Dave Edwards and It’s Just my Take, 3-29-24
When do you know that something has “jumped the shark”? That’s when a show, a sporting event or maybe an ad campaign has hit its peak and is no longer as interesting as it once was. I think the ads with Spike Lee, Charles Barkley, Jim Nance and others have jumped the shark.
The NCAA Tournament has always been highly-anticipated for the action, but also for the ads that accompany them, including those guys and others hocking credit cards. But, the ad campaign has become a bore, often slinking to childish behavior and well-worn cliches to get their message across. We’ve seen the same through the years with beer companies, fast food, insurance (discount double-check!) cars and more. Even great ad campaigns hit a wall.
Note: Miller is bringing back an old flame by showing celebrity-stuffed ads featuring Wisconsin’s J.J. Watt and others schlepping their favorite beer. The proof will be in the hops and barley, but also in the creativity that will have a hard time rivaling the “less filling…great taste” debates of decades ago. I’m looking forward to seeing who bursts through the screen like John Madden! Or, maybe a cameo from Ueck?
