Quiznos Ad Campaign - Genius or Lame?

[Jack_Dawson]

We've all seen the spot (unless you don't watch TV).

http://slate.msn.com/id/2095868/

I cracked up when I saw it for the first time, but apparently these ads get under many a skin.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. they have a pepper bar!

:D

[Arbustosux]

2. everybody is talking about it...

any press is good press from an advertising perspective

[mouse7]

3. I havent seen it on TV. Saw it mentioned on the net.

Disturbing was my choice.

[HFishbine]

4. Cool for the animators

I wish I could find the site, but the "creatures" were somebody's silly flash project before they became stars. I'll bet the animators are pretty pleased.

[frylock]

12. here ya go..

http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/

[HFishbine]

13. Yep. That's it!

Thanks.

I got there from another site, bt3.com or 3bt.com -- not one of those exactly, but something like that with a lot of cool flash games and movies, but I cleared my history and don't remember it any longer. Does that ring a bell for anybody?

[ixion]

5. it kind of grows on you

which is the mark of a good jingle, I guess.

I didn't really think much of it at first, but later, I found myself rockin' out to it. That song has a fair amount of zip. :silly:

[Susang]

6. The guy who actually created the spongmonkeys is a genius

His name is Joel and this is where it all began:
http://www.rathergood.com

[Armand]

7. Worst. Commercial. Ever.

That commercial makes me to NOT want to eat at Quiznos...Ever!

[Jack_Dawson]

16. R U Kidding?

C'mon now...lighten up! :-)

[truthspeaker]

8. annoying as hell

What do hamsters have to do with sandwiches?

Why do hamsters speak English with an odd, vaguely ethnic accent?

[Deja Q]

22. They look like diapers with Mr. Bill's face on them...

Not that I often make references to SNL, mind you...

[Momgonepostal]

9. Haven't seen the ads but...

I'm a little skeptical about any eating establishment that uses rats to help advertise.

[Wickerman]

10. ok

catchy, simple, memorable - it should sell product. I don't think it sginifies the end of western civilization, though.

"Never have I gotten so much mail on a single ad. I gather that you seek an explanation. And with great urgency. Many of you sound disturbed—as though your lives will be placed on hold until you've come to terms with these haunting creatures." from the link

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Just plain gross. Even my littlest one says "icky" when he sees it.

Blech blech blech.

[ixion]

14. beware of paper cuts!

:silly:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

15. I vote Other

Young ad creatives used to tear a photo out of a magazine, present it without elaboration as the idea for their campaign, and look around the room smugly daring anyone not to 'get it.' Then came the time when they would do the same using a cassette of a music video. Now I guess they just bring in their laptops and point to a website.

To me the most surprising aspect of the campaign is that Quizno's believes their target market skews so young that they can show such unappetizing images to sell food, but then there's a lot of that around these days. I like the rathergood kitties, but I guess they've been around too long to be considered edgy enough to sell sandwiches.

[jeffsurfus]

17. My eleven year old loves them...

She walks around the house singing their weird jingles. She says everyone in her sixth grade class is obsessed with these "rats" or whatever they are.

[democracy eh]

18. I want a t-shirt

with the singing rodent

[arwalden]

19. And I Refuse To Reward Them For Being "Bad Commercial Enablers"

They have to EARN my business. They can't just EXPECT me to go there because I'm hungry. I'd rather STARVE!

-- Allen

[blondeatlast]

21. They voted to the Roquefort War Resolution, you know... nt

[southpaw]

20. I know any ad campaign that generates a buzz is good...

but I don't think I'll ever eat at Quiznos again.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. A riot

Genuinely creative and in a positive way, especially with the little wink line about beware of paper cuts.

Even the always-unimpressed guys I know in Las Vegas sportsbooks crack up every time that commercial is shown on ESPN during the college basketball games.

Such a departure from last year's garbage commercial, with the forced physical "humor". Wasn't it a Quizno's commercial that featured Chef Jimmy with his pants down, supposedly too involved in his work to notice? That had to be one of the worst Super Bowl debut commercials I have ever seen, about as clever and unique as the inevitable object-hitting-guy-in-crotch.