A Commercial Too Far

Comes a time when you have to get out while the getting's good, otherwise you look like Joe Montana with the Chiefs, or Michael Jordan in his second comeback. Same holds here with the Geico Caveman concept. The "Words with Friends" episode with Brian Orakpo was nominally passable, but in this one we've taken the hipster, sardonic caveman, whose specialty was acting insulted in a resigned, shoulder-shrugging way, and turned him into a silly, shrill character. Didn't they learn anything from the failed sitcom they tried to turn this into?



I observed a few 14-year old boys watching this over the weekend. They all said (in unison) words to this effect: "That was stupid."

Geico Rarely Misses

Writing and casting perfection. It doesn't make me want to go to the hassle of switching from my current insurance, but I love it. Is Geico still a Martin client?

Don't Call it Junk Mail

But ask yourself this: do you respond to it when it arrives at your house or inbox?

It's DMA time in Chicago. Keynote speaker is John Adams, Chairman and CEO of the Martin Agency.

So, it's about time for another edition of "Where's My Jetpack?" the clipart comic that's only funny once in a while.








Here's the whole series thus far.

Geico Establishes a Perimeter

After a few very unflattering reviews of some pre-released scenes of the new sitcom based on the Geico Cavemen, Geico has asked the producers to scrap the show, exercising their legal rights via a “suck clause” inserted in the agreement at the last hour by Geico lawyers. ABC is reportedly “disappointed with the decision” made by Geico, supposedly arrived at after a conference with copywriters at The Martin Agency, creators of the Caveman characters.

But the future is not hopeless for Caveman fans hoping to see more of the offended Neanderthals. Rumors circulating suggest that Martin and Geico have teamed with Fox to allow the introduction of a Geico Caveman at CTU in next season’s 24. A person close to the production said, “CTU is filled with overly sensitive, catty people saying snarky things while trying to save the world. It’s the perfect environment for the Caveman.”

The “character placement” will be paid for by Geico, allowing episodes to run longer with fewer commercial interruptions. The character is not expected to directly shill for Geico in the hit series.

"C'mon! We have some integrity," said a Geico spokesperson.

Seriously, if you're really believing this, send me some cash and I'll make sure a rich Nigerian widow loads your bank account with untraceable drug money.

Fine Art Exhibit - Colour Photography

This week's showcase image is entitled, "The Aftermath of the Sinking of the Gecko's Boat." This original photograph is available as a colour print (12" x 10" - £280) or as a litho print (12" x 10" - £230.)

Black and white and lith prints are printed on fibre-based paper to archival standards; colour prints are printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. All prints are individually hand printed only when you order.

And when you spell "colour" with a "u" and price things in Pounds, it seems more worth the asking price.

This week's image made possible by the omnipresence of the newest "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and the photographer's/blogger's wish to see the Geico Gecko murdered.

Give it an English Accent, We'll Buy It

It's time to kill the Gecko, Geico's distant 3rd campaign to sell insurance, behind Caveman (98% favorable rating*) and Celebrities Helping Ordinary Folks Talk (66% favorable rating*) Step on him, light him afire, hose him down with poison.

If you listen to any Geico Gecko spots on the radio or see them on TV, take away the English accent, and they really are quite bland. Nothing funny, just that peppy, happy, congenial accent keeps you listening. Granted, insurance is a bland product, but relying on a lizard with an accent is not exactly creative.

We Americans are suckers for the Brit ways. As a character in the film Love Actually rightfully pointed out, "American girls would seriously dig me with my cute British accent."

The Martin Agency is on to that, exploiting it to the hilt. Phoning it in.

And it's not just the accent we get suckered into. Way too many Americans now sign off their emails with "Cheers!" That's fine if it's coming from George Parker or The Chimp Messiah, who grew up with it and whose Moms and Dads and schoolmates said it (should I have said "Mums"?) But coming from an American, it sounds affected, pretentious and fake. Think Madonna.

But let's not stop in Merry ol' England. The Commonwealth's Prisoner Exile - that land Down Under - holds an equally mesmerizing effect on the American mongrel. In additon to "Cheers!" being adopted by culture-starved New Worlders, we've now taken to saying "No Worries!" in our speech and written communications. We snap up Aussie shampoos and conditioners and there's a line to get a table at the local Outback. What's the matter with us? It's like we're turning Japanese, buying sweatshirts with gibberish English slogans on them.

So, advertisers, if you want to see your US sales go through the roof, hire an English or Aussie pitchman/woman. Don't even worry about compelling copy. (Make it a real accent and not a faked one by an American voiceover artist. And not John Cleese. He's done.) We're lured by those Anglo roots. They speak of a bygone day; of authority, aristocracy and authenticity.

God Save the Queen. And her Wanker Son.

*Figures entirely made up and based solely on the author's opinions.