Is This Time Warner Cable Ad the Worst Ad on TV?
Have you ever seen a TV commercial so bad it makes you groan out loud — or lunge for the remote to change the channel?
That’s how I feel every time I see the “Something Old” commercial from Time Warner Cable.
TWC is my cable provider in Cleveland, Ohio and this spot runs frequently. It’s supposed to be cute and clever. But this ad breaks so many rules of effective advertising I can’t let it pass any longer without comment.
Here’s why I think “Something Old” is currently the worst ad on television and a prime example of what NOT to do in a smart marketing strategy.
The scene is a wedding day. Bridesmaids are helping a bride get dressed in a hotel room. They have something borrowed and something blue, but not something old. One brilliant bridesmaid spies the DSL modem, rips it from the wall (property damage, anyone?), and hangs it around the bride’s neck – “because seriously, what’s older than DSL Internet?”
Suddenly, Bill Cowher, former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and TWC’s spokesman, walks through the door (which has been left open, for some unexplained reason). He must be a wedding guest, because he’s holding a wrapped gift. But he’s also wearing a track jacket and ball cap, which isn’t exactly wedding attire. And he has a coach’s headset around his neck – perhaps to call the wedding play by play?
Coach Cowher proceeds to tell the bride and her friends that they don’t have to settle for poor Internet service: TWC offers high-speed access and it’s not a promotional price. The bridal party is delighted and the bride delivers the final line: “I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life!”
ARGHHH!
What’s wrong with this spot? Where do I start?
- Like so many bad ads, there is no believability to the creative concept. The premise – that a bride might consider wearing a DSL modem as jewelry on her wedding day to represent the “something old” in the common phrase – is beyond ridiculous.
- The spokesman’s appearance is false, forced, and a little creepy. Even if he’s a famous former NFL coach, what’s Bill Cowher doing lurking around the hotel room where the bride’s getting dressed? And why is he sharing advice with the bride about how to get fast, economical Internet service when she’s about to walk down the aisle and is perhaps focused on other things – like maybe the wedding ceremony?
- The “humor” is so awkward it’s painful. The bride’s line at the end – the punchline of the creative “joke” – is so incredibly corny, you want to slap her.
- In an even longer version that I’ve had the misfortune to see a few times, during the “something old” search at the beginning, the bride’s mother offers that it’s not too late for the bride to wear Mom’s dress. In a mean touch, Mom is totally brushed off and dissed again at the end. Who cares what Mom thinks? She’s obviously a whiner.
- The product is missing. You never see any demonstration of the allegedly speedy TWC Internet service.
- When the ad ends, you don’t really remember the product and you certainly don’t remember the offer – you remember Coach Cowher, the silly bride, and how annoying this commercial was.
The real problem with Time Warner Cable’s marketing campaign is that the company has no idea what to do with its celebrity spokesperson, so the creative team struggles to come up with ways to integrate him into places where he doesn’t belong. In every ad I’ve seen featuring Coach Cowher, including the bridal ad, he shows up in a weird way in a weird place and tries to start a conversation about TWC that’s completely irrelevant to the situation at hand. Check out this spot where he steps out of the shadows into the kitchen of the Miller family at 4:30 a.m. on Black Friday – why exactly?
Three Takeaways for Smart Marketers
As a marketing strategist, I can’t stand to see marketers waste valuable marketing resources on poorly conceived campaigns.
Here are some ways to do a better job on your marketing strategy than Time Warner Cable did:
- It’s fine to be funny in advertising, but the bar for using humor is high. What’s funny to the creative team might be really unfunny to the audience. Test the concept to be sure the humor rings true. Check out this very funny and realistic spot from Netflix for a great example of how to use humor effectively.
- If you’re using a spokesperson in your marketing campaign, create scenarios where he might genuinely appear or be expected to offer a relevant comment related to the buying decision. Just showing up – apropos of nothing – confuses and distracts the viewer.
- Don’t forget that the primary reason you’re doing advertising is to sell a product. If the creative concept fails to make you remember the specific product being promoted, it doesn’t work.
Do you agree with me about the Time Warner Cable ad? Can you name an ad that’s worse than this one?
Editor’s note: This blog post has really struck a nerve: Nearly 7,000 people have read it and dozens have commented. Many found the blog by searching Google on terms like “creepy guy in TWC commercial.” Read this follow-up blog post about the reaction to my assessment of Time Warner’s ad campaign.
blaqbbwkween
I agree with all that you have to say about the ad. I also have another glaring issue with the ad, which speaks resoundingly to societies treatment of fat people. You oversight of such leads me to make an assumption (which I probably shouldn’t) that you are average sized as well.
If you notice, when the commercial opens there are three “bridesmaids” or women in the bridal party. There are the two women of western society approved sizes and then the fat woman (I can say this word without judgment because I am fat myself) holding the camera. The two societally size-appropriate women are kept in the entire ad, but nothing is ever seen or heard from the larger lady again.
Typical American advertising prejudice at work. I am surprised the black woman was given such a prominent part in the ad to be honest. Kinda tells you what Madison Avenue feels is more abhorrent, no?
Would love to hear any feedback on that.
jeangianfagna
Thanks for your comments. I can see why you find this commercial offensive and I would imagine that your comments apply to much of modern advertising. While my focus is on the marketing faults of this spot, I appreciate your pointing out its other deficiencies. Thanks for reading.
Skip
I utterly despise this commercial. I agree with all of the criticisms above, but the part that really gets me is that young girl ripping the current DSL service out of the wall, jerking it out with a large snap sound. How obnoxious could someone be……’what are you doing’ as the bride as the other person goes for the DSL. The appropriate answer is “Oh, I’m ripping your internet service out of the wall.” Well, who is going to pay for that, the mother, who has already been cornered by these brilliant representatives of the millennial generation.
jeangianfagna
Thanks for your comments. I agree that this property damage is just sort of ignored, which is unbelievable. I’ve had many people tell me how much they dislike this spot for many reasons. Thank you for reading.
Skip
Thanks. Well, a couple more comments.
First, I am a Time Warner customer, in Columbus. Secondly, you mention Coach Cowher, and his celebrity status and TWC not knowing how to use him. Funny, because I had to Google his name to find out who he is. Third, the overall tenor also reflects badly on the young women and their generation.
Glad I found your site. I have running conversations with television advertising. I am sure I will have more to say later. thanks
jeangianfagna
I know Cowher because of the Steelers’ rivalry with the Cleveland Browns, but you may be onto something — I’d bet that many TWC subscribers have no idea who he is, which makes him a puzzling choice as the spokesperson. I look forward to your future comments on my posts. Thanks for reading!
marnzipan
I live in Cincinnati and we basically hate the Steelers down here and by extension, former coach Bill Cowher. Whoever thought he would be an appealing pitchman for Warner Cable must have rocks in his/her head. In addition to being stiff and awkward, he is seriously disliked by thousands of people in this city.
jeangianfagna
Great point-he’s not exactly popular in Cleveland either, given the rivalry between the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. That’s another factor for marketers to consider when selecting a celebrity spokesperson: Be sure to avoid choosing someone who’s controversial or actively disliked by any portion of your customer base. Thanks for the comments and for reading the blog.
John_L
Well, all that, and you missed the biggest faux pas of all in the entire commercial. The friend who rips the DSL modem out of the wall states, “What’s older than DSL?”… um… cable internet? Cable internet was around a couple of years before DSL, so the bride would be better off wrapping a cable modem around her neck rather than a DSL modem. In either case, it’s a stupid premise for a commercial. The reason they don’t show off the speediness of the internet in the commercial is because it’s NOT FAST. Look at the fine print, or better yet read it off their website… at that price, $15 bucks a month, you get a whopping 2 megabits downstream, probably 0.5 up, so that’s probably why they have to “misdirect” you by setting it in a bride to be setting in the first place. As far as Coach Cower is concerned, I don’t blame him, I’d do the same silly commercials he does for the money they’re probably throwing at him to do them.
jeangianfagna
Great points re: cable v. DSL and the actual speed you’re getting; that must be why it’s not showcased in the ad. Thanks for reading and sharing your comments.
Anita Mule
I disagree with all of the above. Ripping out the modem is just exaggeration and a man suddenly appearing is done often enough in commercials. What made my husband and me shake our heads in disbelief is the stupidity of it. The reason they gave it to her is that she needed something old. Then the spokesman says she doesn’t have to settle for something old. We both said, at the same time, “but she WANTED something old!” Stupid.
jeangianfagna
Thanks for reading the blog and sharing your comments. Even though you don’t agree, I think it’s a mistake in marketing to have a spokesperson appear out of context. It just confuses the viewer. You’re right about the bride’s request; even though I think it’s silly to give her a DSL modem, she did ask for something old.
Deana
It’d be great if the bride didn’t look older than her mother…..and the fact that she dismissed her mother’s offer to wear her dress? Any dress would be better than the business meeting dress she had on….it wasn’t believable from the very start. If you are going to get asian actresses to play family members, might want to be sure they are the same nationality, look alike and appear to be of the appropriate ages to be mother/daughter.
jeangianfagna
You are correct on all counts, which just underscores the falseness of the whole setup. Thanks very much for reading the blog and sharing your comments.
bill
I googled this topic, because I live in NC, and grew up near Pittsburgh… and have worked in graphic design and marketing for 30 years. The commercial is terrible, and the very worst part of it (that I’ve not seen mentioned here) is when the coach steps into the room and catches everyone off-guard with the opening line: “You know you don’t have to settle…” then he pauses. A crappy way for him to open the conversation, since it sounds like he means that she’s settled for a husband that isn’t as great as him!! Forget that they could have hung him around her neck instead of a DSL modem, because he’s old enough to be her dad!!
Finally, using a coach from a Pittsburgh NFL team doesn’t sit well anyplace except for Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. The creative team for this ad must be an in-house team for TWC, because no self-respecting ad agency would ever produce this kind of crap, unless it was being dictated to them by the client…and they just want to hold their noses, make their take, and run!! In this economy, that is very possible.
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Bill, for pointing out even more ways that the setup for this ad is ridiculous. I still think it’s very creepy how he suddenly appears; they do this in all the spots in which he’s featured. I agree about the choice of a former NFL coach as a spokesperson; too much history and too many regional loyalty issues to appeal to the broadest possible audience. I appreciate you reading the blog and sharing your comments.
jim
Why does it seam like there is no real interaction between bill cowher and any of the other people in these ads. It is almost like one of those radio interviews that are spliced together later. You can tell because no one ever talks over each other. The question is asked then is is answered. Wierd.
Liz Killian
The ads with this creepy coach are so darn annoying and CONSTANT on every channel. I spend a lot of time changing stations when that creep appears out of nowhere. Was he watching the bridesmaids get dressed?
. Other ads I wish I could ban forever are the Steve Taylor Kia ads all over NW Ohio.
jeangianfagna
That’s one of the key issues with this ad and the entire campaign, Liz-there’s no appropriate reason for Coach Cowher to appear in the places he turns up. It’s so jarring and creepy that it turns people off. Thanks for reading the blog and sharing your comments.
Liz Killian
Also another ad where the guy buys more furniture than they need? HUH? Coach Creepy appears out of the blue and then announces that Time Warner customers shouldn’t pay for things they don’t need. Well then why do I have to pay for a dozen or more of Home Shopping Channels on our Time Warner plan? Have all that crap on just to get the channels we want. We are looking into just dropping TW.
sam
I live in New Jersey. We do not ghlander ave TWC here. However, because TWC is available in New York and most of these advef itisements are for national TV, we get to be anoyed as well. Yes, the coach is filmed separately and then added to the rest. Like some other readers hete, I too had to google to see who the creep is. I have never heard of him but now that I see him on TV, I know is best that I never knew him.
As for my level oink f tolerance, my family is programmed to change channel immediately.
jeangianfagna
Thanks for the comment, Sam. It’s interesting how many readers are unfamiliar with Coach Cowher and just perceive him as a creepy guy who shows up out of nowhere. I don’t think that’s what TWC was hoping for when they cast him. Thanks for reading the blog.
Paul Benjou
Agree that this is one of the most annoying commercials on air. And yes, I mute or switch channels.
Why does the TWC guy keep popping into private affairs? Rudeness prevails
Why is he wearing a mike and headphone around his neck? Just plain stupid.
Why does he appear unkempt and drunk? Because TWC is off its game.
Nice image TWC. It mirrors your services.
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Paul-everyone who’s commented on my blog agrees with you about the reasons this ad is so bad; sounds like the service you get isn’t so hot either. Appreciate your comments.
Absurdist
This entire segment of the Cowher campaign seems to be about the coach just walking in to random people’s homes without invitation. The Thunderstorm of Sucky DVR, the Lunch Money for Cancellation Fees, the Buying the Whole Set When We Only Need the Couch Internet Deal…
If Bill Cowher walks into my house unannounced, he’s going to find himself in a scenario that Time Warner would never approve of, I’ll tell you that.
gilbert
Had to ground my 10 year old for walking in on close neighbors and not mineding his own buisnesse. Neighbors said he would just walk in without knocking. Asked him where did he pick that up from and he said from the twc coach!
Tom Robbins
I love the irony in the new ad in which Cowher says “you shouldn’t have to pay for things you don’t need” while TWC is forcing cable/satellite providers in the L.A. area to pay for a Dodgers channel and pass the cost along to customers – whether they need it or not. As a result, no one other than TWC is carrying the programming. TWC has already said they won’t consider letting people choose to buy their overpriced channel – it’s all or nothing. Perhaps Cowher didn’t get the memo…?
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Tom, for pointing out yet another reason why this campaign is problematic. If the messaging contradicts the customer’s experience, it’s never going to work. Thanks for reading the blog.
Anne. Marie Ianco
This commercial with the bride, is just one of every TWC ad in this campaign. I for one, had no idea the creepy guy was a ‘celebrity’ at all, but his weirdness and awkward presence irritated me to the nth degree. Their next ad, where the wife is walking in, maybe after work, and the weirdo is right behind her … (huh?), may be even more ridiculous, if it’s possible. I tend to “tune – out bad ads, but these are so bad, and so off the mark, I react, mostly to Coach Cowder, by talking back to them. I agree they must use in – house people to create the ad. No self – respecting agency would admit to their production. Another bad one is AARP, where a woman says “I’m in my 60’s. I have a long – life ahead of me”. Don’t let me start on that. Glad I read your blog. Now the creepy guy has a name, but is still very creepy.
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Anne Marie, for reading and commenting. The only good thing about the new furniture ad is that it’s bumped the bride ad mostly out of the TWC campaign rotation. It’s just as silly. Appreciate your comments.
Uri Yamanchi
So glad to find this page and these comments as a reality check. The whole campaign is advertising at its worst. I’ve seen spots where this spokes-coach suddenly appears in a woman’s home early in the morning as she’s waking the kids. I don’t know why they picked this guy, and why they think it’s…what, clever? to have him just appear in the homes of strangers. In a recent ad, I saw him enter the home of a young couple with kids and ask: “What’s going on?” Really? I would call the police 🙂 A sign of the time, I guess.
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Uri. I felt the same way-that’s why I had to write a blog post about it. You just can’t ignore it when it’s that bad.
Lynne H.
All of the TWC ads creep me out. The unshaven creepy guy who pops in from nowhere in peoples private moments offends me so much that I have to either mute the TV or change channels. There are no other commercials that effect me this way. I am not sure if it is just the creepy guy, his lurking ways or a combination of all these things that makes me feel this way but I cannot stand these commercials at all.
danny
TWC commercials have been screamingly bad for years…. remember the series based around clichés like “does your internet have you between a rock and a hard place” where someone was pinned against a wall by a paper maché boulder? That series went on and on through the most hoary clichés imaginable.
The coach series is unspeakably bad. I’m not a video person, but most of these ads feature the most over lit, washed-out cinematography I’ve seen on TV. The ad about the stupid couple who bought furniture instead of an internet connection has ZERO INTERNAL LOGIC.
Thank you for helping me to feel I am not the only one driven to distraction by the thought that some people actually earn a living turning out incompetent crap like this.
jeangianfagna
You’re welcome, Danny, and thanks for the reminder about TWC’s legacy of weak advertising. Based on the traffic this post has generated and the number of people Googling “annoying TWC commercials” that leads them to my blog, we’re not alone in our assessment. Thanks for reading the blog.
Carol Rideout
Totally agree with you, I have to mute or change the channel. Also really annoyed with the one someone else mentioned…. the guy buying too much furniture. It’s the wife in the ad, just the tone of her voice and the way she speaks to her husband, as though he’s a 6 year old or something. Cannot listen to this one at all!
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Carol. The new furniture commercial is just as bad as the bride commercial. The coach’s appearance here is completely out of left field; he’s not even pretending to be part of the scene, like in the bridal ad.
bucki
I hit mute or change channels every time any TWC commercial comes on, and they seem to be on constantly on every channel. I can’t see how these commercials can possibly get any new customers and may even loose some current customers, because all their “deals” are geared to new customers and they seem to have no deals to award existing customers. PS: TWC came on while I was typing this.
jeangianfagna
That’s exactly how I react and judging from your comment and others, most people really dislike this campaign. And the fact that the spots run so often just makes it worse! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Bob Abner
As much as I admired Bill Cowher as an NFL head coach, I have lost all respect for him, because surely he has enough money that he doesn’t have to stoop to such unmitigated crap “to turn a buck.” I despise the complete TWC ad campaign — does TWC think ANYONE is going to fall for this bunch of malarkey. Also, I DO agree with the comment about a company not knowing what to do with their celebrity spokesperson.
Bob Abner
As much as I admired Bill Cowher as an NFL head coach, I have lost all respect for him, because surely he has enough money that he doesn’t have to stoop to such unmitigated crap “to turn a buck.” I despise the complete TWC ad campaign — does TWC think ANYONE is going to fall for this bunch of malarkey. Also, I DO agree with the comment about a company not knowing what to do with their celebrity spokesperson. That’s probably due to the fact that Bill Cowher is INHERENTLY not a good fit for a cable company spokesperson.
jeangianfagna
Thanks for your comments, Bob. I think you’re right that Cowher is just the wrong choice for a spokesperson for this brand — and they clearly don’t know how to use him effectively. Appreciate your reading my blog.
Matt
I simply find these commercials annoying. They have no inherent value, and as a time Warner subscriber make me rethink why I have the service. It’s slow, not reliable and we’lannoying. I actually turn the channel when they are on as a marketing graduate, they don’t make me retain the brand but repel against the coach and the company. I find this whole campaign to be meaningless and not funny.
jeangianfagna
As you can see from the other comments, Matt, most people agree with you. You’re right about the branding implications; when people associate your brand with something annoying, it can’t be good. Thanks very much for reading and commenting.
Jan
Those commercials with this guy seems so wasted. Zero charisma, this “coach” Would be better placed in a beer commercial. I’m glad others see this as annoying too!
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Jan. As you can see from the comments, this campaign has been roundly criticized. I agree that Coach Cowher is not a natural on camera and the false situations he’s placed in make it very difficult to be genuine anyway. Thanks for reading and commenting.
John M Reich
I think ALL of the Time Warner commercials done by Bill Cowher are irritating and frankly beneath his stature as a (former) professional NFL football coach and commentator. It’s uncomfortable to watch.
jeangianfagna
Unfortunately, John, I have to agree with you. Each new ad in the campaign seems worse than the last, though the bridesmaids one still bothers me the most. I don’t know why Cowher agreed to play their spokesperson; surely he didn’t see the scripts in advance. Thanks for commenting and reading the blog.
Sashokjd
The suits and deposition ad playing now is a whole new level. It’s like they realize how stupid the ad campaign is and try to salvage it by self mockery.
jeangianfagna
Good point. Do you think it works? I’m doubtful. I think any ad that has Cowher in it, especially after a series of so many bad ads, will make people tune out. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Bill P
Ive produced commercials, and worked hard on the copy and tone of the delivery of those things.
the TWC commercial is solid crap, built by a talentless fear/yes men/women commmitee.
This is what happens when you are a Monopoly and have TOO much of OUR money.
Usually a higher -up has access to a sports celeb, and voila the whole commmercial suffers! Cowher comes off like a Methhead, which is sad for those who dont know his rep.
Howard Gintell
Q: Can you name an ad that’s worse than this one?
A: What day of the week is it? Undoubtedly there is a new Time Warner commercial and IT is the worst new ad. Until tomorrow, when there will be a NEW worst Time Warner ad. How appropriate, The company with the worst customer service on the planet now bombards us with new worsts.
jeangianfagna
Thanks, Howard. Your comment — “What day of the week is it?” made me laugh out loud. I guess Time-Warner hasn’t read all the comments you and others have shared on my blog post, since the campaign is ongoing and new ads continue to be released featuring Cowher. Thanks for reading and commenting.
danni
Omg that creepy un shaven guy!!!! I’m in TX and the tv is saturated with him. I consistently turn the channel. I will never get TW and I dont know what I will do if I ever see that creep in person!!!
Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
jeangianfagna
You’re welcome, Danni-lots of people wanted to vent about this campaign, just like you and I did. Thanks for reading and commenting. PS: I’m surprised at the number of people who comment on Cowher’s unshaven face; I know that’s the trend, but I think it adds to the creepiness.
danni
Omg that guy is so creepy,I hate TWC!!!! Get him off,the tv is so saturated with him!! I’m in TX,enough is enough!!!
Had to vent!!!!
Bobby
Ok. Let’s stay with TWC. The newest ad is a wife coming home to a crowded living room because her husband bought a bundle. Coach Cowher breaks in and CLAIMS that, with TWC, you don’t need to buy what you don’t need. Hmmmmm. I have a tv package where I only truly watch/want a FRACTION of the channels. But, to watch local TV, my favorite sports channels/shows, and other favorites (like AMC, etc) …mi have to pay for digital music (hello? — pandora and Sirius) and a bunch of junk junk junk channels! So, Coach, tell the boys at TWC that it is FALSE to say that TWC doesnt make you pay for things that you don’t want/need!
jeangianfagna
As you can see from the comments, Bobby, you’re not alone in finding TWC’s pitch ironic given their practice of selling bundles. That’s another reason this campaign is so bad; the customer’s experience with the brand is completely counter to the ad’s message. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Jeri
I cant stand that guy…. TWC must need money for all those commercials …. maybe Comcast has their areas sewed up too…. along with Verizon,,, we have NO choice to who we want…. i wouldn’t have TW for no amount because of those disgusting commercials…. not only the commercials are disgusting but Cowher is too..
jacmoran
Wouldn’t it be great if we could find an app, similar to Parental Controls, that would block Cower and these ridiculous, omnipresent ads. They redefine “bad”!
Alfred King
I have to say Honda and twc have the most stupid none scene commercials. Every time I see it on TV or hear it on radio I turn it off or change the channel. Why don’t they stop making people hate them with all these stupid commercials? Maybe is better talk about what they offer in a normal way? I feel the people that come up with these idea’s, looking for a way to sabotage the company or get them to do down… Maybe they work for at&t or Toyota?
Find a new way to advertise on TV or radio. Don’t do this, By this people hate your company and look for other services or products. As for me I had Honda before and I wanted to buy a Honda again, but ever since they started to have back to back and bad to worst TV commercials, I bought a Ford. Learn from Ford never stupid but they take the time to talk about what they make, NO JOKES OR NONE SEANCE NOT FUNNY ADDS. PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS WILL BACK FIRE ON YOU.
DeWayne
TWC spots on TV are so bad that even with the sound off they are annoying.
Em Kaye
If I have to hear “WHAT DID YOU DO?” many more times I think I’ll be forced to give up my TWC account. It repeats 30 seconds after it runs the first time.
I’ve never seen such stupid commercials!
Howard Gintell
Jean Gianfagna you need to offer your professional expertise to TWC. As someone who has spent more then four decades in marketing, I must state in the strongest way: JEAN THEY NEED YOU!!!
jeangianfagna
Gee, thanks, Howard! I appreciate the compliment, especially from someone with your years of experience. As marketers, you and I can spot a bad ad in a heartbeat, but I think what’s most interesting about this is the fact that you don’t have to be an experienced marketer to recognize and call out a poor marketing campaign. Most of the comments on this blog are from people who aren’t in marketing; the consistency of their criticisms is quite striking. Do you agree? Thanks for reading and commenting.
Howard Gintell
TWC seems to think that everyone is stupid since their commercials are aimed at what is probably a non-existent psychographic: “gee if they say it’s true it must be.”
Note this logical chain: FOX News (faux news? fox noise?) owned by Rupert who wanted to buy TWC. A perfect marriage?
Dennis
TWC commercials… like nails on a chalkboard and definitely tough to watch!
I’m concluding the obviously fake “wife” who comes home and has an unrealistic response toward her obviously fake “husband” who bought furniture that wasn’t needed, look like real-life brother and sister… same goofy blue eyes, insincere laugh and void of talent. Perhaps they only got the gig because they are related to Bill Cowher or some TWC exec…. TWC is clueless, but is not going to change anything due to their monopoly of cable and internet service in the Raleigh area.
OMG… that dreadful commercial is on right now…..
Robertbaker
This latest twc commercial runs almost every other time. I just want to scream. Thank God for dvr’s!!!
jeangianfagna
Yes, indeed, Robert-these commercials are tailor-made for skipping, aren’t they? Thanks for your comments.
scottg
I wondered if I was the only one… The first time I saw this commercial series I was flabbergasted. As a commercial pitchman, Cowher makes a great football coach. I don’t even like him on the in-season sports shows where he’s a commentator. His presence and delivery are wooden, suited for a sideline where he is dressing down a player after a bad play, but in no way appropriate for a milieu in which stage presence and delivery matter. Add to that the implausible, ridiculous situations in which the creators have him insinuate himself into the scene and you have a recipe for some of the most asinine commercials in the current market.
jeangianfagna
Scott, I think you should start writing a marketing blog. 🙂 Great observations-he really is just not well suited to a spokesperson role, especially in these ludicrous scenarios. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Skip
The one that runs so many times lately, the young woman comes into their house, husband has bought a bunch of unnecessary extra furniture, Her response “Why did you choose to buy…..etc” the language is very odd. Why did you choose to buy…..the average person would ask ‘why did you buy a bunch of things we don’t need etc.’ not why did you ‘choose’ to buy. very odd syntax, use of language. More strangeness from TWC.
jeangianfagna
I agree, Skip. The writing is as awkward as the scenarios and when you see these ads over and over, you really notice every fault. Thanks for reading and commenting.
john wolfe
Thank God I’m not alone. TWC’s mundane, repetitive, painfully corny, God-awful commercials are impossible to escape. They’re on every channel and they run at every hour of the day, every commercial break. The ad managers at TWC and whatever unimaginative and talentless ad agency that produces these commercials should be fired and transplanted to some government bureaucracy where their dullness cannot contaminate the rest of the world.
jeangianfagna
You’re definitely not alone, John. I’ve been amazed at how many people share your point of view (and mine) on this campaign. It’s embarrassingly bad and when you’re a TWC customer, it’s impossible to escape it. Hope TWC takes your advice! Thanks for reading and commenting.
David Lott
All of TWC’s ads with Bill are so disconcerting that I just can’t stand to either watch or listen to them anymore! By turning the ads off, I end up missing the rest of some of the programs, simply because I don’t want to hear any more of the ads. Not only that, but, unfortunately, I am a TWC subscriber simply because there are no other cable companies where I live. One of the ads Bill gives is that “you can control your DVR from wherever you are with an app on your smart phone”. It just so happens that this is a flat out lie as that feature is NOT available in my area. When I called the company about it they just said, “Oh, you are right. We haven’t made that feature available in your area”.
Judy M.
I don’t know what grates more – the cheesy and inane Bill Cowher ads or TWC’s “enjoy better” tag line. Ugh! And to think people get paid good money for producing this nonsense.
Tom Deaton
Thank God for the “Freeze” and “Mute” buttons. I HATE these commercials!!!!!!!!!!!
William
Funny – I searched for this topic because of the appalling writing in ANOTHER Time Warner advert..
In the current commercial (fantasy NFL draft..) the script has coach respond to the customer explaining why he didn’t get his draft pick in on time (unreliable internet connection) by saying.. ”your team should be as reliable as your internet connection” when it should be the other way round to make any sense in the context of the advert – and I’m not splitting hairs.. it just defies any logic.
George
This is almost as bad as the Progressive ad
Greg
If you have Time Warner Cable you have to watch these lousy commercials. It’s like nails on a caulk board. They shove them down your throat like cod liver oil.
Paul Barresi
The guy should have left football and silently gone away. I am creeped out his stiff appearance and those false extra white teeth. He looks frightened to be in front of the camera but for some reason I get the impression he really thinks he looks great. What a creep…Big Time. I agree wholeheartedly.
Andy
The new ad with couple in the restaurant hits a new low. It doesnt sellthe product and is insulting to women as a bonus.
Diane
I am with Andy; the douchebag dining with his air headed girlfriend is ridiculous. It makes me want to know who the actors are and boycott their future work for being involved in such tripe.
Pete
Oh, Jaeger!
wp
Everything about Time Warner is poorly marketed and done. Thats one of three dumb commercials. The one with the guy that bought a room full of furniture. So as a corporation TW thinks people are that stupid? Is the coach having an affair with his wife, whats with the idiotic faces the wife and husband make, the one with fantasy football. If the issue was a poor internet causing the problem in the first place, the comment your team should be as strong as your internet is a moronic statement.
Last but not least, when you call time warner and are on hold for an hour. Why waste my time telling me the more you know about stupid topics that have no gain to making me hear, your better off having dead silence so i can focus on the things i have going on for the 1 hour hold. When someone finally comes to the line to help me i wont be so aggravated and pissed off over poor, service over priced service, annoying service, lengthy delays and stupid pointless irrelevant messages.
Beth
All of TWC commercials are horrible! Can you say “get a new ad agency”? The newest one I HATE is the neighbors all coming over to use the guys Internet. So stupid! Also I love Rob Lowe but Direct TV commercials with him are really weird. Not very funny.
jeangianfagna
I’m with you, Beth. TWC continues to produce lousy ads, though we should at least be glad that Bill Cowher is no longer the spokesperson. And I agree about Rob Lowe’s DirectTV ads; weird and not at all funny. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Carol Moorby
The latest commercial about a boyfriend called Steve and his girl friend wanting to be alone to watch t.v. The girl is a little SNOT with no respect or honor for her mother or father. She portrays a rude demeanor and I think it’s disgraceful and inappropriate for children to mistreat their parents in this manner. it makes me angry every time I see It!I was taught to honor my mother and father but this commercial totally negates that.,How about getting someone with a few morals and values to write your next commercials? This is just wrong!
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Robert Perlberg
I won’t disagree with your assessment of the ad, but I do enjoy it because I find the Asian bride and the black bridesmaid to be cute. The TWC ad I really have a problem with is the one where Cowher is holding a meeting with his sales team and a security guard has to stop a couple from interrupting them. The guard tells the couple about TWC’s offer, but does it like he’s giving them secret information he’s not supposed to. Nothing about this ad makes sense to me. Where does this take place? It looks like it’s in a mall, but the “sales team” seems to be meeting in a roped off area in the middle of the mall. If they need a security guard to keep people from interrupting them, why did they choose to have the meeting in an open area in the middle of a public place? An why does the guard think he’ll get in trouble for telling people about about TWC’s offer?
Michelle
Their new one with the child eating his vegetables (crayons) is beyond creepy! Wth? Who writes this stuff!
Jane Stacey
Your commercials are turning off people. They are so rediculous and repetitive.. They get on your nerves. The goofy actor you keep using whether he’s waiting for wife and friend to quit talking or the intruding neighbor ( how stupid) or the goofy guy who acts like a kid at a real kids birthday party. REALLY? Warner Cable is assuming the audience is also stupid. Better look in the mirror… And see if you’re gaining customers from these stupid ads. Doubtful.
j duncan
The same commercials over and over. I can no longer watch chan 14 TW news
anthony
The commercial with the guy riding the bike is the stupidest ad I have ever seen. It is played too much and he is a terrible actor.. it is annoying
ron
TWC has an ad campaign even worse than their service, although this may be hard to swallow, I keep a bucket nearby to puke in every time I see one of those STUPED ads!