Littledragon
Above The Law
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/111404/STE_B4MP19I9.004.shtml
Amid all the lists of TV shows, we get the most popular, most popular on cable, most popular among women, critics, etc. But nowhere do we get a list of the top 10 TV commercials - until now.
No, this isn't one of those simpering Super Bowl stories where the writer blathers on about what clever commercials to expect before halftime.
This writer is going to blather on about spots that stood out in a sea of TV advertising during 2004. Since the average person is exposed to 86,500 TV commercials a year, according to Al and Laura Ries, authors of "The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR," I'm not making any claims to have researched them all.
This is merely a list of spots that struck some kind of chord. Another qualifier: While most of these came out this year, there are some that have been around awhile (like the AFLAC spot with Yogi Berra), but they aired so frequently this year, I figured they qualify.
Peruse the following, and let's hear about your favorites. When it comes to commercials, there's always tomorrow.
Top 10 commercials of 2004
1. Simon Cowell's spot for Vanilla Coke:
The obnoxious star of "American Idol" meets the Mafia for Coke. Chazz Palminteri, so good in "Usual Suspects" and "Analyze This," plays the gangster who's "excited" that Cowell is endorsing the soft drink. "Jimmy, tell him his opinion," says Chazz as Cowell reads his lines off a cue card. You'd have thought Coca Cola officials might have been a little concerned about characterizing their commercial representative as a mobster, but that's wacky Madison Avenue for you.
2. Steven Seagal for Mountain Dew:
He takes out the entire convenient store - right down to the Indian gentleman at the counter who's not all that excited about an autograph.
3. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy for Priceline:
"Star Trek" revisited as a 30-second spot, sigh. Shatner, who seems to be everywhere these days and growing old gracefully, is so excited to be the Priceline spokesman. But what's this? His card won't work in the hotel room's door, and there's Leonard. "I thought it was room service," says Spock. Slam goes the door; freeze that wounded look on Shatner's face.
4. Rubber Band Man for Office Depot.:
Great Spinners music accompanies an energetic African-American who gets out those office supplies.
5. Johnny Cash for Comfort Inn:
Great choice of music. Hopefully more will seek out the full recording of Cash's "I've Been Everywhere."
6. Joe Buck and slam a lama:
One of several baseball-related spots on the list. Buck plays it straight all the way in this one until the triumphant ending when he gives his slam-a-lama home run call. The only problem was I couldn't remember if this was a spot for Budweiser or Visa.
7. Joe Torre and George Steinbrenner for Visa:
Clever use of New York Yankee brass. Two r's in Torre, George.
8. Yogi Berra for AFLAC:
The Yankees just keep coming. This one admittedly has been played to death, but it's a classic spot. Yogi's in the barber chair, tossing off his malapropisms while the stupid duck goes gaga.
9. Baboon for Sierra Mist:
Animals play their part on the American ad scene.
10. Eagles for Budweiser.
It's hard to keep track of all the animals that Bud uses in the course of the year (donkeys, horses, lizards, dogs, etc.), but this was a cute computer animation thing with two eagles entering into a pre-nesting agreement.
Sportswriters
The Journal Star "Sportwriters" radio show has moved from WMBD-AM 1470 to Fox Sports 1290. The time is Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. Suggestion: Start the Sammy Sosa Sweepstakes on the air. Let listeners call in with where they think the Cubs star will wind up. Win a weekend for two in that town. Come on, Pittsburgh.
Hunt club
Ron Primeau, a professor at Central Michigan University and the author of "Romance of the Road: The Literature of the American Highway," picked up on our story about the new manager at WCBU-FM 89.9, Peoria's public radio outlet.
"As a listener for over 25 years of the station Hunt managed (WCMU-FM in Michigan), I can assure you that he will show leadership and vision. If he says he will go local, you can put it in the bank," noted Primeau.
Amid all the lists of TV shows, we get the most popular, most popular on cable, most popular among women, critics, etc. But nowhere do we get a list of the top 10 TV commercials - until now.
No, this isn't one of those simpering Super Bowl stories where the writer blathers on about what clever commercials to expect before halftime.
This writer is going to blather on about spots that stood out in a sea of TV advertising during 2004. Since the average person is exposed to 86,500 TV commercials a year, according to Al and Laura Ries, authors of "The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR," I'm not making any claims to have researched them all.
This is merely a list of spots that struck some kind of chord. Another qualifier: While most of these came out this year, there are some that have been around awhile (like the AFLAC spot with Yogi Berra), but they aired so frequently this year, I figured they qualify.
Peruse the following, and let's hear about your favorites. When it comes to commercials, there's always tomorrow.
Top 10 commercials of 2004
1. Simon Cowell's spot for Vanilla Coke:
The obnoxious star of "American Idol" meets the Mafia for Coke. Chazz Palminteri, so good in "Usual Suspects" and "Analyze This," plays the gangster who's "excited" that Cowell is endorsing the soft drink. "Jimmy, tell him his opinion," says Chazz as Cowell reads his lines off a cue card. You'd have thought Coca Cola officials might have been a little concerned about characterizing their commercial representative as a mobster, but that's wacky Madison Avenue for you.
2. Steven Seagal for Mountain Dew:
He takes out the entire convenient store - right down to the Indian gentleman at the counter who's not all that excited about an autograph.
3. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy for Priceline:
"Star Trek" revisited as a 30-second spot, sigh. Shatner, who seems to be everywhere these days and growing old gracefully, is so excited to be the Priceline spokesman. But what's this? His card won't work in the hotel room's door, and there's Leonard. "I thought it was room service," says Spock. Slam goes the door; freeze that wounded look on Shatner's face.
4. Rubber Band Man for Office Depot.:
Great Spinners music accompanies an energetic African-American who gets out those office supplies.
5. Johnny Cash for Comfort Inn:
Great choice of music. Hopefully more will seek out the full recording of Cash's "I've Been Everywhere."
6. Joe Buck and slam a lama:
One of several baseball-related spots on the list. Buck plays it straight all the way in this one until the triumphant ending when he gives his slam-a-lama home run call. The only problem was I couldn't remember if this was a spot for Budweiser or Visa.
7. Joe Torre and George Steinbrenner for Visa:
Clever use of New York Yankee brass. Two r's in Torre, George.
8. Yogi Berra for AFLAC:
The Yankees just keep coming. This one admittedly has been played to death, but it's a classic spot. Yogi's in the barber chair, tossing off his malapropisms while the stupid duck goes gaga.
9. Baboon for Sierra Mist:
Animals play their part on the American ad scene.
10. Eagles for Budweiser.
It's hard to keep track of all the animals that Bud uses in the course of the year (donkeys, horses, lizards, dogs, etc.), but this was a cute computer animation thing with two eagles entering into a pre-nesting agreement.
Sportswriters
The Journal Star "Sportwriters" radio show has moved from WMBD-AM 1470 to Fox Sports 1290. The time is Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. Suggestion: Start the Sammy Sosa Sweepstakes on the air. Let listeners call in with where they think the Cubs star will wind up. Win a weekend for two in that town. Come on, Pittsburgh.
Hunt club
Ron Primeau, a professor at Central Michigan University and the author of "Romance of the Road: The Literature of the American Highway," picked up on our story about the new manager at WCBU-FM 89.9, Peoria's public radio outlet.
"As a listener for over 25 years of the station Hunt managed (WCMU-FM in Michigan), I can assure you that he will show leadership and vision. If he says he will go local, you can put it in the bank," noted Primeau.
