Why are holiday commercials so annoying?
Posted: Monday, December 15, 2008 6:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer CooperTV commercials
What is up with the holiday commercials this year? Why are they all either a) completely forgettable and boring, or b) really, really annoying?
There have been some classic holiday ads in the past. Who can forget Santa sledding on a Norelco razor? (You Tube has both a more recent and the 1960s version .)
I also admit I get a little choked up when I watch this oldie , where college student Peter comes home and surprises his family by making Folgers coffee. (I suppose today, he'd just pick up some Starbucks on the road.)
And I hope that whoever came up with the famous 1971 Coca-Cola "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" ad got a giant Christmas bonus (in this 1980s update , the singers form the shape of a Christmas tree).
What are we watching these days? Can you even name a good Christmas commercial this year?
Kids in pageants for Target? Dressed like stuff you can buy at Target? Uh-uh.
People hyperventilating as they receive luxury cars with those enormous bows tied on the hoods? In this era of layoffs and bailouts, do you know anyone who can afford to buy a car as a Christmas present?
And my vote for the absolute most annoying ads -- all the worse because they are in CONSTANT rotation -- say it with me, now, "He went to Jared!" Not sure these are technically holiday ads, but those are possibly the four most irritating words I hear on TV these days. I especially hate the ad where the women are texting their pal who's on a date, find out that the date bought her jewelry, and then text back to ask if he has brothers. UGH. Find your own dates, get a life that doesn't involve hovering over someone else's evening, and stop equating your personal worth with jewelry.
Share your thoughts about holiday commercials. Are there any good ones? (My co-worker Allison Linn likes this ad , for Wal-Mart.) What are your favorite classics? And don't be shy about sharing the seasonal commercials you just can't stand.
Caveat: Yes, I know about TiVo, use it often. I still like to discuss commercials. No, I don't think that the fact that I remember the word "Jared" means that commercial did its job...I'm never going to shop there. I know people will post about both of these things, and there's no real way to cut that discussion off at the pass, but just so it's been said.
