ABOUT TEST PATTERN

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.



Vote for best and worst commercials

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:31 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:

We've been discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly TV commercials for most of the summer. It's turned out to be quite easy this year to find some purely awful ads, but a lot tougher to find good ones that we can get a consensus on.

We'll see what happens in our new polls. I've pored over past posts and comments and selected 13 frequently mentioned good ads, and 13 bad ones. If you don't see your favorite or least favorite commercials mentioned, that doesn't mean they can't still win -- please post them in the blog comments, I may have forgotten a top contender.

Vote here for the BEST commercial.

Vote here for the WORST commercial.

Obviously 2007 isn't yet over, but shoot for ads that have aired this calendar year (and which haven't won the contest before). It's OK if the ad is one of a series that's been around for a while...so many people mentioned Mac vs. PC that I included that series, because Apple keeps making new versions. For some ads, I mention a very specific commercial, for others, I mention a concept -- it depended on whether a certain ad seemed to catch viewers' notice or the entire series did.

As happens almost every year, there's one ad that really splits the audience. Half the viewers seem to love it, half can't stand it. The Geico Cavemen have split your vote in the past, but this year it's the text-messaging kid in the "IDK, my BFF Jill" ad. You'll see that commercial in both polls, so vote as you like.

The poll will not be the final determination of who wins -- online polls are incredibly easy to fix for any bored Web surfer with a few minutes to spare. But I'm hoping it will help narrow down the competitors. Vote away!

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

I absolutely love the Petsmart bulldog commercial. I think dogs are great for bringing a smile to my face and I love dog commercials. On that note, I also love the Pedigree Dogs Rule ads. Here's one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbdis3JViDM

NGH, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:04 PM)

Please, those Pepsi Max Yawn commercials have got to be the worst on the tube right now.  Heck, they're even contagious!

bm, bc (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:24 PM)

I like the Liberty Mutual "responsibility" ads--the ones that show somebody doing something nice for a stranger and somebody else picks up on it, passing the kindness on to another person.  I am not exactly sure how the ad is supposed to make me choose Liberty Mutual, but they always leave me with a positive feeling about the direction society *could* be going, if only we'd all act more kindly to others.

Wendy M. Grand Prairie, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:27 PM)

The AllTell wireless ad with all the meatheads representing the other servers is really, really, a pain. Why anyone would choose AllTell is beyond me after watching those commericals.

R Mcmillen, Wichita, Ks (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:48 PM)

Best Commercial:  Subaru  -  wild animal kingdom calling for "Riiickkkyyyy"!

Cindi Anderson, Montrose, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:54 PM)

I have kidded people about the "Viva Viagra" Commercial, saying that if Elvis is really dead, he's rolling in his grave!

Mike Juran Loyalsock Township, PA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 3:54 PM)

Worst Commercial:  Mercury Insurance aliens ads.  Just too stupid.  If I didn't already have the insurance, these ads would make me not buy it.

Cindi Anderson, Montrose, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:00 PM)

I hate Dove Deoderant commercials. Dove keeps trying to convince women that we need to be deeply concerned about the softness of our underarms. I don't know of any woman who is worried about having dry, flaky underarms.

jk, Gaithersburg, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:01 PM)

I completely agree with Wendy M., the Liberty Mutual "responsibility" ads are by far the best on TV.  I was very surprised to see them missing from the list!

John C., Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:06 PM)

The best ads on TV are the Frontier Airlines ads with the animals.  I laugh out loud everytime they air.  I never tire of them.

Nancy Coveleski, Canton, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:16 PM)

My question is, do these commercials (regardless of the hilarity or lack thereof) actually make you want to purchase the product?? Maybe I'm wrong, but advertising is utilized mainly to make you aware of the product, not to sway you one way or another...Truth is, you are more than likely going to try the majority of these before you're put in the ground and you will ultimately end up choosing what suits you...Commercials are great none the less; the Icehouse "fair" advertisement still reigns supreme as my fav...Also love the Geico Gecko, he never ceases to amuse me

DJ, Florence, SC (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:16 PM)

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the "Viva Viagra" commercial!  Just when I thought ED commercials couldn't get any worse...

Sandra M, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:20 PM)

What about radio commercials? Has anyone else heard that horrible WaWa (the mid-atlantic convenience store) add with the purposely extremely off tune singing about a sandwich? I have to turn the radio off every time because I'm afraid it will fuel road rage! This, of course, does nothing to make me want to eat there.

As for TV ads, I can't stand the Sour Starburst milking man though I doubt I'm its target audience. It seems like something only pre-teen boys would like.

M Baltimore, MD (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:23 PM)

It was in the "worst" category, but I really liked the rabbit foot commercial.

Laura, Dayton, OH (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:24 PM)

I do not like the Diet Coke ads where they are wanting to sue Coke Zero for taste infringement. Not entertaining. Not even good enough to be annoying. I can't believe they paid money for that concept.

Barb, Springfield, OR (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:29 PM)

I still can't believe the Hot Pockets sensei hasn't gotten more attention on your blogs.  It was only mentioned two or three times in previous comment threads.  While I don't expect it to win the worst commercial over the Starburst "little lad", or the milking man for Skittles, it's far worse than most others in the poll.  My vote goes to the Hot Pockets sensei for the worst commercial (concept).

Chris, Ottawa Lake, MI (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:32 PM)

I absolutely hate the "Go Meat!" (I think it's Hillshire Farms) and the Vonage commercials. The meat commercials are just stupid and the Vonage commercials' music are just unbelievably annoying. I can't hit the mute button fast enough for either one.

Teresa C., Nashville, TN (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:33 PM)

Why do the ads have to be funny to be good?  If you give any merit to artistry and creativity, Target's ads consistently blow me away.

Geoff Trowbridge, Elkhart, IN (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:35 PM)

Picking the worst American commercial is like picking the worst sore on a plague victim, but my vote goes to the DiTech "People Are Smart" commercials which appeal to the opposite condition in their audience.

Phillip Paxton, Atlanta, Georgia (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:36 PM)

Anything with the Burger King "King" in it! No wonder Burger King is going out of business everywhere.The new Wendys comercials are giving them a run for their money however.

Rich Mazure Pittsburgh,Pa. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:39 PM)

I really like the MasterCard "priceless commercials" they aren't getting old at all!  Also a big fan of Verizon with that quirky little guy and all those people.

Rob (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:44 PM)

AllTell is the worst commerical that I have seen recently.  My four year old granddaughter even thinks it is bad.  I would be will to bet $1.00 that my granddaughter could come up with a better commerical than the one that airs.

A Williams, Washington, DC (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:46 PM)

I absolutely HATE those Ditec commercials that seem to play ever 5 minutes on msnbc they are so overplayed and they are really annoying I wish they would go away.

Dan Neitzel, Idaho Falls, IDaho (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:50 PM)

I like the AFLAC Goat.

Glenn Carlton, Jacksonville, Arkansas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:50 PM)

The worst commercials are the ones from the US Military - obnoxious, intrusive, and morally questionable when paid for by taxpayer money.

If pharmaceutical ads have huge disclaimers, how come there are none for military ads?

Keith D. Hansen. New York City (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:52 PM)

If I have to see those "I say Hillshire, you say Farms!" commercials one more time, I will become a vegetarian permanently.  Especially the one with all the suburban dads barbecuing in their backyards, shouting about sausages.  Arrrgh!

MeeMc, Florida (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:58 PM)

The Activon ads--all of them are horrible.  Especially the the one that mockingly says "I hate Activon."  Like I care to hear what you hate--

P. Dietrich, Ithaca, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:03 PM)

The "Duh" Hyundai commercial... HATE that one, and it only comes on every other spot.  Once in a while, I could deal with it (ie, mute), but ALL the time?  I always picture the singers that they hired for this, standing a round a microphone, singing, "Duh" in multi-part harmony.  Wonder what they're thinking while they sing?

SM Richmond (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:16 PM)

If the poll won't determine who wins, then why vote?

Robert, Lake Oswego, OR (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:22 PM)

More people are attacked by ferrets (with chainsaws) than by bears.

Don Scheef, Waukegan, IL (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:24 PM)

The Sour Skittles commercial depicting a man being "milked" is the most revolting and borderline vomit-inducing ad I have ever seen. The only thing more troubling than the fact that someone at an ad agency dreamt up this repugnant pile of trash is that a person of even higher stature approved it to air.

D. Burton, Dallas, Tx (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:25 PM)

I Love the AFLAC commercial with the goat, employee asking info and getting naa, naa for all the coverage. Very funny

C Peters, Jacksonville, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:47 PM)

Wendy's ads continue to nauseate. The Bacon ad makes me want to become a vegetarian.

Pam, Yakima WA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 5:59 PM)

My favorite is the fake swearing from the Orbit commercial.  With lines like, "Who are you calling a Cootie Queen, you Lint Licker!" or "Pickle you, kumquat!" is just pure gold and always makes me laugh!

Cam S. Huntington Beach, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:11 PM)

Your right there are few good and tons of bad, but the one that makes me mute the set every time is the one with the silly squeaking vaccuums. Nails on chalkboard bad.

Cathie, Las Vegas, Nevada (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:26 PM)

Robert: I can't use the poll as the sole determination of who wins because of numerous reasons. It's easy to vote multiple times or lead an internet campaign for your favorite commercial, and not everyone who's been loyally following the debate may see the poll. I use the poll results combined with the two-plus months of email and comments I've been receiving to help determine the winners.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 6:45 PM)

No matter how many times I see it, I STILL laugh at the Aflac goat! And, I think (?) it's Dairy Queen that has the open-moutb-shoot-flames commercial. The rubber-floor beer ad where the dog bounces out the door is funny, too. As far as being clever, I like the Dex phone book commercials.

There isn't enough room here to list all the ads I loathe! But I think maybe Head-On may top the list, followed closely by ALL the Viagara-esque ads.

Janice Muir, Corvallis, Oregon` (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:10 PM)

Bud Light Rock Paper Scissors Commercial cracks me up every time its on, I even rewind and watch the guy get dropped again usually.

Steve, Irvine, Ca (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:14 PM)

I love those Clearasil "Careful Clearasil may give you confidence." commercials. The mom one is pretty great, but the college speaker one was good too.

Marissa Larkin, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:25 PM)

I have to say I was disappointed not to see the MasterCard "Priceless" commercial with the sick zoo keeper and the elephant buying him a blanket, tissues, and chicken soup and bringing it to him on the "Best" list. I do love the Petsmart Bulldog commercial though. (I'm a sucker for the animals!)

As for the worst, it has to be the Sour Skittles commercial with the old man being "milked". That truly is revolting. I have to agree with D. Burton from Dallas, TX - someone should really have stopped that from going on the air.

Rachel, Tracy, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:29 PM)

Dark chocolate Snickers has/had the best commercial in years: the soccer mom who finally comes clean to her nerdy, near-caveman kids that the best things in life are not always on the inside.  Well written, well acted--why did it run for such a short time?

John, Carson City, Nevada (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:40 PM)

The Pepto-Bismol ads are enough to make me nauseous to have to go and buy the product out of necessity!  Are there no boundries to bad taste anymore?  Also, that Burger King could give kids (and adults) nightmares!

M. K. , Middletown, NY (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:47 PM)

I STILL like the Windex commercial, where the two crows lock this guy out of his house and he ends up smacking his face on the double-glass doors. . .and they sit up in the tree laughing at him.

Bill McFarlin, Jr. - Upland, California (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:51 PM)

There is no social redeeming value to it, but I love the Bud Lite commercial where the hitch hiker has the 12 pack of Bud and an ax.  The ax is his "can opener."

Christine, Redondo Beach, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:56 PM)

I love the talking cows in those California dairy commercials.The Mercury Ins. ads are just plain dumb.All of the Burger King and Wendys ads are gross. You could get a heart attack just watching someone eating one of those artery-clogging concoctions.

Chris McGoughran, Palm Springs, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:56 PM)

There are PLENTY of BAD commercials out there.  Personally, the ones that grate on me the most?  It's a tossup between the Mercury Insurance ads and those ubiquitously obnoxious "Head On" spots.  I saw some in the poll that I didn't like, but these are horrendous.

Bill McFarlin, Jr. - Upland, California (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:56 PM)

The best commercial I have seen was about 25 years ago for Xerox copiers.  In it Frier Tuck, I believe, is requested to make copies of a manuscript in fancy lettering by his superior, the Father.  The Father looks over the manuscript and says,'Fine work Brother Dominic, but I need 500 copies of the manuscrpt.  Brother Dominic enlist the help of his friend who works at Xerox.  Brother Dominic delivers 500 copies on the Father's desk.  The Fathers looks upward, as there was devine intervention, and says it is miracle. There is the Mother Nature commercials where it is not nice to fool Mother Nature or any Coca-Cola commercial.

a p garcia (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:00 PM)

I absolutely love the PetMeds commercial with Betty White in it!!!

sara conner, corpus christie, texas (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:35 PM)

I don't care what you people say, Little Lad dancing for Berries and Cream Starburst is freakin funny.  And it works- I bought a pack the other day based on that commercial alone.  Love it!  

Julie, CA (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:51 PM)

The 2 worst ads are Mercury Insurance which is actually bought by aliens & Sprite lemon lime commericials with all those green and yellow objects appearing I will never drink sprite again.

marc s (Sent Wednesday, August 08, 2007 9:06 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://testpattern.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=309843