Testimonials on TV ads

July 13, 2005 | self / vanity

[The Other Harry]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've had it up to my eyebrows with all the fake testimonials on TV ads.

People claim to have lost 200 pounds in two weeks, made $5000 in a month, etc.

All lies.

I am very much against government regulation, but I think these people should be required to sign affidavits that they actually did what they claim to have done.

[DJ MacWoW]

Years ago, Joe Namath got nabbed for a panyhose commercial by a truth in advertising clause because he didn't wear them.

Another thing that irritates me, especially late at night is commercials are louder than the shows. It's illegal, or was, but they still do it.

[Echo Talon]

yea i notice that! about the commercials, I notice most of the loud ones are local commercials on my cable TV. You know like a commercial for the local car dealership or whatever. they always seem louder than like a national ad say for like McDonald's or something.

[JennysCool]

They do that just to irritate the two of you. :-)

[DJ MacWoW]

It was explained that the reason is, everyone goes to the bathroom during commercials, so they're louder so they can be heard. Lousy reason for blowing peoples ears off.

There was a TV advertised 2 or 3 years ago that adjusted the volume automatically to keep it all the same. Nice trick if it works but I haven't heard about it since.

[DJ MacWoW]

They do that just to irritate the two of you. :-)

At 2am, it works. LOL

[Echo Talon]

yea i know... >:\

[Graybeard58]

I don't believe that you can make $50,000 per month stuffing envelopes either. The most I ever made doing that was about $25,000 per month.

Everybody send me just $5.00 and I'll tell you how.

[codyjacksmom]

When that kind of junk pops up, I just turn the station...pretty simple really, especially if you have a remote. (of course a lot of the time, it's in hubby's hand, and he's asleep...then I get stuck watching the trash, or wrestling to get the remote!) LOL

[codyjacksmom]

Oh, and I really did lose 250 pounds in just a couple of months...I divorced my ex!!!

[KneelBeforeZod]

I saw a guy I went to high school with doing a testimonial for some matress on an infomercial. used his real name and everything...

he used to live next door to my best friend...he was faking (as far as I know) stories about being harrassed by phone by someone calling themself "moses."

and there was the story that moses called and said "have you checked the refridgerator?" He looked inside and--the cat was in there!!!!!!! the cops sure bought the story

[Dawgreg]

While we're at it, I thought that stupid ad for you-know-what for men, with that goofy idiot with that stupid smile (and his wife ain't no better) was SUPPOSED to be taken off the air......a truth in advertising thing. That ad has to go!

[PetroniDE]

I don't watch television anymore unless the remote is within arms reach. Whenever commercialls appear, I just change the channel.

What bothers me more than the amount of advertising (it has gradually increased over the years) is that the commercialls keep repeating themselves.

All I ever seem to see is Bowflex (psuedo porn), Abmaster (psuedo porn), lose weight quick (scam), re-grow hair quick (scam), girls gone wild video (porn), get-rich-quick (scam), fast food (like they need to advertise), or promotions for upcoming programming. Enough !!!

[Woman on Caroline Street]

I as well don't tolerate the SUPER LOUD commercials. CLICK. Change channel. And since I have ADD to a degree, I forget what I was watching and start on something else.

What was I saying?

Ah yes. Annoying commercials. Right?

I think the two most annoying commercials on tv have to be the Vonage one (woo hoo, woo hoo hoo, woo hoo, woo hoo hoo) and the McDonalds Bada ba ba ba, I'm Lovin It!

As to the latter McDonald's commercial, I've found my revenge for its annoyingness. Every once in a while when I'm in a rotten mood (okay, pretty often, who am I kidding), I'll go into a Mickey Sleeze and order up whatever (ALWAYS a grill order, as I don't want some nasty burger with crap on it that I DON'T EAT) and as I wait, I stand at the counter going. "BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA!" Do this like twenty times. You'll get your order super quick! Great stress relief as well.

[Sybeck1]

Just how many times in a hour do they have to run this guy!!!

[DJ MacWoW]

I think the two most annoying commercials on tv have to be the Vonage one (woo hoo, woo hoo hoo, woo hoo, woo hoo hoo)

It's annoying but we still laugh at some of the "less than bright" people in it. :)

and the McDonalds Bada ba ba ba, I'm Lovin It!

Yeah. And the Arbys commercial was cute the first time but during the next 15 times in an hour it gets old. I actually seldom turn on TV.

and as I wait, I stand at the counter going. "BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA! BA DA BA BA BA!" Do this like twenty times. You'll get your order super quick! Great stress relief as well.

I wish I had the courage. But I live in NY state. You have to be careful who you annoy. ;)

[uvular]

People who work 2nd and 3rd shifts, insomniacs, new parents, etc., need to unite and write local stations and local cable outlets.

Stations are the ones to decide to run this junk, claiming it's cheaper than running a late night movie, for instance.

My husband gets home from work at 3am and has a choice of watching endless infomercials (our cable channel actually has one channel devoted Entirely to infomercials all day!), or watching an old race on Speedvision.

Maybe, just maybe, one of the stations would realize there actually is a early morning audience out there.

[ThinkDifferent]

Get a PVR. I haven't seen a commercial in months. Even if you're watching something live like news, just hit pause when a commercial comes on and you're guaranteed to not miss anything.