Gold-digger: DirectTV Moll World's Strongest Woman?
Looks like an angel; strong as the devil . . .
Hey, it's the Friday after Thanksgiving, a classically slow news day. So let's have some fun. For months I've been fascinated by the TV commercial for DirectTV. The focus is a man we instantly understand to be a Russian billionaire businessman/mobster. "Opulence: I has it. I like the best" he explains, as the commercial opens. And sure enough, he's surrounded by the flashiest things—and women—that money can buy.
With no Morning Joe to bust today, I was catching up on some House episodes I'd DVR'ed, and during an October number, up popped the commercial. Just for fun, I decided to play it in slow motion, to see if there were interesting details I might have missed. Right away, I noticed for the first time that in the background of the opening shot, you see live dogs playing poker, in a re-creation of the famous poster.
But it was an image toward the end that really caught my attention. One of the two women seated on the sofa with our mobster passes him a jewel-encrusted TV remote on a tray. But the remote is sitting on a pyramid of . . . six gold bars. Wait a second, I thought. Aren't gold bars very heavy? View video and stills after the jump.
A quick Googling reveals that standard gold bars, which these appear to be, weigh 27.5 pounds each. So our svelte blonde damsel was effortlessly lifting, in what amounted to a curl, 165 pounds--plus the weight of the tray and remote. Not bad! I couldn't do half that at the gym. Then again, I don't have the benefit of a diet of caviar and Stolichnaya ;-)
PS: The image of our boy kissing his live, hyper-miniature giraffe is also priceless.
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Comments
Mark
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 11:54am.
I've got DirecTv and I've heard this commercial many times -though I generally don't pay much attention to commercials. This is a classic though! Lot's of stuff going on in this one. Obviously, portraying DTV as high class and opulent is the goal, but it's not often so much effort goes into the ancillaries without focusing on them- nice job by the ad agency.
As for the young lady- beauty and strength, if she's got brains, she could be the next SP.
There really are countless
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 11:57am.
There really are countless cool little touches in the ad, that only slo-mo reveals. And I love the way that we understand who and what this guy is about, without having to be told.
Consciousness
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:26pm.
Yours is a case study in consciousness. I once had a class in cognitive science, and how the brain registers or skips items it perceives. Advertisers now use it for product placement, movie directors use it for artistic purposes, etc. Fascinating class. The fact that you noticed that incongruity is proof that the brain does register all the details being presented to you.
But I compliment you for your awareness; I certainly never noticed it.
That's why I don't mind when NewsBusters points out the constant stream of bias in the media. All of these things have effect. It may not seem like a big deal that the media won't mention that the crook is a Democrat, but they do mention it if he's a Republican. It may not seem like a big deal that they skip over Obama's slips of the tongue, but they indulge themselves with Palin. But all of those details add up. And I thank NewsBusters for pointing them out, otherwise we wouldn't know how much the media is trying to constantly manipulate us. (McLuhan, call home!)
Thanks, KC. Not only do I
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:31pm.
Thanks, KC. Not only do I appreciate the compliment, but your finding a connection between my deconstruction of this ad and the work we do at NB in exposing the at-times hidden liberal bias in the MSM helps to justify my having posted this arguably-frivolous item!
I love the way the guy
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:51pm.
says "Peckedge" LOL
Funny, Mark
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:10pm.
Sometimes a certain ad (or campaign) will just catch one's fancy.
The Geico ads have me in stitches. Particularly little Maxwell, doing "wee, wee wee WEEEEEEE" all the way home. I loved the "cause Ah'm a pot hoeeele" one, too. "Jackwagon".
Of course, for every clever and enjoyable ads, there are hundreds that I immediately tune out.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Geico, Aflac
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:16pm.
I'm a big fan of the Aflac goat, myself.
I also like the ads for Ally
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:20pm.
I also like the ads for Ally bank, featuring the slick used-car salesman type guy who tricks the kids. My favorite is the one in which the slimeball grabs the kid's chocolate eggs, and tells him it's an "egg management fee." What makes it is the way the guy points his finger and makes a clicking sound, precisely as a sharpie would do.
"The Interview" ad
Submitted by American Infidel on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:52pm.
is the best in my opinion. Cracks me up everytime I see it.
Infidel: weird--we get the
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:04pm.
Infidel: weird--we get the Ally ads here, but I've never seen the Interview one. Guess my area isn't in the "catamaran racing" demographic ;-)
This one is pretty new
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:13pm.
But it is funny.
They're great ads...but you know what? Until you and Mark wrote about them, I wouldn't have been able to tell you who the ads were for.....great ads, but miss the mark because they don't create the association.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
The GEICO ads are great. I
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:17pm.
The GEICO ads are great. I like the one in which the gecko uses the boss' sentimental first dollar bill in the snack machine. Jackwagon is also great, thought contrary to the ad's assumption I'm not convinced the drill sergeant makes a terrible therapist. Could be just what that wimpy patient needs!
Sorry, Mark...didn't mean to derail your thread
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:10pm.
But as KC pointed out, there are subliminal messages in ads and other entertainment media, what with product placements and such.
I'm glad you pointed out the wierdness in this ad, I'd just kind of dismissed it as the Russian Mafioso with the funky pet.
Some ads are so clever, and some are so bad...but they all try to get our attention and get brand recognition. Did you know that before the AFLAC duck, that company had like 2% name recognition, and afterwards, something like 98%? That's a successful ad campaign. I think I read somewhere it got multiple awards for best branding ever.
The Geico gecko is a favorite here, too....but I think the two I mentioned earlier, the pig & the pothole, are my all time favorites. Almost on the level of the old Alka Seltzer, "Mama Mia, that's a speezy, spicy, Meatball!". <edited to add link>
Great idea for a slow NB day, Mark. Thanks!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Derail away, blonde: I'm
Submitted by Mark Finkelstein on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:24pm.
Derail away, blonde: I'm happy to have this thread go any way people want it.
And by the way, same thing happens to me all the time: I'll like and remember and ad, but have no idea who it's for. Because I like the Ally ads so much I made it a point to check, but hadn't really paid attention before.
Ally Bank
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:38pm.
I really did know it was a bank, but didn't have an idea which one.
My favorite is the one with the little girls and the pony. The look on the little brunette's face, when told she doesn't get a real pony.....priceless. I never knew a six year old could shoot daggers like death rays.
Speaking of priceless....THAT was a great campaign. People riff on it to this very day.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Whenever I see those ads with the kids
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:47pm.
and they say "Even kids know...." I'm always thinking "when they're being screwed...." LOL
I love the Wee-wee-weeeee one too!
Here's the pig & the pothole
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:05pm.
Maxwell (almost 6 million views!)
Pothole (1.6 million views)
This is kind of a fun thing to be doing today.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Pothole
Submitted by Chaitealover on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 7:37pm.
At the time the "Pothole" ad was running, one of the local morning shows did a phone interview with the gal that did the voice. She, of course, used that voice for a good part of the interview. I can't for the life of me remember a word she said, I only remember laughing so hard that I had big tears rolling down my face. Priceless.
Chai
Cuz, Ahm a pot-hooowl!
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 7:45pm.
It still cracks me up.
Truly, it's been a great thread, with all of the classic commercials.
But...."Shoooooot"..."K'Bye!".
Best evah!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Perfect Voice For The Commercial
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 8:37pm.
The pothole voice is Dayci Brookshire. She's from North Carolina. I found an Alabama radio interview with her on Youtube. Even better is a Neal Boortz promo she did.
Pretty girl.
Iconic Commercials
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:45pm.
Where's The Beef?
Two-fer
Many good commercials to list.
Way to many bad commercials to forget.
Where's the beef?
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:50pm.
In January of 1984, I was a Jesuit. I was in my first year of novitiate. First-year Jesuits are required to take a month-long silent retreat, following the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. That's no typo. It's a month of silence. OK, once a day, you talk to your retreat director about what you're supposed to pray over that day, but that's it. No discussions or conversations. No talking. No radio. No TV. No newspapers. Total blackout.
Once we got out of retreat, in early February, we were bewildered when people would work that commercial into conversations. People would say, "where's the beef?" and I had no idea what they were talking about. After a few conversations like that, I felt like an idiot. I actually asked an older Jesuit, with embarrassment, "what's this whole beef thing about?"
Needless to say, it took him a few minutes to stop laughing at me.
Did You Get A Wendy's Burger...
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:18pm.
... To see what all the fuss was about?
I can relate. My first year of medical school was so consuming that people would talk about events and I'd have no idea. This was especially appearant with deaths in the news... even a year or two later.
I relied on a single evening national news broadcast and maybe Nightline for my news back then. Occasionally the local paper - The Toledo Blade. (verrry Liberal) No internets or NB's for alternative reporting.
Wow, KC
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:38pm.
That is a funny story.
But it makes me stop and consider, how it must be to be so sensory deprived for a month. I think I'd do fine for about three-four days. But after that, not so sure.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
You'd be surprised
Submitted by KC Mulville on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 8:42pm.
It was a very freeing experience, in a lot of ways.
For one thing, you notice how much nonverbal communication happens all the time. Second, you realize how much unnecessary noise goes on in your life. Third, you realize how much you can live without it. There are other revelations, but those leap to mind.
Wow, KC...that wasn't the way I was going at all.
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 9:44pm.
Not in the least.
First, I am one of the most "cut them off" types you can imagine. I can sit in a room full of chaos, and just totally block it all out. Ignore everything.
Isn't that amazing? You actually lived it, but noticed all of the nonverbal stuff....I've never lived it, but have managed to block out all sensory superfulousness. Just because I like to concentrate.
I kind of know how much I can live without it all....but I suspect it would bother me, knowing that I can (and have) blocked it out at my pleasure, but to have to block it out at someone else's direction....maybe not so much.
Actually, I am kind of intrigued by what you've written. I think I might like to try that.
I'm going to have to give it some thought. As I said, I'm intrigued.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Here is an old Geico
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:53pm.
Here is an old Geico commercial featuring the Taco Bell chihuahua
Classic
Strat & Scoob....those are some great oldies
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:07pm.
As far as the new ones, I like the AFLAC commercial with Guy Fieri, when the duck freaks out as birds whirl on the barbeque, and Guy yells "Come on, it's CHICKEN!".
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I've not seen the Guy
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:42pm.
I've not seen the Guy Fieri/chicken one yet.
Speaking of Alka Seltzer
Submitted by Seashell on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:13pm.
I always liked this one. I feel this way after every Thanksgiving meal!
That was a fun stroll...
Submitted by beauxdog on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:40pm.
... down memory lane.
Thanks.
Little things in commercials
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:20pm.
That part with the tray of gold bars was one of the first things I noticed after I had seen that commercial a couple of times, I thought it was hilarious! That told me right away there's no reason to take the whole thing seriously except for that they were making a serious offer(as commercials are wont to do). Of course the first clue right away was the stereotype of the guy, it was so cliche it made the whole thing funny. We don't hear too much of people gold-plating anything except for like how Saddam Hussein decorated one of his palaces and he was a dictator.
Like Blonde, the Geico commercial with Maxwell is a laugher, or at least it makes me grin, especially with the little wind-fan blowing outside the window with him.
My newest favorite advertisement is the one for the video game shooter where people from all walks of life were wielding different kinds of guns and rockets shooting at each other. That was COOL!
-Jon
Awesome Commercial
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:57pm.
Call Of Duty: Black OpsFavs are the shotgun-wielding young lady - she really is having fun - and the chef at the end.
Pure fantasy but definitely not for kids.
That's the one
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:06pm.
Yep, Call of Duty, couldn't remember it for a moment. That's kind of thing that gets the peaceniks' panties in a bunch, especially the line "there's a soldier in each of us." I cracked up when I saw the doctor rappelling down(unless he's a scientist-type).
I'm just glad I don't have an XBox or I'd never leave my place from playing those games. Damn, gaming technology's come such a long ways from those Atari consoles.
-Jon
Better Get Comfy
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:22pm.
Have no fear. COD: BOp's will be ported for PC if it hasn't been already.
You still may never leave home! ;-)
PC requirements
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:32pm.
Nah, that's one thing I don't have to worry about. Games like that have such high requirements for RAM, processor and video card power that I'm not going to spend a couple of hundred dollars on that. Plus given my management position, I don't really have that much time for stuff like that these days, even if I did have a couple days off from work.
Given the economic conditions we are in with this country, I have foregone buying any type of luxury (had been saving up to upgrade, but won't now). Besides, I know plenty of people who have gone ahead and splurged, so I can check their machines out if I wanted to.
Don't think I'm not tempted though!
-Jon
I hear you on the new games.
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 3:53pm.
I hear you on the new games. I'm still playing StarCraft 10 years later.
Have updated my 4+ year old rig about as far as it can go. No better chip or video card available. Still working great for what I need but the new games would probably suck on low res, if they paly at all. Figure to upgrade MB, chip and vid card in a year or so. Probably leave Win XP and migrate to Win 7 at that time as well.