Stir-Fry » Super Bowl

Woman’s Last Stand – The Spoof Heard ‘Round the World’

MEA — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:07:23 +0000

“I will say yes when you want me to say yes… I will listen to your opinion of my friends… I will carry your lip balm…” According to Dodge’s 2010 Super Bowl commercial, men sacrifice a lot. But there is a limit to their chivalry, and the 368-Horsepower, V8 Charger is the perfect means to maintain a shred of dignity.

For some, Man’s Last Stand was well conceived given its target audience – an interesting, albeit exaggerated, depiction of the lives of 20- and 30-something men. For others, Dodge’s rallying cry for guys everywhere to reclaim their manhood came across as emasculating and sexist. And there’s been no shortage of commentary as a result. The most notable was Woman’s Last Stand – a video spoof that sheds light on the other side of the story, delving into the sacrifices women make on a daily basis (well, according to its creator). Part of the response includes: “I will assure you that size doesn’t matter… I will turn a blind eye to your ever-encroaching baldness… I will elect male politicians who will make decisions about my body…” The pointed message was enough to attract more than 250,000 views on YouTube alone, along with thousands of user comments and media coverage. Not too shabby for a spoof, which are typically under-produced and lack any real traction in the realm of viral videos.

What do you think? Is Man’s Last Stand harmless entertainment? Or, does Woman’s Last Stand portray it accurately as misguided and offensive? Furthermore, like it or not, Dodge is receiving added exposure (Man’s Last Stand has garnered more than 1 million views on YouTube) thanks to the controversy. Is this a case of “there’s no such thing as bad PR”? Or, will the uproar further tarnish the brand of a flat-lining car company?

A post-game analysis (of the ads).

MEA — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:38:39 +0000

The confetti may have settled, but the web is still buzzing over the Big Game. Of course, around here we’re talking more about the action off the field that kept viewers glued to the screen during TV timeouts, forgoing bathroom breaks. Betty White playing receiver. A house made of beer cans. Letterman, Leno, and Oprah on the couch. Guys without pants. A violin-playing beaver. Talking babies offering investment advice. The list of big brands that hoped to make a big impact is a long one.

Similar to Super Bowls past, some ads delivered the goods. Take Google’s subtle, sophisticated, and relatively inexpensive reaffirmation of its dominance in the search industry. Others fell short of the pre-game hype, like Taco Bell, while the remaining few were just downright odd. Congrats to Dockers for topping that list.

But that’s just us. You can check out how all of TV’s most expensive commercials scored with Ad Meter focus groups on USAToday.com. Or, read how the Twittersphere ranks the “super” brands that appeared during the Big Game. In the meantime, tell us what you think! Which ad was your favorite? Did any disappoint?

View USA Today’s Rankings

Check Out What the Twittersphere Thinks

The Super Bowl: More Than Just a Game for Brands

MEA — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:02:53 +0000

For decades, advertising during the Super Bowl has meant garnering the attention of millions of game-time viewers. Then there’s the inevitable wave of PR, consumer chatter, and cachet that follows, which helps generate a strong ROI despite the associated costs.

The life expectancy of Super Bowl ads has increased over the past few years, thanks to complementary online advertising, galleries, and social networks. The smartest brands even launch sneak peeks of their ads on YouTube to generate pre-game buzz.

In 2010, advertisers will work even harder to maximize exposure and participation via organic search, online videos, Twitter, Facebook, and beyond. Regardless of the final score, it should make for an interesting game. Be sure to visit Stir-Fry early next week to check out our favorites, as well as a few other websites that track the top ads based on public reaction.

Hulu Ad Gallery

Determine what ads are doing best by the number of Tweets:

YouTube Ad Blitz

In the meantime, post your all-time favorites in the comments section.