The ads savage the sensibilities of many viewers. These are probably the worst consistently themed ads in modern history - and GM keeps running with it. Either they prepaid some "Ad creatives" and aren't going to lose the money, or someone exec's kids in law got a job.
The Malibu one still amuses me. So bad, it was just begging to be called out.
I get it that you hate them and agree they aren't great ads but hardly the worst. The "sporty Camry" grounded to the ground ad was arguably far worse. The newer Toyota ads with Jan are not much of an improvement. The Kia hamsters have to be in the discussion. Here in Canada the Hyundai espionage ads would certainly make the list. Pretty much any Nissan horror movie ad would be near the top. Several Honda ads spike the annoyance charts. The list goes on.
As H.L. Mencken said: "Never underestimate the intelligence of the American people". So if the ads sell cars, that's all that counts. Bottom line, baby.
It's interesting to read car ads from 100 years ago. Back then, they were still into the utility of the car, not the image so much (a bit of it appears in the really expensive cars). But even with all the "class" of those vintage ads, they still lied like rugs. Things like "Climbs the tallest mountains effortlessly, with smooth quiet power, effortless shifting, and unparalleled reliability". In 1918? I don't think so.
Nah, the Malibu one is a farce, and the spots pandering to millennials or hipster types are up there too. The Malibu one where a "not actor" thinks it costs 80K, and is compared to something like a BMW-Tesla hybrid is just inexcusable. Are "real people" like this?
I actually thought the hamsters were creative - those spots didn't irk me. The Toyota hyperbolic platitudes are more irritating - "sporty" Camry, "stylish" Corolla and Prius, "aggressively sophisticated" Highlander, LOL. Next they will be the most bigly bestest cars ever, believe me.
Many, maybe even most, people in the age group they feature are oblivious to cars. They may know brand names and have preconceptions about them but could not ID one if their life depended on it. In part that is what these ads try to get at - not saying a Malibu is as good as a Lexus or Audi or whatever, but that their preconceptions about how one might be designed and equipped weren't correct. I'm not sure why that offends you so.
Judging by the comments all over the web, not just on the Zebra Corner parodies, but virtually everywhere the ad campaign has been mentioned, it isn't just me who rolls their eyes to the point of being audible. I think the ads annoy anyone with basic knowledge of the market. 80K Malibu? Maybe for a member of one of the "lost tribes" who has been forced into this civilization and is just learning cars.
I am not sure why the Youtube videos mocking the dopey GM spots offend some others so
At what point did the parodies become intolerable? Even the first one (mocking the regrettable Cruze "emoji" ad, I think - yet another shallow pandering to youth) was crude. Heck, the spokesman is a parody of the Bostonian stereotype.
Nissan ads have been awful for some time, they make me think of an ad agency ran by frat boys.
Gutter is the sign of the times, look at the leadership
No, it's just really vulgar, not funny at all--at least the one I'm referring to. It's mean and it's disgusting.
Some of their parodies WERE funny, though. Like everything else, applause sometimes encourages the performer to turn up the volume and jump the shark, so to speak.
No, it's just really vulgar, not funny at all--at least the one I'm referring to. It's mean and it's disgusting.
Some of their parodies WERE funny, though. Like everything else, applause sometimes encourages the performer to turn up the volume and jump the shark, so to speak.
This is exactly it. They started out funny. They no longer are.
I guess it doesn't get to me, I can see things that exist just for shock value, and not be offended by them. I probably say just as bad things during my evening commute. Their target audience is likely 15-35 year old males, and I am not too far out of that age demographic yet.
I still can't think of a specific ad campaign that is as hokey and irritating as "real people, not actors" - at best, it works to harm faith in humanity.
I get it that you hate them and agree they aren't great ads but hardly the worst. The "sporty Camry" grounded to the ground ad was arguably far worse. The newer Toyota ads with Jan are not much of an improvement. The Kia hamsters have to be in the discussion. Here in Canada the Hyundai espionage ads would certainly make the list. Pretty much any Nissan horror movie ad would be near the top. Several Honda ads spike the annoyance charts. The list goes on.
I thought Toyota's "Grounded to the Ground" ads hit the right demographic. I could believe a Toyota real buyer, not actor, would say such a thing!
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I guess it doesn't get to me, I can see things that exist just for shock value, and not be offended by them. I probably say just as bad things during my evening commute. Their target audience is likely 15-35 year old males, and I am not too far out of that age demographic yet.
I still can't think of a specific ad campaign that is as hokey and irritating as "real people, not actors" - at best, it works to harm faith in humanity.
I think the fact that GM continues with the lame "Real People, not Actors" campaign for so long and for so many attempts excuses the parodies from continuing to exist for so long and for so many attempts.
You can't parody what doesn't exist, right? I will agree the earlier ones (like the Malibu), were funnier.
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They produce some very civilized commercials in Europe. This one from Mercedes is typical of the "understated" approach that American automakers rarely use.
Europe is a different world from the colonies in many ways, not always good, but recently, probably more good than not. You won't find a "real people, not actors" spot there, for any car.
I've posted that Cadillac Style video previously. One of the best auto campaigns ever.
The Heartbeat of America compilation is interesting. I haven't heard that jingle in years and it sounds pretty good. I guess Chevy could still use that line back in the '80s.
I enjoyed the Subaru ads where the labs were driving the cars. Clever concept, and the situations were true to form (the human version). And of course, I have a soft spot for labs.
Maybe not. Space X was launching the rocket anyway, gets tons of press coverage at the build cost of the car, additional fuel and logistics to launch not all that affected by the payload of a car, adds to the Tesla tech image as well. Just speculation as I have no numbers to work with.
Maybe not. Space X was launching the rocket anyway, gets tons of press coverage at the build cost of the car, additional fuel and logistics to launch not all that affected by the payload of a car, adds to the Tesla tech image as well. Just speculation as I have no numbers to work with.
I think your right. I heard in the past NASA or others would just use concrete blocks or something similar as a "test" payload. Musk apparently found that boring and came up with the idea to put a Tesla in Space.
Brilliant if you ask me. Cool stuff. Probably the best Non-Science-Fiction I've seen in my lifetime (which of course includes the two side booster rockets landing themselves simultaneously and autonomously for economical re-use.
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It does make you wonder, though. how each car company views its customers. There is definitely a difference among various brands.
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The Malibu one still amuses me. So bad, it was just begging to be called out.
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It's interesting to read car ads from 100 years ago. Back then, they were still into the utility of the car, not the image so much (a bit of it appears in the really expensive cars). But even with all the "class" of those vintage ads, they still lied like rugs. Things like "Climbs the tallest mountains effortlessly, with smooth quiet power, effortless shifting, and unparalleled reliability". In 1918? I don't think so.
I actually thought the hamsters were creative - those spots didn't irk me. The Toyota hyperbolic platitudes are more irritating - "sporty" Camry, "stylish" Corolla and Prius, "aggressively sophisticated" Highlander, LOL. Next they will be the most bigly bestest cars ever, believe me.
80K Malibu LOL, MMakes me think of this
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I am not sure why the Youtube videos mocking the dopey GM spots offend some others so
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Nissan ads have been awful for some time, they make me think of an ad agency ran by frat boys.
Gutter is the sign of the times, look at the leadership
And really, those commercials are so lame, they ask for every word of it. 80K BMW-Tesla hybrid Malibu LOL.
Some of their parodies WERE funny, though. Like everything else, applause sometimes encourages the performer to turn up the volume and jump the shark, so to speak.
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I still can't think of a specific ad campaign that is as hokey and irritating as "real people, not actors" - at best, it works to harm faith in humanity.
You can't parody what doesn't exist, right? I will agree the earlier ones (like the Malibu), were funnier.
I too think the earlier ones had less shock value, and were better. The Malibu one is best, partly because of the absurdity of the original spot.
The Heartbeat of America compilation is interesting. I haven't heard that jingle in years and it sounds pretty good. I guess Chevy could still use that line back in the '80s.
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"Fueled by youth" is also a questionable slogan, most youth don't buy $50K+ cars, Kias or not.
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Brilliant if you ask me. Cool stuff. Probably the best Non-Science-Fiction I've seen in my lifetime (which of course includes the two side booster rockets landing themselves simultaneously and autonomously for economical re-use.