Monday, April 20, 2009

Comcastic, Indeed

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall when some of these companies develop their marketing campaigns? I'd be very curious to see what form of drugs some of them were smoking when they came up with their ideas.

Case in point... the latest commercials for Comcast. I would have really enjoyed seeing the marketing gurus giving their presentation for their latest campaign. Picture a big boardroom with a bunch of suit-wearing individuals, and some perky marketing people giving their presentation:

"Ok, so here's our idea. We create a fantasy place called Comcast Town. It's a cartoon-ish place where a whole bunch of really creepy, zombie-like people live! And they all just LOVE Comcast! It's all they think about, day and night. Comcast Comcast Comcast! Some of the zombies are thinking about Comcast while riding their bikes, sitting in hottubs, etc. It'll be great! Oh, and the web site should feature a giant squid in the town square! And we have created a monotone Zombie Song -- C-O-M-C-A-S-T -- should be annoying enough to stick in everyone's mind for days at a time!"

Any normal group of people would have kicked them right out of the building, possibly after setting them on fire. Yet the suit-wearing individuals, presumably after taking several tokes on an enormous reefer, say, "YES! That's exactly how we envision our customers! Zombies! Woooo! Pass the nachos!"

Canceling Comcast and moving to DirecTV was one of the smartest moves the Smoots have made lately, and I have to say that this new ad campaign confirms that for me. And apparently we're not the only ones. I can't tell you how many times I've walked down our street and have seen the Comcast truck parked beside a guy climbing up a ladder to disconnect someone's service. I know that's what they're doing, because I always see a shiny new satellite dish attached to the house they're visiting.

Anyway, we're very happy that we're no longer Comcastic Zombies.

On another subject, what on Earth is the deal with the creepy Burger King guy? I'm betting he once lived in Comcast Town.

1 comment:

whobee said...

Well, the spots are different, no doubt about that. I suppose their idea is to get people talking (like we are are now) and have their brand stick in peoples minds. The alternative would be more of the same corporate blandness that is everywhere on TV, which only encourages more trips to the fridge during commercial breaks. I guess the effect the comcast spots have on you are the opposite, the difference being that you run and not walk out of the room.