Seinfeld: "Hey Bill. What's the deal with Windows Vista? Everybody's saying it's an awful thing, yada yada."
Gates: "Actually Jerry, our research has shown that far more people are happy with Vista than upset. And for those that have been upset, we've released updates to address their concerns."
Seinfeld: "So you've made Vista a master of it's own domain? Well whatdya know!"
Gates: "You know, Jerry, you need to move on past your TV series days."
Seinfeld: "Right. Just like Windows users need to move on past XP and get Vista. It's great! Now I'm going to go eat some cereal."
Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs
He takes money from Apple for product placement, he takes money from Microsoft for commercials. Seinfeld is a money fanboy.
Wow.... what a way to get people to connect to your product, but to use a dated actor who starred in a show that ENDED over 10 years ago.
That's ok M$..... you'll maybe snag a couple people in my generation (X/MTV/whatever you wanna call it), but you already know that you have lost this Millennial Generation that is aged 10-25 forever. Since all studies I have been reading this summer of high schoolers and college freshmen state that on average 58% either own or want to use a Mac.
It's all about everything "just working".... M$ has never been able to wrangle everything into a nice package.
Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
The main thing I get from this announcement though is fear for Seinfeld.
If Jerry's "brand" is 19th out of tens of thousands, why is he selling himself to another brand that is currently falling like a stone. This move is more likely to drag Seinfeld's brand down into the dirt, than polish Microsoft's. A company's brand can be re-invented, but once an individual gets the public thinking they are a tool, it's all over.
Seinfeld need look no further than his friend Michael Richards who destroyed an entire career and went from one of the most beloved characters in the USA to a paraiah overnight through a comedy routine that was shorter than any of these commercials are likely to be.
Battered and bruised by a long-running advertising campaign on the part of rival Apple, Inc., Microsoft Corp. is turning to sitcom star and world renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld to help clean up the public perception of its Windows Vista operating system.
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Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs.
Gotta say, this is just the Microsoft MO. They have a gajillion dollars, so they pay a big celebrity to show up. The celebrity himself knows, I'd bet, next to nothing about computers. Seinfeld is a great comedian, but he'll have no impact on the situation. Why "do like Jerry does" in computing? Any more than Tom Selleck or Tom Cruise or any of the other celebrities paid to show up at the Windows events.
On the other hand, they have a lot of money to spend on the ads, and everybody knew the other shoe would drop.
Crispin Porter and Microsoft is a very unlikely pairing. The possible results include:
1) CP's creative is watered down by MS meddling, branding CP as a sellout
2) Typically off the wall CP creative seen as wholly unfit miscue for Microsoft
3) Spectacularly off the mark mismatch between "old" MS rep and "new" MS re-branding/image proffered by CP creative sounds a dull thud as confused people scratch their head.
4) CP cashes a series of big checks; "fires" Microsoft; says, "yeah it sucked --because of THEM. That's why we fired THEM;" then moves on to next target.
Don't discount that the audience may be older infrastructure decision makers in corporations instead of whatever generation we're up to now... Gen-Y?? Gen-Z??
Seinfeld adds have the potential to work with me. But I'm of a slightly older demographic than perhaps what MS is or should be aiming for.
I really wonder how 20 and 30 year old consumers will connect to Jerry.
A 20-year old was 10 when his series went off the air. Unless they saw it in syndication, they probably aren't all that familiar with Seinfeld. They may as well have gotten Lucille Ball.
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
You sure about that? I only remember macs. Maybe you thought it was a PC when he had a Mac LC?
As I recall it started out as original macs (512, Classic, SE) then some LCs, and a 20th anniversary Mac the final year of the show.
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
Sorry, thanks for playing. It is you who is wrong. Take a look at jerry's desk and you will see a mac. The first computer was a mac plus or something from that era, which was replaced with a desktop mac later in the show.
Windows and Seinfeld share one important thing in common: they both peaked around 1995 and it's been all downhill ever since.
And I totally agree with GordonComstock's post. An ad campaign isn't just about how creative an agency is, but about how much the client trusts the agency to execute their vision of the brand or product. Microsoft is a thoroughly meddlesome client with a highly muddled portfolio of brands that is difficult to distill into concepts that are easy to communicate. Believe me, I've witnessed it firsthand.
And don't get me started about CP+B, whose work I think is mostly overrated.
If "Seinfeld + Gates" and the Mojave Project are the first two clues about their new branding strategy, it's safe to say that Apple and Chiat-Day have little to worry about.
Vista has an image problem, its slowing sales of Vista and Microsoft want to change that.
Now, heres the catch. Using advertising they will try and reduce the stigma of Vista, more people will probably check it out and the initial reaction to Vista is "Hey, that looks pretty smart. Its like XP but shiny and see through" etc etc
Then they get it home and that when the fun starts. WiFi wont connect. It wont shut down correctly. Wont start up correctly. Wont run your programs.
the list of issues goes on and on and on. then they go back to XP.
But, do Microsoft care? Do they hell. They don't give a stuff as by the time you figure out you bought a lemon its too late.
Comments
Gates: "Actually Jerry, our research has shown that far more people are happy with Vista than upset. And for those that have been upset, we've released updates to address their concerns."
Seinfeld: "So you've made Vista a master of it's own domain? Well whatdya know!"
Gates: "You know, Jerry, you need to move on past your TV series days."
Seinfeld: "Right. Just like Windows users need to move on past XP and get Vista. It's great! Now I'm going to go eat some cereal."
Oh, this is going to be good.
Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs
He takes money from Apple for product placement, he takes money from Microsoft for commercials. Seinfeld is a money fanboy.
But why on Earth do they want to put Bill Gates in these commercials?
It's to remind you that all the children of Africa benefit each time you purchase Windows Vista.
That's ok M$..... you'll maybe snag a couple people in my generation (X/MTV/whatever you wanna call it), but you already know that you have lost this Millennial Generation that is aged 10-25 forever. Since all studies I have been reading this summer of high schoolers and college freshmen state that on average 58% either own or want to use a Mac.
It's all about everything "just working".... M$ has never been able to wrangle everything into a nice package.
Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
The main thing I get from this announcement though is fear for Seinfeld.
If Jerry's "brand" is 19th out of tens of thousands, why is he selling himself to another brand that is currently falling like a stone. This move is more likely to drag Seinfeld's brand down into the dirt, than polish Microsoft's. A company's brand can be re-invented, but once an individual gets the public thinking they are a tool, it's all over.
Seinfeld need look no further than his friend Michael Richards who destroyed an entire career and went from one of the most beloved characters in the USA to a paraiah overnight through a comedy routine that was shorter than any of these commercials are likely to be.
Battered and bruised by a long-running advertising campaign on the part of rival Apple, Inc., Microsoft Corp. is turning to sitcom star and world renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld to help clean up the public perception of its Windows Vista operating system.
-----
Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Gotta say, this is just the Microsoft MO. They have a gajillion dollars, so they pay a big celebrity to show up. The celebrity himself knows, I'd bet, next to nothing about computers. Seinfeld is a great comedian, but he'll have no impact on the situation. Why "do like Jerry does" in computing? Any more than Tom Selleck or Tom Cruise or any of the other celebrities paid to show up at the Windows events.
On the other hand, they have a lot of money to spend on the ads, and everybody knew the other shoe would drop.
1) CP's creative is watered down by MS meddling, branding CP as a sellout
2) Typically off the wall CP creative seen as wholly unfit miscue for Microsoft
3) Spectacularly off the mark mismatch between "old" MS rep and "new" MS re-branding/image proffered by CP creative sounds a dull thud as confused people scratch their head.
4) CP cashes a series of big checks; "fires" Microsoft; says, "yeah it sucked --because of THEM. That's why we fired THEM;" then moves on to next target.
Don't discount that the audience may be older infrastructure decision makers in corporations instead of whatever generation we're up to now... Gen-Y?? Gen-Z??
I'm betting on all 4 of the above.
gc
Seinfeld adds have the potential to work with me. But I'm of a slightly older demographic than perhaps what MS is or should be aiming for.
I really wonder how 20 and 30 year old consumers will connect to Jerry.
A 20-year old was 10 when his series went off the air. Unless they saw it in syndication, they probably aren't all that familiar with Seinfeld. They may as well have gotten Lucille Ball.
Seinfeld is sooo yesterday. I guess it fits perfectly with Windows, an OS about nothing.
Absolutely the best post I've seen in awhile.
They may as well have gotten Lucille Ball.
ROFLMAO-Good One
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
You sure about that? I only remember macs. Maybe you thought it was a PC when he had a Mac LC?
As I recall it started out as original macs (512, Classic, SE) then some LCs, and a 20th anniversary Mac the final year of the show.
They'd look something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbCiac03ycQ
God talk about two has beens...
And two geeks...
Yeah that commercial is SURE to be a hit
I only wish I could be such a "has been" that makes 10 million dollars for a set of commercials. Oh the pain of being a has been.
Just have to point out that this is also simply a wrong statement. Jerry had a regular PC on the show for quite a while although the computer was never turned on that I recall.
Sorry, thanks for playing. It is you who is wrong. Take a look at jerry's desk and you will see a mac. The first computer was a mac plus or something from that era, which was replaced with a desktop mac later in the show.
And I totally agree with GordonComstock's post. An ad campaign isn't just about how creative an agency is, but about how much the client trusts the agency to execute their vision of the brand or product. Microsoft is a thoroughly meddlesome client with a highly muddled portfolio of brands that is difficult to distill into concepts that are easy to communicate. Believe me, I've witnessed it firsthand.
And don't get me started about CP+B, whose work I think is mostly overrated.
If "Seinfeld + Gates" and the Mojave Project are the first two clues about their new branding strategy, it's safe to say that Apple and Chiat-Day have little to worry about.
Now, heres the catch. Using advertising they will try and reduce the stigma of Vista, more people will probably check it out and the initial reaction to Vista is "Hey, that looks pretty smart. Its like XP but shiny and see through" etc etc
Then they get it home and that when the fun starts. WiFi wont connect. It wont shut down correctly. Wont start up correctly. Wont run your programs.
the list of issues goes on and on and on. then they go back to XP.
But, do Microsoft care? Do they hell. They don't give a stuff as by the time you figure out you bought a lemon its too late.
Seinfeld had the following Mac stuff on the show:
20th Anniversary Mac,
PowerMac 6100,
Mac SE,
DuoDock,
ADB Keyboard,
Apple MultiScan 15,
MacWarehouse catalogue
You sure about that? I only remember macs. Maybe you thought it was a PC when he had a Mac LC?
As I recall it started out as original macs (512, Classic, SE) then some LCs, and a 20th anniversary Mac the final year of the show.
He also had a PowerBook Duo with DuoDock somewhere along the line. I don't think that Duo ever left the dock, either.