The Best and Worst TV ads of 2012

Commercials are disturbances, especially when one is watching the climax of an exciting scene and then the show gets cut to air a sponsor ad. However, let's admit it, they are necessary to fuel an entire economy of consumers and manufacturers.

But commercials can do find its way to a viewer's heart and memory when executed in a unique, intelligent and creative way. So for 2012, here are my personal list of the TV ads that made me love or hate to see them cut the show.

Let's start off with the top three BEST.



Just when we thought this ad would go the usual and predictable mushy and cheesy ending, this one hits you at the end—especially many Filipinos who can relate *wink*. Point well taken: Do not depend too much on your parents, get a life, and a house on your own! :) 

This is perhaps every Filipinos' dream....for it to snow in the Philippines! Superb imagination, wonderful execution. I can almost feel like I was part of the commercial too and see my self tasting the snow. I just love ads that can take viewers to an entirely different (but familiar) world!

Why this? 3 Ss: simple, smart and short. It's elegant and tastefully created. The best use of words and simple image. Less is more indeed.

And now for the WORST ads.

Big company, big budget, teeny-weeny story line. Man, this commercial lacks imagination and heart. First we all know the actress cannot sing, is this ad kidding us? Although I know this ad is shown in other countries, thus the lip sync, it shouldn't be an excuse to get this done like a highschool student ad project. Get the remote please and change the channel! I hope Rejoice will rethink its commercial story lines to get its viewers rejoicing.

This one made it on top of my WORST list. Again, big company, big budget, big production, ZERO imagination. Guy meets girl, didn't get her name, pretended to be someone and then sang in front of a crowd to wow his girl. I mean, haven't we watched this predictable, recognizable plot in so many movies and TV shows, or even read it in books? The most recent was in Alvin and the Chipmunks when Toby announced his affection for his school friend on stage. I do hope Close Up can think of other ways to sell its brand apart from predictable ads.

There are still a lot of advertisements that I hate to see on TV, especially now that I spend most of my time in front of the tube while taking care of a four month old baby. These are:

• Political Ads—Headache! I honestly think politicians should spend their money more on helping people rather than spending it on ad placements. Go on field and community visits, build houses, distribute goods, or give free medical services - their advertising budget can cover all these! Just to give you an idea, and this is only a modest estimate:

         30 Sec Commercial ad production cost: PhP 1.5 million
         Jingle Production: PhP 500,000
         One (1) time ad placement cost (single airing on TV):  PhP200,000
         One (1) day ad placement cost for five (5) ads: PhP 1,000,000
         One (1) month campaign cost for 5 ads in one day:  PhP 31,000,000
       

         And the last cost is just for one month! Imagine the money these politicians are 

         willing to spend on advertisements that only make people cringe at the sight 

         and sounds of their ads. If they were able to accumulate this much, they can 

          build schools throughout the nation!

• Whitening Products Commercials —Why do they employ the services of born-fair and half-Pinoys to sell these products? Their melanin count does not even meet half of those that they are selling the lotions, creams and soaps to.  

Honestly, I am sold out on the idea that our advertising industry creative directors, artists, writers and producers do not lack the imagination to think out of the box. In fact, their creativity is world class. Perhaps, it's the advertisers (manufacturing companies) who are not willing to share this kind of thinking with them.

Well that's it from a consumer's point of view! What's yours? :)