Comments on: I’m Not a Doctor but I Play One On TV

By: Susan Gunelius

Susan Gunelius — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:12:26 +0000

KB, I love the “Christmas Story” reference!

By: KB

KB — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:06:10 +0000

OK. That explains it. During the 1980′s I couldn’t get television reception where I lived, so I missed the commercials, as well as the shows. So when someone recently said, “I’m not an auditor, but I play one on TV” and I said, “What???”, he sent me to this web page.
I believe when you come across a classic, like HEFTY HEFTY HEFTY, it sticks, These days, particularly since January of this year, buying trash bags is more of an economic consideration than a performance one. But if the slogan fits the situation, you bring it out and use it. Same is true for movies as well as commercials. “Win 0ne for the Gipper” or “Play it again, Sam” are just two samples of movie phrases that have become catch-phrases. But whatever you do, just be careful you don’t “shoot your eye out!”

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:16:55 +0000

There was an ad that aired recently that had a similar concept. It featured Neil Patrick Harris. I believe it was an Old Spice ad, featuring Neil Patrick Harris.

By: Prescott Perez-Fox

Prescott Perez-Fox — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:48:24 +0000

I think that if the cast of Grey’s Anatomy appeared in an ad (as Doctors) it would be an effective endorsement. Obviously, they’re actors, but since the show has credibility in the mind of the audience, so do the actors.

Advertising has changed so much since 1986. Yes, we’ve become move impatient and better tuned at detecting bullshit, but the creative has evolved as well. Any ad with a conventional “jingle” is perceived as old-fashioned, and the classic notion of voiceover has gone bye-bye. These days, we want mini stories, we want to connect with the characters in the ad, even for 20 seconds. They’re not selling us, they’re telling us.

There are a few exceptions that never get old. Foldger’s still replays the “Peter” ad where the long-lost son returns home on a crisp winter morning. And we’ve recently seen the revival of Hefty’s repetitive (albeit, powerful) slogan of “HEFTY HEFTY HEFTY, wimpy wimpy wimpy.” I think folks would still respond to the bluntness of some of the classic ads — one that comes to mind is the Mineke ads, “I’m not gonna pay a lot for this muffler!”