* Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Schillerstrom kicks off a new Internet video campaign with his spoof of the popular Dos Equis ads. Have a look…
George beat me to it. Great idea, but not well executed.
He does not come off well [as a boring middled aged male myself I can say that he comes off like a boring middle aged male], but there was nothing specifically ironic about it — he never seemed to play on the fact that he’s not interesting.
Too bad that they didn’t have this one go througa few more drafts before sending it out.
Awful. Really, really, really awful. It’s laugh out loud awful. It doesn’t make Bob seem like a “regular guy” or whatever other nonsense some overpaid consultant told him. It just reminds people why he’ll be lucky to finish ahead of Dan Proft or that Adam kid.
I’m sure some people pick up that it’s a spoof of that Dos Equis ad. But a lot of people will miss the connection. That just makes it seem all the more creepy and arrogant.
Plus, comparing yourself to a Mexican guy (Spanish?) may not be the brightest move in a GOP primary.
The Most Interesting Man commercial is very funny. If you want to spoof very funny, you better bring it. This attempt to spoof did not bring it. Grade D.
As others have said it was a good idea, but poorly executed. You don’t make the connection with the Dos Equis spot. The music and narrator are way different, as is the structure of the script.
Humor as an introduction is a good idea. But you’ve got to bring the funny.
The thing with the kids stealing candy was just strange — “One smile from Bob, and the kids turns away from a life of crime”? Perhaps the message is “You know if somebody would have just smiled at Blago, he might not have tried to sell that senate seat.”
That part of the ad was really odd.
All of you criticizing this as a waste of money or a poor spoof would be the same ones crying if he had too closely spoofed the commercial. “he’s running for governor and making jokes about beer?!?!?” Waaah. Waaah.
“All of you criticizing this as a waste of money or a poor spoof would be the same ones crying if he had too closely spoofed the commercial. “he’s running for governor and making jokes about beer?!?!?” Waaah. Waaah.”
C+. Ditto on comments re: concept v. execution. Seemed like way too many cuts, too, for a short commercial–when I watched it last night (somewhat tired), brain kind of had to work at gluing the visuals together.
If I had to summarize, I’d say the ad was a great idea, but a bit “overly ambitious” perhaps.
Schillerstrom did really well, though. Match him up with the right ad and it’s golden, I bet.
After the horrible “pot-shot” commercials of the 2006 election cycle - and some equally nasty spots during 2002 - it is refreshing to see some attempts at humor. I would like to see more of this. “My opponent beats his wife” ads and “my opponent is stone cold crazy” mailers get really old after, oh, being used in EVERY campaign.
I guess it is a clever tactic, but the production is akin to a first-year high school television class.
Smiling Bob gets a chance to flash his pearly whites.
I suggest he grow a Castro-style beard like the fellow in the Dos Equis ads.
Now that would be funny.
The music is all wrong, for starters. Sounds like the happy ending music to a Dukes of Hazzard episode.
He should have gone for the opposite angle - ‘uninteresting’. That fits in better with the “aw shucks good ol’ boy with a heart of gold that bleeds ethical transparency” theme he was trying to pull off.
- reformer - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:12 am:
It’s all about Bob. I give it a C.
- John Bambenek - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:12 am:
PG-13
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:13 am:
“I don’t always watch web ads, but when I do, will skip this one.” “Vote early, my friends.”
- George - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:17 am:
Interesting concept. Poor execution.
- Skeeter - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:22 am:
George beat me to it. Great idea, but not well executed.
He does not come off well [as a boring middled aged male myself I can say that he comes off like a boring middle aged male], but there was nothing specifically ironic about it — he never seemed to play on the fact that he’s not interesting.
Too bad that they didn’t have this one go througa few more drafts before sending it out.
- Kane Conservative - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:24 am:
I do give the Bob people credit for one thing, they certainly are one step ahead of the other campaigns when it comes to the new media stuff
- VanillaMan - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:25 am:
It is creepy when a candidate is more focused on how their message is presented, then what the message is.
- Rod - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:27 am:
Not bad. I want to hear more.
- Lake Voter - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:31 am:
Oswego Willie:
You need to pay for my computer to be cleaned from the coffee I just spit on it. That was hilarious.
I swear if shillerstrom gets elected I will change sides!
- Boscobud - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:35 am:
His logo looks like a condom wrapper.
- George - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:35 am:
If the Dan Hynes campaign had a sense of humor (and some political wit), they would come out with a campaign ad with him as:
“The least interesting man in the world”
I think a lot of Illinois might be ready for a less interesting Governor.
- curtis - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:37 am:
Goofy nonsense… waste of $$
- just sayin - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:43 am:
Awful. Really, really, really awful. It’s laugh out loud awful. It doesn’t make Bob seem like a “regular guy” or whatever other nonsense some overpaid consultant told him. It just reminds people why he’ll be lucky to finish ahead of Dan Proft or that Adam kid.
I’m sure some people pick up that it’s a spoof of that Dos Equis ad. But a lot of people will miss the connection. That just makes it seem all the more creepy and arrogant.
Plus, comparing yourself to a Mexican guy (Spanish?) may not be the brightest move in a GOP primary.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:56 am:
The Most Interesting Man commercial is very funny. If you want to spoof very funny, you better bring it. This attempt to spoof did not bring it. Grade D.
- wordslinger - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 9:58 am:
As others have said it was a good idea, but poorly executed. You don’t make the connection with the Dos Equis spot. The music and narrator are way different, as is the structure of the script.
Humor as an introduction is a good idea. But you’ve got to bring the funny.
5 out of 10.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:11 am:
Sorry about the coffee … I think most of the posts responding to this web ad are funnier than the ad … that might be a problem for Bobby.
- Skeeter - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:13 am:
The thing with the kids stealing candy was just strange — “One smile from Bob, and the kids turns away from a life of crime”? Perhaps the message is “You know if somebody would have just smiled at Blago, he might not have tried to sell that senate seat.”
That part of the ad was really odd.
- heet101 - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:21 am:
All of you criticizing this as a waste of money or a poor spoof would be the same ones crying if he had too closely spoofed the commercial. “he’s running for governor and making jokes about beer?!?!?” Waaah. Waaah.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:29 am:
I thought the tagline was pretty funny. Actually made me laugh out loud.
The announcer could’ve been better, however.
- George - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:31 am:
“All of you criticizing this as a waste of money or a poor spoof would be the same ones crying if he had too closely spoofed the commercial. “he’s running for governor and making jokes about beer?!?!?” Waaah. Waaah.”
Doubtful. We like beer, and our politics.
- Anonymous - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 10:54 am:
C+. Ditto on comments re: concept v. execution. Seemed like way too many cuts, too, for a short commercial–when I watched it last night (somewhat tired), brain kind of had to work at gluing the visuals together.
If I had to summarize, I’d say the ad was a great idea, but a bit “overly ambitious” perhaps.
Schillerstrom did really well, though. Match him up with the right ad and it’s golden, I bet.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 11:01 am:
After the horrible “pot-shot” commercials of the 2006 election cycle - and some equally nasty spots during 2002 - it is refreshing to see some attempts at humor. I would like to see more of this. “My opponent beats his wife” ads and “my opponent is stone cold crazy” mailers get really old after, oh, being used in EVERY campaign.
- Jake from Elwood - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 11:17 am:
I guess it is a clever tactic, but the production is akin to a first-year high school television class.
Smiling Bob gets a chance to flash his pearly whites.
I suggest he grow a Castro-style beard like the fellow in the Dos Equis ads.
Now that would be funny.
- just sayin - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 11:36 am:
“Keep looking for an electable Republican my friends.”
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 11:43 am:
“I don’t usually go to Springfield to support tax increases, but when I do I make sure they save my own hide and county budget.”
- HoosierDaddy - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 11:55 am:
What do you mean Bob’s not the most interesting man in the world? Just ask him!
- Proft at a Loss - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 1:18 pm:
… “my opponent is stone cold crazy”…
…and he said so himself.
- Dos Equities - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 1:22 pm:
‘Find out what is in life that you don’t do well, and then don’t do that thing.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNYHoI47fw0&feature=related
Bob, that thing for you is these types of adds.
The music is all wrong, for starters. Sounds like the happy ending music to a Dukes of Hazzard episode.
He should have gone for the opposite angle - ‘uninteresting’. That fits in better with the “aw shucks good ol’ boy with a heart of gold that bleeds ethical transparency” theme he was trying to pull off.
And what’s with the Springfield bashing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNYHoI47fw0&feature=related
- SweetLou - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 2:47 pm:
Lame. He should’ve at least grown a beard. THAT would’ve been funny!
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 2:49 pm:
“I don’t always go out drinking with my friends, but when I do, we drink water.”
If you’re going to end the commercial at a table in a bar, please don’t make everyone hide their adult beverages.
- Okay Then... - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 3:35 pm:
Not bad. I like it actually.
- WBurbsCon - Friday, Sep 11, 09 @ 6:02 pm:
“I do give the Bob people credit for one thing, they certainly are one step ahead of the other campaigns when it comes to the new media stuff”
How do you figure that? Based on your twitter followers? Facebook fans? Last I checked he was doing bad in both areas. Please explain.
Back to the video. Horrible, just horrible. I hope a volunteer did this because I can’t imagine a paid staffer or consultant producing this.