Microsoft's New Ads: Seinfeld and Gates Out, Hodgman Lookalike In
While we're curious to see what the company cooks up in the new ads, it does strike us as somewhat odd that the supposed narrative Microsoft was establishing with Gates and Seinfeld has abruptly been abandoned in favor of these new spots. Is this a decision which was made long ago, or did the largely negative / confused reaction to the last set of ads force the company's hand? We only have its official statement to go on: "We will be executing the second phase of our advertising campaign tomorrow, as planned from the start." [From: NY Times]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
PetGirl24 said 8:12PM on 9-18-2008
I'm not surprised....Jerry Seinfeld has NEVER uttered anything I found even remotely funny. Bill Gates? Stick to designing software.
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Carol said 9:07PM on 9-18-2008
I am very disappointed about this change in these commercials. Seinfeld and Gates were hysterical together !!! I thought they were an ingenious combination.
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Susan said 10:51PM on 9-18-2008
I agree, Carol. I think the ads were wonderful and I don't like many ads.
NANCY said 9:39PM on 9-18-2008
WE LOVED THE COMMERCIAL WITH BILL GATES & JERRY SEINFELD. WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD FOR THE SEQUEL : (
I WISH THEY WOULD RECONSIDER.
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Adam said 9:25PM on 9-18-2008
Anybody who didn't like that campaign is in idiot. That campaign was hilarious. Just when I was getting used to the concept. God this country is getting so stupid.
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CQ said 9:25PM on 9-18-2008
Hopefully, the commercials will work better than the Vista operatios system
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annes2174 said 9:53PM on 9-18-2008
I loved the commerical with Seinfeld and Gates. Can't believe they are not going over well. It's a sad day
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Minerva said 9:54PM on 9-18-2008
Gosh, that is too bad. I really enjoyed the commericials. They were so funny.
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Kent said 9:56PM on 9-18-2008
PetGirl24
I've seen Jerry Seinfeld perform live. About the only comedians who are as funny are Jay Leno, Jim Gaffigan, Jeff Foxworthy, and Don Rickles. The man is hysterical, and he isn't raunchy.
That said, while the Microsoft commercial was very funny, I had no clue as to what product was being pitched, until Jerry and Bill walked out of the shoe store. Even then, I didn't understand why, after seeing the commericals, I should run out and buy Microsoft software.
Jerry's commercials for Amex were much better, because they offered reasons why an Amex card could be useful.
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knight said 10:25PM on 9-18-2008
If you need a comedian to make your product look better, it was probably a joke to begin with...
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Jason said 10:31PM on 9-18-2008
I thought the ad was funny. I ussually dont watch ads .. .I just skip over them .. .I really was hoping to see more of those ads... It was creative and not the same old type of ad that plays over and over ... Bring Jerry Back
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Michael Menaker said 11:13PM on 9-18-2008
The commercials aren't the problem. It's the new interface on the "2007" products that suck. Can't find what I've been using for 20+ years!!! Why did Microsoft change a very workable GUI? Answer: Because they think they own the software world, and what they say goes. So there!!!
I will never again buy Microsoft until they go back to the old GUI.
-Menooks
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CJ said 11:29PM on 9-18-2008
Don't like Seinfeld; not funny. Don't like the heavy dude who tries to impersonate everybody either; poor impersonator. Gates is cool; him I like; He is just himself; no pretense, no aires, just an honest, likeable nerd.
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Rocko said 1:08AM on 9-19-2008
CJ, you're a dipsh*t.
Sue said 11:28PM on 9-18-2008
I'm disappointed. I LOVED the Gate's Seinfeld ads. I'd replay them at let once whenever I came upon them. I was looking forward to the next one.
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lori julian, M.A. said 1:06AM on 9-19-2008
If they drop Seinfeld, I JUST WON'T WATCH CHANNEL 13
ANYMORE!!!
Also, channel 13 should be discussing ECONOMIC OR
BREAD-AND-BUTTER ISSUES, instead of stupid Palin's sunglasses!!!
YOU CAN BUY SUNGLASSES ANYPLACE! SUNGLASSES WON'T
SAVE PEOPLE FROM A NUCLEAR ATTACK WHEN SHE
AUTHORIZES AN ATTACK ON RUSSIA (we're NOT WINNING IN
AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ = MORE REPUBLICAN IRRESPONSIBILITY,
WHICH IS COSTING THE AMERICANS LOSS OF
LIVES
JOBS
HOUSES
AND $$$$ BILLIONS IN TAX MONEY!!!!!!!!!
and NO NATIONAL HEALTHCARE!!!!!
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rudyinbama said 12:20AM on 9-19-2008
If they're not paying John Hodgman for his likeness, I hope he sues for millions.
What a company - even their commercials are ther product of reverse engineering.
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Randall said 1:27AM on 9-19-2008
Michael,
What is meant by a workable GUI? I'm sure I'm not as computer saavy as most kids today, but I would like to know what that is.
Thank you.
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Patricia said 2:17AM on 9-19-2008
Dang, I loved the Gates/Seinfeld ads. A welcome change from most of the other ads on TV
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John said 3:02AM on 9-19-2008
I don't think Hodgman can sue, because he can't prevent someone who looks like him being used in a given ad. Hodgman himself is symbolizing Bill Gates, so did they get his permission? Maybe so, because Gates is probably laughing at all the comparisons. Also, the Apple ads are ridiculous and an insult to one's intelligence, although that last one where he does the test pattern is quite funny. But in not one of the ads does Apple say what they're computer actually does, only that it's somehow better than Microsoft. Vista works fine, there's nothing wrong with it, and Apple continues to produced computers for which there's no software written for it. Maybe Jobs should look into rectifying that problem.
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