Gizmodo: badvertising

Best Buy's Holiday Carolers Make Me Want to Murder

Adam Frucci — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but already Best Buy seems to have won the "most annoying holiday ad of the season" award. Seriously, try to sit through one of these without squirming around uncomfortably and wanting to punch the screen.

New Sony Ad: Play PlayStation 3, Save a Nazi's Life

Adam Frucci — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EDT

Apparently, if you play the PlayStation 3, you'll give a blood transfusion to a Nazi, or a heart transplant to Joan of Arc. What in holy hell do these mean, Sony? Updated

We've seen a large number of creepy as hell Sony ads, and these seem to be just about at the same level as the dude with a thumb for a penis. And gee whiz, the whole "creepy ad" strategy seems to be working, as Sony is absolutely dominating the gaming marketplace. Right? Keep on keeping on, Sony! [Copyranter]

Update: Sony sends along this note from the president of BBDO Chile, the ad house responsible for these things:

This creative design did not involve and was never approved by Sony Computer Entertainment or Sony. This "mock campaign" was developed by BBDO Chile staff and was submitted to various creative competitions/festivals without prior notification or approval from SCE/Sony, and it is not representative of the views or advertising policies of SCE/Sony. BBDO Chile apologizes for using this creative concept without authorization or prior approval, and for its misrepresentation of the PlayStation brand and its values.

Cristián Lehuedé B.
Presidente Ejecutivo
BBDO Chile

Oops! Sony can't be happy with BBDO over that one.

Sony's Cybershot Exmor Ad Is Laughably Unfair

John Herrman — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:20:00 EDT

The best part is, I don't even know to whom. Future camera buyers? Other cameras? To Sony's own Exmor-equipped point-and-shoots, which got this instead of a respectable marketing campaign? In any case, this is dumb. Let us count the ways!

1. It's a "simulated image"
2. The "conventional sensor" side of this scene looks like a slum; the Exmor half has a big, bright, beautiful building in it
3. The left panel was snapped through a very fast F2.4 lens. The right? Who knows, since it's not real.
4. We have no idea how long the exposure was. It could've been two minutes at ISO 50, for all we know.
5. It's a "simulated image"

If your new sensors are really, truly good in low light, there are really simple ways to show that, no Photoshopping needed. Come on guys, you're not selling a Slap Chop. [BoingBoing Gadgets]

Sony Promotional Image Shows Some Dangerous Behavior

Adam Frucci — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EDT

Sony's new press image is all fun and cheeky until that model drops his PSP into the tub and ends up with a seriously embarrassing obituary. [Kotaku]

Lenovo 'Ad' Does Great Disservice to the W700ds, Humanity

John Herrman — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:21:13 EST

This video, in short: an creepy guy tells a ridiculous story involving a lusty lady and a Lenovo W700ds. He brags about his second screen, then makes a joke about his presumably large genitals. Genius!

CNET seems to think this came from within Lenovo, but I'd think even the most tone-deaf marketing division would never to let this leave the screening room and fire whoever brought it to them.

In a way, it actually is kind of genius, but only if viewed as a reductio ad absurdum argument against sex in marketing. In the sequel, our fine protagonist will wake up, realize the last ad was all a dream and open up his dual screen, 500GB RAID, integrated tablet Lenovo W700ds to start looking up ways to kill himself. CNET will also call this an official Lenovo video. [CNET]

Joe the Plumber Moves to a Higher Tax Bracket Doing Ads for DTV Converters

Adam Frucci — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:40:00 EST

Hey America! Remember ~~Sam~~ Joe the ~~Unlicensed~~ Plumber, the bald idiot that the McCain campaign ineffectively used as a prop during the waning days of the election? Sure you do. Well, now he's milking his unearned public exposure by schilling for some company selling DTV converter boxes to the elderly and uninformed. It's both sad and funny at the same time, like a dog falling down the stairs. [Gawker]

Note to Woz: You Are Rich, Stop Making an Ass of Yourself in Commercials

Adam Frucci — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:59:32 EDT

Someone explain to me why Woz is participating in these beyond-retarded Scottevest commercials. Seriously, Ed McMahon selling out his dignity and rapping in FreeCreditReport.com ads makes sense, as he's bankrupt, but Woz? Aren't you a billionaire? Be happy with that, because crap like this makes me embarrassed for you. Go play Segway Polo or something. [Scottevest]

US Cellular Ad Tries Really Hard to Make Yapping On Your Phone in Public a Beautiful Thing

Adam Frucci — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:40:00 EDT

According to this US Cellular ad, when you talk on your phone in public, flowers fly out of every one of your puckered orifices, you stop disappointing everyone in all of your personal relationships, and every stranger around you suddenly sees you as King Brilliant of Mount Saint Awesome. According to my personal observations, when you use your cellphone in public you turn into a self-centered jackass that everybody wants to punch in the face. Which is more accurate? You be the judge. [Gawker]

Music Vest Ad from the '80s is Probably the Pinnacle of Gadget Advertising

Adam Frucci — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Back in the year 1984, there was no Gizmodo to warn you away from lousy gadgets. Instead, you had to take your chances on products that you saw on TV. If you actually sent away $34.95 for one of these Music Vests after seeing the commercial, however, you get no sympathy from me. Although it does look like a sweet accessory for hanging out (read: break dancing). Hit the jump for this unbelievably amazing video.

[Boing Boing Gadgets]

The Most Horrifying Playstation 3 Ad Ever Makes Me Loyal to the Xbox 360 for Life (NSFW)

Adam Frucci — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:20:00 EDT

This is the most horrifying ad ever. It's for the Playstation 3, done by the geniuses at TBWA\Wien in Vienna, Austria. I don't know if it ever ran anywhere, ~~but it's definitely a legit Sony advertisement~~. You don't want to see it, trust me. Look, I won't even tease it, I'll tell you what it is so you don't have to look at it. It's a guy who has a thumb for a penis. There, I told you what it is and now you won't have to look for yourself. But you will, won't you? And you'll regret it. But I warned you. Never say I didn't warn you. And yes, this is NSFW if you haven't figured that out already.
Update: Sony says this isn't an official ad, so it may be a concept whipped up by TBWA. We're looking into its actual origin and will let you know.

[Copyranter and Ads of the World via Gawker]

Escalator Ads Are the Most Awkward Way to Advertise

Adam Frucci — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:30:04 EST

Here's a creepy way to advertise a hair salon: stick the lower half of some guys face at the bottom of an escalator, and place various hairstyles on the stairs. As the escalator moves, said guy gets a new haircut with every stair that passes by. Creative? Yes, definitely. Unsettling? Oh, hell yes. It's at a mall in Mumbai, so it's not like I'm going to be forced to see it anytime soon, but if there's anything America likes it's slapping advertisements on every surface available, so don't be surprised if you start seeing crap like this in malls and airports in the near future. Check out a shot of the full escalator with all its haircuts after the jump.

[Communicadores via NotCot.org]