studionashvegas | design and social media

So, every year the best and the brightest minds (sort of) in TV get together and put their best foot forward (sometimes) in what (usually) turns out to be the (sincerely adequate) best commercials of the year (maybe).  OK, so that was a lot of interruptions, but I have to be honest – there were only a few memorable commercials this year, and only one really had a strong enough call to action to get me to do something right then and there.  But, as with all (fake) contests, there has to be a winner and there has to be a loser.

However, let’s not forget the number one rule of commercials – if you can’t remember who it’s for, they lose, no matter how good the commercial is.

Let’s start with the winners.

Snickers commercial with Betty White

Let’s be honest – Betty White makes nearly anything funny, and throw in Abe and some funny commentary from both and you’ve got yourself a killer commercial. 

Doritos: Snack Attack Samurai

It’s my personal opinion that Doritos is the clear cut commercial winner this year.  All of their commercials were funny, well written (even the casket one was OK at worst) and featured the product as the star – something some of the other commercials failed to do (or even worse – you remember the commercial, but not the product).

Coke: Hard Times

I saw a few negatives on this one, but you know what: we’ve been through one heck of a last year (decade) and I think a little pick me up every now and then really hits home. “You know what? I’m flat broke, but I’m happy”. Enough said.

Google: Parisian Love

The “Annexation of Puerto Rico” play this year came from our Big Brother itself, Google.  This ad, while not new, got such good reviews on YouTube they decided to play it on the big screen.  Seriously, how cool would it be to just decide to do a Super Bowl commercial, even when you didn’t need to.  At any rate, it was well done, and I’m sure a lot of tears were shed over this one.

First the winners… now… well, the not.

Taco Bell: It Rocks, It Rocks

It most certainly does not rock. In fact, it doesn’t even roll smoothly. Shaq does not do Seuss well, and this whole commercial was just a horrible rhyme trying to sell me tacos. I don’t even remember what all comes in the box (see above on why that means it fails).

Boost Mobile Shuffle

You go too far, Boost Mobile: taking a classic like the 1985 Bears Shuffle and ripping it off to a piece of crap like this.

FYI, here is the original Shuffle:

It was classic back then, and the original still is. But shame on you Ditka for selling out to this. *finger wag*

Every Single GoDaddy Commercial

We get it Godaddy.  Sex sells.  I would stick to domain names and go away from the commercials.

The Mitch Canter Call-To-Action Award:

Dockers

Good job, Dockers, for actually doing something that makes people listen to your call to action immediately – sign up for a free pair of pants (and our newsletter). Well done (and a good commercial too!)

In closing:

These aren’t the only good (or bad) commercials – just the ones that stuck out with me as being incredibly good (or horribly wrong).  What do you think – any other ones that should have made either list?

Today it was announced (and confirmed) that Jay Leno will have his show back, and that Conan O’Brien future is heretofore unknown at this point.  I’m sure there will be plenty said about it tonight on The Tonight Show, but what’s more amazing is how (even in the face of a public outcry of support) NBC made the choice to support tenure rather than talent.

Jay Leno’s time slot is failing, miserably.  In fact, most of NBC’s programming (minus Chuck and [maybe] 30 Rock) is sucking buckets this season.  So, what would the logical thing be to do?  Punish the weaker link by removing him.  But, instead, they are choosing a wild card decision to reward failure and punish the ones who actually had to work hard to get their dues.  Conan has become what this recession is all about – the average joe whose job and livelihood is at risk.

NBC is by far the shining example of the old guard that has rejected the newer models of doing thing, not just in their programming choices.  Remember when NBC pulled out of iTunes?  Pulling out of the number one digital distribution method isn’t exactly what you would call a “winner” decision.

I can only see bad things happening from this, as the masses supporting Conan O’Brien rally behind the “Ginger Warrior” and against the oppressive “man”.

What do you think?  Whether you love Conan or hate him, do you think what NBC is doing is right?  Do you see any lasting repercussions on NBC’s side from what’s happened?