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With Ads of the Weird, MSNBC.com takes a look at some of the oddest, most eye-catching, controversial and just plain interesting advertising out there today. Primary writer Allison Linn covers the retail and advertising industries for MSNBC.com. The Ads of the Weird team is always interested in hearing what ads have caught your attention, whether it's online, on television or in print.


Amp pushes it

Posted: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 3:00 AM by Rob Neill
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Sad to say, but this year’s crop of Super Bowl ads was a Cloverfield-esque disappointment – there were some bright spots (thank you, Pepsi, for beating the crap out of Justin Timberlake), but overall, a pretty uninspired group.

Evidently, msnbc.com readers enjoyed Budweiser’s “Rocky” spot. Of course using the Clydesdales again is about as reliable as meat loaf but as boring as a Jack Johnson album (that’s a good thing followed by a bad thing, if you’re keeping score).

But in the fourth quarter Amp Energy Drink decided to bust out the bondage gear.

Pepsico

The ad is so bad because of two of the most-painful things ever used in a commercial: Jumper cables as nipple clamps, and Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It.”

The quick and dirty: Fat mechanic places jumper cables on nipples. Big sound system pops out of FM’s rig. FM shimmies to said bad song. FM then charges battery of stranded woman’s car. Stranded woman never looks as horrified by all this as she has a right to.

It’s essentially unwatchable and really doesn’t do anything to establish the brand. You can make the argument that well, it made you look, and, unfortunately, it did. But it’s hard to see this  getting any new customers for the energy drink.

That said, FM’s stoneface is a nice touch, and “Warning do not attempt” has never been funnier. If you can take it, watch it here.

Our fave? We’re big fans of CareerBuilder’s “Heart.” Clever way to get the message across and not as gross as it could be described. Nice work.

Rank and view the Super Bowl ads here.

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Comments

Even if everyone thought this commercial was lacking in about every desirable category made so far you've got to give it credit for being talked about so much.  If nothing else, this commercial has definitely increased brand awareness simply from the publicity its received post-airing.  I agree with your comments about the spot and was also a fan of the CareerBuilder's "Heart."  I have yet to see any mention of the ad for the new Genesis car, or some other forgetful ads such as the one with a white background and some stenciled cartoon character pushing a ball up to the top of a ball mountain - that commercial was so bad I don't even remember who it was for.  At $2.6 million I think the Amp commercial will yield a much higher ROI then the other two commercials I mentioned.  

Name, Anonymous (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 3:50 PM)

I still thought it was quite funny and frankly, i'll give AMP drink a try now. I'm sick of seeing the same quarky ads trying to enforce their brand name using popular people. WHY CAN'T MECHNICS BE FAMOUS too.

Bill D. (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 4:14 PM)

I agree the Amp ad was the only ad I remembered after the super bowl, the “heart” one was sentimental yet creepy...

Corey Missoula, MT (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:06 AM)

The AMP commercial certainly was not a favorite of mine.  And as pointed out, didn't do much for the brand.  I remember the commercial but I couldn't remember the product before reading this blog entry.

As for CareerBuilder's "Heart" commercial, I worry it might be walking that line and might be too abstract for some people to get the theme.  When I commented about "Your heart not being in it anymore" while watching the Superbowl, I saw the light come on from a few friends who didn't see it that way until I said something.

Miss Z, Kennewick, Wash. (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:48 PM)

Most people are missing the best part of this commercial. It starred Michael Bower who played Donkeylips on Salute your shorts back in the 80's

Bill, Buffalo, Ny (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:52 PM)

To me it looks like the commercial starred "Turtle" from the HBO show Entourage.

Justin, Sacramento, California (Sent Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11:24 PM)

Overall, I was less-than-impressed with this year's Super Bowl ads.

Check out these credit card ads from old Super Bowls. Most were more memorable/creative than the latest crop:

http://blogs.creditcards.com/2008/01/credit-card-ads-super-bowl.php

anonymous (Sent Monday, February 25, 2008 1:31 PM)

Get a grip, most of us know that these ads are done with the intent to be sys catching.  It worked!

Lou (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:35 PM)

I would like to have one ads like this.I'll be the model, seem attractfull and for sure... I'll be glamour too. Auw!!!

simon matt,Kch,Mal. (Sent Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:39 AM)

This commercial was Hilarious, way too funny, I look at this commercial over and over and I'm still laughing if I see it again.

Clarence, Sacramento, CA (Sent Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:26 PM)

I couldn't have laughed harder!

Jarrett, Jersey City, NJ (Sent Thursday, April 10, 2008 1:18 PM)

THIS COMMERCIAL IS HILARIOUS THIS LADY IS ALWAYS HATING ON THE GOOD COMMERCIALS AND THE BAD ONES/TASTELESS IS AMUSED WITH...TO EACH HIS OWN

TRAVIS KOREA (Sent Monday, June 09, 2008 1:53 AM)



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