REVIEW: “Very Funny Ads” TV show and online website

About a week ago, I saw a program on TV highlighting funny TV ads from around the world. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from these with regard to how ads are made for products across the globe, and how products are marketed in different countries. Only a handful of these select ads really made me laugh, but the cinematography and overall production value of the spots is fantastic. If nothing else, the site is worth a look as an example of how major networks are putting video content online. In this case, with little to no advertising. (Oh yes, of course, it’s all advertising, but you know what I mean.)

The show is hosted by Kevin Nealon, who many will know from his 9 seasons on Saturday Night Live (1986-1995).

Here’s the link to the site: http://veryfunnyads.com

My favorites are the videos for Hansaplast, Leo’s Sports Club, and Comviq mobile. K-Fee is very unique too.

Click on the index link on the bottom right of the very funny ads site to see a complete index of all the ads. If you have a chance, please let me know which are your favorites, and how they might have had an effect on your work as an audio, photo or video pro. You can drop me a line at imaging@andrewdarlow.com . I love hearing the sound quality in these commercials (try watching with and without sound to see the difference). For the most part, the audio is cinematic and crystal clear.

For some reason, Geico.com was absent. In my opinion they have had the best TV and radio spots for the last few years in the USA. Everyone knows the gecko (I love the employee of the month one with the gecko driving a convertible). One of their radio commercials has soothing classical music with a guy speaking in a raspy voice about motorcycle insurance. Throughout the commercial, he basically says, I don’t think this music is quite right. Pure genius. Here is a direct link to some of Geico’s videos. A Google search will find others which I believe are “not authorized.” Even Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett is featured in some of the videos.

The funniest ads of the year will air on TBS in December, so feel free to vote for the little Gecko, or your favorite ad. The ads made for markets outside of the US are often much more liberal than those made for the USA. I think you’ll see what I mean very quickly.

Here’s the link again: http://www.veryfunnyads.com/

All the best,

Andrew Darlow