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We've been here before, when 3G first came out in 2003 Video Calling was supposed to be the big selling point, but it never caught on (possibly because it was much more expensive than voice calling, possibly because people didn't actually want to see each other on the phone!)

Of course all the Apple hipsters will probably want to video call all their friends straight away to show off their new Iphone 4s, but will video calling actually last this time?

Here's one of the original Three video calling adverts.
http://www.visit4info.com/advert/3-Mobile-Video-Calling-Hutchison-3G-Network/8771

Didn't a TV advert do that - I think it was the Gene Kelly "Singing in the Rain" where they used an actor but replaced his face with Gene Kelly's

Golf GTi advert

There is also the swiss drink "rivella", which is whey-based, and enjoying a relatively stable but modest popularity since 1952

I like the Toohey's Beer Trebuchet ad.

..simply hired the guys who did the Citroen adverts.

Most fast-food commercials star teens and are aimed at teens/young adults

Nope, fast food adverts are aimed at the parents or young children, thats why they have silly Hamburglar toys, a kids zone and a health message. No sign of 13-18 at McDs, and BK are clearly targeting the 18-25 range, with workplace settings and .

establishing their places as hang outs

Did you do know that they design fast food places so that they drive people away after 20 minutes? The seats are hard, the music loops (and is pretty annoying anyway, we used to switch the tape when I did a summer job flipping burgers). The last thing these places want is a bunch of teens driving away other customers.

Most video games are marketted toward teens.

I agree, but you only see titles aimed at older players (Championship Manager, WWII games, The Sims) in the mainstream media. Stuff like Halo and WoW will be pushed in niche media, like gamer mags and review sites.

If you hit the 18-year-old mark, you're likely to attract people anywhere from 13 to 28

Perhaps for some products, but the overlap is tiny. A 25 year old is going to be looking at cars, consumer electronics, and financial products, a 15 year old is looking to buy music and stuff to impress his/her mates.

Take a look at which music gets advertised on mainstream TV, its all Muse, Jack Johnson, KT Tunstall and aimed at the 20-30 segment.

Seriously, its a bit 'media studies' but have a critical look at the adverts on busses, and on mainstream TV (e.g. Lost or Buffy) and have a little thing about whether a 15year old is being targetted by the advert.

Get out of the basement, she's a 'Miss'.

The robot could be an evil villian in his hideout, or he could be a good guy on his way to saving the galaxy. However, one thing he will *not* be doing is breakdancing

http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=18560

Now who has a poor imagination?

The really sad part is that it probably wasn't even cousin Alice who sent it, it was someone else who had both you and cousin Alice in their address book.

It could be worse. Alice could be your dad.

You know, I think that while advertisers in some situations have gotten more annoying, in other ways they've gotten smarter. 10 years ago, I highly doubt anyone would have yelled to me (while I'm getting a snack during a commercial break, etc) "hey, come back here and check out this *product X* commercial, it's hilarious." I've seen some commercials for products such as Molson Canadian that were often more entertaining than the shows.

Sadly, Molson will no longer make the "I am Canadian" ads since they joined up to become Molson-Coors, citing it might damage international relations. But there are plenty of other great commercials out there, so much that there are even websites dedicated to them

As telecommunications become more digital, I think systems such as 'commercial feedback' could become very useful. Click a button on your remote and rate the current commercial... and perhaps future advertisers will learn to make commercials that don't suck as less-rated commercials get blocked by TIVOs and their ilk.

http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=22624
"That is NOT funny!"

they are doing advertisements for a car insurance company

I predict if Neanderthals are cloned:

A) Geico will offer them car insurance, but they won't buy because of their Caveman commercials.

B) Neanderthals will be pissed to find out were replaced by people on the B Ark.

C) Sales of backrazors will double.

D) Grunthag and Duna will top Neanderthal baby names lists just above Rena, Gort, Bob, and Winona.

If Dr Who didn't do the trick, show him the banned Marmite ads!

Mecca? How about Bradford?

Yes, someone already posted a link to that advert.
Here is the link again.

If not, have a look at this. Rather amusing the first time you see it.