Category Archives: Videocracy

Videocracy

My Own Personal Viral Ad Infection

Last night, while trying to complete one of my eight million different projects/assignments/schemes, I had this sudden vision. It was more a memory, really, but it hit me like a bolt from the blue. It came to me like one single frame in a filmstrip, there that quickly, gone that quickly. The image was so sudden and disturbing I had to put down what I was doing and look this thing up, because I had to reassure myself it really happened and I hadn’t just dreamed (or, more accurately, nightmared) it.

What I’m referring to is a long-form commercial produced by Scion circa 2007, intended to be part of a viral ad campaign. I’m guessing the idea was to produce something like Apple’s 1984 ad, but a million times creepier. It certainly was viral, however, because I’ve been infected with it to this day. Put it this way: The ad was produced in Romania, with all Romanian actors, in the most Eastern European-y setting imaginable. Let your mind wander from there.

I saw this a few times, almost always late at night. But when it aired, I hadn’t the slightest idea it was an ad for Scion, or an ad at all. If anything, it looks like a spot for Saw 17. The only indication that it’s not is a URL at the very end, which I didn’t dare look up at the time because I was too terrified. If you visit it now, there’s now hint of this horror, just an almost cutesy Flash-heavy site with lots of boxy things and none of…this.

This is one of those items I never even bothered to ask, “Do you remember…” to anyone I know because I didn’t want to remember it. I feel a little wary of posting it at all, afraid that I will pollute other people’s minds with it as mine has been. So just know, before you click the play button, there are some things you can’t unsee, man!

Happy nightmares!

YouTube Comment of the Week

YouTube Comment of the Week: Dunkin Donuts

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Today’s installment of YouTube Comment of the Week comes from a Dunkin’ Donuts ad from the mid 1980s. This ad featured Fred the Baker, as did pretty much all of their ads from this period through the early 2000s. Fred was the eternally harassed worker who would joylessly intone “Time to make the donuts.” Once upon a time, it was a TV catchphrase surpassed only the by the likes of “Where’s the Beef.”

For this video, I wrote this description:

This is a reference to ads from the same era, in which the same actor who played Fred the Baker portrayed Sam Breakstone, who was almost exactly the same character except that he made cream cheese and sour cream instead of donuts. Here’s an early example, although this ad in 1977 depicts him as far angrier than I remember. This seemingly innocent observation (I wouldn’t even call it a joke, really) led to this earnest, depressing comment:

YouTube Comment of the Week

YouTube Comment of the Week: Birdie

For this installment of YouTube Comment of the Week, we turn once again to a McDonalds ad. As you may recall, McDonalds once had a slew of “McDonaldland” characters whose sole purpose was to sell their highly nutritious food to children. They introduced new pals for Ronald McDonald only slightly less often than The Masters of the Universe did.

Here’s an ad that debuted the character of Birdie, who I believe was associated with their extremely healthy breakfast options, followed by one pithy comment.