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 reading
Author: The Cranky Creative
Copywriter. Ad critic. Blogger. Head crank at The Cranky Creative.
I 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 reading
Writing 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 reading
Book 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 reading
What’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 reading
The 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 reading
Progressive’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 reading
Ad 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 reading
Dr. 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
Continue reading
TurboTax ad review: When creative trumps strategy
Working in advertising is fun, especially as a creative. We copywriters and graphic designers get paid to think up clever ways to communicate a brand’s messages. The problem comes when
Continue reading