The Cranky Creative, Author at The Cranky Creative Blog

freelance writer writing on a laptop at a coffee shop

October 17, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Survival tips for full-time freelancers

I made my first foray into the freelance world in 2010 while working full-time at a job I hated. Copywriting jobs were few and far between where I lived, and

cranky ad review dennis quaid for esurance

September 24, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Ad Review: Esurance commercials with Dennis Quaid

Remember Erin, the pink-haired secret agent who starred in the first Esurance TV commercials? Alas, some people liked the character a little too much and the company was forced to

my favorite advertising quotes from david ogilvy and other advertising men

September 9, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Advertising quotes from the real-life Mad Men

I just finished watching all seven seasons of the hit TV show, “Mad Men,” which takes place in the 1960s at the start of the Golden Age of Advertising. It

rob placing wedding ring on bride's finger

August 19, 2019 The Cranky Creative

The Cranky Creative ties the knot

I wrote the most important copy of my life in July 2004. I was responding to an online personals ad posted by the woman who is now my wife. We

the cranky creative reviews liberty mutual's new truth tellers ads including zoltar

July 29, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Liberty Mutual Ad Review: Zoltar, bad actors, and other dumb ideas

Liberty Mutual’s “Truth Tellers” ads are back, and they’re as bizarre and unfunny as ever. Let’s look at the four new car insurance commercials we’ll all be muting with extreme

three young women trimming bushes in schick hydro silk trimstyle razor tv commercial

July 25, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Ad Review: Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle “trimming bushes”

Schick’s “trimming the bushes” TV commercial for its Hydro Silk TrimStyle women’s razor debuted in 2015, raising eyebrows and sparking controversy across the ad world. Schick received a fair few

July 18, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Business buzzwords and corporate jargon I hate

The corporate world runs on business jargon—bullshitty buzzwords that mask the meaning of the things we want to say. Why do so many businesspeople muddle their messages with mush-mouthed words

the cranky creative blog turns 1 year old on july 5

July 1, 2019 The Cranky Creative

The Cranky Creative blog turns one

The Cranky Creative blog first lit the pixels of computer screens a year ago on July 4, 2018. Frustrated with the red tape, politics, and backstabbing stupidity that pervades the

June 19, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Ad Review: Allstate. Mayhem. WHAT?

“Mayhem” is the character that creates mischief and, er, mayhem in all those Allstate insurance TV commercials. Mayhem is also what nearly happens in my bedroom at 2 a.m. when

chevy blazer tv commercial showing real people

June 11, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Ad Review: Chevy’s hilariously bad Real People ads

Chevy’s “Real People” commercials have been around for years, but I’ve been fortunate enough to dodge them—at least until last Tuesday when I found myself a captive audience in a

liberty-mutual-limu-emu-tv-commercials-are-lame-o

May 30, 2019 The Cranky Creative

Ad Review: Liberty Mutual’s LiMu Emu is Lame-O

I’m no fan of Liberty Mutual TV commercials, having savaged the company’s awful “Truth Tellers” ads in January. But soon after, the company rolled out a new campaign. “LiMu Emu