inn and a Motel 6, you would most certainly stay at Red Roof Inn. Leave the light on for you? Psh! Red Roof Inn has the clapper lights so you can have a good time during your stay. Baller.
Look at all this Space! Honestly, this is more over the top than a Stuart Scott highlight call.


3. The Express Lane
Product Endorsed: Holiday Inn Express
Well, I'm Not a Doctor: The hilarity coming from these commercials starts off slow but ends with a bang. You've clearly seen these humorous bouts of glory, all due to staying at a hotel. Well, I had McDonalds for lunch and you don't see me serving as the emergency chef at the local French place (only because there is no French place in Kirksville, MO). The way these people come off at the start gives the surrounding people so much confidence until they realize he's full of shit and for some reason thinks its funny to play around with lives because he stayed at a decent hotel. Oh, fear and confusion. You are a funny, funny pair of commercial plot devices.
Where's My Cinnamon Roll? A guy from the tour group solving a nuclear meltdown? Only when you stay with Holiday Inn Express can you out-think nuclear technicians and scientists.


2. More Interesting than Me?
Product Endorsed: Dos Equis
Dirty Spaniard: When I first saw a commercial for "The Most Interesting Man Alive," I tried to remember when they were filming me. The subtle dirty, suave Spaniard that is clearly too rich to drink just any beer, but tells you when he does, it's all about the Two X's. What makes it funny is that it's concept is utterly stupid. The only thing interesting about Spaniards is their food. Yet, we are led to believe that this suave, sophisticated man, with a voice that even the straightest man would find enticing, is the most interesting character on the face of the Earth? More than Nelson Mandela or Ashlee Simpson? That's the joke, you say? AHA! Pass the Dos, por favor.
Does Dos mean I get Doble? If any other man was cast in this role, it might come off as terrible. A match made in advertising heaven.


1. This is Pretty Damn Funny
Product Endorsed: Sportscenter
Fill Thy Horn With Oil and Go: As an avid ESPN watcher, I've seen so many of these commercials its not every funny. What keeps me coming back for more is the creativity and the utter ridiculousness that these commercials have been instilling for over a decade. Why are they funny? They are funny because so often we take sports too seriously (ok, its mostly me) and these commercials show us the lighter side of sports and the players. These stars acting with news anchors for the sake of comedy is a stroke of genius that ESPN has played off of for a very long time now. Its not just a commercial, its Sportscenter.
This is Sportscenter: Well, here's one of my favorites. (BTW, this blog proves I watch way too much TV for my own good)



Hope you enjoyed my post today. If nothing else, it was a completely different kind of post. Anyways, since I'm stuck here in Kirksville for the summer, you should expect regular blogging, probably once a week, as I have little else to do besides work a little. So until then, enjoy your summer and make sure you follow this advice: