There’s a TV commercial runnin’ these days that’s tryin’ to sell you a Chevy.
It starts out with that Howie Long football fella talkin’ ‘bout fuel economy for Hondas and Chevys.
Showin’ how Chevys now get better mileage than Hondas.
Good. It’s ‘bout time American ability got back to doin’ things well again.
But the guys what did the ad ain’t as good as the guys what did the car, it appears.
See, all the cars in the ad are silver. Gray even.
And the background is white.
Now I’m sure some ad creative dude thought that looked all high class and fancy.
But the fact is, ya can’t see the cars fer shit, and their colors make ‘em fade into the background.
The stylists who spent months getting’ just the right look, just the right lines, must be thrilled that all their hard work stays in the shadows, while Howie shines in the spotlight.
Doubt that GM had much to do with the stylin’ and looks of that hombre.
But what really is silly is that at the end of the ad, Howie tells everybody that there’s a Honda that Chevy can’t compete with, and shows a Honda lawnmower in full red and black colors with a big white “HONDA’ in plain sight.
That’s right, the ad closes showin’ a product that isn’t even made by GM, and does it in bright, living color.
Hell, it’s the most visible thing in the damn ad!
The most memorable visual is in the most memorable position in the ad. The last thing people see is what they ‘member easiest.
And GM put a Honda there.
But the most amazin’ thing about it is that in the process of makin’ that ad, and getting’ it approved by the client (GM), the ad boys had to go through ‘bout a dozen review meetin’s.
Meetin’s where their bosses, and their clients, the execs at GM, got a chance to give criticism and input on what the ad looks like, sounds like and feels like.
Meetin’s where ‘bout two dozen folks looked at that damn ad and said “Yup, looks good to me, ain’t we geniuses!”
Well, those GM geniuses jus’ gave Honda a whole bunch of exposure and lawnmower sales.
And that’s why ya won’t be seein’ no Ford ads lookin’ like that.
See, Ford knows they sell cars and trucks, not lawnmowers.
Don’t hafta be no damn genius to know that.
“Hell begins on the day when God grants us a clear vision of all that we might have achieved, of all the gifts which we have wasted, of all that we might have done which we did not do.” --- Gian Carlo Menotti
