I wrote a review last week about Target's Black Friday ad that featured comedian Maria Bamford preparing for her holiday shopping as if she were preparing for a prize fight. Predictably, I hated the commercial, and judging from some of the responses I received, so did many Commercial Grade readers.
Obviously I wasn't very excited when I saw the follow-up to the Black Friday commercial, in which Bamford once again reprises her role as the crazy Christmas shopping lady, and once again is nearly intolerable. This ad, however, is different to me and I'll explain why.
Note: This commercial is actually from the 2010 holiday season, but Target is running it in heavy rotation this season as well.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Target - 2011 Christmas Card Crazy Shopping Lady
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Target - Black Friday 2011 Crazy Shopping Lady
I'm going to go ahead and get a disclaimer out of the way: I'm going to be extremely harsh to Maria Bamford, comedian and star of this commercial, even though from everything I've seen (the Comedians of Comedy, in particular) she is a perfectly nice lady and able comic. But I can't let this atrocity of a television commercial slide.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Luvs - Blowout Championship
I don't have kids, and I don't know a whole hell of a lot about raising them. I think I would probably be grossed out about changing diapers, though, since I refuse to use port-o-johns or most public restrooms on account of an irrational fear of other people's fecal matter. Perhaps that will change if the fecal matter belongs to someone I'm responsible for bringing into this world, but I'm not counting on that being the case.
Luvs has been running a commercial that has to be seen to be believed. It combines the party-rap stylings of Tag Team and a stadium full of babies cheering for a contest in which other babies try to out-shit each other. Here's the video, and the review is coming after the jump.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
MSF Commercial Grade: State Farm - Discount Double Check featuring Aaron Rodgers
I took a week off of my MSF Commercial Grade column because I was still so pissed off about this ad. I returned, with a clear head, this week to submit a review of State Farm's new commercial featuring Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers.
In this review you will find a more subdued, borderline happy me. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true.
Here's the commercial, link to the review after the video.
To read the full review click here or visit www.midwestsportsfans.com
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Honda Pilot - "Crazy Train" Road Trip
This was inevitable, given the roaring success of the "Sweet Child O' Mine" scene from Step Brothers and the "Don't Stop Believin'" cover on Glee (which was in turn a ripoff of another a capella cover by Petra Haden). Its inevitability doesn't make it any more tolerable, though.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Best Buy - Batman Arkham City
Well, those of you who know me know that this had to happen at some point.
For those of you who found this site randomly, first consider yourselves lucky, and then understand that I have quite a history with Best Buy. In no way will I allow my feelings for the company affect this review.
Shit, that's a lie. I'm sure I'll put a few jabs in here. Review after the video and jump.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
MSF Commercial Grade: NBA 2K12 featuring Michael Jordan, Drake and Brian Wilson
Over at Midwest Sports Fans I've completed another commercial grade, this one on the new NBA 2K12 commercial in which Michael Jordan, rapper Drake and San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson, among others, argue over which NBA team is the greatest of all time.
Some of the arguments are really fucking stupid.
Click here to read my review and check out the commercial in the video below:
I'm getting pissed off just thinking about Drake.
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To read more great sports content from myself and others check out www.midwestsportsfans.com
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Saturday, October 8, 2011
MSF Commercial Grade: McDonald's Monopoly with LeBron James
I love McDonald's. I love Monopoly. I hate LeBron James. How will a commercial featuring all three fare? Check out my review at Midwest Sports Fans to find out.
Click to read my review at Midwest Sports Fans
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Read more great sports content from myself and others at www.midwestsportsfans.com
Thursday, September 29, 2011
MSF Commercial Grade: Coors Light - Hosting the Game w/ Jim Mora
For my week 3 Midwest Sports Fans Commercial Grade I turned to Coors Light and former NFL coach Jim Mora.
Check out the post by clicking here.
If you've read my posts before, you probably have an idea of what I'll have to say about this one. Go check it out now, though, because I might surprise you.
Here is the video:
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Fiat and Jennifer Lopez: "Papi"
For the second week of the NFL season I am reviewing an oft-seen ad for Midwest Sports Fans.
You've undoubtedly seen the abomination that is the J-Lo Fiat 500 commercial, especially since it was aired about 500 times during last week's NFL games.
Read the full review by clicking this link.
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Read other great sports content on midwestsportsfans.com
Sunday, September 18, 2011
1800 Tequila - "Men" with Michael Imperioli
Whatever happened to commercials that don't make me want to throw a Molotov cocktail through a tequila company's window?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
MSF Commercial Grade: Ugg's Tom Brady Commercial
I also dabble in sportswriting at Midwest Sports Fans, and recently Jerod, who runs the site, suggested I run a weekly column featuring the commercials we are forced to endure throughout the NFL season.
I decided to kick my NFL reviews off by grading the new Ugg commercial, featuring the quintessential quarterback, Tom Brady. You can read my full review by clicking this link.
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Education Connection - 2011 Commercial
Sometimes, I surprise myself when evaluating commercials. Every now and again an ad comes along that is filled with things that suck, including, but not limited to: bad songs, terrible jokes, stupid people, B-list celebrities, insurance, school, the word "epic," and sincerity. So, imagine my surprise when I saw a commercial featuring at least two or three of these things and didn't fully hate it.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Retro Review - Taco Bell - 5 Buck Box featuring Charles Barkley
Man, oh man, do I love me some Charles Barkley. Ever since I read his 76ers-era biography Outrageous in middle school I knew I wanted to be as much like Sir Charles as possible. The book was filled with f-bombs and plenty of taking the Lord's name in vain. It was also the first time I heard a superstar athlete flat-out publicly shit-talk the opposition. Barkley didn't hide his feelings toward anyone. His seemingly unpredictable nature that makes him so endearing on TNT's NBA coverage was at one time legitimate unpredictability. When Charles was arrested for throwing a harassing fan through a plate glass in window in 1997, he was asked if he had any regrets about the situation:
"Yeah, I regret we weren't on a higher floor."
Saturday, August 20, 2011
DirecTV - The Whale
I'll tell you what's a funny puzzler; why do companies always beat every clever ad concept into the ground until only the lowest common denominator of the human race finds it appealing? They had a good run with last year's Russian billionaire commercial ("Opulence? I has it."). That commercial was funny as hell, but, as is typical following a successful promo, they had to do a sequel this year that lost about 50% of its funniness.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Poise Absorbent Products - Whoopi Goldberg
Before I start, I want to offer you a chance to turn back. I want you to know that if you watch the following video, and read the corresponding review, your life will be irreparably altered, probably for the negative. This is not a joke; the commercial I am reviewing is so disgusting that I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I didn't provide sufficient warning to those of you who are faint of heart. If you think you possess the intestinal (not to mention emotional and mental) fortitude to withstand this hideous onslaught, by all means, proceed. But don't say I didn't warn you.
What. The. Fuck.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Introducing: Retro Review - Rally's Cha-Ching
Note: Today Commercial Grade is introducing the "Retro Review," a look back at popular commercials from years past. Most "Retro Reviews" will be from the pre-DVR/Tivo era, when sitting through a commercial was nearly a necessity, as there was no fast-forwarding and we lacked the glut of channels that now allow us to simply switch to another show. The format will be the same as a regular review, and each "Retro Review" will be given a final grade.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Geico - Foghorn Leghorn
I love Foghorn Leghorn. Since I was a child I've always thought he was one kick-ass chicken. If Subway made a commercial featuring Foghorn Leghorn I would probably go eat a $5 footlong. If you've read any of my other posts you know that Foghorn must have a special place in my heart if I'm willing to go that far. So, when Geico released their latest in a line of "Could switching to Geico save you 15%..." ads I was overjoyed to see my favorite Looney Tunes character taking center stage.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Heineken - "The Entrance"
A lot of people have told me that they like this blog the best when it's clear that I'm really angry. If I'm at my best when I'm mad, well, you're all in for a serious treat on this one.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Trojan Vibrations TriPhoria
Trojan has long been the juggernaut in contraceptive sales, and that has allowed them to advertise more than any other condom distributor. After cornering the market with spots featuring zany sexual situations, a replica of USC's mascot, and plenty of awkwardness, the company has decided to move into the seldom advertised field of sex toys.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Miller Lite - Vortex Bottle (Sunglasses at Night)
Miller Lite is all about people "manning up" nowadays, which is absurd in and of itself because it is a completely un-manly beer to drink. They have a whole series of commercials where guys walk up to a bar and order a "light" beer, and when the invariably snarky female bartender asks if they want a Miller Lite or any light beer they respond that they don't care.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hanes - Bacon Neck
Michael Jordan is a winner. In fact, he's consumed by the need for victory so much so that his legacy as the greatest basketball player ever has been tarnished by his off court personality and his icy disposition toward anyone he has ever seen as a competitor or impediment to his absolute dominance.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Subway - Kid Voices
I have refused to eat at Subway since the 7th grade, and a large part of that decision has been based on their infuriatingly annoying television commercials. The other part of the decision to not eat Subway lies in my refusal to ingest anything even moderately healthy.
Napa Know How
Let's kick this blog off with one of 2011's strongest offerings to date: Napa auto parts stores "Napa Know How" jingle. There is a lot to like here, much of which we'll dig into momentarily, but the strength of the ad is predicated on the song and the guy lip-synching it.
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