Let's Talk About Ads

Will you be ready?

I do not condone this direct to consumer advertising scheme that most of the large drug companies have. In fact, I abhor it. It's a sleazy slimeball way to get consumers to take a product that they might not necessarily need. Really, how many of the men with erectile dysfunction are old and should not be trying to get it up anyway?

The commercial for Enzyte always comes up when I'm trying to watch the Daily Show. Morality aside, I do thing that this is a somewhat effective commercial. After all, I pay attention to it. I think the thing that gets to me most is that man with the really creepy forced smile.

I don't really remember much of the commercial (even if I do see it everyday), but I can clearly picture that smile in my head. And that half wave. I found a different commercial advertising the same product on YouTube, but this will give you a sense of just how cheesy Enzyte's commercials are.



As far as intent goes, it's not a bad commercial. I had to look up the name of the product before writing this post, but I'm sure if I had asked my friends, "What's the name of that product? It has a commercial spot during the Daily Show featuring a man with a huge creepy smile," at least one of them would be able to tell me the product name. So I suppose it's effective. I doubt Enzyte will knock Viagra out of the number one spot as the brunt of all limp jokes, but at least it's getting out there.

But, if you're going to talk about entertainment, it's pretty terrible. They always have the most stereotypical comments and euphemisms. I don't enjoy watching the commercial at all and dread it when it does come on. Why? Annoyance really. It's that smile again. Everything comes back to the smile.

The real dilemma in this case is: a commercial that'll stick in people's minds with a very clear-cut idea of what the product is for or a commercial that's there to entertain and to be forgotten about once the next one comes up.

posted by Sarah @ 6:04 PM