Tara: Inevitably, when Michael and I talk about a topic for CommercialClack, our conversations will start out with “Have you seen the one where … ?” This week, I had to bring up the Citibank ad you see below. I go through a bit of a personal mini-hell every time I see it. Guess why?
Tara: Yep. It’s the terrible choice of background music. (Just kidding.) No. It’s the fact that this chick would forego a rock of the “diamond” persuasion to climb a rock of the literal stone persuasion! She’s a disappointment to every self respecting lass out there. (Not really.)
Nuh uh. Of course it’s the last shot with the spinning panoramic view, as the mountain climbing fool (I mean lovely young lady) stands up on that rock floating in the middle of the sky. Is she off her rocker?? (See how I did that?)
Seriously. I, myself, have a problem with a stepladder unless someone is holding on to my legs. I can’t peek over a second story railing without reeling. Watching her climb, worrying about her falling, and then that fantastically nauseous feeling of vertigo that overtakes me at the conclusion of this little ditty? Makes it the scariest commercial out there in my book.
Michael: Huh. I’m on ladders all the time. Sure, it can be daunting at times, but I’m used to it. Pretty fearless, actually. However, I know people who are better with two feet on the ground instead of five feet above it.
And Tara? I didn’t know you were so ladder-challenged.
Tara: I’m also “writing partner-challenged” Michael, but we won’t get into that.
Michael: That was a shot, wasn’t it? Because I’m pretty good at recognizing shots … and that was a shot.
Tara: I’m glad nothing gets by you.
So, for those of you skeptics out there who’ve always wondered whether or not this whole advertisement had some computer generated help, here’s an interesting behind the scenes package of how it was done …
Michael: Personally, I find the responses to the above commercial quite comical. Because if I would do same for programs such as Glee or Desperate Housewives or another I’d probably get raked over the coals. Here’s a thought: Stop watching the commercial if it freaks you out! (Gee … that was easy.)
My pick for a creepy commercial is much more tangible — Clowns. *shudder* Because we all know clowns are scary:
Michael: And … animated clowns? Or the possibility of a toy clown which seems to have taken on a life of its own like the one above? Even more frightening. I’ve riffed on the scariness of clowns before, you know, which only goes to show you there is an evil marauding merriment of clowns in commercials out there … and they’re waiting for us to come visit them.
Tara: For once? I can’t say you’re wrong.
Michael: *faints*
Thought of you last night after Project Runway Michael, there is a program called something like “24 Hour Catwalk” based on Food Network’s Chopped program. I think they use the same studio cause the losers walk is down the same hallway, but I digress. Four designers are given a secret box and have 2 hours to design something for the judges. Winning two get 24 hours to design a three outfit collection for a fashion show and $10,000 prize. But wait, there is more. Last night’s item in the box ……..
A Clown Mask just like your buddy above!
Wish you had seen that baby you’d be drinking Rolling Rocks still trying to get four clown outfits out of your head!
. . . . .
The Horror … !!!
Although you both identified very scary commercials, there is one major difference in the philosophy behind the commercials. Our cheery, ever faithful postal worker is there to save the day with his solution to the scary clown. That just might encourage me to buy stamps. On the other hand, Citibank will forever go down in my book as the bank promoting terror!
Of course, I suffer vertigo. [Yes, Michael, I am officially diagnosed a “dizzy dame”.] The scariest opening to a movie award for me doesn’t go to Saving Private Ryan or the first Indiana Jones, it goes to Sound of Music!! I can watch Citibank girl climb, and even stand up, but when the picture starts to whirl around her, I’m done!
I love that clown commercial. The end with the actors reacting, the edit, the position of the clown and the musical cue are perfection.