Friday, April 04, 2008

The Golf Channel, Cialis and Slazenger

An advertiser is an advertiser and most every popular media business needs them, who else is going to pay the bills. So don't blame the Golf Channel for the pain that the current Cialis and Slazenger ads cause. I've got nothing against either product, it's just certain characteristics of the ads - not the product mind you - that's making it more painful to sit through the ads with each passing day.

The production quality of the Cialis ad is fine, it's just that it NEVER CHANGES. If you've got enough advertising funds to buy up that much airtime, then spend a few more bucks on some different versions. I've had to watch that kitchen faucet erupt more than once too often. It's getting so you can't watch any sporting event without being bombarded by erectile dysfunction products. I guess that says something about where the male viewing public is at, so maybe we are buying enough pills to warrant the ads. But please, too much repetition can kill a good thing.

Take a page out of the Aflac book. Even if you've seen a lot of their ads, you look sort of look forward to them because they are funny and there are enough versions to keep from driving you stark raving mad. Lilly, please do us a favor and come up with a few more versions of the ad or you're going to give golf a bad name.

Then there is Slazenger's 'Raw Distance' ad. Who do they think buy the most golf balls? If it's 14 year old boys who play video games then they've probably hit a home run with their ad that you'd swear was for the World Wrestling Entertainment. If it's anybody else, then why would video of raw meat and blood in a blender and a guy who spends too much time in the weight room and not on the practice range make anyone want to purchase a golf ball. My advice, team up with Lilly and get a twofer deal with the advertising agency producing the Aflac and Geico ads. Your golf ball may be terrific, but who can get past your commercial.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You've hit the nail right on the head with both of these ads.

As far as the male ED ads, I am getting a bit tired of them. I'm not ready to start explaining these to my son. But I'd love him to start watching sports, especially golf and baseball- his favorite two sports. I'm fully aware that I need to educate my son- but I want to do it on **my** terms, not the advertisers.

And as far as the Slazenger ad, I agree- maybe they have a great product, but damn, what an awful commercial. Each part of the commercial is just slapped in there like some cheap special effect. From the tough guy golfers to the fake blood on the ball- cheesy.