Ashley Elizabeth posted on November 13, 2009 00:00
Advertising controls people’s opinions and ideally, the way consumers purchase items. Research and development departments make up legitimate branches of multi-million dollar corporations and marketing, advertising, and sales are some of the most popular majors in college. If all this money, energy, and creative man
power fuels advertising and commercials, then why do certain brands put out seriously creepy icons? Here are some of the disturbing mascots, icons, and strange looking characters that flood our TV screens:
Hamburger Helper Hand: Have you seen the new commercials? A mom and son sit in a fast food drive thru and the weird Hamburger Helper Hand sits in the back seat while an unattached hand reaches in and spoon feeds the mom Hamburger Helper. For the record, it looks like Cheeseburger flavor. Anyways, what ad guy decided that a white-gloved hand with a face and mouth would serve as the best choice for a mascot for a pre-packaged, fat packed, quickie dinner dish? One of my ex-boyfriends ate HH like Biggest Loser contestants eat fried food when they leave the ranch. I don't understand the appeal of the creeptastic floating hand nor the taste of the boxed meal… to think that some ad guy made loads of money off the HH icon make me crazy.
Mucinex Snot Blobs: I don't know if the official name for the characters in the commercial are the snot blobs, but I think the name suits them. I would have loved to sit in the brainstorming session where someone proposed, "Hey, let's have the icons for this decongestant be human-like snot blobs with clothing, dialogue, and a
residence inside someone's nose." I understand the satirical use of snot blobs in a snot fighting drug commercial; however, green goo balls running around my TV screen simply grosses me out.
Pillsbury Dough Boy: Whooo Hoooo! The annoying tiny voice that projects after a push on a miniature dough boy’s stomach sounds like nails on the chalkboard to me. The cringe evoking effect apparently works. Ignoring the fact the tiny dough ball sounds like the oompa loopas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pillsbury and their iconic dough boy have sold millions of biscuits, cookies, and bakery items for decades. Just think if you met the person who does the voice for the Dough Boy. If you push his stomach, does he make the same creepy voice and go, “whoo hoooo”?
Those three characters creep me out the most, but here is a list of more advertising icons that might thoroughly creep you out.
Snuggle Bear: a crazed bear with super stiff limbs crawling around in your delicate laundry.
Burger King King: a Chester-the-Molester-looking old man wearing tights and a crown creeping on young girls and selling 1000 calorie burgers.
Ronald McDonald: a clown, enough said.
Kool Aid: Dane Cook's skit says it best: a top-heavy pitcher of Kool Aid in tights. “Oooohhh yeaaaa!” Oh, no creepster McGee.
M&M’s: I think the Red and Yellow ones both had affairs with the Green.
Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Bee from Honey Nut Cheerios:
I'll take my cereal without interference from the obnoxious cartoon animals, thanks.
The Green Giant: aspiring basketball players should stock up on their veggies if they wish to be as tall as the spokes person for vegetables. By the way, ever wonder what happened to his one-time side kick, Sprout? Hmm….
Energizer Bunny: everything must come to a stop…eventually.
Even though I might not understand the logic behind the use of eerie animals, and misplaced body parts as spokespeople for commonly used items, the characters seem to work. I guess the creepier and more annoying the icon, the more products a company can sell. But be wary, if some guy comes up at asks you to press his belly, run away!