Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Is there an ad in there somewhere?

Look, I'm sure it's hard to get your message across in only fifteen seconds. But is this really the best you can do?


Man (quickly, as though trying to cram too much copy into 15 seconds): Headin' to The Home Depot.

Does anyone else think using the definite article here is more than a little awkward? Wouldn't normal people say "Headin' to Home Depot"? Why is saying "the" necessary? Is it that integral to your brand name?

Woman: Honey, promise me you won't go overboard.
Man: Ooh, yeah, sorry. I, uh, can't make that promise.

I heard this one on my way to work this morning, and I thought I'd share it with you: So, a priest and a rabbi walk into a bar. The priest orders a beer, and the bartender says "That'll be five dollars." The rabbi sees the priest's beer and orders the same drink. The bartender says "That'll be eighty dollars." The rabbi asks the bartender why he charged him more, and the bartender replies, "I'm sorry, I can't make that promise." Whew, boy.

Bear in mind, this is the payoff for this entire commercial. That's it. There's not even an amusing prop or anything. It's not like he's standing there with eight credit cards in his hand, or there's a semi waiting out in the driveway for him to bring home all the wares he's going to buy at THE Home Depot. The director thought that line just spoke for itself, "Aaaand cut! Can anyone say 'Clio'?!"

Voiceover: Blah blah blah No payments blah blah blah No interest blah blah blah THE blah blah Depot.

You sure drove that thing home, THE Home Depot. Hey how'd that sale work out for you guys, anyway?

1 comment:

Windier E. Megatons said...

Plus everyone knows that women are compulsive shoppers in commercial jokes. Come on.