Would you ever knock on a stranger’s door and, upon being allowed to enter, strip down and start shaving your pubes? That’s precisely what Gillette and model Nicole R. Rasenti
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No one wants Liberty Mutual’s wet teddy bears
Liberty Mutual’s new wet teddy bear commercial has convinced me of two things: 1) The once proud profession of advertising is dead; and 2) We really do live in a
Continue readingSorry, Cranky readers, but I like the Allstate “Smooth” ad
In brilliant contrast to so many boorish ads that aim to get our attention through cacophonous noise and vapid jokes, Allstate’s 60-second “Smooth” ad communicates its message with style, grace,
Continue readingSuper Bowl LV commercials: The Cranky Ad Review verdict
Really, what did everyone expect? Smarter and funnier than most TV commercials aired during Super Bowl LV, the 1999 Mike Judge film Idiocracy was sadly prescient. So let’s watch a
Continue readingAd Review: GEICO’s gags are getting old
Prolific insurance advertiser GEICO is back with more “hilarious” TV commercials. This time, two couples are excited to share how much they love their new homes — despite clogging problems
Continue readingAd Review: PlayStation 5, Xbox battle for video game supremacy
PlayStation 5. Xbox Series X. The next generation of video game consoles is here, and with it, a stark reminder of why advertisers need to communicate the right message to
Continue readingAd Review: Simplisafe’s ‘Robbert’ commercials sell the product short
I like SimpliSafe. The company’s home security systems are easy to use, effective, and affordable. So I’m a little disappointed with SimpliSafe’s latest TV commercials featuring new spokesman “Robbert,” a
Continue readingI hate Allstate’s ‘safe drivers save 40 percent’ commercial
It assaulted my ears from another room: a rapid-fire series of irritating voices all repeating the same line, over and over. I couldn’t make out the words, but I knew
Continue readingWriting tips for copywriters and, well, everyone who writes
Writing is hard. Let’s make it easier with helpful tips and a pre-flight checklist. Whether you are new to copywriting, an experienced copywriter, or someone who simply wants to make
Continue readingBook Review: Bob Garfield’s ‘And Now a Few Words from Me’
Readers of this blog often ask me to recommend good books on advertising. If you have even a passing interest in the ad world, then you need to put Bob
Continue readingWhat’s on your work music playlist?
Listening to music at work helps me to focus and find my groove. In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite music genres, artists, songs, and sounds to listen
Continue readingThe Cranky Creative blog turns two
As The Cranky Creative toddles headlong into the Terrible Twos, let’s celebrate by taking a look back at some of this blog’s best and most popular posts of the past
Continue reading‘Adapt or die’: the advertising industry faces painful change
Posh parties. Black-tie award shows. First-class flights and three-martini lunches. As ad budgets shrink, brands move capabilities in-house, and more people realize that the emperor has no clothes, advertising agencies
Continue readingProgressive’s ‘Motaur’ ads are too clever by half
Racial tensions are rising as American cities burn. Meanwhile, fear of an over-hyped virus ravages the globe. This breaking news is brought to you by Progressive Insurance and Motaur, the
Continue readingAd Review: Tonal TV commercial shows and tells
In a sea of terrible TV commercials, this ad for Tonal digital fitness equipment caught my eye—not for shouting at me or blithering like an idiot to get my attention,
Continue readingDr. Pepper’s ‘Sweet One’ ads hit a sour note
Every time I see one of those Diet Dr. Pepper TV commercials with the twerpy little glam rocker and his annoying high-pitched voice, I wonder: Who is this guy? Am
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