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Seinfeld-Windows TV Ad Anything But 'Delicious'
CWmike writes "Microsoft's $300-million ad campaign for Windows starring comedian Jerry Seinfeld launched Thursday with a long TV commercial almost entirely devoid of any talk of Windows, Microsoft or anything, really. With co-star Bill Gates, the scene is set in a shopping mall. Seinfeld, who did most of the talking, helps Gates buy a pair of shoes called the Conquistador. The commercial ends with Seinfeld asking Gates if Microsoft will "come out with something that makes our computers moist and chewy like cake so we can just eat them while we're working." Gates wiggles his rear to answer in the affirmative. The commercial ends (see video inside the story) with the Windows logo and the phrase 'Delicious.' Preston Gralla writes, 'I just saw Microsoft's much ballyhooed Jerry Seinfeld ad, and can say without equivocation it's one of the worst, most pointless ads in history. If this is Microsoft's response to the 'I'm a Mac' ads, it should fold up its tent and tell the world to switch to Apple."
The ad was a complete success. Can you believe that, after reading about it on Google News, I actually sought out and watched the commercial? Can you believe that right this very moment you are reading some unimportant commentary by someone whose opinion doesn't matter whatsoever about a TV commercial?
Score one for Microsoft.
Better known as 318230.
Delicious, butt-wagging, Seinfeld, cheap shoe stores being abhorrent, poking fun at Mexicans...what do all these things have in common?
Look at your common PHB. Likes "delicious food" as opposed to what the Mac guy eats, probably raw food or wheat grass or something. Thinks butt-wagging and slapstick are funny. Probably laughs at Seinfeld re-runs. Is glad he doesn't shop at the cheap shoe store for athletic shoes, but probably gets his dress shoes there, because who can tell. Has Mexican neighbors, is uncomfortable knowing he's in the same class they are.
This ad is brilliantly tarteted as a sort of subconscious reminder that PHB doesn't have to be a Mac guy, darnit, and he's good enough. Microsoft is here to shove more Applebees cake down his throat.
I saw it as, "We took the money we got from every computer you ever bought, and used it to make this crappy commercial!"
Bill Gates can wiggle his flabby ass all he wants -- I will never forgive them for Internet Explorer.
Soylent Green is peoplicious!
That may be one of the oddest and most horrifying things I've ever seen. Gates shaking his ass.
YOU ARE NOT BEYONCE!
so are shoes analogy to Windows... it doesn't quite fit but if you bend it up long enough you can squeeze your feet into it?
I thought it was quite clever actually.
You have to understand what they're going for...When was the last time you saw a Mac commercial that was really about something technical? They just don't do that, they sell this fun "image", this personified "I'm your buddy" thing which has little or nothing to do with your computer.
That's what MS is trying to counter. They're trying to humanize their image, build up some emotional investment in their brand.
I saw it cold actually, on TV, but I'd heard about it and I was geared up to scream "BULLSHIT!!!!" when the stupid claims started, which kinda threw me when they never did, I must admit.
Despite that knee jerk, and despite all my MS related baggage, I was semi-amused at various points. It was clever. Surreal, yes, but amusing.
And they're getting mad play, jesus, everyone looking at the ad online. I think it may play somewhat for them in the long run, but it's too early to tell.
ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
starring a Microsoft shill & a racist.
First, he wasn't an MS schill back then, in the later years he was an American Express schill. Second, so he's doing pitches for MS, so what? It's not like he's getting up there staring into the camera and saying, "Windows Vista is the greatest thing since penicillin." He's a comedian and he's being paid to do some ads. He's not a business ethicist or technologist, he probably knows as much on MS's business practices or technical stances as your average person, which is next to none.
Third, RACIST? What the hell? Can you PLEASE explain that, because I REALLY don't get that one. Honestly, I haven't a clue where you got that and really want to know.
jX [ Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. - Einstein ]
You should be right, this is only a teaser.
And IT'S WORKING, since everybody is talking about it.
Open your eyes people !
I don't know... I really don't care about the human face of the founder of any companies I do business with, especially huge corporate entities. I can *sort of* connect with a guy who hand crafts his beer, or grows the potatoes for his potato chips, but I'm not sure that this kind of connection is relevant when you see the world's richest man who founded a company that, for all intents and purposes, does something that most people don't really even understand.
I have a degree in communications (which includes advertising), and I simply don't see how this distinguishes the Microsoft brand in any way other than the fact that they can afford a commercial. A baffling and painfully awkward one at that.
Okay, what I'm really trying to say is that I'd love to see Jeff Goldblum kick Jerry Seinfeld's ass all over silicon valley. Ummm.
Yeah, cuz black people obviously HATE football...