Last week, we asked you to vent your frustrations by nominating the most annoying, repetitive holiday-themed commercials of the year, and we heard you loud and clear.
After sifting through all the comments and e-mails, we were able to whittle down the dozens of headache-inducing ads to the five nominees that received the most hate from the readers of Consumerist.
In no particular order, the nominated ad campaigns (click on the bolded titles to see YouTube videos… if you think you can tolerate them) for 2010 are:
Lexus: December to Remember
For years, Lexus has been wrapping big red bows around its cars in an attempt to position them as the ideal holiday present. This year, they’ve featured pricey stunts like stapling a massive stocking to the front of a house or turning the huge pine tree in the front yard into the Christmas tree… to remind those of us who can barely afford to pay our mortgage just how cool Lexus owners are.
Target: Training for the 2-Day Sale
An Amy Sedaris lookalike screeches and pulls a variety of rubber faces as she gets in shape for Target’s doorbuster sales. It’s actually good advice, because it’s never the fit ones who get trampled when the crowds rush in.
Overstock.com: Caroling Employees
Do we really care what the people who work at Overstock.com are? And aren’t there any employees at the company who can actually hold a tune? Even if they could, the commercial’s bastardized “Jingle Bells” lyrics are enough to make one hit the mute button.
Hyundai: Hipster Holidays
Speaking of “Jingle Bells,” Hyundai apparently decided that having Jeff “The Dude” Bridges as its spokesman wasn’t cool enough and hired twee YouTube sensations Pomplamoose to record versions of this song and other holiday classics that make you pine for the humble beauty of elevator music.
Best Buy: Kenneth the Elf
Remember that smug jerk in those old Encyclopedia Brittanica ads? Now imagine him as a poorly animated elf who shills for Best Buy and you can clearly see why this ad campaign made it through to the final five nominees.
Voting will close at 5 p.m. ET on Wed. 12/22 and the winning loser will be announced on Thursday morning.
I hate the Target commercial but I actually like the Hyundai commercial!
I agree that I like the singing Hyundai hipsters. It’s cute.
Agreed.
Same here, I like the Hyundai commercial too.
I am embarrassed to say, but I wanted to buy the Pomplamoose album.
My daughter and I both actually did buy the Pomplamoose album (before the ads, tho’). I like the ads… Pomplamoose’s arrangments make them actually enjoyable.
You can get the Christmas one by donating a book from a local school’s Amazon wishlist. That promo actually got so big the books are now being sent out to the entire district from what I hear.
The singing hipsters make me want to punch myself. Do they have carpet in the garage? Is the car in their living room? What are they doing and why do they cut a beat out of every line of the song? And also, I keep wishing the car were running and while they were thinking they were being hip, they were slowly getting sleepy…
lol +1
There’s actually a YouTube video on the Hyundai page addressing the cut beat, they evidently had to do it to fit the song into the 30 second slot.
And I must admit, I loved those Hyundai ads. Turned me on to Pomplamoose.
I wouldn’t mind the Hyundai commercial but they play it on every commercial break at least once for the past 3 weeks or so. I didn’t mind it and actually kind of liked it but the repetition got to me.
I hate the Hyundai commercial. I hit the mute button every single time and turn away because if I didn’t I would no longer have a TV. I really want to punch the person(s) who created that ad.
I love Pomplamoose – I’ve bought a few of their songs and was planning on getting their Christmas album. But I also don’t watch TV on a regular basis, and could understand how the repetitiveness could get to someone.
For me, it’s a tie between the hipster Hyundai one and the Best Buy one. Although the Overstock one is pretty close.
I am not hipster scum, thus I have no interest in ever buying a Hyundai.
The Overstock one doesn’t seem as bad to me as the Marshals/TJ Maxx.
Either the singing shoppers brought their M/TJM bags into the mall (why would they do that?) or else the stores are located in the mall (in which case why are they chastising the other shoppers for being in the mall?). Either way, the smug singing smegheads don’t know what the other shoppers bought or what they paid for it, so what makes them think that shopping at M/TJM would have worked for them?
I realize it’s a commercial, but GRRRRRrrrrr!
You best be joking about listing Pomplamoose on this list. Right … RIGHT?!?
They aren’t fooling anyone with that schtick. I physically recoil when those ads run!
Same here. Those make me want to claw my eyes out and ears off. I pine for a JG Wentworth commercial when I hear those two.
“I have a Christmas shopping list and I need cash now…”
Agreed. I love the Pomplamoose ad!
I agree with their being on this list. And “twee” is exactly the right word to describe that ad.
I LOVE Ms. Dawn of Pomplamoose, and Mr. Conti is an excellent arranger and goofball. They doesn’t deserve to be on this list!
Once I learned their name in the nomination thread, the hipster hate grew even more.
I went for days with:
Fa la la la la (beep beep) la la la la…
in my head.
It’s amazing how polarizing Pomplamoose is. You either love them, or hate them. As for me, I think Nataly Dawn has incredibly hypnotic eyes and a wonderful voice. Mr. Conti is very lucky to have found not only someone who is so beautiful, but so musically talented too.
She sings like a robot.
And the cuts to him playing the drums (sort of poorly) are jarring.
Sorry, I guess I just don’t get it.
If I want someone who can sing like a robot (and rock it) I’ll just go dig out some of my old Nina Hagen. At least she has range, since she does the exact same thing (she plays the role of every vocal track on many of her songs, they’re fascinating to listen to again once you know that).
Here’s my take on it:
The main put-off in the hyundai ad is the forced “I’m so ALT” attitude. It’s like that at&t ad a few years ago with the people riding bicycles in an empty loft. The guy’s put-on over-excitment is just annoying. An unkempt 30-something trying to act like a 6 year old child is just off-putting. No two ways about it. The chick isn’t SO annoying in the ads but after being directed to their you tube stuff, I can’t stand her anymore, either. She looks and sounds like stage fright. She is a wax figure. Has absolutely no attitude. I’ll admit her pitch is good but her refusal to project displays a level of talent that can be found in every room of a karaoke parlor in any town with a population that would support a parlor dedicated to karaoke. It’s non-talent. It personifies the hipster creed of anti-talent. And that is why it is so despised.
That vacant look in her eyes is very off-putting.
So much dross, yet only one vote…
Pretentious is annoying. Lexus.
“Surprise honey. I went out and got a new car for you without giving you any input into the choice of make, model, color, or accessories. What’s that you’re saying? That I’m a vapid, chauvinist douchebag because I obviously don’t give a crap about your needs, preferences, or opinions one little bit? Well, I am a Lexus buyer. Enjoy being stuck with it for the next 3 years. Happy holidays”.
+ Freakin’ 1!
And that’s why I enjoy this . . .
http://youtu.be/bXy1iiQgOAM
Hahaha. I (a woman) buy my own damn cars!
And bonus…what mom doesn’t want a big, honking SUV to cart the kiddies around? That you might not want a sleek luxury sedan might not matter. You’re a mom, you must have this huge, gas guzzler because that is your destiny, bitch!
Yes, but remember, we must make sure rich people have plenty of money, so they can buy things, and then we might get some very small indirect benefit from their greed and pretentiousness.
Sorry I missed the nominations for this, since my personal rager is the jewelry ad, cabin in the woods, woman is OMGSCARED of thunder and hides on man’s shoulder, but he’s all ITSOK I WILL NEVR LEAVE U PLUS I HAZ TEH DIAMONZ.
So. True. I don’t know what us women would do without men to protect us and buy us jewelry.
Damn straight. Now go make me a sammich!
Just hand me the diamond earrings and no one gets offended!
That one is particularly egregious, but any jewelry commercial could qualify for this vote.
Then there’s the nursing mom: “what are you doing up?” “It’s our first Christmas as a family and I HAZ DIAMONZ.” Ad finishes with mom saying she’ll never forget this Christmas.
I told Mr Brie that I remember nothing about our first Christmas with our squirmy screamy sleepless firstborn; therefore he failed in not giving me jewelry.
totally. not to mention the fact that his delivery of his line makes him look like a crazed stalker.
Yes! I always thought that ad started out originally as a horror film, where he was going to murder her, but then they had to shop it around and turned it into a jewelry commercial.
And then she gives “jewelry face.” Thank you, Sarah Haskins. (For those of you who don’t know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLWn3xTGL4).
My favorite part about that commercial is that Manly McMan acts like he’s somehow protecting her: “it’s okay! I’m here!” Really? You’re physically preventing the storm from hurting her? And here I thought it was the fucking log cabin. Great job ad wizards.
Moral of the story: My irrational fear of thunder can only be calmed by a douche in a turtleneck bearing diamonds. How did this one miss the list?
This is one of a very small sample of commercials that fills me with instant rage.
Thunder is so scary! Thank god for men and jewelry. Seriously, how is this not on the list?
I can’t believe that commercial wasn’t on this list. It is VILE. I want to punch both of them, and I’m not a punching type of person.
For those who don’t recognize the “crazy Target lady”, it’s comedian Maria Bamford. She did similar ads for Target last year, too. (And I actually kind of like them. She plays “slightly unhinged” pretty well.)
I don’t care for the ads, but she’s one of my favorite stand-up comedians (comediennes? is that still a word? but anyway, she’s one of my favorites, regardless of geneder)
She makes me wonder what her real voice is like… I don’t follow her that much, but she does voices so well, I have a hard time knowing what her real voice actually is.
“An Amy Sedaris lookalike” made me cringe. Maria Bamford is a very well-regarded comedian, and she is awesome. The ad may not be for everyone, but show a little respect, Consumerist!
That blows my mind. I’m a huge Bamford fan (her videos on Superdeluxe are hilarious) and I would never have recognized her. Thanks for pointing it out.
Yep, I can’t hate anything she does. I like those ads just because it’s her.
I was going to say the same thing. Maria Bamford has been doing standup for at least a decade. She’s had two Comedy Central showcases and has put out several albums. I know she isn’t a household name, but “Amy Sedaris Lookalike?” How can you know who Amy Sedaris is and NOT Maria Bamford?
Sorry, cannot help – I haven’t watched a TV commercial since I discovered bit torrent.
*high-five*
((looks at Reading_Comprehension’s avatar)) ((looks at Reading_Comprehension’s comment))
U R DOING IT RONG
it makes sense if you saw FuzzyWillow’s hand
For some reason my dad would go on and on about how the Hyundai Hipsters were probably some kind of Canadian infiltration of lameness whenever that commercial came on, but it turns out they’re from California. Which I’m sure is just as bad if you ask him.
Nah, worse. People from here are both rude and annoying. That trumps nice and annoying anyday.
The ones that imitate the Royal Tenenbaums really upset me.
All of those obnoxious Best Buy elves grind my gears.
Death to the hipsters.
I LOVE the crazy Target lady!
I have to agree with several other posters…I like Pomplamoose!
I HATE the stupid Lexus commercials- always have. A car is a crappy gift for Christmas, anyways, unless the buyer pays cash…it’s not really a ‘gift’ it’s a debt.
This. Even if I were to get a completely paid off car for Christmas, there’s no way I could afford the gas, the insurance, the general upkeep, the fuzzy dice, etc. However, if anyone wants to give me a car, I will not say no. *looks around hopefully*
God I hate that Best Buy elf.
He’s like the snarky ass “Buying shit? Maybe you’ve heard of a tiny little store called, uh, lemme see, what was it… BEST BUY?!?!” in character form.
While the Target commercials are kind of annoying, I can’t help but laugh when I watch them because I know people like that.
I hate the Hyundai commercial though, there is something about that girl that makes me just want to punch her in the face.
The Best Buy elf ones freak me out, particularly the one with the talking snowman. It just seems so angry and the elf seems like a smug little d-bag.
Agreed. And have you noticed that the guy in those Hyundai commercials is playing the drums with A SPATULA? That irks the bejeebers out of me!!!
He’s using a wire brush, not a spatula. It’s a very common technique for drummers. It produces a softer, less percussive sound (more a “swish” sound), and is common in soft songs and jazz.
http://www.rockdrummingsystem.com/underground/drum-lessons/brushes.php
Oh – LOL. Thanks for the edumacashun.
I wish I could vote for the Target AUDIO ads that have been appearing on Pandora (and I suspect are probably on actual radio). Lady sings horribly, HORRIBLY off-key (Overstock’s isn’t that bad by comparison), and the ad touts that Target has everything you need to “win Christmas”.
O__o
That ad makes me want to punch something. Preferably Target.
I just heard that ad this weekend. It was awful on so many levels! I would rather listen to eBay Jingle Bells a million times.
It’s gotta be those crappy Target commercials, I don’t see why you’re even bothering with four other nominees.
I didn’t know they were a actual group, Pomplamoose. I kinda like her voice, actually makes me want to look at more of their stuff.
Lexus is just pretentious, but that’s their deal.
Overstock just seems insincere. It’s just kinda a forced ‘Happy Holidays’ from $company. No big deal, either.
Target… oh, Target. The commercial wasn’t funny to me, but I didn’t hate it. It’s just a “Heh, cute.”
Kenneth needs to be stopped, reading what others have said, he does come off as a pretentious… abberation.
I read comments after writing up my own response list but now realize that I shouldn’t have bothered and just replied “ditto” to yours.
The worst part about the Lexus ad is how the VO begins: “Let’s be honest…” The script makes no sense! However (as I’ve mentioned before), if my eyes are correct, they seem to have cast not one but perhaps two interracial couples other than the WM-AF combination you usually see? If so, they get points for this.
I’m also offended by the usual “wimminfolk in the kitchen kickin’ it with their gross scented candles” crop of ads. They just recycle scripts from yogurt ads and replace the office with the kitchen, and yogurt with candles.
The “two cunts in a kitchen” is a pretty standard type of advertisement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Cunts_in_a_Kitchen
How about any HHgregg commercial with that stupid rolled up talking ad
Every time the Hyundai commercials come on I want to smack the both of them and my wife, my mother, my brother-in-law and my mother-in-law all own Hyundais. I myself had one a few years back as well.
The Best Buy ad makes me regret that Maya 3D got so cheap anyone could afford it.
I hate the jewelery commercial (I think it’s national) where the woman sees her man through the window – and he drops a pendant from his palm just like Christopher Walken does in Catch Me if You Can. It’s so crass.
Must have fallen right off your neck …
1. Lexus: I don’t mind these commercials at all. They’re well done and I really don’t think they’re suggesting anyone go run out and buy a Lexus as a gift for someone. It’s a fantasy, and they’ve been doing it every year for a long time. As a commercial, I’d say it’s a success – everyone knows the brand of car that has the big red bow at Christmas – and, though it may fall short of enjoyable, is not at all annoying.
2. Target: annoying.
3. Overstock: eh. If those are real employees, what a thrill to see themselves on tv.
4. WHY IS POMPLAMOOSE ON THIS LIST?!
5. Best Buy: Oh dear lord make it stop. This one gets my vote. If I ever watched live TV as opposed to fast forwarding through recorded shows, I would definitely change channels to avoid this one. Worst holiday ad ever.
Pomplamoose: because they have just a smidge of talent.
Re: the Overstock spot. One of the comments on YouTube cracked me up. Something about Man the harpoons. Mean, but sadly, true.
I don’t think I’ve seen ANY of these…
I’ve seen the Overstock one (on the escalator) but not the others – and I watch way too much TV. Maybe it’s regional.
I don’t even care that my husband earns his paycheck via Hyundai.. that’s the most aggravating commercial since mentos in my book.
I actually like the Hyundai one. I think Best Buy’s is really disturbing and creepy. Oh making toys altruistically is second-tier, what you really want is to be working on commission at Best Buy!
My gripe? CHRISTMAS IS CANCELED UNLESS WE HAVE GIFTS! Say it isn’t so! Being nice to people and spending time with family are SO LAST YEAR! It’s all about the $$$ this year!
(This, in general, is what I hate about Christmas, period.)
I bet Hyundai hired Poopymoose so that the hipster would like them. Judging by these comments, it’s working.
hipsters*
How do you know who’s a hipster?
That smug elf is annoying, but the Target ad is the worst.
I have nothing against Pomplamoose, but everything about the commercial somehow grates on me. I don’t like whatever it is they do to her voice….
It’s a harmonizer. Basically, a pitch shifting effect that mixes the effect signal back with the original signal. In this case, it sounds like they dialed in to a diatonic 5th to sound like a back up singer. To me, it make sound more like she’s singing through train whistle.
Why no Acura ad’s
You know the one that are making fun of style at any expense ads, the Italian Chest nut roster, or Real Reindeer… Sub Nodric Spruce.
O, O, O, the big, big O… can’t stand it!
I voted for the Target ad because the actress they are using absolutely incenses me. I wish you had used the more annoying commercial though. You know, the one where she is singing to the cards while mugging like a tool? I have no idea why it makes me angry, but I think it was a mix of the fact that the cards changed their tone as they repeated their “Christmas is here” message, along with her final intonation of “Rum tummy tum”. It made me punch my cat. I love my cat!
I forget what I was watching when this ad was displayed at what seemed like every commercial break, but after the fourth or fifth time I saw it I nearly lost my shit. Never has a commercial made me so angry before.
Yes! I was wondering why they didn’t choose that commercial myself; it drives me nuts every time I see it. I think most of my ire comes from the fact that there are plenty of jerks who would do that in a Target even without the commercial encouraging them.
It’s rare that I agree with ALL the selections being on the worst list, but this time I do. Although that Pomplamoose one stands out as being worser (worsiest?).
That Target hag makes me want to throw a brick through my television. The ads last year were far more annoying, but I was really hoping she wouldn’t make another appearance. I. HATE. HER. To those who find her amusing…. I think there is medication for that.
The thing I dislike most about the Overstock commercial is they used people who *can’t sing,* and it sounds terrible!
Any car commercial is just poor taste when so many people are out of work (me included) and cannot purchase Christmas presents let alone a new car.
All the effort to seem comedy-literate by dropping Amy Sedaris’s name was negated by the fact that you guys don’t recognize Maria Bamford. So close, and yet…
OMG, I was going to nominate the Hyundai ad for the regular worst commercial contest. Don’t like any of them, but that is only one I can’t tune out. It’s just that annoying. Her voice just makes me want to punch something.
Why isn’t the TJ Max/Marshals commercial in there? Where they are singing through the mall telling everyone how they are paying too much.
Oh, man. . .hipsters or women-shopping stereotype? I’m just spoiled for choice here;
Lexis for sure.
“Oooh! Yeah! A tarted up Camry!”
That Hyundai one makes absolutely no sense. For this list, it is the clear winner of the worst.
For everybody talking smack about people giving a car for christmas, hey… stranger things have happened. Not everybody in this country is struggling financially right now and to be jealous of the luxury brands which target their advertising to them is pretty small of you. Get over it. No, I’m not going to go out and buy a Lexus for my wife for Christmas, but the commercial isn’t bad just because it targets people who can.
For me, the worst is a local Hyundia dealer’s commercial. A dancing hip-hop santa sings “santa has a new ride, santa has a new ride, santa has a new ride…”
Time Out! I know this isn’t a holiday commercial, but it just MAKES ME SO MAD! I must relieve my steam valve. RARRGGHH URGGLE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqZBCsYzh24&feature=related
What the fuck! What the fuck! What the fuck! It’s just cologne! What’s this business about “I’m not going to be who everybody expects me to be anymore”? Why do the damn walls fall down? Why is this guy worthy of a press conference? Take that stupid blue lens of the camera! I’m outraged! OUTRAGED!
That Encyclopedia Brittanica kid vents his emotional issues on youtube now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfNhRwDBUOw
This went viral a few years ago, but still as creepy as ever. It almost works as another prequel for Paranormal Activity.
My ranking …
1. Target – far and away the worst. Over-exaggerated and not funny. Painful to watch.
2. Lexus – yeah, it’s a luxury vehicle and their ads are supposed to be pretentious
3. Best Buy – not really annoying, it just didn’t stand out in any good or bad way. Very forgettable.
4. Overstock -not great, but has a nice “everyday person” charm. They aren’t professional actors/singers, and they don’t try to fake it or hide it.
5. Hyundai – doesn’t deserve to be here. The ad was very well done.
The Hyundai ad is the worst on this list, but I’m shocked that the nominations didn’t capture what is indeed the worst ad this season: the Verizon “Jingle Bells/Our House’ mashup.
Jingle Bells, I get… but Our House? Really?? WTF does that song have to do with anything?
It’s like Verizon went to their ad company and requested the most annoying jingle bug possible just to deliberately stick in our heads.
“Hmmm… how about Little Drummer Boy and Ice, Ice Baby?”
“No, I really think we need to run with the Wonderful Christmas Time / Tom’s Diner mashup.”
You forgot “The Little Drummer Boy” combined with Salt and Peppa’s “Push It”
I vote for that soul sucking elf.
I must admit that I haven’t seen the Hyundai ad, as TV and I don’t mix. (Bit Torrent FTW.) But I’m a bit confused as to why we’re calling Pomplamoose hipsters. Their style isn’t exactly hipster faire.
It’s amazing how polarizing Pomplamoose is. You either love them, or hate them. As for me, I think Nataly Dawn has incredibly hypnotic eyes and a wonderful voice. Mr. Conti is very lucky to have found not only someone who is so beautiful, but so musically talented too.