I used to think the girl who screamed at us about buying rugs was the most obnoxious person I had seen on television, but the old man who is screaming at us now about buying used cars has even her beat. It’s really creepy to see a man of his advanced age calling people “babeee.” Does anybody even listen to these people?
I was very disappointed to see Bob Caldwell working on television for this sleazy organization the first day after his retirement. Shame on you, Bob.
— Sandra Bradbury
Asheville
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Hmmm, it seems that there is a plus side to having satellite television service without local channels. No need to sit through such irritating commercials. However much relief this may provide, there are plenty of other commerical irritants to contend with, complete with amplified sound to knock you into submission. I recently did a one-week, non-scientific study of the amount of commercials relative to programming (using only a dozen channels which I typically watch, and omitting the others) and found that about 50% of what is broadcast are direct commercials or such things as ‘paid programming’. The other 50% are primarily heavily edited and censored old movies, shown repeatedly, or lame series for the mentally unsophisticated.
Many years ago, the singer Bruce Springsteen put out a song called ’57 Channels and Nothin’ On’. It’s more like 157 channels and still ‘nothin’ on’ (with very, very few exceptions).
It would be wonderful if enough people decided to quit paying for any television programming, cable or satellite, unless the quality improves.
Hey now, Jamie Simpson is NOT obnoxious! I appreciate her braying commercial delivery because then if I am otherwise not paying attention to the TV that is on, I am then alerted to her presence and can catch a quick glimpse of her lovely, backwards-walking hotness before the commercial ends.
Now, that lantern-jawed guy they have started to use instead is not hot at all, what’s up with this dude?? (Did the store get marketing info telling them that more straight women and gay men buy area rugs than straight men do?)
You should see Ms. Simpson’s half-hour infomercials for a car dealership over here near Winston-Salem. Not much backwards-walking, but she’ll convince you that your credit is pristine.
I’ve seen the McKinney Dodge ones she does here, so I bet they are similar.
It’s all part of the Jamie Simpson Marketing empire;
http://www.jamiesimpsonmarketing.com/
Ok has anyone seen the TaxMasters commercial? He sounds like he’s doing a funeral with the funeral dirge playing in the background sheesh!
I do however love the creditreport.com commercial singing guy!
“Instead of lookin’ fly and rollin’ phat, my legs are stickin’ to the vinyl and my posse’s gettin laughed at”
How funny is that?
Maybe it’s just me but I run into the room when I hear that one come on! lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvj_E6O2Uh0&feature=related
Agreed Sandra. The guy who says “babee” is obviously aimed at the Northeast yankee transplant population. The used car lot is obviously playing an old marketing game. In order to get people to remember your commercial, make it as obnoxious as possible.
Now Bob Caldwell. LOL you are surprised he’s hawking used cars? Do you remember the old Mary Tyler Moore Show? No doubt Ted Knight based his obnoxious news anchor character on Bob, with exaggerated low radio voice, pompous personality and all.
FYI, Nam, Ted Knight’s character, Ted Baxter, was based on the well-known Los Angeles news anchor George Putnam, who sounded exactly like Baxter.
Wrong Kriss. I lived in LA for a time and have seen and listened to George Putnam for years. He was no pompous blowhard like the Ted Baxter character. Of course my comment about Bob Caldwell was in jest, although Bob is a bit pompous, hence the comparison.
Actually Kriss, after the above post I googled it. You are right that George Putnam was part of the model for Ted Baxter, along with William Powell. The reason I stuck up for Putnam is he is not pompous at all. He is an icon in Los Angeles radio-TV and is still broadcasting a radio show in his 90s! Quite a guy.
If I’m not mistaken, I recall someone from the show, and I think it was Knight himself, once say in an interview that George Putnam was his inspiration for the character. And in this Wikipedia article on Putnam, it also has that reference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Putnam
The system was doing weird things last night, and my link didn’t work right at first. Looks like they’ve just fixed it, but it leaves out “(newsman)” following his name which was originally part of it. Also, your comment posted at 12:01 AM I didn’t see until today either.
Oh, well. Actually Kent Brockman is my favorite news anchor.
The Kia of Greer guy is equally annoying.
Also I think its funny that the letter writer knows not who Dick Vitale is, baybee!
Moontime, if that is the guy who does the used car commercials and says “baybee”, he is obvously a Northestern yankee. Below the Mason-Dixon line, that kind of schtick is usually found unappealing. Cultural differences. That is why I said they must have thrown him in to appeal to the transplants. I would much rather listen to Brad Dougherty. A Southerner and a truly nice guy. I’m just embarrassed for him that he feels he has to do used car commercials.
“Hmmm, it seems that there is a plus side to having satellite television service without local channels.”
Right now I’m working on a commercial that I hope will be the weirdest local tv ad ever. It will definitely be on cable and hopefully channel 13 if I can afford them.
Hi Sam!
marc
Anyone remember those great, locally produced “Factory Sales and Surplus” commercials that were so ridiculous and amateurish that they became compelling television in the 70s? Closest thing we have now is Marvin talking to himself for Todd’s RV and Marine.