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Microsoft's First Seinfeld Ad Airs: Shoe Circus
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While I generally prefer a decent pie over an excellent cake, I think you guys are almost all missing the point of this ad...
it's an ice-breaker. It will not be a stand-alone event. Seinfeld on TV makes people watch, especially if it is weird and in any way resembles the TV show. This ad was both. They introduced the characters. You all know now that Seinfeld has met, in this parallel world, Bill Gates. At a Shoe Carnival.
That's all this ad was trying to accomplish.
The next one will move the story along. You will all follow along with the story, complaining about how it doesn't make any sense at all.
Eventually, you'll figure out that you are being tricked into watching a series of ads because it's like a TV show you wish was still on TV, only this time in short bursts and in HD. But you'll keep watching the show because you want to see what doesn't happen next.
The fact that this thread has more posts than some of the big Apple announcement threads should tell you something...
it's an ice-breaker. It will not be a stand-alone event. Seinfeld on TV makes people watch, especially if it is weird and in any way resembles the TV show. This ad was both. They introduced the characters. You all know now that Seinfeld has met, in this parallel world, Bill Gates. At a Shoe Carnival.
That's all this ad was trying to accomplish.
The next one will move the story along. You will all follow along with the story, complaining about how it doesn't make any sense at all.
Eventually, you'll figure out that you are being tricked into watching a series of ads because it's like a TV show you wish was still on TV, only this time in short bursts and in HD. But you'll keep watching the show because you want to see what doesn't happen next.
The fact that this thread has more posts than some of the big Apple announcement threads should tell you something...
Seriously, the ad made me more interested in buying those shows and shopping at a store called "Shoe Circus" than buying Vista.
I'm absolutely dumbfounded.
About the only thing it accomplishes is that it shows that Gates is willing to make a fool of himself. They don't even mention the product. I guess the upside is tons of people will probably watch it on YouTube after hearing how awful it is, they won't need to run it much.
To all those that defended the choice of Seinfeld for this and said that those bashing him were apple fanboys, here's your big fat I TOLD YOU SO. Seriously, didn't they see how absolutely horrible HORRIBLE the NBC promos for Bee Movie were?
Seinfeld was great on his show and even in his earlier American Express commercials, but the guy has lost it. It's probably too late to fire Seinfeld, but no question heads will roll at the ad agency.
About the only thing it accomplishes is that it shows that Gates is willing to make a fool of himself. They don't even mention the product. I guess the upside is tons of people will probably watch it on YouTube after hearing how awful it is, they won't need to run it much.
To all those that defended the choice of Seinfeld for this and said that those bashing him were apple fanboys, here's your big fat I TOLD YOU SO. Seriously, didn't they see how absolutely horrible HORRIBLE the NBC promos for Bee Movie were?
Seinfeld was great on his show and even in his earlier American Express commercials, but the guy has lost it. It's probably too late to fire Seinfeld, but no question heads will roll at the ad agency.
I guess you could say that. But confusing people on the internet and actually selling products are two different things.
For those who "don't get it", stop trying!
They are obviously not selling anything! It's a teaser. A commercial about nothing (hence Seinfeld).
It is meant to be enjoyed (or not) merely for its quirky and unusual premise.
You are making yourselves seem just a little dull by admitting publicly that you don't understand the commercial.
They are obviously not selling anything! It's a teaser. A commercial about nothing (hence Seinfeld).
It is meant to be enjoyed (or not) merely for its quirky and unusual premise.
You are making yourselves seem just a little dull by admitting publicly that you don't understand the commercial.
A failure?
And yet here we are over 650 posts later in a matter of hours talking about it, not to mention the massive coverage on the web.
First stage of advertising: Get people talking about it.
Second stage of advertising: Get them to want it.
The wagons are rolling, gentlemen. Step aside or be crushed.
And yet here we are over 650 posts later in a matter of hours talking about it, not to mention the massive coverage on the web.
First stage of advertising: Get people talking about it.
Second stage of advertising: Get them to want it.
The wagons are rolling, gentlemen. Step aside or be crushed.
I chuckled a few times...I love Jerry...But this is the wrong direction for microsoft. They need to just keep marketing toward that old unhip business crowd. They are not cool and never will be.
That's a good take. I recently read how soap operas got started in an "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader" book (nice series of books for useless, but neat info). Soaps started off as 15-minute commercials aimed how housewives and were "disguised" as stories. They usually involved the product somehow saving the woman's day, but they were continuing story arcs to keep women interested. They're called "soap" operas because the bulk of products used were soaps/detergents.
I'm sure this is a developing story, similar to the story of the Taster's Choice couple referenced way back.
I have never been a fan of the Apple commercials... they are extremely annoying. However, this one isn't great either. The whole concept is skewed and you cannot tell until the very end that they are trying to sell you something.
Exactly! Sort of like the Sponge Monkey ads from Quiznos. And that wasn't even a teaser. Those were the ads! They certainly made an impact since everyone was talking about them.
I had no idea that the folks here were so rigid, as if to say, "You must present product, features and price. You may compare to competitor, but any further deviation is strictly forbidden!".
I absolutely dig my Macs, but if this ad is any indication, I've gotta say the campaign will have some success.
And then there are those called the CRITICS... Hence... 600 post later, the criticism seems to depict a failed attempt to be drawn into the idea of liking Microsoft.
So I don't see the point of how many people might watch it or like it... if it's bad, it's bad...
If you think pushing a commercial and getting the mass public to see it actually generates something positive... well then.... just think GODZILLA and how much SONY pumped into the marketing of this monster failure and yet they STILL manages to make a horrible movie...
45 thousand votes cannot be wrong!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120685/
So no... if something's bad it's bad... simple as that... all it does is just make people talk filth about it... it won't make them WANT to buy Vista and they won't want to LIKE Gates either!
For me, thinking back on the Ad, I can't help but think about Mexican's being used poorly in a time when people are so xenophobic and Bill Gates is still a cheap Ba$tard... Jerry is just as unfunny as he's ever been and those shoes might be the only thing going for this Ad.
Maybe it's a PeeCee thing... who knows...
I think the spot is brilliant. It's unassuming and fun, you don't need to put a product on tv for it to sell. Look at this site 600 plus comments and still going. I think it is doing what it intended to to. Have people talk about Microsoft. You all fell right in to their trap, lol.
Good grief. 
I'm just glad our store got an Apple section last year. I have to spend less time explaining to customers why Vista sucks so bad. That $300M Microsoft is wasting on these ads should have been spent on getting out service pack 2 for Vista.
I'm just glad our store got an Apple section last year. I have to spend less time explaining to customers why Vista sucks so bad. That $300M Microsoft is wasting on these ads should have been spent on getting out service pack 2 for Vista.
Agreed. The Mac commercials are short and to the point and cute. This was the longest 1.5 minutes of my life.
Plus the Mac ads have a young hip kid with an old fart who happens to turn out comical. This had has two old farts being boring. am I supposed to get a warm fuzzy 10 commercials later??