spazmodeus
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posted on December 4, 2000 09:21:06 PM
I have to give Old Navy credit for consistency. When they started running deliberately bad television advertising at Christmastime a few years ago, I thought, "They'll regret this come December 26th."
But no. Last year and this year again, they've abided by their apparent creed of "Cheesy does it," and come out with yet another series of crass and obnoxious commercials so bad that, try as you might, you can't turn away. You just stare at the screen and wonder how do they get away with it? This year the Old Navy spots star Megan Mullally from "Will and Grace." Never in my most fevered imaginings did I think anything could make me long for the Old Navy ads of yore which starred unabashed has-beens like Sherman Helmsley, Isabelle Sanford, Morgan Fairchild and that ubiquitous, bespectacled old fashion critic whats-her-face all competing for the attention of Magic the Dog. But nightly exposure to hefty hoofer Mullally mugging for the camera and shrieking about "performance fleece" has done just that.
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Shadowcat
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posted on December 4, 2000 09:26:58 PM
Er-what's Old Navy?
(Remember, I don't see US tv)
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spazmodeus
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posted on December 4, 2000 09:30:29 PM
A clothing manufacturer, Shadowcat.
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krs
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posted on December 4, 2000 10:16:15 PM
Nothing they do can compare to the singing cows of California cheese.
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oddish4
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posted on December 4, 2000 11:09:27 PM
I'm so glad I'm not alone. These commercials do nothing but make me never want to step foot in an Old Navy store.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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Meya
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posted on December 5, 2000 05:11:21 AM
Speaking of commercials...has anyone else seen the one for ummm, tampons that has them actually spinning on screen in the shape of a flower?
What a world, what a world. 
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on December 5, 2000 05:13:07 AM
I've never "gotten" them either, and it's not for lack of understanding the "cheesy-is-good" concept - some of my favorites are the "Hello, mosquito/asteroid/partially-eaten-fish" series for Discovery Channel.
It is reassuring to know I'm not the only one who recognize but can't remember the name of "that ubiquitous, bespectacled old fashion critic whats-her-face". What IS her name?
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MichelleG
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posted on December 5, 2000 05:26:16 AM
Elsa Klench  (she's the only one I can think of that fits the description!)
[ edited by MichelleG on Dec 5, 2000 05:28 AM ]
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tegan
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posted on December 5, 2000 05:30:17 AM
spazmodeus:I'm with you on this one. Just when you think they can't get any creepier they do.
Unfortunatly the commercials must be working. I have to pass an Old Navy Store on my way to the craft store and it is always packed.
Who is that Lady in the bad 70's glasses? I know we are supposed to know who she is but I haven't a clue.
When I first got to Texas they had commercials aimed at bringing in tourists to the city of Houston.What did they choose for their catch phrase? "Houston's Hot"
Well it is in fact hot, sometimes as hot as 109 but is that really what you want use as the selling point for the city?
Sometimes you wonder what these ad men are thinking.
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on December 5, 2000 06:05:27 AM
Nope, not Elsa, who's considerably better-preserved, markedly thinner, and has a European-English accent.
Edited to add: - it's Carrie Donovan.
Here's an article on the campaign:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/index/ad212.htm
And a site where you can see many of the ads:
http://www.adcritic.com/content/old-navy-draw-string-pants.html
And another where you can tear the ads to shreds with other ON haters:
http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~bh/OldeNavey/
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Dec 5, 2000 06:14 AM ]
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RainyBear
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posted on December 5, 2000 06:52:10 AM
I took a media class once long, long ago, and the only thing I remember from it is that our instructor told us that the purpose of advertising is not to sell a product, but to gain recognition for a brand.
Whether we like the Old Navy ads or not, we certainly remember them, so they've done their job.
I do like the ads.
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shar9
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posted on December 5, 2000 07:04:00 AM
Hi Meya,
I've seen that tampax commercial. I listen more that I watch so I just caught the end of the commercial. I had to watch again thinking my eyes were playing tricks.
There are some things that I don't need a picture of and this is one of them.
We don't get many commercials since we have a dish so I haven't seen the Old Navy commercials. Maybe that is a good thing.
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pareau
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posted on December 5, 2000 07:36:33 AM
What surprises me is that anyone actually knows the names of the "actors" who frolic in the ads for schmattas, and that no one's commented on the real tragedy of Old Navy: The shameless promotion of CARGO PANTS. [shudder] Those ads and their fugly product marked my departure from most mainstream telly, so I haven't been able to enjoy the firm's further contributions to this great country's cultural wasteproduct. One thing to be said in Old Navy's favor, though--it makes you grateful for The Gap.
Tampons as flowers sure beats toilet paper as dog bumpers. Let me know when they show condoms as missile slipcovers.
- Pareau
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preacher4u
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posted on December 5, 2000 08:32:58 PM
My vote to the most annoying commercials goes to the Geico adds. (for the ads themselves and the fact that they come in pairs)
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MichelleG
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posted on December 5, 2000 09:44:26 PM
Hi HCQ
Elsa was a guess because I hadn't, at that point, seen the ad. I followed the link you provided - I wish I hadn't. Cheesy doesn't begin to cover it... 
Michelle
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gemstonecafe
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posted on December 6, 2000 01:27:29 AM
You're right, I want to turn away from them, but I can't help but look. Then everyone in the room looks at each other and says things like, "what the heck was that all about".
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lotsafuzz
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posted on December 6, 2000 01:50:41 AM
Preacher: Really? I think the little lizard is a hoot!
Gives me a chuckle every time.
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twinsoft
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posted on December 6, 2000 03:10:39 AM
Old Navy is totally gay.
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shar9
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posted on December 6, 2000 04:37:49 AM
Hi Lotsa, Preacher4u
My 4 yr old GD absolutely loves those GEICO commercials. She will stop whatever she is doing and ask me to, "look" and just laugh. I can't remember what they are dropping but her favorite is the one where a heavy round (?) is dropped on the guys head but she watches them all.
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ubiedaman
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posted on December 6, 2000 10:24:40 PM
The REALLY scary part about Carrie is that "the glasses are FAKE!!!!!" She wears them because she likes the way they make her look!!! Wish I could find the link to the story, but it is long (last Christmas) gone.
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
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