Hey, is it just me or does the entire fucking world think that the relaunch of famous dead popcorn freak Orville Redenbacher is more repulsive than “Saw 12?” I mean it is really, really creepy. Even worse it’s fucking insulting to the viewing audience. As this living zombie lays down lines like… “Can you believe this little baby holds 30 gigs?” Referring to his trendy iPod, which actually looks like he’s wearing the world’s biggest hearing aids, you just know all those imbeciles at CP+B are running around throwing Frisbees and rolling on the floor with their kerchief wearing office dogs, just wetting themselves with how “indigne” they are. Fuck, make a space on the trophy shelf for that Molybdenum Lion. What's even worse is that apart from the freaky CGI, it has all the components, including "ours" & "theirs" product comparison bowls, of a 1950 P&G travesty. All I can say is Jesus guys… Get hold of yourselves, you’re sinking faster than the Titanic.
.
.
And if you don't buy this shit, I'll leave my head on your doorstep!
jay chiat asked the famous questions: "how big can we get before we suck?" (paraphrased)
CPB just answered it: "about this big".
"edgy" my ass. that's about as edgy as the "girls gone wild" spots on at 3:30 in the morning.
i wonder if they did those as well? george, you have spies....might be worth looking into.
Posted by: marinobean | January 20, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Marino
I'm on it. But what with Julie watch, saving the world from the Poisoned Dwarf and keeping young female AdChicks off my body, I only have one hand left free for drinking!
Cheers/George
Posted by: George Parker | January 20, 2007 at 03:56 PM
George,
No, you're right. Redenbacher is very creepy! I saw it late last night and honestly I'm starting to think that it has to be intentional. I mean after all these guys created a stir with the "king" and all of his homo-wake up with the King-creepiness. Like him or hate him, you still talked about the King. I just don't know if this same shtick will work this time around.
Cheers,
-Tim
Posted by: TimH | January 20, 2007 at 06:38 PM
hey tim, you're right about "the king"..funny thing is everyone spoke about the character and not about the burger joint...
remember the very first appearance? a guy wakes up in a large bed with "the king" next to him offering an after sex wake up plate... what did "the king" do with the guys wife? were they having a fight the night before and this was "the kings" forgive me gesture?
creepy...either in a "Seven" sort of way or a sad-gay-love-affair-on-the-rocks way...
the other spots didn't help, guy wakes, looks out nto his lawn and there he is, with a squirrel on his shoulder and gentle woodlans creatures cavorting on the suburban lawn, with the plate of "come-here-and-get-in-my-van" treats or the pillow fighting tough guys?
sorry, CPB, that blew chunks...
Posted by: marinobean | January 21, 2007 at 06:25 AM
George,
My fellow Wirestoner's pointed me to your blog. Love reading it. CP+B has many hits, but I think they smoked their own stuff this time.
Paul Marobella.
Posted by: Paul Marobella | January 21, 2007 at 08:11 AM
My post here: http://www.jaffejuice.com/2007/01/an_ad_capable_o.html
George - you completely missed the boat on this one. It's actually the reincarnation of Mr Six, that lovable weirdo from Six Flags.
Posted by: jJ | January 21, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Burger King loves them Marino, and the campaign, from everything I've read, really does resonate with 20somethings and BK sales are way up. And it ain't cause people suddenly decided they really like the taste of Whoppers.
So here's MY problem: It alienates guys like you and me-- or anyone over 29, for that matter. It's way too much of a hipster insider joke. Ditto a lot of the VW stuff and the now this.
I'm sure college kids will think this is fucking hilarious, but are they the only ones buying it?
It's possible to do work that everyone thinks is funny-- the Budweiser frogs is the first thing that comes to mind, I'm sure there are better examples. Even CPBs "Safe Happens" spots are age-neutral.
Posted by: Tangerine Toad | January 21, 2007 at 02:51 PM
When those two groundhogs crossing America, which I saw over at Adfreak, finally get to Pennsylvania, it will be revealed that the ground hog and his shadow are actually Orville and three-dee rendered Orville underneath all that fur. You will note that there are no stops planned in Indiana. Valparaiso or elsewhere.
This will freak everyone out so that consumers will all refrain from eating popcorn. They will take the advice of every ground hog lover in America, Bill Murray-wise, or otherwise. Stick with the cuddly woodchucks and what they recommend.
"Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible." Mr. Gibbons.
Posted by: let your fingers do the walking | January 21, 2007 at 03:36 PM
My biggest problem with a lot of the CP+B "Humor" is that it isn't funny. As several of you have pointed out, it probably appeals to the same young wankers that think lighting farts is the highest form of levity. My problem now is I can't remember what I found funny when I was twenty.
Cheers/George
Posted by: George Parker | January 21, 2007 at 04:55 PM
A bit more on the sales increases mentioned by Toad...
Sales are up at BK, which the company touts loudly. But they're not "way up". Comparable store sales for 2006 rose 2.6% versus the previous year. Not exactly earth-shattering.
Meanwhile, McDonald's comparable sales for the same period were up 5.2% - double that of BK. As you say, BK's work resonates with the 20-something target. But the far less weird marketing from McDonald's seems to speak to persuade a far larger audience.
Sooner or later, the suits at BK will ask why they aren't seeing the same kinds of sales increases. And just like he does in the commercials, I'm guessing The King will have nothing to say.
Posted by: theo kie | January 21, 2007 at 05:45 PM
and please let's not leave out the financial environment we all find ourselves in. loudly displaying that you can get a "meal" for $2.99 will always resonate with college kids AND the entire spectrum of the lower end of the wage scale.
"way up" is a bit too generous...you don't work for CPB do you, toad? so there's no reason to drink the kool-aid. unless your books over there right now.
hey george, the things i found funny at 24 are still the things i find funny now: posers, good humor, intelligent reparté and the occasional flashing of boobs at an xmas party..."i am man, i am hungry..." or "yo, V-dub in der hauzen..." doesn't come anywhere near to tipping the scales towards laughter...
Posted by: marinobean | January 22, 2007 at 04:46 AM
No Kool-Aid, Marino. You're letting your anger get in the way of rationality. Again.
I mean do you think that all those other agencies didn't "loudly display" the $1.99 specials???
If nothing else, CPB deserves credit for holding on to the account for as long as they have.
Posted by: Tangerine Toad | January 22, 2007 at 08:01 AM
I'm sure sales are up at every fast food joint thanks to the Taco Bell - kidney failure imbroglio. Things will equalize. I saw this Orville Deadenbacher spot with my wife and it was one of those drop your jaw and stare at each other moments. Too fucking creepy for my tastes.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | January 22, 2007 at 03:30 PM
no anger here, just pragmatism... i'm taking my meds... if you remember , toad, the numbers also shifted for Wendy's, MceeDee's even KFC (whatever that stuff is), the numbers will always shift, the numbers shifted for VW...
at the heart of the matter, i have to agree with george, it's just not funny and flaming fart jokes will always resonate with 20 somethings.
their "ability to create a stir within the target group" has led to the creation Orville Redden-Stein. it's that slippery slope, we've had some succes, ergo sum: we are great and will continue to be successful.
one question about the Bobble-Head numbers: where are they spiking? inner-city or suburbs and college towns? it's nice to know where, because i don't think the Bobble Head tested well in Harlem at all.
Posted by: marinobean | January 23, 2007 at 05:13 AM
Actually Marino, you're agreeing with me.
I said that my problem with "fart joke" style ads is that while it gets the kids laughing, it baffles and/or turns-off everyone else. Even got flamed on jaffejuice.com for saying it. (Though GP kindly leapt to my defence)
Posted by: tangerine Toad | January 23, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Toad...
That's because I am a Prince. People who are loyal to me will not get screwed as often as the people who are not. Good looking chicks with big knockers will probably get whatever they ask for, as often as not,
hey are willing!
CXheers/George
Posted by: George Parker | January 23, 2007 at 03:14 PM