Ad rant: comparethemeerkat.com

It feels like I've only just stopped ranting about how good the new VW Golf Spot is, when out of nowhere comes the latest comparethemarket.com spot - It's bloody brilliant. Now obviously it stars an Eastern European speaking Meerkat (which must be a comedy essential???), but the whole idea genuinely made me laugh (something that doesn't happen with most current ads) and best of all, it wasn't accompanied by any twee, accoustic folk music - hoorah!

I actually found it enjoyable to watch, and It left me asking the question. "How did the creative team arrive at the concept?" Was someone talking about the brand while doing a Borat impression? Who knows? 

More importantly though, it just goes to show what can be achieved when creatives have the freedom to present such ideas, and clients have the guts to invest in them.

So well done to VCCP for creating, and selling the idea, and a big pat on the back to the client for buying it.

Ad rant: VW Golf 'Fight'

"Sometimes, the only one you have to beat is yourself..."

The latest spot for the new Golf is fantastic.

A great strategy, brilliantly executed and with better fight scenes than most Hollywood blockbusters - it's perfect...

...except for the typo on the door at the beginning of the ad that reads 'chef designer' instead of chief.

Surely there isn't a department at VW that's busy designing Chefs??? Is there???

Could it be that the legendary German attention to detail hasn't been extended fully to the ad?

Maybe.

But when push comes to shove, surely the only person you really have to beat, is whoever 

has final sign-off on your TV ad!

Ad rant: Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire Puddings

Advertising deja vu strikes again, as one of the most well-known Morecombe and Wise sketches is ripped off for this Aunt Bessie's spot. And surely the (ageing) creative team who've finally managed to crowbar it in, must be breaking their arms to pat themselves on the back for this one.

Now Morecombe & Wise were good, but they weren't that good. So let's try and put this one to bed, before someone tries to resurrect Mike Yarwood.

Ad rant: Sean John Fragrance

"Life without passion is unforgivable..."

And so is this ad.

Ad rant: Dabitoff

"I find myself on an exhilarating journey..."

And I find myself watching some of the most wooden acting that Ewan McGregor has ever done... but he still gets paid - the swine!

TV: American Gladiators

I think I've just watched one of the best episodes of Gladiators ever - and it was the American version! 

I suppose it's an obvious statement, but we all know that Americans are born ready for the razzmatazz of TV and showbiz, and therefore the show's format is ideal for them, but what makes the extra difference between the two nations is...wait for it... the women. Yes, I hate to give the Yanks credit for anything, but their ladies generally seem to be much harder/fitter/more driven (in the way only Americans are) than the female contestants over here are, making the competition much more interesting to watch. So when you then compare it to the English version, the ladies section seems to be something that you tolerate until the men compete again.

It's funny, in a way, that people in Britain always talk about our programme formats working over there, but this is an example of how maybe sometimes it's the other way round.

I'm sorry to say it, but I think i'll be watching the American version in future.

Ad rant: Sarah Jessica Parker perfume

It's Christmas once again and what a perfect time to resurrect some old ads...especially old perfume ones.

And speaking of resurrecting the old, I couldn't help but notice how old Sarah Jessica Parker looks in her ad! 

Now obviously it's her fragrance, and therefore you can't avoid having her, or some reference

to her, in the ad, but why not use a bit of soft-focus eh - she's no spring chicken after all.

Anyway, the only thing I think of when I see this ad is incontinence pads? Maybe it should be

an ad for Tena Lady? 

I just hope for SJP's sake the perfume itself doesn't smell like piss.

TV: Watchdog - PUNNED TO DEATH

Christ almighty, will someone please tell the team at Watchdog to go easy on the puns! Monday's show reached an almost unbearable level of pun-ishment (oops, sorry), with over 5 puns per report. Now I understand that some serious subjects need to be presented with a little bit of Pathos to lighten the mood, but this was ridiculous. There really is no need for it, and to be honest, the humour seems to devalue the seriousness the of the material they are presenting. Whoever edits the programme should realise that the general public can find a subject interesting, without presenting it like an article in The Sun.