Carl's Jr.'s Ads

This is my first attempt at a blog, so bear with me while I give this an attempt. It is my expectation to view the occasional ad or commercial, printed, on television or even listened to on the radio and try to give the ad some thought. Maybe not exactly what the ad agency intended, but something to give one pause.

Let's start with an easy one. There is an entire series of commercials for Carl's fast foods. They have been running in various forms for a number of years. Most, if not all, usually involve one or more 20 somethings chowing down on a Carl's burger of some kind or another using what can only politely be described as poor table manners. Really, what is the point? Carl's is busy teaching an entire new generation of children that it is proper to take overly large bites of food, that dripping bits and pieces everywhere is just fine, and talking with one's mouth full is perfectly acceptable! In the vernacular of the youngsters of today...NOT! Not yesterday, not today and not tomorrow! Ever! Good manners will never wear out.

Do they actually believe that such displays of gross eating habits somehow generate a desire to run out and purchase the food product. I'd have to say probably not. The intention is to actually gross the watcher out to the extent the commercials are actually memorable. Frankly, that probably works and as we know in the ad business, any exposure good or bad, is good.

Of course, the whole "ghastly eating" ad campaign must be slowing in that the latest venture now turns to sex. The adage is "Sex sells." Let's think about that a moment. There is no doubt that the camera is not unkind to Audrina Patridge in her gold lame' bikini eating a teriyaki burger. At 660 calories, the Teriyaki burger is 1/3 of your daily recommended calories. That does not include any drink or fries. Just the burger alone includes nearly half of your daily sodium requirements. Have a look at the Carl's site for the nutritional content of the burger, apparently without cheese. http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/carls-jr./teriyaki-burger. While Audrina Patridge looks good in her gold lame' bikini now, I submit that if she actually eats any significant number of burgers, teriyaki or otherwise, she will more resemble a partridge in a pear tree in short order! I have to ask again...does any of that make you want to go out and buy the products? No? Sure enough, we're left merely with a commercial meant to shock your senses (while mother's cover the eyes of their young boys) and set the memory firmly so that the next time you actually want fast food, you might think of Carl's in the light of a gold bikini. Last time I checked there is no "teriyaki burger diet" or how to eat your way into a gold lame' bikini.

How about let's take a pact together...Repeat after me: I will not be weak minded and be swayed to buy products sold using sex and bad taste!

Commercial break is over...now back to my regular programming!