The pointless and ire-inducing Microsoft ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and billionaire founder Bill Gates reminding you how much of your time is wasted using the all too fallible operating system have been withdrawn from the airwaves. The ads featured the two in everyday situations that were meant to show that Microsoft is hip and approachable but just managed to come off as lame.
It is widely believed that the ads, which cost Microsoft a reported $30 million, including Seinfeld’s $10 fee, were pulled due to the overwhelmingly negative reception. Microsoft says it was the plan all along to take the ads off and move into the next phase. Just like their upgrades that pop up, install automatically and force you to reboot, often leaving specific programs and sometimes your entire computer inoperable:
Microsoft is preparing to pull its TV ads featuring comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Microsoft’s co-founder and chairman Bill Gates.
Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw said the end of the Seinfeld ads was planned well in advance, and wasn’t coming in response to any criticism of the spots. “All along we said we were having a teaser campaign,” he said. “We’re getting ready to start the second phase. This was the plan all along.”
The news, broken this afternoon by Valleywag, comes just days after Microsoft aired the latest in the series of commercials, produced by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, featuring the two men in comic situations. The ads have been largely panned as a strained effort on the software giant’s part to not only promote Windows but also portray Microsoft as cool and in touch with regular consumers — basically, to counter the stodgy image painted in Apple’s “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ads.
Seinfeld, who reportedly received $10 million for his efforts, was a superstar in the 1990s with his hit show. Using him now, in 2008, only added to Microsoft’s image as being behind the times, critics said.
[LA Times via Huffington Post]
Note by JayBird: Nice try PR guys. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would believe Microsoft planned on blowing that kind of money on some temporary flash ad campaign. I actually think Bill Gates is significantly better in the commercials than Seinfeld. Especially considering each of their backgrounds. And the fact that Windows Defender has gone out of its way to ruin the better part of my week doesn’t incline me to be charitable towards Microsoft right now. They really blew it on this one.
If I didn’t have my literature-world hysteria-inducing novels on my PC, I’d switch to a Mac. But the Dell help guy has such a hot phone sex voice when I call…
This entire situation leaves me more confused than I was before. 😯
Aww I liked the second one. I’d like them even more without Jerry “Snore” Seinfeld in them though.
Steve Carrell, Will Ferrell or Lewis Black
would have been much more entertaining. God, even Ben Stiller would have been less tedious.
I am so over Jerry Seinfeld. Back when the show was on, I was one of the few who found him a bit annoying and insipid, and all the whining made me cringe. Even now, I can’t watch the reruns. People would say, “how can you NOT watch SEINFELD?” Turns out maybe I was ahead of the curve, huh? The guy is an ass… The best part of that show was the supporting cast, not Jerry.
And after the cookbook debacle? I think he really is an egocentric fool.
Too bad he got his $10 million.
They should just have given him the money and saved the rest of us from such annoyingness. They were too long, too winding, too meaningless.
I so hate Microsoft and it’s stupid crappy, crapped up crap! I want a MAC!!!
I liked the commercials, I thought they were funny. I especially liked the “living with the suburban family” one.
The advertising sucked, I know, but I was mildly entertained and…well, I’ve always had a bit of a crush on Seinfeld. Embarassing, I know.
“crapped up crap”
That’s awesome. I’m gonna remember that phrase the next time an inanimate object pisses me off.
Har! Like when a cat falls off a chair and gets up with a look that says, “I meant to do that.”
Good! Both Gates and Seinfeld already have waaaay too much money. Don’t try to schlep products to us!
who does really stupid incomprehensible ads for a multi-billion dollar company? Who are these people ?
Does Jerry Seinfeld ever do anything for less fortunate people? He’s got more money than God. Yes Brangelina donates money and then releases a press statement, but vanity aside, they are still helping people. Does Seinfeld support any cause? I’ve never heard and would really like to know.
Compared to the ads that they replaced them with “i’m a pc”, the first 2 ads are potential oscar winners. come back seinfeld, we forgive you 😛 😛
I’m pretty sure this ad hurts microsoft more then it helped. I’ve been holding off getting a mac just because I knew a *douche* of a guy who insisted on them. But this ad just may make me change my mind.
Jerry is okay though.
-Aidan.