[manny_santos]

Inspired by Bob's Ultimate Meats, I thought I'd compile the good, the bad, and the ugly of local TV and radio commercials in London...

The good

Back when Porky's BBQ & Leisure (now just Porky's) first opened they had a series of radio commercials with a talking pig. It was priceless, and effective at getting your attention.

London Major Appliances has an awesome song. They even stream the whole thing on their website (http://www.londonmajorappliances.com/). Back around 2008 they had a series of commercials positioning themselves against big box retailers, with a high-pitched teen who knows nothing trying (or not trying) to help customers at some big box store. The commercials now still use the song but are uninspiring.

Bennett Truck Rentals had a series of ads a few years ago using that same high-pitched teen making an ass of himself while helping customers at an unnamed competitor.

Nieman Market Design had ads during the fall during the second half of 'A' News, which featured a really attractive young woman, looked to be Salvadorian. Said commercial started with this young woman serving drinks to other women from inside a cabinet.

The bad

Bob's Ultimate Meats (see other thread)

The ugly

Before Jason Sims started his own realty business, his ads under RE/MAX were awful. Some local website (possibly the London Fog) claimed kids at one London elementary school were walking around saying "Jason Sims...Jason Sims..." quizzically like in the commercial.

[Simpseatles]

Annoying radio ad-"This is Ron Aiken from Strathroy audio-video. The competition in London knows us, YOU SHOULD TOO!"

The way the guy talks is just priceless!:haha:

[MolsonExport]

^:D

HAHAH! Roy Aitken! Sounds like he's 85 years old. I hear that radio commercial every day!


What about Teppermans?

Hi. I'm Noah Tepperman. And this is my Dad. Dad, I want to tell our customers about our incredible, best-ever, lowest prices ever sales event. Son, did you mention that there is no payments for two years, including taxes? Dad, that's too much to offer! Son, I'm telling you to do it; only don't tell your mother. OK, Dad.

Teppermans...

[MolsonExport]

Highbury Ford!!! We're right there beside you!! We got what you're looking for! Here at Highbury Ford!!

[MolsonExport]

Listen UP, CANADA, turn up the volume on LIFE!!!

[MolsonExport]

Ray Ray Ray! Ray Cullen Chevrolet!!!!

[MolsonExport]

Crazy Al's. The world's worst commercial. With the goddamn fuking morse code SOS in the background.



Hi, I'm Bonnie Brooks...


Ellen's Children shoes.


THE BIG YELLOW TENT! HOT-TUB EVENT!!!!

[MolsonExport]

Finch me, I must be dreaming!

[manny_santos]

The Hully Gully guy. Reminds me of Roy Aiken. A Collins family store! On Wharncliffe South.

"Great relationships start with Poag's.....Jewellers!" Sounds very dated.

And then there's those Rogers ads. "Hi, I'm Roger, talking to a first-time caller from London!"

[MolsonExport]

CAWWWWWPS-BUILD ALL!!
Let's renovate; let's renovate!
CAWWWWWPS-BUILD ALL!!

[Simpseatles]

^:D

What about Teppermans?

Hi. I'm Noah Tepperman. And this is my Dad. Dad, I want to tell our customers about our incredible, best-ever, lowest prices ever sales event. Son, did you mention that there is no payments for two years, including taxes? Dad, that's too much to offer! Son, I'm telling you to do it; only don't tell your mother. OK, Dad.

Teppermans...

Teppermans, your lifestyle, your home, Teppermans!

It pisses me off how they always air the exact same commercials back-to-back!

[manny_santos]

I saw Nieman Market Design on TV last night again...damn, I wish I knew who that girl was. If I had my own business I'd hire her for my advertising. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen on that channel!!

[manny_santos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS9CdONPDCE

Joiiiiiiiin research leading.......to healthier lives with KGK, Synergize! 8-5-8-8-3-5-9!

beep....beep....beep...(voiceover)

KGK, Synergize! 8-5-8-8-3-5-9!

What was with a medical laboratory locating in One London Place? Does that give them instant credibility in the business community or something?

[MolsonExport]

Haha.

BOB'S....ULTIMATE....MEEEEEEEEEEEEETSSS!

It's really really good.

AT DUNDAS AND THIRD!!!!

[MolsonExport]

my favourite:

WESTERVELT COLLEGE!!!!

[MolsonExport]

The guy on the back of the LTC bus. White shirt, tie, headset (for telemarketing). leering smile. great career there, buddy.

[MolsonExport]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Centretown-Pawnbroker/116657755023749

yep. The old man ("Ken") and his sons, and CTP. On facebook.

[manny_santos]

The guy on the back of the LTC bus. White shirt, tie, headset (for telemarketing). leering smile. great career there, buddy.

Start your new career TODAY!

Stream Global Services has advertised very heavily for a long time, although I know several people that work for them and they do little, if not no outbound telemarketing, mainly just inbound customer support. The London facility mostly handles inbound calls for Rogers.

They've had the same ads inside LTC buses that whole time, also have heard ads for them on the radio, and seen electronic boards at the JLC advertising them during Knights games. Must be desperate for people.

[Whisper09]

Although not the actual commercial, it is the slogan thingy mabober or whatever you call it.

I think it's innovative and genius!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TGGmZvhxeE

[manny_santos]

Someone created a compilation of some of the Bob's Ultimate Meats commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNhiuEOwULI

NO DROOLING PLEASE!

I went into Gibraltar Weekend Market today for the first time. Bob's Ultimate Meats had a long lineup. Looked like one of the few places I'd actually buy something from. The rest of the place seemed really creepy.

[MolsonExport]

^It's the ultimate!

Great find; I've added to my favorites.

Did you see the fool there peddling his bones? "GET YOUR DOG A BONE!!!"

http://www.gibraltarweekendmarket.com/housecalls.html

[manny_santos]

^It's the ultimate!

Great find; I've added to my favorites.

Did you see the fool there peddling his bones? "GET YOUR DOG A BONE!!!"

http://www.gibraltarweekendmarket.com/housecalls.html

Yup, saw the dog bones. Also saw old paperback books and VHS movies. Not surprisingly for that part of London, a body piercing joint and a tattoo joint as well.

My father told me he once saw "CAS Approved" (as opposed to CSA approved) power bars there selling for $2 apiece. I wouldn't want to know how that would stand up to a power surge.

By the way...Bob's Ultimate Meats is also known as BUM for short. YUM-YUM-YUM!

[MolsonExport]

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CODcldD54dD0PRDYBRhPMgjmiJSpx-P5vw
SSP

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=COnd6Jyx6IeaYBCsAhjvATIIN2NINHJMDUE
SSP

What is this rubbish? Same shit for Kitchener-Waterloo (same gnarly feet; same frosted dog-turd!)

[Simpseatles]

Anyone ever seen advertisements around town for George Georgopoulos the realtor? What about the other realtor Andrew Crook? His motto is "a name that demands honesty!":haha:

[MolsonExport]

George Georgopoulos, plenty of times.


this Guy, however, is farking everywhere:

http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpghttp://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg
http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg

[manny_santos]

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CODcldD54dD0PRDYBRhPMgjmiJSpx-P5vw
SSP

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=COnd6Jyx6IeaYBCsAhjvATIIN2NINHJMDUE
SSP

What is this rubbish? Same shit for Kitchener-Waterloo (same gnarly feet; same frosted dog-turd!)

I often get the K-W ads when I'm on Fanshawe's computer network. At home I get the London ones.

I signed up for a similar "ridiculously huge coupon" service over the summer. I removed myself from the list after two weeks, because almost none of the deals were for products/stores that appealed to me. Under the Volcano was the only one that appealed to me but the deals were always on days I couldn't get over there.

I think the popularity of these things came out of the "cool to be frugal" movement that became popular during the recession.

[manny_santos]

George Georgopoulos, plenty of times.

this Guy, however, is farking everywhere:

http://pimage4.homesandland.com/thumb/A014/4/57/A014244574.jpg

Jason Sims...Jason Sims...

Could be worse though. This photo was used on a billboard downtown for Diesel Training Studios last summer. Haven't seen it since.

http://www.dieseltrainingstudios.com/images/facilities/ben.jpg
Diesel Training Studios

Ben apparently chooses Diesel when he is in London.

[MolsonExport]

^Nothing (but, I mean nothing, mind you) is worse than the BM.

[MolsonExport]

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CITRt-2L-OWceBCsAhjvATIIJNkJyEkzjTc
SSP

London Bucket List? Come-ON!!! who the fuck would do their so-called bucket list in London, Ontario?

Let's see (things to do in London before you DIE):
1) Storeybook gardens
2) East park
3) Centretown Pawnbrokers
4) White Oaks Mall
5) Victoria Park
6) Fleetway Bowling
7) The forks at the Thames

[manny_santos]

London Bucket List? Come-ON!!! who the fuck would do their so-called bucket list in London, Ontario?

Let's see (things to do in London before you DIE):
1) Storeybook gardens
2) East park
3) Centretown Pawnbrokers
4) White Oaks Mall
5) Victoria Park
6) Fleetway Bowling
7) The forks at the Thames

I've done all of them except #3. I'll get around to that one before I die.

[Noah_Tepperman]

What about Teppermans?

Hi. I'm Noah Tepperman. And this is my Dad. Dad, I want to tell our customers about our incredible, best-ever, lowest prices ever sales event. Son, did you mention that there is no payments for two years, including taxes? Dad, that's too much to offer! Son, I'm telling you to do it; only don't tell your mother. OK, Dad.

Teppermans...

I've been recording those ads with my dad since approx. 2003, and we always have a great time doing them. Of course, the ones where I get to blame things on my older brother Andrew are always the most fun! (Sorry, AT!)

Teppermans, your lifestyle, your home, Teppermans!

It pisses me off how they always air the exact same commercials back-to-back!

First (and forgive me for splitting hairs), they're never the same commercials back-to-back. They're two different spots, written as a pair.

Second, I'm spending money for air time in the hope of catching people's attention. Thanks for the affirmation that its been money well spent. :D

Hopefully you've been in to check out the new store at 1150 Wharncliffe, near Southdale. We've included one of our Bargain Annex stores at the same location, too! All together we've got 85,000 sqft of showroom space so we're sure to have something for everyone.

[MolsonExport]

Wow, the consummate salesman, that NT is! Why do we never hear from AT in the ads?

Come to think of it, the bargain-annex (i.e., scratch up the side, drawers off runners) does the back-to-back commercials as well. With that dude that laughs like "The Count": AH-HAHAHAHA AH Ha!

[Simpseatles]

"TSC Stores, get a great deal more, at your incredible country hardware store!"

[MolsonExport]

^a lot more than simply tractor supplies (the TS in TSC...the C being company)

[manny_santos]

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/mlaroch/BucketList.png
Facebook

Must be the top of One London Place.

[Simpseatles]

"That party, that party...PLACE!" -said in the most obnoxious voice possible.

And is anyone else tired of hearing about "Mommy Makeovers" available at Bluewater Surgery in Sarnia? I hear about them all the time on the radio.

[MolsonExport]

London Ear Clinic.

Listen up, Canada, Turn up the volume on life.

Dr. Brock Rawson and the TMJ clinic.

"my husband suffers from sleep apnea.....had to sleep in separate bedrooms....fitted with an oral appliance....and OUR RELATIONSHIP is much better now, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN."

that party, party, PLACE! IS FUKING HORRIBLE.

[manny_santos]

"That party, that party...PLACE!" -said in the most obnoxious voice possible.

And is anyone else tired of hearing about "Mommy Makeovers" available at Bluewater Surgery in Sarnia? I hear about them all the time on the radio.

Are you ready to be the yummy mummy you know you can be???

At least their commercial is memorable. Of all the commercials we've discussed on here, Crazy Al's is the one business I can't remember what it sells. All I can remember about the commercial is the damn morse code!

[MolsonExport]

Of all the commercials we've discussed on here, Crazy Al's is the one business I can't remember what it sells. All I can remember about the commercial is the damn morse code!

THE
WORST
RADIO
COMMERCIAL
OF
ALL
TIME
IS
THAT
AWFUL
ONE
FROM
CRAZY
AL'S
FEATURING
MORSE
CODE
!!!

Words cannot convey my hatred of this commercial. As fast as possible, the second it comes on, I punch another station on the dash.

[Noah_Tepperman]

Wow, the consummate salesman, that NT is!

Thanks... I think.

Why do we never hear from AT in the ads?

I was going to say it was due to comfort zones, but that's not actually accurate since Andrew is pretty comfortable in front of an audience. It's really due to the fact that I've done a lot more performing over the years. I've done a lot of solo and group musical performing (I played the cello for many years) as well as a ton of public speaking (Optimists stuff) and theatre in gradeschool, highschool and college.


Come to think of it, the bargain-annex (i.e., scratch up the side, drawers off runners) does the back-to-back commercials as well. With that dude that laughs like "The Count": AH-HAHAHAHA AH Ha!

It's true that the Bargain Annex ads are also back to back- but my Jamaican accent wasn't good enough to make the cut for those. ;)

The Bargain Annex isn't all scratch-n-dent stuff, btw. There's always some of that stuff, for sure, but we actually offer a LOT of brand-new furniture in the B.A.
- Some of it is regular in-line inventory with a focus on value price points.
- We've also got some spectacular end-of-line closeouts in there- our buyers are always on the hunt.


I'm sure that was too much information... amiright? :notacrook:

[MolsonExport]

^not at all. I enjoy learning the details!

Assuming you are depicted in your avatar, you look older than you sound on the commercial (maybe its because of the bantering father/son dialogue, but you sound like you are about 22 in the radio spots).

[manny_santos]

@ME - Maybe Crazy Al's is also reading these forums. Heard a new Crazy Al's commercial today with no morse code!

[MolsonExport]

^never thought that would be possible. I cannot overstate how much I hate those morse-code commercials. My arm flies out at the speed of light to squelch the message.

[manny_santos]

Pizza Pizza's latest commercials, both on radio and TV only sings part of the phone number...

(silence) 11-11 Pizza Pizza (silence) 11-11!

[MolsonExport]

^well, the badness of the commercial matches that of the product.

[manny_santos]

^well, the badness of the commercial matches that of the product.

I find Pizza Pizza franchises are very inconsistent with both product quality and service quality.

The worst one by far is at King's University College, operated by Aramark. Routinely the pizza has been sitting out for two hours and is dried out and cold. The service always was awful too - if you came at 10:59am (when the pizza was actually fresh), the pizza would be sitting there ready to be served, the employee would be standing there ready to serve...and she would tell everyone she cannot serve pizza until "Eleven o'clock, on the dot!" Even when the pizza was fresh, the toppings were always clumped in the middle of each slice. I think head office would be horrified at the condition of that franchise.

I've also been to one in Kingston where the staff didn't understand basic English, including words associated with pizza. Trying to order a pizza there was next to impossible.

On the bright side, I've always found the one at Hyde Park and Oxford to have always been good quality and good service. Fanshawe College has a good one too, although they do the topping-clumping-in-the-middle thing too.

[manny_santos]

Found this gem on Youtube, from 1986:

j5LDSeY47c8

A quarter century later, and they still have the same slogan, read by the same guy!

[Simpseatles]

^Wow! What a great find!:haha:

Gotta get out there to get me one of them fancy new VCR's, or a ghetto blaster, or maybe a portable video camera!

[haljackey]

Hahaha they don't make commercials like they used to.

[MolsonExport]

The competition in London knows us; you should too. Wonder if the merchandise is as old as the slogan/spokesperson. Being strathroy, you never know.

[MolsonExport]

I find Pizza Pizza franchises are very inconsistent with both product quality and service quality.

I've also been to one in Kingston where the staff didn't understand basic English, including words associated with pizza. Trying to order a pizza there was next to impossible.




Same thing here at the Sherwood forest mall location. "what we have here is a failure...to communicate". In person, I tried to order a large pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and green peppers. I tried, and failed.

The pizza sucks there anyhow. I mean, get it right; it is your signature product. If the pizza sucks, I wonder how lousy the pasta/salads/etc. must taste.

Papa Johns is my favourite chain pizza. Silver medal goes to Flying Tomato.

[manny_santos]

Remember, FM96 is watching you, so nooooooooo gimmies!

[manny_santos]

He's back...

Ray! Ray! Ray! Ray Cullen Chevrolet!

[manny_santos]

Heard today on FM96...

Noah Tepperman talking over the Strathroy Audio Video guy. Both commercials airing at once.

[MolsonExport]

Hi Dad...The competition in London knows us...family to family....you should too!

[MolsonExport]

He's back...

Ray! Ray! Ray! Ray Cullen Chevrolet!

Haha. Never gets old. At some point in the jingle, they mention the word "Oldsmobile". Ten years after that brand was dustbinned.

[MolsonExport]

What's the deal with 97.5 Easy Rock? It is a long way from being "Easy Rock"...just contemporary chart favorites (All of which suck).

[manny_santos]

What's the deal with 97.5 Easy Rock? It is a long way from being "Easy Rock"...just contemporary chart favorites (All of which suck).

I would not be surprised to see that station become "Boom 97.5" in the new year, with their sister station Oldies 1410 becoming an all-comedy station. The EZ Rock stations in Toronto and Ottawa already have become Boom stations, with an oldies format.

It is worth noting that the Internet domain name boom975.com was registered by Astral Media, which owns 97.5 in London, on May 13, 2011.

[Snark]

What's the deal with 97.5 Easy Rock? It is a long way from being "Easy Rock"...just contemporary chart favorites (All of which suck).

I guess that's because it's easy to ignore and forget.

[MolsonExport]

I guess all us older fogies are switching to XM/Sirius and/or just streaming and/or playing tunes off of the ipod.

I loathe today's "music".

[manny_santos]

I guess all us older fogies are switching to XM/Sirius and/or just streaming and/or playing tunes off of the ipod.

I loathe today's "music".

There's still some good rock coming out, such as from The Sheepdogs and Foster the People.

Most of the other music coming out today is corporate music that I have no time for.

[MolsonExport]

Black-eyed peas, katy perry, nickelback, all hip-hop and techno music, and most everything else nowadays: sucks to the nth degree.

[Stevo26]

Black-eyed peas, katy perry, nickelback, all hip-hop and techno music, and most everything else nowadays: sucks to the nth degree.

Agreed. Gimme my Gordon Lightfoot, my Rush, and Loreena McKennitt any day of the week! *sigh* They're just not making music anymore like they used to, are they?

[Simpseatles]

Black-eyed peas, katy perry, nickelback, all hip-hop and techno music, and most everything else nowadays: sucks to the nth degree.

I disagree. Give me my Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Tegan and Sara, Florence and the Machine, Matthew Good and Kings of Leon. Great music still exists, just as it always has, and always will.

[MolsonExport]

^to each his own. Personally I will take the 70s over anything, followed by the 60s, 80s, 90s. I can barely identify 5 songs since 2000 that I really enjoy. I can't stand synthetic, auto-tune, mindless cRap/Hip-Hop (yo-yo bitch crap everything sux alienation attitude wassup fuk da police pants on the ground) and Techno (esp. with the extreme accelerating drum that seems to crop up in almost every song. Techno versions of yesteryear chart favorites are a particularly evil sin).