I love this commercial. I think they really hit the mark with it comedically. It hits hard & has several punches—first the comment about the sponsorship, then the stretching, then the dart hitting the bystander, and finally the bystander’s reaction & pratfall. So that’s four laughs in 30 seconds. The big goal in comedy according to one school of thought is to hit six laughs per minute. So this is good.

But here’s something weird about it: this commercial is banned in Europe apparently because of the “dart hit”. I don’t know what the deal is with that. Is it simply because it’s violent? Perhaps it’s a touchy subject with pub-frequenting Europeans, hitting a little too close to home because they remember that time that Finlander, Sven, drunkenly hit Nigel in the eye with a stray dart. Whatever. Weird.

I was a big fan of State Farm’s new series of commercials featuring the “Magic Jingle”. That was until recently. 

I just didn’t like the one with LeBron. Nothing against him personally, or even professionally, I just thought he was oddly cast in that. Felt stilted, cold. But then I saw the really awesome one with the black couple who go all “with a new boyfriend”/”with a new girlfriend” to much hilarity.

However, this one really got me:

I don’t know what it is about it that I love so much. And really if you think about it, this has all kinds of weird elements. I mean first of all, these kids look like some kind of underground rap duo. I think they’re signed to Rhymesayers, aren’t they? And what the hell are they doing eating their burgers amidst a herd of bison? Who does that, and from what West BFE town is this would-be-rap-phenomenon from? But I think it’s funny & has a zang of adventure to it, & just an overall good feel when they are rescued in the end. Res ipsa loquitur.

This is good for all the right reasons. Cool use of the song, clever concept, cool animation. And I love the finish as it fades to the outline of the car. Very smart.

This commercial is hilarious, but I can’t find out who did it, only whom it’s for.

This is just a great commercial for Taco Bell. My favorite part is when the guy’s boss gives him a pound & ends it with an explosion. Classic. Very well thought out & executed. Great Office Space-esque humor.