To continue this week’s discussion about controversial ads – here are a few more for your viewing pleasure (or pain)…

This ad was recently pulled by the Milk Board due to it’s controversial nature (that’s right guys, PMS jokes still aren’t funny…)

This ad from Google stages an “email intervention”… AOL fans, it’s officially over.

Got comments?

With Election Day upon us, I must admit I’m relieved. Not because I think a new legislature will necessarily remedy all of our nation’s problems but because I’m so unbelievably annoyed with the political ad campaigns I want to run alright… For the hills!

I’m in marketing, I understand advertising; it’s about getting the message out… And I hear ya – LOUD AND CLEAR!! My mailbox has never seen so much action, my phone rings at all hours and I can’t get through an hour of television without at least 5 commercials bashing one politician or degrading the other. Not to mention ALL the media coverage – articles, debates, polls… OH MY!!! What information are we even getting from these slanderous ads?! Just give me a good reason to vote FOR you, not a million reasons why I shouldn’t vote for your opponent. I’m all for freedom of speech but this, my fellow Americans, is ridiculous!

Just think, with all the wasted money they sink into these obnoxious campaigns, they could fix the budget crisis AND save the rain forest! In the iniquitous words of Abraham Lincoln: “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”

Happy Election Day!

It’s on? Really?

That’s the best Southwest Airlines could come up with. What does it even mean? What’s on? The plane? I hope so. Flight attendant attitude? Oh yeah, it’s on.

Regardless of what their thinking is behind this new slogan and because it’s so obscure, you’d think they would develop an spot – backed up with some heavy media dollars – to establish the new line or what we presume is a new campaign. But the first time I saw the line, the commercial was about your bags flying free. The spot, allegedly created by GSD&M Idea City, isn’t all that compelling for an offer that is. It shows a Southwest baggage handler driving around the tarmac from the perspective of the front of the tractor he’s driving; we watch him mindlessly drive in circles while we listen to some trite VO about the offer. Our star comes into play at the end of the spot with the line “Grab your bag. It’s on.” Huh?

Do you walk to school or carry your lunch? Let’s not forget that we the Southwest Airlines flying public aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. If you’re going to use popular catch phrases, try picking ones that are relevant – relevant to your company, relevant to your product offering, relevant to your audience. This phrase is going to last as long as chest bump greetings and skinny jeans. Go back to the drawing board client and agency and don’t leave it until you’ve come up with something intelligent and relative. Or how about this? Just go back to “Wanna get away?” and continue to close with the familiar seatbelt “ding” and “You are now free to move about the country.”

About a month ago, I wrote about how much I couldn’t stand the bourbon burger ads from Carl’s Jr. I was severely disappointed in their creativity and ad talents.

Carl’s jr has definitely redeemed itself in my book.

Their new “Big Carl” Ads that call out McDonald’s and their less superior Big Mac is spot on, hysterical and really well put together. Although the Big Mac is iconic, and will be a tough competitor because of the loyalty issues, I think the ad does an incredible job of knocking the Mac down a peg or two. Rather than just simply stating “we’re bigger and better, buy us”, they create a mockery of the ‘big mac song’, poking holes in their faults (like less cheese, and crummy bread). They continue in a sarcastic tone “we’ve got a jingle too” (you just have to watch the video below to see what I mean).

I honestly couldn’t stop laughing at the end of it, and it certainly accomplished the goal of making me want to try their burger and pit it against the big mac.

Good job Carl’s Jr, let’s hope you can keep the trend going!