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Not So Fast! Corvette Pulls Dream Sequence Ad

I think Steve Hall who writes the wonderful, irreverent adrants blog, is a great guy. But he's all wet about a banned Corvette commercial, pulled because of what he calls "protests by safety kooks."

It is a stupid idea to show children driving like lunatics in dream sequence or any other way.

The ad, (watch it here and decide for yourself) carries the idiotic disclaimer "This is a dream. Don't drive without a license." It shows a clearly underage boy imagining himself behind the wheel of a Corvette, taking the 350-horsepower car airborne - after driving it wildly through city streets and spiraling it through a large drainpipe - as the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" played in the background.

Hall says the GM execs who banned the ad are "humorless imbeciles" and notes " With all the publicity this is generating, the spot will now be seen by more people than if those imbeciles had just kept their mouth shut. Of course, this could all have been planned by GM in the first place."

"And why does every spineless corporation now bend to the whim of every lame ass, extremist complaint?" Hall rants.

However, according to the Boston Globe, "leaders of seven auto safety groups wrote Tuesday to GM chairman Rick Wagoner to protest the television spot, saying it sent a dangerous message."

Here's why the ad had to be pulled: Sadly, people really are so freaking stupid that corporations get tied up in endless litigation based on the premise that they should be able to figure out every ridiculous thing a litigious moron could come up with to do with their product. And then they have to have a warning on the product before the moron sues. The mystery is why GM approved the Corvette ad to begin with. Perhaps auxiliary penises aren't selling well these days.

Categories: Ad targeting, Advertainment, Alternative Marketing, Commentary, Cross Media, Marketing Strategy, Viral Marketing, Worst Practices

BL Ochman | Aug 26 04 3:05 | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Out of chaos comes sales! Betcha this was a planned ad with all the promotion planned as well.

Posted by: joan at August 27, 2004 1:26 AM

Yes! We must protect those young impressionable minds. That's why I support the media (i.e., The Daily Show) and their call for banning the trailer to the second Harry Potter movie. It's the one showing children not only driving a car but driving a flying car.

Posted by: pete at August 27, 2004 9:41 AM

First time I saw this commercial a few weeks ago, my initial thought was, "This is asking for trouble." Couldn't tell you if it was a Corvette or a Viper, but I knew some kid would want to emulate it.

I'm not surprised about the reactions. But you're right. How did this ad get through? I've got my tinfoil out.

Haven't seen any obits yet though. So I could be wrong. Spiderman has created a higher death * maiming toll to date.

Posted by: RichW at August 27, 2004 1:15 PM

BEING A REPOSSESSOR IN THE HOUSTON TEXAS AREA, MY SON WHICH IS 12 NOW HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO DRIVE A VETTE, VIPER, HUMMER,JUST TO MENTION A FEW! ANY BODY THAT DETEST THE CORVETTE AD MUST BE A TOTAL IDIOT!

Posted by: BILL GALLOWAY at August 28, 2004 9:26 PM

Dumb, pre-penis ad--not worth the energy. I just thought---dumb.

Posted by: Dori at September 1, 2004 4:29 PM

As a professor teaching courses in design and technology, communication, and new technology in pr and advertising I must admit that I just thought the ad wasn't very creative. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't worth the fuss.

In the end I think if the ad was only adequate then it was in their best interest to not fight the backlash and they should just work on a better, more clever, more effecive ad.

Posted by: anon at September 2, 2004 11:23 AM

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About BL Ochman

Blogger, social media strategy consultant to Fortune 500 companies, and sought-after corporate speaker B.L. Ochman heads the creative team of whatsnextonline.com. She also publishes the Ethics Crisis blog for SRF Global Translations

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