The Cranky Creative, Author at The Cranky Creative Blog

The Cranky Creative. Photo of male copywriter hands typing on a laptop keyboard

January 16, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Should you think twice before becoming a copywriter?

A few weeks ago, while researching career stats for a client project, I stumbled across an article at The Balance titled “Think Twice Before Becoming a Copywriter.” The article subhead: “For

The Cranky Creative explores where all the white people are in commercials

January 5, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Let’s talk about forced diversity in TV commercials

If you only watched TV, you might think that white people (including fumbling, bumbling white males) are a minority in the United States. Depending on the commercial break, you might

a cranky update and a heartfelt thank-you to end 2021

December 19, 2021 The Cranky Creative

A personal update and a heartfelt thank-you to end 2021

What to write for my last Cranky post of 2021? Rather than end the year lambasting another dopey TV commercial, how about we spend some time getting personal? Come, Dear

movie poster for idiocracy showing a destroyed and dumb downtown Detroit

December 5, 2021 The Cranky Creative

Why the hell is everything so broken?

Is anyone else experiencing a complete and total breakdown of everything that used to “just work”? I’m talking about placing an online order, or getting a car repair, or speaking

The Cranky Creative reviews TV commercials for Marcus by Goldman Sachs

November 18, 2021 The Cranky Creative

Review: Marcus by Goldman Sachs ads can moron

“You can money,” says the slogan for this commercial for Goldman Sachs. A good first clue that the rest of the campaign is a disaster, too. There she was —

how copywriters are like doctors, lawyers, bricklayers and more

November 9, 2021 The Cranky Creative

How copywriters are like doctors, lawyers, psychics(!) and more

As I started out as a young copywriter in the 1990s, one of my biggest influences was Ivan Levison, a freelance copywriter in California. He published a lead-generation e-newsletter called

woody and buzz lightyear see bad logos everywhere

October 12, 2021 The Cranky Creative

A series of unfortunate logo designs

A logo is a symbol or other design created to visually represent a company or organization. It is a key part of any brand as it’s meant to communicate the

The Cranky Creative's top 3 favorite TV commercials ever

August 25, 2021 The Cranky Creative

My top 3 TV commercials of all time

A Cranky reader named Brian wrote in to ask, “What are your top three favorite TV commercials?” Honestly, the question caught me off guard — I don’t like many commercials,

August 9, 2021 The Cranky Creative

The Cranky Creative blog turns three

In 2011, a manager asked me if I had a blog, or if I’d ever considered writing one. “No,” I snorted dismissively. “I don’t have anything to say.” My, how

scene from hotels.com tv commercial, the breakup

July 1, 2021 The Cranky Creative

Thanks, Captain Obvious! Hotels.com ads are awful

Adweek has just reported that agency Crispin Porter & Bogusky, creators of the “Captain Obvious” character and campaigns for Hotels.com, has lost the account. Why? Take a look at the

so-called covid vaccines are not really vaccines

June 14, 2021 The Cranky Creative

Brands have no business pushing COVID vaccines

Whether you are looking to inform a loved one about the dangers of COVID-19 “vaccines” or you have just started to ask questions yourself, welcome. This page will be an