Jerry Seinfeld is said to have been paid around $10 million to represent Microsoft in a campaign that will cost the company $300 million. There are surely more ridiculous douche-tastic commercials coming, but this one takes the cake. Pretty much literally, considering the ending, which people on The Huffington Post are saying basically means “let them eat cake.” This commercial makes no sense, isn’t funny, and just brings it home how out of touch Microsoft is. Seinfeld isn’t funny or relevant anymore, but they figured they’d hire him and he does seem like an apt representative for their shitty brand.
I really liked those Microsoft commercials with the little swirlies and doodles that showed the possibilities with the software. And the Amy Sedaris bunny-run cakeshop ads were genius. Both made me feel a little better about putting up with Microsoft products for hours daily, but this ad just makes me want to switch to a Mac.
Agreed. That was x minutes of my time wasted while watching football last night. How in the world do they think that is going to sell anything? All it did was make me wonder about that brand of shoes. lol
Until I saw that ad, I had no idea that Bill Gates had such good comic timing! Seriously, Jerry Seinfeld makes Gates look like a comedy genius in that spot. Awful. But not surprising, considering how unfunny Jerry was when he promoted Bee Movie, even on 30 Rock.
I don’t “get it”. Is it normal or am I just having some brain system error?
Usually, I’d hit the replay button and try to understand the message. But my mind is not willing to work with my idea on this particular case: it refuses to command my hand to drag the mouse onto the right spot.
I’m relieved my mind hasn’t completely gone bananas yet…
I thought these ads would kick Apple’s a@@ but this is unwatchable. WHAT are they thinking? Terrible!
W…T…F??????
And you’re right, KateNonymous, Bill was way funnier (lol at the mugshot photo on his membership card, though, haha)
I think its HILARIOUS!! Its a play on intelligence and “uppitiness”; and its pit against supposedly “common” person– LO – Freakin L!!!
I get it comepletely. đ
Course, probably cos Im a nerd too- which is what the joke is on. đ
i think the ad is supposed to be like seinfeld’s show–about nothing. dont hold me to that though, because it might just be a horrible ad. the only funny part was gates using his mug shot photo on the shoe store card.
I think it would help to be high.
I liked it! Didn’t make too much sense, didn’t focus on the product…wasn’t great advertising all around…but I love Jerry Seinfeld and this definitely reminded me of his show. I miss it. đ
Bill Gates did make a really great video (I mean he hired a good production company) about what he would do after he left Microsoft. He does have a good sense of humor and can poke fun of himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lE21kpE3M0
Are these people serious? Apple has such good ads and this is how they try to counter them?
Who uses the internet? Who are these people ?
I thought it was funny.
I think Crispin Porter and Bogusky (the agency behind this ad) finally crashed. Maybe they were high when they conceived this.. they are based outside Boulder, CO.
While I think the commercial is a waste of talent and production value, I have seen it several times and I catch new things each time (to it’s credit actually)
I wouldn’t buy a product as important to me as a computer based on a commercial anyway – I think Microsoft is trying too hard to be what they aren’t
Bill Gates can act!!! – who knew?
It is actually kind of funny…
I think you have to ‘get’ the type of humor in the ad. I don’t think I care for Jerry Seinfeld as a person, but his sense of humor has always been hilarious. The ad IS kind of funny, if you ask me.
Epic Fail
I love Seinfeld and loved his HP laptop ads. I think Gates and Seinfeld are both geniuses, but this one was painful to watch. đŻ
I appreciate the ânot trying to be cool//celebrating geekdomâ aspect of the ad; however, I donât quite buy the fact that Microsoft had to have Jerry Seinfeld (of ââDonât you know who I am??â incredulityâ, in his Larry King Interview) to do this for them. In fact, I think it takes away from the âeverymanâ quality that Bill Gates (the Billionaire, letâs not forget) could still probably pull off (and that with his great comic timing), had another spokesman been picked – like Leno maybe, or Vince Vaughn, if it had to be a Promi. Or how about someone else? Like, say, how Apple got a âJustin Longâ out of nowhere and made him the Apple Person – who by the way, is more accessible (than a Jerry Seinfeld), and who, in the end, people (who are hip, or want to be hip) easily identify with.
Did Microsoft need someone âof Bill Gatesâ Caliberâ and thought they have that in Seinfeld? If so, I think it wouldâve worked better with a character more accessible than Seinfeld. If not, they could have entirely created 2x Personae ⌠or does that start to look like Microsoft copying Apple ⌠again? (oops!)
@ Princess
That always helps
I didn’t get it either. Bill Gates would have been much better alone. Jerry Seinfield stopped being funny a long time ago.
Eh. I think it missed the mark. Bill Gates doesn’t help. The fact that he’s cheap too p*isses people off. Too bad Michael Richards f*cked his career up, it would have been a funnier pairing.
I wrote a tongue in cheek article on my blog about two weeks ago listing my top ten reasons why Jerry Seinfeld should not be punting Windows Vista.
Here are some highlights:
* The campaign is badly positioned. Jerry is 54 years old. He is basically only representing 7% of the global computer users.
* Making me laugh at witty quips is not going to sway any business decision I make, regarding the future direction of my IT department for the next 3-5 years. Also his jokes and good humor will not cover the ever escalating license costs from Microsoft.
Here is the link:
http://bossmanthe.blogspot.com/2008/08/10-reasons-why-jerry-seinfeld-should.html
Enjoy the laughs!