Another Interlude

Despite some comments that could be categorized as 'bitchy', I'm going to continue this hiatus on my Top 5 list. Listen folks, creativity doesn't understand lists, or the status quo, or responsibility, or even what the hell Q-Tips are actually used for.

What creativity does recognize, Jill, is opportunity. And there is a great opportunity to comment on the new series of advertisements coming out from Microsoft, which have met an overwhelming response of, well, just refer to the Q-Tip picture again. In fact Microsoft's own press release nearly apologizes for the ad in its opening paragraphs.

Why the need for apologizing? That's a difficult question to answer. Put simply though, because the first in the series of ads doesn't make any sense at all. Let's take a look.

It opens with Jerry Seinfeld walking through a mall, eating a churro.PAUSE We're good so far, Jerry Seinfeld can walk and churros are delicious. Continuing on, Jerry stops when he sees Bill Gates shopping for shoes at a fictional discount shoe store named 'Shoe Circus'. PAUSE Bill Gates is a multi-billionaire and uses Doc Martens as shower sandals. From here Jerry takes over the job of the shoe salesman and begins to sell Bill on a particular pair of shoes named "El Conquistador". PAUSE Jerry Seinfeld, aside from the negative aspects of puffy shirts, is not known to give fashion advice. Plus 'Conquistador' is a stupid name for a shoe. From here Jerry and Bill discuss the shoe, its qualities, and general aspects of 'nothing'. PAUSE Seinfeld's exploits into talking about 'nothing' are well-documented. Gates' are too, but far less hilarious. The commercial ends with Jerry asking Bill if he plans on using his huge brain to make computers more like delicious cake. Gates responds by picking his wedgie. PAUSE The cake is a lie.

And that's it. The Windows logo flashes on screen, with the comment 'Delicious'. When you boil down the commercial to its actual content, and we're talking real boiling here folks, you're left with the last 15 seconds or so where Seinfeld is asking Gates about the future of personal computing. After the disasterous results of Windows Vista, the over the top introduction of Microsoft's Surface, and the somehow survivable collapse of the XBOX 360, Microsoft answers back with a resounding, "Ehhhh, we're working on it.."

EXAMPLE

A lot of information has been circulated regarding the impact that shows like Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and NBC's "Saturday Night Live" have on the under age 30 demographic. Specfically the press has often cited the statistics pointing to shows like "The Daily Show" being the primary news source for the youth of america. After watching a good deal of election coverage this year from multiple networks and cable news channels alike, my questions is:

Why again shouldn't we believe good old Jon Stewart?

I know. It's a comedy program, right? It's not factual! But let me tell you something, my brothers and sisters, that you need to hear. Just because other news sources aren't funny, doesn't mean that they are factual. I'm not saying that Stephen Colbert is the new Edward R. Murrow, or that Jon Stewart should replace Brian Williams (who I hope to publish an interesting story about soon, stay tuned) BUT what I am saying...is watch this clip.