Chris Farley Commercial: Tacky or Funny?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Commercials, Editorial, Gossip, Video

Is starring in a commercial with your dead best friend ever funny?

Upon seeing this new DirecTV ad for the first time, many of you out there apparently felt the same way me and my husband did: icky. Resurrecting Tommy Boy‘s Chris Farley for a commercial? Is there any scene that company won’t manipulate?

Now what if I told you that the spot was approved by both David Spade and Farley’s family? Would that change your opinion?

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Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Microsoft Pulls Out of Family Guy Special

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Animation, Comedy, Specials, FOX, Commercials, Family Guy, Video

Apparently there are things Microsoft won’t do to promote Windows 7.

The software corporation recently announced that it has severed ties from a FOX event it was set to exclusively sponsor. Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show, a special airing next month, would have incorporated bits about the company’s new product in lieu of traditional commercials. Unfortunately, the execs had a change of heart after watching a taping earlier this month.

Although animated portions of the variety special reportedly cover controversial subjects like incest, feminine hygiene and the Holocaust, those segments were supposedly in line with a typical Family Guy episode. It’s the live segments Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein (Lois Griffin) taped before an audience that may have been considered questionable.

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Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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New Sprint Commercials Play Out Like a Miniseries

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, ABC, Commercials, Desperate Housewives, Gossip

“They’re kind of like the old Taster’s Choice commercials,” explained Marc Cherry, creator of ABC’s Desperate Housewives. “We added a lot of wicked dark humor, murder and adultery and betrayal.”

The commercials are Sprint spots which were shot on the Housewives set and written by the show’s writers. Rebecca Staab and David Chisum will be part of a “murderous love triangle” in the spots, the first of which will premiere September 27.

Read More | Perez Hilton

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Britney Spears and Russell Brand in New VMA Plug

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Music, Cable, MTV, Commercials, Video

At this time last year, Britney Spears was still trying to learn Russell Brand’s name. This time around, she can’t stop repeating it.

In this commercial for next month’s VMAs, the pop princess not-so-secretly wonders if she’ll score a personal invite from the two-time host. “Should I have played it up more when he was flirting with me last year? I have to admit there is something sexy about his dangerous ways,” she asks.

Meanwhile, the comedian worries he may have offended her during their last series of spots. “Some of those things I said could have been construed as offensive. I hope she don’t think ill of me.”

The 2009 Video Music Awards air live on September 13.

Read More | Us Magazine

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Infomercial Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Cable, Commercials, News, Video

UPDATE #2: It appears that Mays’ death was actually related to heart disease.

UPDATE: Billy was reportedly not wearing a seat belt when he was hit in the head during the flight yesterday.

Billy Mays, the man who could sell just about anything, was found dead today in his Florida home. He was 50 years old.

According to officials, the infomercial guru was discovered by his wife Deborah. There are no indications to believe that any foul play was involved.

Just yesterday, Billy was onboard a US Airways flight that took a hard landing at the Tampa International Airport. Although several passengers did receive minor bumps and bruises, it’s not known whether Mays’ death could have been related to that incident.

The man who sold everything from Orange Glo to OxiClean had been appearing on the Discovery Channel with fellow marketer Anthony Sullivan. Pitchmen is next scheduled to air this Wednesday at 10:00.

Read More | FOX News

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Mrs. Butterworth’s First Name Worth $500

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Commercials, Gossip, Video

That’s right, the most recognizable syrup bottle in the world has a first name. Can you guess what it is? If you can, you just might get a cool $500 - almost enough to buy a magical, talking bottle of syrup of your very own. The Mrs. Butterworth contest is here - and if you can guess her first name, you could be a winner.

I say Bertha. I’m not sure why I say Bertha, it’s just the first thing that came to mind and seems to go with the surname Butterworth. Got a good name of your own to enter? You can sign up to participate in the contest here.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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The Super Bowl Commercial NBC Won’t Let You See

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Sports, NBC, Commercials, Video

WARNING: The racy content may be considered offensive to some…

Had this commercial featured Victoria’s Secret-esque models holding bottles of beer, I suspect NBC wouldn’t have had a problem with it. But the “bottles” are actually stalks of broccoli and the organization involved is PETA, not Budweiser. So what does that mean? The execs have surprisingly decided to raise the “standards” flag. (You can question the network’s taste in quality programming all you like.)

After watching “Veggie Love,” tell us what you think. Was NBC smart in plugging the Super Bowl ad’s plug…or have we already seen worse?

Read More | The Hollywood Reporter

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DirecTV Out of Line With Newest Ad?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Commercials, Gossip, Video

We giggled when Christopher Lloyd talked about the future of DirecTV for a commercial spot. We laughed when Kathy Bates and William Shatner joined the fray. We ogled Baywatch-era Pam Anderson tout the service for her spot. We fell over in hysterics when we saw the Scooby Doo advertisement. But now, DirecTV may have twisted the funny bone of some viewers a little too hard. Their latest ad, just another in a long string of past pop culture references, has inspired some pretty heated controversy.

The ads were drawing attention even before the campaign hit the fan. Using the same actors and scenes but different lines, the service has promoted itself as an alternative to cable by putting us once again back in our favorite movie moments - as if to prove that the second time around really can be better than the first with DirecTV. They’re funny, they’re clever and they’re working. Er…they were.

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Seinfeld-Gates Campaign Nixed

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Commercials, Gossip, Video

Those somewhat odd and not-so-funny Microsoft ads featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld are being pulled from the air. You might think it’s because they’ve received such a negative reaction (the entertainment media has had a jolly time poking fun at them), but Microsoft says differently.

This company never admits failure or defeat of any kind. “This was the plan all along,” said spokesperson Frank Shaw. “All along we said we were having a teaser campaign,” he explained. “We’re getting ready to start the second phase.” Betcha it doesn’t involve putting founder Bill Gates in the ads, this “second phase.”

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Read More | LA Times

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Sanjaya Malakar’s New Gig

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, FOX, Commercials, Gossip

We all remember Sanjaya Malakar as a popular American Idol contestant (season six) with somewhat dubious vocals. Now, the former reality star will add a new line to his resume: TV spokesman.

Malakar is now part of the Nationwide Insurance “Life Comes at You Fast” campaign. The commercial pairs Malakar with a wise-man character who tells him he needs a haircut. With this new gig, Malakar will join Kevin Federline, Fabio and MC Hammer - all of whom have pushed the product in the past.

You can check out Sanjaya’s comedic work for yourself after the jump.

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Read More | Yahoo! News

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