WHAT AM I WATCHING

Hey, let me talk to you, I hope you had a better week than I did, I had to fight a wicked cold and it sucks when your body has the shivers), nonetheless I’m about to break down five television ads in five paragraphs. Leave Your comment below and tell me your break down. Let’s get started.

I love being hoodwinked when it comes to commercials, and I give my props to you Toyota. With the first four seconds one may start bopping their head to the funky beat and ascertain that this ad is centered on a new employee when the computer says, “Hurry up new guy we need drinks for the meeting.” For the next couple of seconds, we watch how fast and efficient the vehicle drives and indulge in all the features of the hatchback as “new guy” completes some around the town “chores.” In the end, the character isn’t a new employee, but a video game professional that goes by the “new guy” moniker. The objective here is to show how the Toyota Hatchback is the perfect vehicle for busy professionals and this will in turn increase Toyota dealership sales. Overall, the ad conveyed that if you’re always on the go and want the best vehicle on the market, then this compact vehicle is for you.

Anytime a commercial script opens with the statement “parents will be parents” I am hooked. Within the first three seconds viewers can establish that this is a State Farm commercial and if anyone has seen a State Farm commercial there’s always some hijinks associated with buying car insurance. The commercial shows “superstitious” damages being made to vehicles and the Southeast Asian State Farm office beautifully ties in traditional thinking to current trends. The objective here is to increase State Farm customer sales and reassure clients that no matter what crazy thing happens “State Farm has you covered.” You have to love an ad that blends in family and comedy which attracts viewers.

This ad really hit home for me on a deeper level as an African American man living in America. Within the first 30 seconds of the ad, viewers get to experience the looks of discrimination through the eyes of an African American father. The ad continues to take viewers through different scenes, further highlighting “the look” African American males may get from their Caucasian counterparts, but in the last couple of seconds it’s revealed that this man is a judge (the highest respected position in America). The ad ends with a message, “let’s talk about the look so we can see beyond it.” The ad shows the website talkaboutbias.com, which is sponsored by Proctor & Gamble. The ad’s objective is to increase web traffic to the site and offers individuals an opportunity to explore biases in America. Masterfully done.

Within the first five seconds of this advertisement, you’ll get sucked in if you come from a creative, entertainment, and artistry background, which is why I was hooked. For the next 40 seconds, viewers watch an artist paint characters in detail across a canvas and the camera pushes into spectacular imagery. The ad then says “bringing an idea to life takes many talented people” followed by “we celebrate the Asian American storytellers leading the way” which lets you know this is an Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month advertisement. The advertisement flashes the Xfinity logo along with a site xfinity.com/AsianAmerican which obviously wants viewers to go to the site. The objective here is to increase web traffic amongst Asian Americans and holiday supporters. I think the value proposition though lies in the desire to showcase extraordinary artists for existing/future Xfinity customers.

If you’re about to retire or at a point in your life where you’re pursuing philanthropic endeavors, then this advertisement will speak to you. The ad’s music and switches between traditional video footage and photos make it a unique product. The Chase t.v. ad promotes the advantages of using the retire and inspire strategy, highlighting the personalized customer service a user will receive. The advertisement shows the different reports and mechanisms of the site and ensures dollars will be used wisely to achieve the clients’ goals. This advertisement definitely targets individuals who want to do good within their community and assures them that they will be taken care of through this program.