Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Gates & the New Microsoft Ad...Really?!
Microsoft finally revealed it's new commercial featuring funny-man Jerry Seinfeld. Yes, the one that is supposed to "rival" the Mac ads with Justin Long. And I use the word "rival" loosely.One can argue that the commercial is original, but I think the heads at Microsoft tried a bit too hard to connect to the audience with being overly 'wacky' and 'hip.' That is, if you can call eating a churro in a mall wacky and hip. Basically, all the jokes miss the point. Actually, I really don't see them having a point.
Another missing part of this commercial, in my opinion, is it has nothing to do with Microsoft!
The only connection I see is Bill Gates trying to find a pair of shoes at a tacky discount shoe store. But even the Microsoft founder doesn't entirely convince me this commercial is for his company. Only in the last twenty seconds of the ad is the word 'Microsoft' even mentioned. And it's during a Seinfeld-ish rant about computers being chewy like cake. Hmm... is the next Windows operating system going to be called Funfetti or something?!
[caption id="attachment_9539" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The 1977 Bill Gates Mugshot"]
[/caption]I have to admit there was a part when I laughed out loud; when Bill Gates flashed his 'Shoe Circus Clown Club Member' card, featuring a younger, dorkier version of himself. We can all giggle without shame. I find it humorous mostly because his membership photo is from his 1977 mugshot. (Skip forward to 57 seconds and see for yourself!) Way to be clever, Mr. Gates. You got me there! But what I didn't laugh at was Seinfeld's paycheck for appearing on the spot - $10 million - part of Microsoft's new $300 million campaign. But I'm sure he's all smiles and laughing about it.
I expected Microsoft to come out swinging. I definitely believe the Mac commercials have won this battle. But, the war? Well, that's still up for grabs. I mean, am I missing some existential meaning in the commercial? Is it because I'm a Mac person??
Watch the ad below and fill me in with your theories, people, because I'm not gettin' it.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM_72QXCtN4 350 292]
