If the spirit does live on after we shuffle off our mortal coil, how grim to imagine that one could spend eternity shilling for Diet Coke and Ikea! Andrew and Vieves look at commercials that rely on the shades of the departed to make the sale. Plus, Diet Coke has another swing and a miss.
It's a real jinglepalooza this week! With the help of a musical listener stuck in quarantine, Vieves quizzes Andrew on some classic commercial jingles. Plus the Ad Council sings the classics of their childhoods.
Special guests Gus (who's ten and a half years old)and his mom Phyllis (we didn't ask her age)join Andrew and Vieves for a look at commercials through the eyes of a child. It turns out, the kids are alright...with some SUPER weird commercials. The darkness is real, ya'll.
Andrew and Vieves consider commercials built on flawed premises, failed leaps of logic, and shaky foundations. Or is it all just a lot of smoke and mirrors to disguise a rant about Gordon Ramsay? Plus, a cereal commercial featuring implied bestiality proves the 90s were a weird time to be alive.
A half-baked theory on the emotional range of commercial robots leads Andrew and Vieves to interrogate the true nature of the mechanical man as he endeavors to sell everything from toilet paper to cell phone plans. Plus, a musical legend leaves behind a diverse commercial legacy.
What happened to the car commercials of yore? Back in the day, carmakers didn't bother with drone footage of cars cruising along a coastline or navigating empty cityscapes. No, they offered us a vision of the fantastic: spandex-clad Romeos, 9-to-5 Tarzans, and women scientists! Andrew and Vieves marvel at car commercials as they once were.
"It." Everyone's doing it, getting it or thinking about it, but what is "it", and why does it sound so gosh dang dirty when it's used in commercials.? It's innuendo galore this week. Plus, thirsty Ja Rule is thirsty.
Vieves is loving (and hating) a batch of ads related to animals this week, while Andrew interrogates the commercial career of podcast favorite, Malcolm Barrett (don't worry, they explain who he is). Plus, an astute Ad Councilor points out a similarity between two very different commercials.
Across America, COVID restrictions are lifting, and businesses couldn't be more excited to get customers into their - and they can't stress this enough - CLEAN establishments. Plus, a 30-year old dish detergent commercial is too hot for TV.
When it's time to sell the drugs that keep the Baby Boomers' hearts, lungs, and everything else working, advertisers rely on the music that turned on a generation, with varying degrees of success. Plus, Andrew launches a new segment designed to make Vieves prove that she really did go to grad school.
It's rarely good news for a brand when one of their commercials makes it into the news, but in today's show Andrew and Vieves are honestly scratching their heads about what is happening in some of these messes. Is it possible for everyone to agree that a commercial is racist and still not be exactly clear on what even happened?
Like every human experience, the end of a relationship is nothing if not grist for the capitalist mill. This week, Andrew and Vieves consider commercials that start with heartbreak, but end with a sale.
The passing of Jerry Stiller brought to light a trove of commercials he made with his wife and comedy partner Anne Meara, everything from Windex to horse racing. You want a piece of Stiller?! YOU GOTTT IT!
The Ad Councilors are in charge this week! Genevieve and Andrew look at the commercials that listeners have been sharing on Facebook, especially now that the covid crisis is in full swing. No need to shove, there's enough somber piano music for everyone.
A very surprising Jay Leno cameo leads Genevieve and Andrew to explore the best and worst commercials that feature the best and worst late night TV hosts. Plus, a viral video highlights just how damn similar every commercial is in the age of coronavirus.
Animal spokescritters are everywhere, including our homes, cars and beaches. But what should a talking commercial animal actually sound like? Andrew quizzes Vieves' ear for animal voices. Plus a Portland ad giant joins the COVID-19 PSA game.
A chilling new ad campaign from BetterHelp.com leads Andrew and Genevieve to explore mental health in TV commercials...from ads touting therapy services, to tire commercials that use the old "psychiatrist couch" gag.
For a creature that might not exist, Sasquatches fill a surprisingly large niche in the advertising ecosystem. Andrew and Vieves review the many, many commercials that rely on these elusive forest apes.
The pandemic has created a dividing line between the before times and the now times. Nowhere is that divide more apparent than in the pre-COVID-19 commercials that are blissfully unaware of the coming apocalypse. Andrew and Vieves look at the before and after, plus a catchy jingle gets one Ad Councilor out of a jam.
As the quarantine drags on, Genevieve discovers a small silver lining as the increased TV time reawakens her love of commercials. She shares her discoveries with Andrew and the ATM Ad Council.
Apropos of absolutely nothing at all, Genevieve and Andrew take a look back at some of the best (and worst) hand-washing PSAs of all time. Also, Andrew learns that he was actually right about something!
What would brands say about themselves if they had to tell the truth? What constitutes "fast casual dining"? What the heck is going on with Golden Corral? Andrew and Vieves try to answer these questions and more in this week's After These Messages.
When advertisers need an out-of-touch, self-important boss, they go to one actor: national treasure Gary Cole. If you could tune in this week, that would be greeeeaaat.
They say all is fair in love and cola war, which explains these spokespeople who turned their coats and went over to the competition. This week, Andrew and Vieves consider commercials that reek of betrayal.
Billionaire presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is spending so much money advertising his campaign, that by the time it's over, there may be an ad for every man, woman and dog in America. This week, Andrew and Vieves are joined by Slate correspondent Justin Peters (@justinstrevett) who voluntarily subjected himself to 185 Bloomberg ads...and ranked them all!
Noted rap experts Andrew and Vieves grade the commercial pitching skills of the giants of hip hop, from Dr. Dre to Cardi B. Plus, a canine miracle really pays off for an Ad Councilor's university.
Celebrities were stacked wide and deep in this year's crop of Super Bowl ads. But despite the often pointlessly long call sheets, Andrew and Vieves were surprised to find that they mostly enjoyed this year's commercials. With some vociferous exceptions, of course.
Genevieve and Andrew take a sneak peak at the upcoming Super Bowl commercials, including a surprising mascot death and an Old Town Road tie-in that has Andrew very excited.
Marketing goes splat! as Andrew and Vieves look at the advertising trend of throwing stuff at products to prove how tough they are. The watermelon budget is through the roof this week.
As Andrew and Vieves delve into their favorite ads of the new year, they stumble headfirst into their complete lack of knowledge about all things Karate Kid-related. Plus, Stevia's like, made from plants, man.
