Because Commercials Count!

Hi!!!!! I'm Commersh Ally!  

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by advertising -- especially on television.  As a child growing up in the 80s and 90s, I absorbed between 30,000-40,000 commercials a year (Source).  Some I still remember to this day, in many cases I remember more about the commercials I saw than the shows I was watching when I saw them.

Recently, I got to thinking about exactly why that is.  It's understandable that I'd remember more about the commercials (and the products they pitched) than whatever TV show I was watching, I most likely saw certain ads dozens or even hundreds of times... but why did some make an impression and others fade into the catacombs of my mind?  That started me thinking about what makes a good commercial and what makes a bad one.  How do some ads catch my attention and others invoke my disdain?

(*Note: My opinion on the products of those last two commercials is polarized.  Head-On has become a staple for me and I'd rather drink toilet water than crack open a Key Stone.  But this blog is meant to focus on the advertisements themselves, rather than the products being pushed.)

So, I took to the internet and did some research. Not only did I find out I'm not alone in my love for commercials, but that there was an endless number of things I felt compelled to exposit on.  So, this blog was born, and my mission along with it.

What is that mission?  Simply put: to take the ads we see on TV (and increasingly on sites like YouTube, blip.tv, Hulu and the like) and to separate the wheat from the chaff.  I want to showcase good ads and critique bad ones while exploring what works and what doesn't.  There will be several factors I will use to judge a commercial's effectiveness, but the overall gauge I will be using here is: is it entertaining.  After all, the ads I remember most were the ones I enjoyed watching... even if my amusement was because of how clueless advertisers can be.

Each post will be thematic, meaning I'll examine several commercials for a specific type of product or service like prescription drugs, beer, candy, fast food, cars, etc.  I'll post several examples of what I personally feel are good and bad ads and discuss why it is I feel that way.  Of course, any of you reading out there are absolutely welcome to chime in with your own comments and suggestions!

And the topic I'll be covering in my first post?

BEER.

Because beer is good. Beer is good. Beer is good. And stuff.