Kessler: “The insight on ‘The Last Barf Bag’ is hard to ignore. The best comedy comes from looking at the world sideways through an honest lens, and that insight coming from that brand, regardless of the execution, is award-worthy.”
Buechele: “My one note here would be to never make an ad 13 minutes long in 2024, the year of pressing on the right side of your phone to speed up the playback of a 13-second TikTok.”
Pop-Tarts “The First Edible Mascot” by Weber Shandwick New York
Barkley: “When I see things like this I feel like I’m watching The Hunger Games and I’m insulted.”
Scharpling: “This ended up feeling like a victory lap when nobody knew Pop-Tarts ‘won’ anything. Ultimately leaves me feeling kinda empty in the end. Too back-patting and proud of such a limp stunt. Also doesn’t feel like the best way to celebrate Pop-Tarts or make me want a Pop-Tart.”
Khilnani: “I am kind of a healthy person, so having Americans, which I am proud to be, fall prey to their own stereotype is kinda cliche to me. Let’s fight the perception that the rest of the world has of us being gluttons that are obsessed with sugar and gladiator-esque sports. I found the commercial to be a bit long as well. We get it. There’s a mascot, it’s a Pop-Tart, and now we’re eating it. Not Dostoevsky over here.”
Buechele: “Zero notes on the edible mascot holding a sign saying ‘dreams really do come true,’ before plunging to his death, implying that he wants nothing more in life than to sacrifice himself so others can eat him. It’s giving biblical stakes, it’s giving ‘this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world—happy are those who are called to His supper.’ But in this situation he is not the lord and savior, he is a strawberry-filled breakfast cookie.”
Specsavers “The Misheard Version” by Golin London
Barkley: “Cool concept, it worked! I like seeing artists not take themselves too seriously, thank you Rick Astley.”
Buechele: “I like the idea a lot, I just wish they had picked a different song. We as a society need to move on from ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ being the all-purpose comedy song and pass the crown to some other one-hit wonder. My suggestion is ‘Laffy Taffy’ by D4L.”
Scharpling: “This one is what the Pop-Tart spot should’ve/could’ve been. There’s a goal, a focus and a sense of being in on the adventure. This is a fun one, and you get excited about the song catching fire and getting misheard by so many people. I loved this one.”
