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Don't touch that dial: Test Pattern tunes into television, movie, music and pop culture links, as well as gossip and idle chat from around the Web.

Every week, msnbc.com entertainment producers Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Denise Hazlick, Paige Newman, Kurt Schlosser and Anna Chan weigh in on topics ranging from TV commercials to movie hype to the latest celebrity blunder. We're not ashamed to admit our love for bad TV or reveal what's on our iPods, and invite you to join the conversation via your comments.



Commercials we actually like: Mac vs. PC

Posted: Thursday, July 12, 2007 8:28 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:

Ugh, the creepy commercial discussion was so creepy it kind of disturbed me. I think we need a cleansing breath. How about moving on to that oh-so-rare find, commercials we actually like? Why there's...  And of course...   And don't forget...  No, seriously, there have to be some, right?

ANIMAL ADS
I've already mentioned my love for the K9 Advantix ad with the puppy at camp, singing "There may be bugs on some of you mugs, but there ain't no bugs on me." (Some people disagree with me, saying singing animals belong in the "creepy" category.) Also in the animal arena, I also get a kick out of the cat commercial where the cats have just had a massive party but thanks to their super-duper cat litter, the owner never knows. (I am pretty sure my pets invite all the neighborhood animals over and do this exact thing when we're not home.)

PASS THE BLUBBER
I've already mentioned the Subway ad where they couple goes through the drive-thru and orders things like "thunder thighs" and "a badonkadonk butt." It's not my favorite commercial ever, but it's smartly done, and it's sure made me vow off ever supersizing anything ever in my life.

PC VS. MAC
I always stop to watch the PC vs. Mac ads. They're a neat little ongoing soap opera and even when I've seen a certain one already, it sucks me in. Although Apple may not be making their point exactly: I find the PC guy (John Hodgman) much funnier and more entertaining than the Mac slacker. As a reader pointed out in an earlier comment, when the sunglassed bodyguard asks "You are coming to a sad realization...allow or deny?", Hodgman says "Allow..." with the perfect amount of melancholy, and it's just hard not to appreciate how perfect he is for the character. If only the real Bill Gates was this entertaining.

THEY'RE CREEPY AND THEY'RE KOOKY
I am a sucker for old TV shows, so of course I get a kick out of the M&Ms Dark ad that uses "The Addams Family" characters recreated as M&Ms (watch it on M&Ms site). My co-worker, Allison Linn, wrote a whole entry about that ad on her Ads of the Weird blog. She points out that it may not appeal to young kids who don't remember the Addamses, to which I say: Rent 'em the DVDs! What a classic show. "Tish, you spoke French!"

We've got plenty of contenders for the worst commercial honor this year, but best nominations are a bit thin. Rack your brains to remember those rare good ads, and share your comments below.

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Comments

Ohhh man, PLEASE don't say that the K9 Advantix singing dog commercial is good...I want to track down that annoying little son-of-a and punt it

IMHO, best commercial is the Addams Family one, because although I didn't group up in the generation it came out in, I still think they are awesome and the M&M's commercial had me laughing pretty good the first time I saw it

Christian, Casco MI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:28 PM)

There is a car commercial (Honda maybe?) that is trying to get across how spacious their interior is.  The commercial cuts back and forth between a father and his baby in the back seat.  But when Daddy stops the car to get his wee one out of the car seat, suddenly you see this man carrying a sumo wrestler.  Very funny.  Love it!

KJ Springfield, IL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:36 PM)

The one that is cracking me up right now is the Progressive ad with the guy telling eveyone at work he will be off the rest of the day because he is meeting with the claims adjuster.  He is hilarious!  His voice and body language are too funny. After the adjustor tells him it will only take a few minutes he sneeks off for the rest of the day.  Maybe it's just because I have recently been in a car accident myself, but I find this ad one of the best.

Terry Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:39 PM)

I loooooooooooooooooove the new Sunsilk (I think) hair product ad where the lady is at the chiropractor because she has whiplash and then it flashes back to her having a hair-whipping and flinging contest with some other random girl.  

I laughed and laughed and laughed...I think this commercial is so great, because I can see myself doing that. By far, one of my favorites

Nikki, Louisville KY (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:42 PM)

They aren't quite as good as they were when they first started, but I still love the Target commercials.  They almost always choose a catchy tune and I like watching how the products are used as props.

LaDonna, Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:43 PM)

First of all, one of your favorites are my LEAST favorite.

ANY animal talking commercial(movie or show, for that matter...) should be banned for good.

My favorites are:

Sonic's what your drink means commercial. "You got peach tea, what does that say about you?" "That I'm an adult." "Exactly!"

BFF JILL!

I'm still a big fan of the dropped call commercials by cingular.. excuse me, the new att&t! haha.

Taylor, GA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:46 PM)

The dad who opens his Father's Day card, hears MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This," and imagines himself dancing in the video.  The dancing is hilarious and the look on his face is priceless.

Kim Clousing (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 1:55 PM)

Advertising and commercials are annoying.  In fact, I mute commercials.  Television sucks in general.  It's a waste of time, especially if you sit there watching commercials.  Oh that's so much fun.  

John, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:13 PM)

I love the Pedigree "Dogs Rule" commercials.  Although, I have to say that I cry during the one about giving the dog up ("You taught me how to sit.  You taught me how to fetch"  Waaaaaah)

Angela, Wichita, KS (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:14 PM)

I love the Father's Day card commercial, too!!

Any of the T-Mobile Fave Five commercials rank high on my list - I was just chatting with a friend about those, and we love them (especially the "Secret Lover" one...).

I don't really care for the singing puppy in the Advantix commercial, but I love the PetSmart commercial with the "big brother" bulldog sharing his toy with his new "little sister."  That is such a sweet commercial, and I love those toys - they are too cute (we have 2 of them at home now...)!!

And, I like the husband and wife Sonic commercial where they are eating their cookie dough blasts and saying ugly things about their neighbors...I think we've all done (or thought about doing) something like that at least once in our life...

Katie, Spring, TX (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:16 PM)

I'm a fan of the DQ storyline commercials ... the ice cream moves into the apt. down the hall and asks to borrow some chocolate ... then they date, move in together, and the latest they're at the fertility doctor learning the waffle cone ISN'T lactose intolerant ... hahahahahah! Clever stuff!

BAS, New York (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:22 PM)

I have to say -- I absolutely LOVE the commercial for Audi. A quiet neighborhood street is shown. Cars are parallel parked. A revving engine and squealing tires are heard. Then, suddenly, a silver Audi sedan comes SPINNING into the open parking spot between 2 dark sedans. The screen goes to black and the text reads:

"The Audi A6 sedan. The luxury vehicle for those who can park themselves."

Classic!

Vanessa, Savannah, GA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:23 PM)

My new favorite: The Geico commerical for Warren Wallace vs. Mike Wallace.  The little kid is so serious.  There's something very "Royal Tennebaums" about it that I love.  Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWgpGVGeL_g

Amanda, Wilmington DE (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:29 PM)

I love the Mac vs. PC series. Justin Long has even said in interviews that he finds Hodgeman's character so much more endearing than his own.

On the topic of cute animal commercials, what about the one for PetSmart with "Bobo" and the other one with the older bulldog and his new sister? Those are adorable and I think better than the K9 Advantix.

BB, TN (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:33 PM)

My son and I love the animated Hilton one that features the song "Voila" by Michael Tolcher.  The simplicity of a line drawing turning into different things is relaxing yet eye catching, but the song totally makes the commercial.  link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4CUj7lsRM

I also like the MM's one where the people are mm's and about town doing various things. And again, the song is great, done by the group "The The" and called "This is the Day".  Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QobQxOoPBYU&mode=related&search=

JoAnne, Tucson, AZ (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:35 PM)

I haven't seen it in a while, but there was a commercial where a guy was looking at a car on a car lot. As someone else approaches, afraid that they are going to want that car, he licks the handle as to stake his claim on it.
That commercial just cracks me up.

Oh, and thanks by the way...that song from the K9 Advantix commercial is stuck in my head now!

Lisa, Cleveland OH (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:43 PM)

I love the ads with the Miller beer delivery crew barging into high price restaurants to take back the beer. "$11.50 for a hamburger? You just lost your Miller privileges"

Dave McCormick, Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:43 PM)

A couple spring to my mind when I think of the one's I actually LIKE to watch.....

The car commercial about the guy going up to the mountains with all the animals calling "Rrrickkkyyyy"

The wireless ad with the dad warning the boyfriend... "It's like I'm watching you... All the time!!"

The wireless commercial with the guy calling the girl back the next day..."Nothing wierd.  I'd never make out with my sister" and then that surprised "Where did that come from????" look.

These are pretty good.  About the only ones I don't mind watching.

Pat in Dallas, Texas (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 2:45 PM)

I love the Burger King commercial with the farmer standing in the barn w/his wife and a bunch of chickens. He's saying how he amazes himself sometimes. He wants to sell his chickens for the new Italian Chicken burger. Then he turns on a Italian language tape which says a phrase then you hear the chickens all clucking like they're saying this.

Nancy Webb Marysville WA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:04 PM)

The Apple ads are high concept, but they fail for one very specific reason that has infected Apple ads for quite some time:

They tell bald faced lies.

The current iPhone ads have managed to focus on selling the product on its own merits.  Whenever Apple tries to compare its product to others, it has to lie about it.

Brian, San Diego, CA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:05 PM)

i think the nationwide ads - life comes at you fast - get a good point across in a very clever way.  i also enjoy the state farm ads showing an unusual problem - a home crashed into at 2:00 am, a wife running over her husband's foot- clever.

jane lewis, burlington, nc (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:10 PM)

my fave is the IKEA commercial where she's coming out of the store, yelling at her husband in the car to "Start the car!  Start the car!"...like she getting away with robbery....can't you picture yourself coming out of a store yelling that to somone

donna lee, Windsor, ON (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:23 PM)

There is a Mastercard "priceless" commercial that I absolutely love.  Three grade school kids are dancing robot-style to "We Want the Funk," and the tag-line was "being with people who understand you: priceless."  So true!  The only time I've seen it on TV was during the season finale of Lost, but it's my favorite commercial to this day.  Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cNDSPutas8

Alicia, MI (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:28 PM)

I like the Honda (?) commerical where the woman just purchases a new car. She is attaching her new keys to her keyring, hits the mace by accident, nailing the salesman in the eyes.  The salesman starts screaming, jumping up & down.  The woman thinks he's jumping for joy over her purchase of a new vehicle & she begins to jump up & down, again hitting the mace.  It's sick & cruel, but hilarious!

TC Eufaula,AL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:30 PM)

My favorite commerical is the Suburu commercial of "Ricky". When my great niece,(she's 3)calls for my son, Ricky, she sounds just like the porcupine. He didn't get to see it until recently and got a kick out of it.

Chantay Heidenthal (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:46 PM)

I like the rentacar ad where the guy comes to the counter and opens his mouth "I WANNA ROCK"....too funny.... also like the new Axe deoderant ad where the young man walks into class and the pretty ESL teacher goes "boom-chicka-mau-mau"  what a hoot!!!

Miss Kitty (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:51 PM)

The first few Alltel commercials with Chad and the "nerds" were pretty good.  Especially the one where they kidnapped him in the van.

Chad:  So what level dungeon masters are you guys?
Sprint Nerd (laughing):  Dungeon masters don't have levels!  Dork...

The Bud Light Rock, Paper, Scissors ad is a classic too.

Loser:  I had paper.
Winner:  I threw a rock.

Jason, Michigan (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:54 PM)

My new favorites are the La Quinta commercials - for example - "You've lost the biggest account your company has.....but at least your boss knows your name now".  Or even better (because this has happened to me) "Your so sunburned you look and feel like a lobster........but your teeth have never looked whiter!".  Priceless!!

Andrea, San Antonio, TX (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:56 PM)

I love the Toyota ad with the kids playing with cars. One of the kids is a mechanic, and tells the other one, that his car doesn't sound good, and his muffler sounds bad, and "I hope you brought your wallet." The kid with the "bad" car asks "How come Hailey (the girl playing with her car) doesn't have car trouble?" The "mechanic" says "She drives a Toyota." She looks into the camera, and says nothing. Very nicely done. I'm a Toyota owner, and that car ad just nails it!

Wendy King, New Orleans LA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:04 PM)

My favorite is the Orbit gum one, the wife walks in on the husband and secretary at the office. They cuss each other out without actually using cuss words.

Dirty Mouth? Clean it up. Great!

Reva Reed, Lubbock, TX (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:05 PM)

How about the shampoo commercial for either Sunsilk or Herbal Essences where the biker girl goes into the shower and comes out with shiny, bouncy hair. She passes the shampoo to a tough-looking biker guy with long hair and after he showers, he walks up to his friends with his hair all shiny and bouncy, too. Very cute.

Jennifer, Savannah, Ga (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:14 PM)

I love the Nextel "Push It" commercial.  The guy in the blue shirt CRACKS me up everytime.  

I also really like the commercial with person doing the sand drawings on the overhead projector. It starts as and owl and ends as a butterfly I think...

Lindyv321 (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:17 PM)

I love the Hillshire Farm's "Go Meat!" commercials: "When I say "Hillshire," you say "Farm"!  Hillshire!  Farm!  Go Meat!"  Always makes me chuckle.

Sandra, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:24 PM)

Pepsi's world volleyball  with a giant beachball game...and the dolphins save the day!

Coke's Grand theft auto.  (here's the link)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeAw0mO6Bps

Go world Peace!!!
 
Love all Mac vs. PC comercials. Mac's rule!!!

 Another favorite, but I can't remember the sponser. A father races his son, son is on his tricyle on the sidewalk and Dad drives Slooow to the end of the block on his way to work. very warm and fuzzy.  

G M, Winston Salem, NC (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:30 PM)

I love the Travelers Insurance commercial with the "doctor" talking about all the success they've had with reattaching lucky rabbit feet to rabbits. Then they show rabbits swimming, running, etc, all with one colored foot. It cracks me up, and I thought the idea was quite clever.

L Reynolds Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:32 PM)

My favorite was the magic fridge beer commercial from last year's (i think!) superbowl.  it was better than the game!

I also love the la quinta commercials, even with the annoyingly catchy music.

Amber Rowin, Seattle WA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:40 PM)

My favorite is the one where a father and his son are doing yardwork.  He's telling the son how much money they saved by buying a Toyota.  Then he asked where Mom is.  The son says "She's shopping online".  The father resumes cutting the hedges, then cuts the cable wire.  You hear the Mom shout from somewhere in the house "Hey!".  That's funny.

Teri Gresh, Hillsborough, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:41 PM)

Lets not forget the Aflac commercial with the goat in the office. That is a great commercial!

Naa! Naa! Naa!

Dennis Rockwell, Peaks Island, Maine (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:55 PM)

My favorites are the cavemen in the Geico Commercials. These are some of the most clever commercials I have seen. My favorite is the "Existental Meltdown".  Most "modern" folks wouldn't understand that, How does he know?

Kevin, Phoenix, Az (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:56 PM)

I like Jack'O Links messing with Sasquach. I know that they are stupid but they crack me up!

TJ, Conway (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:00 PM)

the orbit one with the fake cussing is by far my favorite.  what the french toast?

Bree Paradise, CA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:16 PM)

I always laugh at the Emerald Nuts ad with Robert Goulet. Random and funny ending with him crawling away on the ceiling.

"Around 3p.m. when your blood sugar and energy are low, some say Robert Goulet appears...and messes with your stuff"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEswRc2wKH4

Shawn, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:25 PM)

I saw another i though was hilarious, the AT&T commercial where the daughter tells the mother she met the man of her dreams, and the mother asks if they are going to be married. The call drops at this point and the mother, thinking the silence on the other end is confirmation of an engagement, starts to panic. She looks over her shoulder and says "dont make the same mistake i did!" HILARIOUS!

JennyC, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:37 PM)

Okay, okay...let's remember the McDonald's ad pushing their coffee.  You know the one, it's all dark, an old pick up truck pulls up with it's lights off, the barn door opens, and the old farmer, holding his coffee, yells "cocka doodle doo"; then barely cracks a smug smile when he says "how do you like it?"   Cracks me up every time!  How many of us have wanted to do that to someone, let alone a rooster?

patticakes, Coeur d'Alene, ID (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:37 PM)

I like the Liberty Mutual ads that show a person doing a good deed which is witnessed by someone else and therefore they do a good deed.  It goes on until it ends back up with the first person.

Lisa, Pensacola FL (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:50 PM)

Have we all forgotten the best Superbowl commercial this year had to be for Nationwide Insurance with Kevin Federline? I about died laughing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRbNCjDsVs4

Ashlee, Oak Ridge, TN (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:51 PM)

How about the Slowsky's, especially when Mr. Slowsky is trying to move the computer as far away as possible from the house...

Sheryl, Sacramento, CA (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 5:51 PM)

Always hated feminine product advertising, but had to give a nod to the "plugging the leak in the boat with the tampon" ad. A+ for creativity.

Jan Voigt (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:04 PM)

Love the reattached rabbit's foot commercial. It's hard to believe it's a real commercial, but I think it's clever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNk9gAYMkoQ

Cyndi, Minneapolis (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:13 PM)

I have to agree - I love the Advantix commercials!!

Also the Petsmart/bulldog and Bobo commercial!  Almost as good as the dachshund one last year.

I'll also throw in a thumbs up for the "Messin With Sasquach" spots.  Those are hilarious~

Melanie Brooks (Sent Thursday, July 12, 2007 6:38 PM)



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