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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.



Ads we hate: Why is that man YELLING?

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2008 5:34 PM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:

500+ comments in two days. I'd say we all have a lot of stored-up hostility about the TV commercials we've been seeing lately (and, to be fair, some praise for the rare good ones).

But let's start with those ads you hate, hate, hate. I can't possibly get to all of them (check the comments for more), but here are a few that kept coming up. Oof, are they bad.

Note: If just reading through the ad descriptions turns your stomach, here's a link to that Discovery Channel ad as a palate-cleanser. Because the world, after all, is just awesome, even if all its ads are not.

ADS WE HATE (just the beginning...)

MENTOS GUM: IT'S NOT MOUTHWATERING
I hate that Mentos has come to this, since their delightfully foreign-flavored ads were what made their candy famous in the first place. But now they have Mentos Gum (I tried it, not bad) and for Mentos Gum, they have an ad where a woman drinks out of a man's mouth. I don't know, because the gum is "mouthwatering" or something. That word, I do not think it means what you think it does. Just awful. Watch it here if you must. It's worth noting that the guy who posted it did so in order to discuss the ad at CommercialsIHate.com.

Reader comment: "I agree that the Mentos commercial where the woman drinks from the (man) like a water cooler is absolutely the grossest!! They actually pay people to come up with that garbage?"    --Barbara

DOES A BEAR USE CHARMIN IN THE WOODS?
Yes, we all know the phrase about bears and what they do in the woods. But since that phrase contains a not-so-nice word, I didn't exactly expect to see it turned into an ad. It can't be easy to make ads for Charmin -- we all know what it's for, but you can't exactly show it being used in your commercial. Still, back to the drawing board, Charmin. Watch one of the ads.

Reader comment: "I hate the Charmin bear commercials--they are way too descriptive of what the benefits of Charmin are.  'It doesn't leave pieces behind?!'  I don't need that much detail when choosing my toilet paper!"    --Amy

BILLY MAYS: THE LOUDEST PITCHMAN ON TV
One of the world's great annoyances: Commercials that come on SO MUCH LOUDER than the show that they've just interrupted, making you dive for the volume control like a crazy person. Speaking of crazy people, hi, Billy Mays. ("HI, I'M BILLY MAYS FOR INSERT PRODUCT NAME HERE!") He hawks dozens of products, and always at a volume just below that of a freight train. He's become such a legend that YouTube is full of goofy tributes to him. Here's one (warning for the language-sensitive, he swears at the end, but it's still funny.) I almost like him better after watching that. Almost.

Reader comment: "I cannot stand to watch / listen to any ad featuring Billy Mays (or however you spell his last name).  He's the one who sells Ka-Boom! and a number of other household cleaning products (and, I think, some sort of glue product).  His voice is extremely irritating -- mostly because he screams!  I immediately hit the MUTE button when a commercial of his comes on.  His voice is actually the earworm.  I can hear him screaming now, right along with Free Credit Report ...  AAGGHHH!!!  My ears!! My ears!!"    --Pat

PED EGG: IT'S LIKE A CHEESE GRATER FOR YOUR FEET
There are commercials we don't like because they are stupid and loud. And there are commercials we don't like because the product itself is disturbing, and seeing it used is more so. Do people really walk around judging people on their foot calluses? Do people really sit there and shave their feet as if they are carrots or potatoes? And most importantly, do we really have to see someone dumping a PedEgg full of excess skin crumbles into their wastebasket as if they were pencil shavings? Your answer, based on the blog comments, is No, No, and UGH NO! (Note: We may hate the ads, but Diane Mapes tested the thing for our "Does It Work?" blog and actually ended up as a fan...as did many of the readers who commented on her review.) Oh, and for bilingual foot fetishists, there's also a Spanish version of the ad. Ay caramba!

Reader comment: " I would say THE most annoying ad to me is the PED-EGG commercial--YUCK!!! they show the women with these horrible nasty feet filing the nasty dead skin into the "PED-EGG" and then they open it up and empty out all the shavings! I know that it's not actual skin shavings in the commercial but it sure is nasty!"    --Cynthia

Vent. Get it all out: Share your comments on these four ads, and any other TV commercial that's currently bugging you, in the comments. We'll discuss GOOD ads next week.

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Comments

The one that currently has me lunging for the remote is the Taco Bell .89 cheesy burrito, with the 2 white guys rapping their order into the drive through speaker. Not only is it annoying, but I can't help but picture the poor clerk standing there, rubbing his or her temples, waiting for these idiots to finish, while the cars behind them start to line up waiting for their turn.

Pam (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:15 PM)

Mentos---This one I never thought was too bad until I figure out what was actually going on.  I thought she was just kissing him.  Not drinking from his mouth.  That just makes it got from a boring commercial to a disgusting one.

Charmin Bears---Like you said selling TP can't be easy.  The company tells weird facts about their product...it doesn't leave stuff behind, soft, strong, whatever.  All I can say is...at lease they are using animated bears...not real people.

Billy Mays---The Most Annoying Man on Television.  Sorry, yelling at me will not convince me to buy your sub par products.  I can never tell if he is happy/yelling or angry/yelling.  I'm sure it is a fine line.  When I'm in the store and I see a Billy Mays product I can hear his voice.  Some may say good marketing.  I say annoying.

Ped Egg---This commercial has grossed me out from the beginning.  I do not need to see random people using a cheese grater on their feet.  I don't need to hear people whine about how horrible their life was before PedEgg.  And I especially DO NOT need to see someone dump a PedEgg full of grated feet skin in the garbage.  I change the channel every time I see it.  

Of these four I hate PedEgg the most, followed by Billy Mays, Mentos, and Charmin.  

Now I'm going to go watch the Discovery Clip...to cheer me up!  

Amanda, Nebraska (Sent Thursday, June 12, 2008 10:32 PM)

Are the State Farm "red circle" ads running nationally? Because they gross me out. I'm not even sure what's going on in them--people talk about making major life (and insurance-related) decisions, and the camera pulls back to show that they are standing or sitting in the center of a vivid red circle...that looks EXACTLY LIKE A POOL OF BLOOD. You almost expect them to say, "Oops! I'm hemorrhaging again!" Seriously, it's disgusting. Wherever you're bleeding profusely (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BbqQWlOVt4), State Farm is there.

Max, Atlanta, GA (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 7:09 AM)

Ugh - the ped egg commercial is at the top of my list.  I too know people who rave about the product, but I really don't need to see someone's dead skin on tv.

I also really dislike the chocolate skittles commercial.  It's just illogical.

Nichole, Durham, NC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 7:37 AM)

What about the Hardee's commercials?! These are the most disgusting commercials that I have ever seen and heard. All the chomping, chewing, sloppling, slurping and licking the paper. Disgusting!  

Kat O'Sullivan (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 10:51 AM)

I'm sick of the Subway guy. Hooray for him. He lost weight. Now he's a spy. Give me a break. The Tony Stewart Armor-All ad is really dumb too. It makes me want to kick someone in the groin. I need therapy.

Chris P. Bacon (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:02 AM)

I think the add were the guy says `OH NO before he says what ever hes saleing like a person cant live with out it.The one were he says oh no cant find your cell phone in that crowed bag .Makes me laugh .And I do agree Billy Mays does talk too loud TY

d.gaffney (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:06 AM)

Someone please explain to me the relevance of two people sitting in two separate bathtubs out in the wide open spaces for the Cialis ad.

Fran (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:14 AM)

I hate the Six Flags commercial.   The guy is yelling "one flag" and then "six fags".  No one want to hear that.  It is the most awful commercial on TV.

E. Vess, Bremen,Georgia (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:17 AM)

The "reader comment" from Pat took the words right out of my mouth.  I do exactly exactly the same thing, run to hit the mute button when I hear any Billy Mays commercial or that "free credit report" commercial.  It's like nails on a chalkboard.  I wish they take those off the air.

Kelly, Raleigh NC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:21 AM)

I hate the pregnancy test ad. You already know the one I'm talking about. "Think you're a little bit pregnant." Yeah, I think I'm 40% pregnant and 60% home free!

Uhh, no. You're either pregnant or you're not. There's no inbetween. That's agitating.

Brittany, Cincinnati, OH (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:33 AM)

I hate the "Free Credit Reports.com" commercial.  The guys who sing it are dweebs, the song is irritating, but I guess it does what you want it to do...you remember the ad!

Marsha in Boston (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:38 AM)

I love, love the old one where these two women are wiping a sanitary napkin on their faces!!!  And the one, same topic, with the wings that fly!!!

corlyss disbrow, springfield, illinois (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:46 AM)

A commercial that I CANNOT STAND AT ALL is a commerical where people are yelling "IT'S MY MONEY AND I NEED IT NOW!". Not sure what it's for, but it's absolutely ridiculous! I hit the mute button whenever I see that one starting!

Kristen, Fort Myers, Florida (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 11:58 AM)

What about the pinata man in the chocolate Skittles commerical.  I mean it seriously looks like this guy has some sort of skin disease!  While the context may be funny, it just doesn't play out in reality. It's just plain grody.

Melanie, Texas (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 12:14 PM)

"Girls Gone Wild"!  I have no moral objections to pornography, per se.  But seeing it advertised on my TV (at loud volumes no less), is not necessary.  How the FCC does NOT classify these ads as obscene is beyond me.  If you look up their official definition of obscene, it describes the commercials to a 'T'.

Mike, Minneapolis, MN (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 12:21 PM)

I have to say I agree with most of the annoying ones mentioned,however, one that completely cracks me up is the people used to that automatic response thing in their car, adn the one guy tells his blinds to close and he drops his robe and the woman with the business suit going to work with the huge cup of coffee and tells the door to open and wham!!! right into it she goes...

jerseygirl (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 12:41 PM)

I hate the Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Thank goodness I have a mute button when they come on. They are sickening, going in the woods and sitting in a tub or by the seaside. And now Viva Viagra. As I said thank goodness for the mute button.

Pat, Louisiana (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 12:55 PM)

I hate the flea in the Verizon FIOS ads who says "Wow". EEewww.

P.Paul, Montclair NJ (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:21 PM)

I definitely can't stand the "This is Bob" male enhancement commercial! Not only are the people creepy and plastic looking, but that damn whistling gets stuck in my head for hours and hours... It seriously makes my head feel like exploding! (Okay, maybe a touch dramatic, but it is obnoxious none-the-less.)

Suzy, Tampa, FL (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:22 PM)

The new Secret commercial is horrible.  She not only caresses her armpit, she also smells it.  Again, we all know what the product does (i.e. Ped Egg).  We don't really need to see her smelling herself.

Vickie, Milwaukee, WI (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:27 PM)

The Hardee's ads by far! All that chomping and disgusting noises.....I haven't been to a Hardee's since they started airing.

Sue Howells (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:30 PM)

Are there any commercials that are not ridiculous, insulting or of any value?

Guido (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:40 PM)

The free credit report where because of the man's bad credit he is forced to take a crappy job selling fish to tourists?  Huh?  Not every company in the world requires a greate credit report as a job requirement... only financial institutions in my area do.

See also: the one where the man can't get a house because his wife has bad credit.  

Terry, Connecticut (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:56 PM)

I detest the Verizon wireless commercial for Red Hot Deal Days, with the fake carolers or fake family singing "We wish  you a red hot deal day" to the tune of We Wish you a Merry Christmas."  It's bad enough that we have to start hearing Christmas music right after August it seems, but now this holiday-related song is being used off season in this cringe-worthy commercial.  It is being played on the tv AND the radio, just in case you can't get enough of the holiday song being so grossly misused.  The whole premise of the commercials is disgusting.

DJ, Greensboro, NC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:58 PM)

One ad I really can't stand these days is for Nationwide insurance. It shows a little boy at work with his mom, who is a bank teller. He sees her put the canister into the machine and send it to a customer and says "whoa." Then, he proceeds to send a cup full a pens through it, which come out the other end and impale themselves into the side of a man's car. Now, in the real world any of us would immediately pull away, park, walk into the bank, and raise hell. But, idiot in the commercial continues to sit there while little boy sends quarters flying at him. In the midst of this, he decides to switch his car insurance! Really, why doesn't this dummy drive off and why isn't mommy monitoring her son's actions closer? It's really a stupid commercial all around, like the ads for most car insurance companies.

I do enjoy the "Responsibility: What's your policy?" ads from Liberty Mutual. And, since I have Liberty Mutual as my home and car insurance provider, I would say the ads work well.

Brandy, Murfreesboro, TN (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 1:59 PM)

How about the latest trend in ads for shows on the same network?  They're no longer quick little snippets, they're practically the whole darn show disgused as an "ad."  Particularly annoying because they're mostly for reality shows.

Debbie, Killingworth, CT (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 2:02 PM)

I too hate the Billy Mayes commercials, I refuse to purchase anything that he yells about.

Gwyn Sylvester (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 2:19 PM)

People commented before on the Vonage ad being so annoying, and it is REALLY long and the people on it are so grating.  On the positive side, I love the Liberty Mutual ads with the chain reaction of how people treat each other. Nice to see something positive like that once in a while!

Julie, Nashville, TN (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 2:26 PM)

DIRECTV has commercials with that Pat Sajak, from Wheel of Fortune, trying to get you to order a game channel. Good ol' Pat says something out of control like "if you act now, i'll wax your dog"... followed by more game channel info and then Pat says "just kidding about the dog". This continues all day, with "if you act now, I'll rotate your tires", "if you act now, I'll throw ina  free pedicure"... and he's always kidding!!! WHY WHY WHY

Maria, PA (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 2:52 PM)

I can't stand the KY ads. The most recent one is the couple using the "his and hers" KY products. It's just WAY more information than needs to be on TV! GO AWAY!

And it almost doesn't need to be said, but I'm oh so tired of all of the pharmaceutical ads and their endless listings of warnings and symptoms that may occur...

Cyndi, Apple Valley, MN (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 2:57 PM)

Well, for getting me disgusted enough that even mute is not always enough, just give me a commercial on "male enhancement" or Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.  I'm just glad I don't have kids to accidentally get hit my this smut!

Teresa, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:06 PM)

I hate the Botox commercials "Express Yourself!" How the heck can you express yourself when your face is frozen?!?!?

Carmen, Tucson, AZ (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:33 PM)

Cadillac ads... all of which seem geared to invoke the most disgusting, self-centered, consumerist and power-mongering part of the human psych.

First there's the man driving one who begins by pondering nails, equating them to persons, and then ending with his own desire to be the hammer. Hm. Bet HE voted for Bush.

Then there's the pseudo-feminist counter to the above, a beautiful woman driving a red Caddy and pondering the things she likes the best. Such as gossiping, some other girlie stuff, and then pulling up to the boys' club (she then pulls up to three guys in a car at a stop light) "in one of these." And she floors it, leaving them gawking in her dust.

Gotta love penile-centered power ads. Apparently Cadillacs are big amongst that demographic.

Jon Trott, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:34 PM)

The commercial where the icky things raise up the toe nail (shiver) totally creeps me out.  And the mucous family but the toe nail just makes my friggin' skin crawl.

Pam, Cuyahoga Falls, OH (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:37 PM)

I COMPLETELY agree with Kat about the Hardees adds.  The sounds are disgusting!  I have to hit the mute button as soon as this comes on.  Even if I'm in the other room, I'll come running in to mute it.  Never was a big Hardees fan, but no way will I eat there now!

And I HATE Viva Viagra!

Bobby, Columbia, SC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:47 PM)

Bad ad: I have to submit the new Secret commercial where a girl walks around the city with her arms in the air talking about how why secret is so great.  The girl is annoying, the concept is stupid.

Kari, King of Prussia, PA (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 3:50 PM)

What really needs to be done to stop all of these insipid and grating Ads is to have the the CEOs of the Ad companies and the products being advertised to have headsets duct-taped top their heads and playing these Ads 24 hours a day at the appropriately LOUD volume.  Then ask them how they like listening to this dreck.

Steve, Cocoa, FL (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:02 PM)

How about you all stop watching television for a short while and read a book?

Arnold Schwartzentiger (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:08 PM)

hate the one with the annoying woman sitting in her stupid hatchback 'virtually' test-driving cars. hate it.
love the one with the little baby boy e-trading and then throwing up. whoa.

Mary, Buffalo NY (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:09 PM)

Is no one else disturbed by the pregnancy test that's "the most techologically advanced thing you'll ever pee on" and they simulate peeing?  Ugh!

Amy, Knoxvill, TN (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:10 PM)

I can't stand the toe fungus ad where he lifts up the toe nail - I know its a cartoon, but it gives me the creeps!
I don't like the Muscinex ads either - I don't know why.  
They placed a vagisil ad that compared the female anatomy to a skunk, porpucpine and made some other disrespectful comparison to an animal.  That was just in poor taste!  

Jen, CT (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:11 PM)

HEAD ON- APPLY Directly to FOREHEAD!! Worst commercial ever. Does anyone truly believe a roller ball pen is going to stop a killer headache? Totally annoying. Their follow up ad "We know our commercial is annoying but it works" is equally ridiculous.

Christy Turner, Calgary, AB (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:12 PM)

I so hate those "It's my money and I need it now!"  commercials.  they repeat it over and over (like the Head on ads) and who opens a window and screams out to the air that they want their bank to give money?  so stupid!

Erin, DC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:12 PM)

My six-year-old proclaims "i hate that guy" as soon as Billy Mays starts yelling.  Viva Viagra?  A bunch of dudes in a cabin in the woods break into song about Viagra?  The King will be rolling in his grave...

David, New Baltimore, MI (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:15 PM)

I also hate the commercials for the car place that says "Like this commercial Your in your out, your on your way" or something like that, because the commercial is really short.  But they then go on to show the same add 2 more times in a row.  Not very good advertising strategy.  If it truely is like the commercial does that mean after the oil change we will have to come back 3 more times before they actually get it right?

Erin M, DC (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:16 PM)

I hate the Edge shaving commercials, especially the second half where the hot chicks fly up the guy's nose and have a dance party.  I asked my husband: is the fellas really want?  Hot chicks up your nose?  The look on the one girl's face is almost redeeming.  She has this kind of irritated yet resolute look.  It gives a whole new meaning to boogie down.  

Betsy M, Cleveland, Ohio (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:17 PM)

The Optimum Triple, with the people singing "877 393-4448!!! The most annoying commercial ever. But I guess it does the job of making you remember the number!

Brandy (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:18 PM)

How is it that Saturday Night Live has never done (to my knowledge) a parody of Billy Mays? They are missing a huge opportunity there.

ken, los angeles (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:18 PM)

How about the "Viva Viagra" - enough to make Elvis roll over in his grave!  awful, awful, awful!!

acknow (Sent Friday, June 13, 2008 4:21 PM)



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