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07/18/2006: Monster House Mystery Box?

Here’s my latest – the “You Gotta Believe Me Screamstakes,” a promotion for Monster House where interested parties can a win a trip to a theme park. Hrm. Digging this one. The visuals are partly inspired by pictures of the Wildwood boardwalk, the music is a custom riff on the disco theme from Friday the 13th: Part 3, and the voice-over was done by David Kaye, better known to many as one of the few men to bring Megatron to life. A lot of me in this. Click here to watch, but keep in mind that it’s a really choppy, grainy encode that blows. I’ll try to get a better version up later. To see the full beauty, go watch Jimmy Neutron or something.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 87 comments

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The original caveman ad WAS hilarious, which makes the "roast duck with mango salsa" one all the more brilliant. They’ve got a new batch of Geico’s that I just started seeing…the one with Little Richard is funny at least once, but I doubt the longevity.
spaz, I totally feel you on the commercial skipping. Sometimes though if I’m cooking or just forget I’ll let the ads play, but that’s only after getting spoiled.
I’m bugged by any ad for personal products that try to be overly obtuse about what they’re for…the jingle is annoying but at least Pepto comes out with it.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 07/19/2006 9:43 PM EDT

Yeah, the Caveman is good but does anyone think that that last shot where the camera lingers on the Caveman at the VERY END is a bit bizarre?? It just seems like they couldn’t think of a way to end it so they went with a "hold that look" thing.
I haven’t been affected by Greymatter. Could someone (Squee?) give me the lowdown?

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 07/20/2006 12:36 PM EDT

You are one lucky Manimal, for not having been owned by greymatter.

You can sucessfully preview your post, but when you go to post it, it says one of a few different things. 1. You are banned from using this site. 2. Something about spamming, and if you are not spamming, they are sorry, and you should try again later. 3. I’m not sure if there is a 3rd… my bad.

It would always happen to me if I would post more than once in a few minutes, or even a half hour, but I did notice that squee was right when saying that it won’t let you post back to back. I think it was squee…

Usually I’m on IE when I get the dreaded message, but if I switch to my AOL browser, it usually lets me post right away.

Ghosted by Ryane @ 07/20/2006 1:17 AM EDT

I’ve only ever gotten the "If you’re not spamming, try again later" message (after posting several times in the same thread, regardless of how recent my last post was). Once I start hitting the block I can’t get past it until there’s a new thread. I think it was spaz who couldn’t post twice in a row; I had an accidental double post myself, but Matt mentioned the blocker is supposed to be preventing you from posting more than once in two minutes.
The Snickers ads with the guitarist are wonderful. I walk around humming that jingle all the time.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 07/20/2006 1:39 AM EDT

I’ve always tried to convince myself I would be great at working for an advertising agency. Especially some really crappy ideas I have seen on tv and have heard / read on other mediums. And I just had a pretty crappy day. I was technically an hour late today for work but I wasn’t. I had to go to a different building for the first hour and then go to the building that I usually went to for teh rest of the shift!!! Is that stupid? I am really trying to convince myself that wasn’t my fault and/or it could of happened to anybody.

and Welsh Rabbit, I posted first post that day, and this sounds like I am lying, but I posted first and then I was trying to post a second post on topic but greymatter blocked me, and THEN Matt deleted me. I checked back a few later and then you and a few others posted. I should of got a screenshot. My ‘first post!’ wasn’t as cool as the screen that said there were no comments and to post a new comment.

Anyway…wtf is mango salsa?? Is that a real salsa or something they made up?? I hate that commerical not to sound ignorant but I don’t like it ’specialy how much it’s on. AND the mango salsa thing is shit. I have always loved the radio commercials for budwiser not the tv versions but the radio the "real amercian genius" series. Excellent.

Ghosted by Goob @ 07/20/2006 2:23 AM EDT

Well, I’m a real-life psych major, and the best I can do is to say that something is reinforcing about getting the first post. Perhaps it’s the attention that you’ll inevitably get from being the first. However, getting bashed about it certainly is positive punishment (something aversive applied to decrease an undesired behavior). But I’m much more a Skinner/Watson kind of guy than a Freud guy

On a personal level though, i can see how doing that would be a substitute for success in the sports arena. I mean I do meaningless RPG mini-games w/an OCD fervor for probably the same reason. I may have never graced a football field, but I am a champion Blitzball player!!

I love the Clerks II ads, if that helps at all. Can’t wait to see it tomorrow!!!!

Ghosted by Knegative @ 07/20/2006 2:57 AM EDT

Oh, and I nearly forgot: my pick for the worst commercial ever is that Hoveround spot with all the old people singing "You Made Me Love You." There’s that one old lady in particular, the one with the warbling falsetto that raises her bespotted, flabby arms to her hair-helmet in some grotesque parody of a coquettish come-hither gesture, that just gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies and substantially corrodes the part of my brain that allows me to experience beauty.

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 07/20/2006 7:45 AM EDT

Aw, I have to wait a little longer to see Clerks 2. I have plans to see it with a bunch of gals from the office on Sunday. We’ve been bouncing off the walls in excitement for weeks.

I keep a big bottle of Flintstone vitamins in my desk at work, just for my sheer love for them. So the other morning I’m opening up my bottle and start singing to myself, "I’m a Flintstone kid, 10 million strong… and growing!" and when I looked up everyone in surrounding cubicles was peaking out at me with these akward glances.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 07/20/2006 8:08 AM EDT

I really need to get cable up in hurr. I really miss commercials, they can make a morning Judge Judy and Starting Over *much* more bearable. Congrats, Matt!

Ghosted by Todd @ 07/20/2006 8:29 AM EDT

I’m fairly certain that Geico is going for an Australian accent there. I don’t know that geckos are natives of London. Maybe that will change some of your opinions.
My favorite commercial, however, is the one for Dodge when there is a panel interviewing cartoon animals about how the new Dodge truck makes them feel and the cute little cuddly animal says "it scares the (beep) out of me". I literally LOLed on that one

Ghosted by bitchpants @ 07/20/2006 9:16 AM EDT

There’s peach salsa in my fridge right now…I’ve never had mango but it makes even more sense than peach.
At one point the gecko definitely had an aussie accent, but I’m pretty confident that he’s a Brit now. I’ve been wrong many times though.
LOL Jedoc that one absolutely slays me so I don’t mind it so much. There’s another one (LifeAlert?) with a lady in this nightie next to her beau, who’s wearing a wifebeater and suspenders. He looks like a geriatric Snoop Dogg with his ho. Which reminds me, the "Dirty mouth? Clean it up!" commercials still amuse me.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 07/20/2006 10:16 AM EDT

Squee

Are you referring to the Snickers ad with the guy singing something about "waterfalls of caramel" and "dancing nougat in the meadow"? I LOVE that commercial. For some reason, that song makes me feel so happy! And it also gets stuck in my head.

On the subject of the Geico Gecko…I think he’s cute, but those commercials are just on too often. And I thought he was supposed to be Australian, but then he said something that made me think he was British instead.

Ghosted by LuLu @ 07/20/2006 10:18 AM EDT

The gecko is English working class, but not cockney. Marc Warren, the actor who does the gecko’s voice is actually from Northampton. He was one of the minor British grunts in "Band of Brothers," and he’ll be playing Mister Teatime in the upcoming film adaptation of "Hogfather." (It’s pronounced "Teh-ah-tim-eh," for all those who are unfamiliar with the work. Also, you should be ashamed of yourself for being unfamiliar with the work.)

Ghosted by Jedoc @ 07/20/2006 11:22 AM EDT

I was always pretty indifferent to the gecko’s commercials. Never thought much about them. I did really enjoy the first caveman commercial though I think the second one there just trying to catch the magic of the first one.

There is another caveman commercial that I thought was hilarious, FedEx or Ups shipping or something. Caveman gets fired because FedEx didn’t exist yet. walking out of the cave he kicks a little Dino and promptly gets squished by a really bid Dino. Replayed that one a few times.

Worst commercial I’ve seen in awhile, is that Popsicle commercial where the dude is dressed like a superhero. He gives me the major creeps and I told my son if he ever meets someone like him to run like crazy. A man in tights with that goofy helmet, giving Popsicles to strange kids. uh no.

Ghosted by Wenthral @ 07/20/2006 2:25 PM EDT

I stand corrected:
http://www.tvacres.com/adanimals_geicogecko.htm

Ghosted by bitchpants @ 07/20/2006 2:33 PM EDT

I am so utterly ashamed that I did not connect the original gecko voice with Beast from X3. I shall go sit quietly in the corner now and think about my shortcomings.

Ghosted by LemurCat @ 07/20/2006 2:38 PM EDT

I love the Snickers ballad. Reminds me of all the lovey-dovey songs from the 70’s that were more about a verbal ambience than actually being coherent. Then I want a candy bar.

Ghosted by kingklash @ 07/20/2006 3:03 PM EDT

I hate hummers, but that H3 commercial from a while ago with the robot and the monster was awesome.

Ghosted by dylan @ 07/20/2006 3:41 PM EDT

Pretty cool, Matt!

Ghosted by Wes @ 07/20/2006 7:01 PM EDT

Hmmm… cool commercials I’ve seen lately… Well, there was that Bick’s Pickles commercial with the little alien nature-documentary thing. There was this little 8-inch green dude in the fridge(I call him "Bix Piklas"), doing what looked like a nature documentary about Bick’s Pickles. Now THAT was a good commercial.

Ghosted by DocDragon @ 07/20/2006 10:50 PM EDT

Sorry about that, Goob. Well, I’m not really sorry. I’ve been coming here off-and-on for 5 years, and it was my first "first", so I’m taking it. And you may be right that you deserved it, but lalalalalalala I can’t hear you!

I loved those 2 Starburst commercials from a while ago, one with a kleptomaniac who steals all of this guys’ stuff when the camera changes, and the other one where a teenage guy has a voice-in-his head/inner-narrative that tells him his friends will want his Starburst, so he’d better make sure he has no friends.

And goddammit, I don’t want them to make Hogfather. I get so jealous when I love a book, I hate to see adaptations because even if they’re good, they get something wrong. I can’t even think about Sam Raimi directing The Wee Free Men.

Ghosted by Welsh Rabbit @ 07/20/2006 10:59 PM EDT

Welsh: Personally, I hated those commercials. I only saw the "no friends" one once, and… let’s just say it didn’t make me want Starburst.

Ghosted by DocDragon @ 07/20/2006 11:15 PM EDT

The teaser trailer for the new CGI Ninja Turtles movie is up:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/teenagemutantninjaturtles/tmnt_large.html

Ghosted by Luap @ 07/20/2006 11:43 PM EDT

Just in case you guys haven’t seen it, the new TMNT flick trailer/teaser is online. Not a big turtles fan myself, cept for the Eastman/Laird (sp?) versions, but this looks pretty sweet.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/teenagemutantninjaturtles/

Ghosted by Bizzar @ 07/20/2006 11:46 PM EDT

I guess you win I have been coming to X-E for almost 3 years now. I started coming here the beginning of October this Halloween two halloween’s ago. Somebody linked to the hungryman breakfast on yesterdayland.org and I started looking for hours and hours..well you know the rest. I’m hoping to be a regular up there with you and Mystie, Manimal, Kingklash, Wes, Jedoc, Squee, spaz, and others.

This is my regular site with Dailyconfession.com I suggest everyone goes there.

Ghosted by Goob @ 07/21/2006 12:25 PM EDT

Um..actualy…

we prefer "Cave Person" now.

OK then.

Ghosted by Geico Caveman @ 07/21/2006 3:47 AM EDT

Speaking of regulars, has anyone else noticed a serious lack of Darth Poop lately?

Ghosted by Mystie @ 07/21/2006 8:26 AM EDT

I remember the Snickers commercial from way back where the hand held peanuts, then closed into a fist. When it reopend there was the snickers bar. And they had the "Packed with peanuts, Snickers really satisfies" line. I would always do that when we had peanuts. Cuase I’m a big dork.

Mystie yes, there is a lack of Darth Poop, making a constipated blog? (forgive me that was so awful)

Ghosted by kb @ 07/21/2006 9:38 AM EDT

I liked the snickers commercial where the football player gets hit real hard and when he comes to, he thinks he’s batman. I laughed my ass off when he said "would you like to ride in the batmobile?"

Ghosted by bitchpants @ 07/21/2006 9:49 AM EDT

So, Matt, you’re taking notes here, right??? I mean, what better "market research" is there than this???

Um, lesse, commercials I hate… Well, any "personal products" commercials (if I see one more tampon commercial I’m gonna snap!), why oh why do they think that they need to advertise this? Ladies, answer a question for me: last time you were at the store, shopping for hygiene products, did you decide to try a different type because of a commercial? Have you EVER?

Ghosted by Dr Sketch @ 07/21/2006 10:17 AM EDT

Dr Sketch wrote - last time you were at the store, shopping for hygiene products, did you decide to try a different type because of a commercial? Have you EVER?

Um, yeah, actually I have. I’ll spare you the gory details, but let’s just say my legs are silky smooth, with out all those razor knicks now.

Ghosted by LemurCat @ 07/21/2006 11:32 AM EDT

Anthropological-Americans?

Ghosted by kingklash @ 07/21/2006 12:22 PM EDT

Dr Sketch, there was a commercial not too long ago made just to tell you that one of the tampon/pad brands (Kotex maybe?) had renovated their packages, and now they had pictures of flowers on them. That’s what the ladies like, right? Pretty flowers! Right on the package! The product inside is the same, but now when you’re buying tampons for your DIRTY, EVIL period, you can look down at those pure holy flowers and go to your happy place.

I’ll keep buying o.b., because the actual product is better.

Ghosted by Welsh Rabbit @ 07/21/2006 7:09 PM EDT

Dr Sketch wrote - last time you were at the store, shopping for hygiene products, did you decide to try a different type because of a commercial? Have you EVER?

Yes, and now when I douche my junk smells like motherfucking pralines and cream for a week.

But in all seriousness, I did just buy Sunsilk shampoo and conditioner because the commercial was very appealing. The humidity has been poofing up my hair like crazy.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 07/21/2006 7:10 PM EDT

Ok, I’ll concede on things like razors, shampoo, soap, etc… I was talking the tampon commercials, douche commercials (lol Mystie), herpes commercials, etc etc… Y’know, things I don’t wanna think about during my day-to-day routine…

Ghosted by Dr Sketch @ 07/24/2006 10:01 AM EDT

My brother watches Nick all the time, so I’ve seen this commercial a million times. Great job, Matt!

Ghosted by Fierce Almond @ 07/27/2006 1:02 AM EDT

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