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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.



Best and worst commercials of the year

Posted: Monday, August 11, 2008 4:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
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We all have times in life when the little things threaten to swallow us up. Someone in our family is sick, the car needs repairs, work is getting complicated. It's easy to say "don't sweat the small stuff," but I can attest to the fact that enough small stuff can get you down, and keep you there.

Favorite ad: Discovery Channel's "Boom-di-ada!"
That's part of the reason, I think, why the winner of this summer's TV commercial contest strikes such a chord with me. It reminds me that I'm not alone, that this planet is a giant carnival, full of great white sharks, and arachnids, of Egyptian kings, and giant squids. And that in the end, it's full of people, human, imperfect people who can sometimes come together and sing.

That's a lot to get out of a TV commercial, but as was obvious from the minute we started discussing it, the Discovery Channel's promo ad, where Discovery stars sing new words to an old camp song, is not just any old commercial. I've been running this contest since 2004 and it's definitely my favorite winning ad. It may be the only one I keep bookmarked and go back and occasionally watch again. (Craving still more? You can watch a slightly different, three-minute-long live version online here.)

You could argue that it's not really a commercial, since it's promoting a channel's offerings, not trying to get you to buy anything, but you know what? Don't care. It's a winner, and for a few minutes while you're watching it, it makes you love the whole world. It's such a brilliant place. Boom-di-ada, boom-di-ada, boom-di-ada, boom-di-ada.

Least favorite ad: Anything with Billy Mays
AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR OTHER WINNER. I MEAN, LOSER. I MEAN, LEAST FAVORITE AD. I MEAN, SPOKESMAN. AND I AM INTENTIONALLY TYPING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE BILLY MAYS TALKS IN ALL CAPS, AND YOU GET THE FEELING HE WOULD DO SO EVEN IF HE'S PUTTING A BABY TO SLEEP OR STUDYING IN A LIBRARY.

OK, I'll stop with the all-caps now, but you get the idea. Yelling! Billy Mays loves yelling! He is a throwback to the old pitchmen of the county and state fair days, selling Ginsu knives and apple slicers and caramel apples and tickets to freak shows.

Readers agree: They don't like being yelled at. They don't, then, like Billy Mays' commercials. But you know what? Someone is buying his products. He has enough of 'em. Although I have to say, I know Billy's name, but I can't name any of the items he sells. There's ... a cleaning product? And ... something for washing your car? Maybe a veggie chopper? And ... more cleaning products?

I know Billy's successful, but I'm just not the right audience for his carnival-style sales. AND I JUST WISH HE'D STOP YELLING ALREADY.

Thanks to all of you who followed along and shared your comments in this year's commercial contest. You're such a brilliant bunch. Boom-di-ada, boom-di-ada.

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Comments

Excellent choices, Gael.  Bravo!  I agree that the Discovery channel's promo ad was well done, and it does leave you (OK, me) with a sense of belonging to the world...  Billy Mays, on the other hand, OMG!  What does that guy actually sell, anyway?  I found something in a Wal-Mart that I wanted to get a few weeks ago, bought it and took it home.  It sat on the coffee table for a few days, and late one night I was watching t.v. and a Billy Mays commercial came on for that exact product!  I was floored.  (Honestly, I almost considered taking it back to Wal-Mart and demanding a refund, but it's still on my coffee table now.)  It's a cleaning product, by the way.  LOl

Martin M. Wilkinson (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 8:07 AM)

The Discovery commercial is easily my favorite, too.  Easy to remember, fun, and with a good message.

Jackie, Missouri (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 8:51 AM)

Yes! I LOVE the Discovery Channel ad - I can't help but smile when Stephen Hawking sings along.


Perfect choice for no. 1.

Lynn Hume, Laramie, WY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 10:05 AM)

I have to totally agree with the Boom-de-yada commercial.  No selling or yelling.  Just a great feel-good type of thing which is sorely lacking in advertising anymore.  I really don't want to know about offending body aromas, menstrual cycles, itches that can't be scratched in public or some guy with erectile dysfunction. (Try explaining any of those to a 9 year old boy when those commercials come on the TV.)  YAY DISCOVERY CHANNEL!!!

MJ Lucid, Casper, WY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 10:11 AM)

I hate the Sham-Wow commercial!  Why does that irritating guy have a microphone over his ear, he's not demonstrating at a home show he's on TV!  He reminds me of a weasel anyway.  Search for Sham-Wow on the 'net and you'll find out it's a scam anyway.  Booooooo Sham-Wow.

Elsa, Houston TX (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 10:17 AM)

Sham-Wow is quickly going to replace Billy Mays as public enemy number one.  I know someone else mentioned this, in an earlier test pattern, but the condescending comment, "You following me camera guy?" is just so stupid.  Also, the old lady listening in and then suggesting to two younger gals how she likes to use her Trojan mini-vibrator makes me about want to hurl, when I see that one, too.

Scout Omaha, Ne (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 10:29 AM)

The Discovery Channel Commercial for me was just too "cute." I especially hate kids singing in the background.

Billy Mays - say what you will about him and his commercials - they both do what they're paid to do: SELL PRODUCT.

The reason he acts like he does is simple: It works.

If I had to bring a product or service to market - and make a profit - I'd choose "the Mays way" in a heartbeat.

Jacques, West Palm Beach, FL (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 11:02 AM)

HA! I like the Sham-wow commercial because it is so blatant and bold.. I mean.. the guys even named it a "Sham" . I would expect to see this guy doing cons on a street in New York!

I would be with you all on the Discover ad if it weren't played ever few minutes. Discover, History Channel, Science Channel.. they are ALL overwhelmingly repetitive in their ads.. it drives me nuts.

I have often thought that for these channels it would be better to do some kind of mini-serial that shows 1 minute at a time and takes a month to conclude. That would be cool.. A clever story that changes as the days go on. I mean.. once you have seen a promo a dozen times it has zero effect anymore. And I click away looking for something else. ADD I guess.

jona Los Angeles, Ca (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 11:14 AM)

BILLY MAYS HERE! Argh, everytime I hear those 3 words, I cringe. He definitely needs to tone it down a bit. Also, why are his commercials so much louder than the ones before and after it? Too bad Oxi-Clean actually works.

Tara, Brooklyn, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 11:15 AM)

Yes, yes, yes for Discovery Channel! Take that all you other silly channels.

Billy has his counterpart in the annoyingly loud Progressive Store ads Sales Lady. Heaven help us all if they meet and breed!

delphia, kenai ak (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 11:46 AM)

Billy Mays is so loud that even with the sound muted, I can still hear him.  I swear, he's mastered some sort of telepathic yelling.

Jerry W, Houston, Texas (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 11:56 AM)

I have a brother who refers to Billy Mays as the "Oxi-Moron". He truly is the reason why the Mute button was invented.

B. Clark, Draper, Utah (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 12:14 PM)

I dont really see wht the big deal is about the Discovery Chanel commercials...there not that good.
I think i have to agree with the guy who doesn't like the kids singing in the backround. I like kids and everything i just hate when kids sing...I dont like Billy Mays either, everytime one of those commercials for Oxyclean or KABOOM come on i have to turn the volume down on my T.V...SHUT UP BILLY MAYS!!!

Mo, Phoenix AZ (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 12:15 PM)

Hate the Wamu WOW ad and i guess the most irritating ad running on TV now is the one from Progressive.

Consumer (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 12:33 PM)

I'm with you guys on the Discovery Channel commercial, it's awesome.

The worst commercial for me is the Free credit report.com commercial where the guy says he'd rather be single than have married someone with bad credit.  He's singing while she's running around working her tail off.  It disgusts me.

Bookworm in Iowa (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 12:37 PM)

Totally agree, that the Sham Wow is an awful commercial.
At one point he says "You're going to spend $30 a month on paper towels anyway" WHAT?  Seriously, who spends that much on paper towels a month?  My sister has 4 kids -- 2 are under 6 -- and even she doesn't spend that much a month on paper towels.
It's just the stupidest commercial, worse than Head-On I think

Beth, Rochester, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 12:52 PM)

I have to add my 2cents to the ad I hate most. It's the Subaru "Car Heaven" ad where the guy drives two hours out into the country to leave his deadbeat Subaru under a pristine tree in the country. I emailed Subaru to complain about this ad and they said there was a Subaru recycling plant off camera. Must have been "way off camera" because I never saw or heard the ad mention it. I live in "the country" and I am so tired of having people leave their garbage, their unwanted pets and their cars for us to pick up. It seems to me that every car ad shows some city dude heading out to the country to defile the wilderness by driving down a pristine stream, (thereby ruining the water so fish cannot spawn), 4-wheeling up the side of a hill (gouging crevasses in the hillsides causing mud slides, and water run off) and terrorizing the wildlife. There was a Honda (I think) ad that showed the wildlife cheering, when the eco safe car drove by, so hurray for them!

Christine, Out West (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:10 PM)

Billy Mays is what the "MUTE" button was created for.  WAY too obnoxious and that beard looks nasty.  I'd NEVER buy any product he endorses.  

CJ Charlottesville, VA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:19 PM)

You're right on the money!  Totally agree with your picks.  Love Discovery Channel Promo, absoulutly despise the YELLER.

Barbara Nusbaum White Plains, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:42 PM)

If I am out of the room when Bill Mays comes on my tv, I RUN into the living room to hit the mute button.  THAT's how much I hate that guy...I'd make a POINT to never buy anything he endorses simply so he'll go away.

Michelle, MO (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:44 PM)

HI - BILLY MAYS HERE!  I THINK YOU MUST HAVE REVERSED THE ORDER OF THESE SELECTIONS.  SINCE I SELL EVERYTHING FROM CLEANING PRODUCTS TO INSURANCE, I HAVE TO BE THE WORLD'S BEST, NOT WORST.
CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK WHEN I WILL BE OFFERING THE BOOMDYADA GLOBAL COOLING DEVICE FOR $19.95 PLUS S/H.  AND IF YOU CALL WITHIN 15 MINUTES, YOU WILL GET TWO OF THESE, SO YOU CAN COOL TWO EARTH-SIZED PLANETS.

BILLY MAYS (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:53 PM)

Have you ever noticed on the Sham-Wow commercial when he says "This last 10 years" he covers his face with the sham-wow towel and it is not his voice that says 10 years? Just how long do they really last? That proves that they know they are scamming us. This way they can always change how long it last without having to re-do the commercial.

James, Marble Falls Texas (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:02 PM)

I love the Nationwide Commercials! In fact, before watching the Discovery ad a new one came on that made me chuckle. A woman was filming a home improvement show where she was spray painting a garage door and looking at the camera. All of sudden the garage door opens and a man is walking out next to the car and she starts spray painting him and the car! All of their commercials crack me up!

Sarah, Austin, TX (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:03 PM)

Definitely like the Discovery commercial.  I usually watch all the shows it's promoting so it seemed a cute approach.  As for the least favorite....it is hands down the "vonage" commercials.  They are on all
day, every day on almost every channel.  If they can afford that much air time, even $9.95 a month is way too much money..lol.

L. Dunn, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:12 PM)

BOOM DI ADA!  - What a world!

Beryl Hill Everett WA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:13 PM)

I had to laugh when I read this, I literally laughed out loud. I've often told my son that if I ever met Billy Mays on the street I would walk up to him and say 'NICE TO MEET YOU BILLY MAYS' right in his face. LOL

Hoyt, Washington, DC (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:13 PM)

I could do without ever again seeing the e-trade baby, complete with an adult slacker voice, barfing into the camera...dudes!! you lost my account!!

skm, SE Michigan (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:24 PM)

Oh, sorry--I plain forgot!  My least favorite ads are the Happy Cows from California!  What cow-flop that is!  Remember the REAL California cows that were sick and falling over and still sent to slaughter?  I actually check to make sure my cheese is from Wisconsin or Michigan and NOT California!!

skm, SE Michigan (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:29 PM)

Stop saying "You know what?". Such a dumb expression or question. Ranks right up there with the juvenile expression "Awesome".

Gene Zobisch Van Alstyne, TX (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:31 PM)

Mays,he's  O K.
Haerd working American doing his job. It is an add,it doesn't have to be comedy.
At least he is not bashing the American husband like the General Mills add "shut up Steve"
 

John Storgion, Cincinnati,OH (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:39 PM)

Yeah, I like the Discovery Song, too.  It gets in your head and you hum it throughout the day.  But, Billy Mays aside, (yes, he is annoying), my least favorite ad is the moron singing about Free Credit Report (dot) com!!! First, the songs drive me nuts; second, the Free Report ain't FREE!! You have to subscribe to their service, which INCLUDES free credit reports. (Oops, some all caps in there, maybe Billy Mays wrote the song!!)

Michael (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:39 PM)

Agree with ya'll on Billy Mays, however, the 2nd most annoying is JG Wentworth, "IT'S MY MONEY,AND I NEED IT NOW!!" AGGGHHHHHHHH, I mute this also, or change the channel, but as you can see, repititon, annoying or not, makes us all be able to quote and say who it is from

Burkburnett, TX (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:41 PM)

I'm sorry, but the most annoying ad on tv right now is for the Multi-Grain Cheerios with the hyper-sensitive wife and the poor apologetic husband, and ends with "Shut up, Steve".  It simply makes my hair stand on end.  The woman doesn't need Cheerios, she needs prozac.  

kko, LA, CA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:43 PM)

I must be weird. I don't mind Billy Mays, even though I should. I DO mind the orange bloused Vonage lady, even though I shouldn't. I don't drink but I do like that pass it on beer commercial. Now, onto why I'm weird...  

Kaygo, Twin Cities, MN (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:09 PM)

Head On. Apply directly to the forehead. Head On. Apply directly to the forehead. Head On. Apply directly to the forehead. Head On. Apply directly to the forehead.

kacky (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:26 PM)

Billy Mays is pleasant compared to the ads for e-trade (no more barfing baby-please!), AT&T (the idiot stealing his friend food, watching his car being towed, etc.), Carls (enough said!) and Baskin Robbins (grownups doing disgusting things for ice cream)!  Whoever the ad agencies are for these obnoxious pieces of garbage-greed and cruelty in ads doesn't sell..at least for me!

jtbwriter (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:34 PM)

I I AGREE AGREE BILLY BILLY MAYS MAYS MAKES MAKES ME ME ILL ILL WHICH WHICH IS IS WHY WHY I I AM AM TYPING TYPING THIS THIS EMAIL EMAIL LIKE LIKE THIS THIS - ANNOYINGGGGGGGGGGG. I WILL NEVER BUY OR USE OXYCLEAN BECAUSE OF HIM:(

LUCYBLUE, KANSAS CITY, MO (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:36 PM)

I like the commercial where the guy spills milk on his unused minutes and after his wife goes off on the tirade and pulls the "sister could use those minutes" the guy comes back with "I thought your sister was lactose intolerant"  Makes me laugh every time

Dana, Orlando, FL (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:37 PM)

Ye Gods! Every time I see that grinning bearded huckster Billy Mays, I hit that 'MUTE' button like so many others. I call him "Foghorn", because he sounds just like one! I suppose he could get a job out on Nantucket shoals warning the shipping away....
And the Sham-Wow guy, whoever he is, reminds me of those weasel cartoon charecters from "Roger Rabbit". Where do they find these people anyway...?

Steve Nichols (Nick), Fall River, Massachusetts (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:44 PM)

Couldn't agree more with the choices.  

Boom-di-ada!

Amanda (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:48 PM)

How about the 1-800-DENTIST elevator ads?  I am embarrassed to admit I identify with the girl giving him a hard time.

Christine Gerstenberger (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:49 PM)

Free credit dot com-most horrible commercial.
I love the Progressive girl Flo with the tricked out name tag

Barb, Danville, Pa (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:50 PM)

Love the Discovery Channel commercial (I actually catch myself singing it) - not too keen on Billy Mays, but the Sham-Wow guy has got to be the worst ever in history of TV commercials - he should just be put out of his (and our) misery!

Julie Foxwell (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:50 PM)

I hate that Boomdiyada thing. This is the first time I've seen it and it annoyed the hell out of me. If I watched the Discovery Channel at home, I'd mute this thing every time it came on, maybe even turn the TV off completely.  

Sarah Stevens, Richmond, VA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 3:53 PM)

I hit the  MUTE button on my remote when BILLY MAY'S commercials come on.  I do love the Discovery commercial.

Nancy-So. Cal. (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:00 PM)

The Sham-wow guy has got to be my new (least)favorite.  I love the sweeping generalizations, "Made in Germany, you know the Germans make good stuff!"  Awesome.

Patrick, Wilmington, DE (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:11 PM)

Etrade baby is very funny. Puke and all.  Actually, I could do without that particular visual aid, but the rest of them are great!

tll, Ogden, UT (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:17 PM)

Hate the Vonage commercials comparing them with AT&T - it is on every channel, at least once an hour.  They must have mony to burn.  The commercials are too loud.

Billy Mays doesn't bother me, except his commercials are too loud.

Love the Discovery Boom-di-ada.  They can do no wrong, in my book.

Ellorysgirl (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:29 PM)

E-Trade baby-FUNNY
Happy Cows-CUTE
Progressive Chic-MAKES ME LAUGH
Billy Mays-AUHHH, Sorry...NO!!
Hey Billy Ssshhhhhh...no need to shout man!

Debbie in NH (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:31 PM)

Ten words:

"I gave all my fat clothes to my fat friends"

EVIL.

T. Hanson, Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 4:38 PM)



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