If the goal of Miller Brewing's newest commercial for Miller Lite beer is to create buzz, it seems to be working. CNN's "Crossfire" debated the ad called "Catfight" last week, and Stuff magazine hopes to feature the commercial's stars in a photo layout. The whole story.
A poll in USA Today indicates about twice as many viewers find it sexist as don't. But there seem to be other questions to ask.
What is your first thought after viewing this commercial?
Last edited by beer editor : 01-16-2003 at 04:20 PM.
While this ad is par for the course for macro-beer advertising, the ads that really make my blood boil are those stupid Coors Light football commercials. I like watching football, but I see those commercials and I think "THIS is what's wrong with America!" I even was so peeved off one night that I send Coors an email voicing my displeasure and the fact that even though they would never admit it, they are aiming these ads at underage drinkers. To my surprise I received a response, albeit an automated one, that basically said, "We don't advertise to underage drinkers, we think it's wrong, we are saints in the community. Thank you and please buy our product." I HATE those spots! And I hate to say it, but I think Sam Adams is on its way down this path as well. Has anyone else noticed how over the past couple years they have, in a subtle way, changed their advertising. They started with changing the likeness of Sam Adams on the label from a stoic, stern faced patriot, to a smilin', drinkin' colonial dude! Now the likeness is completely gone and they refer to it as "Sammy". I used to like you, Sam Adams, but alas, you are now no better than Miller, Coors, Bud, et al.
Originally posted by davesarman While this ad is par for the course for macro-beer advertising, the ads that really make my blood boil are those stupid Coors Light football commercials. I like watching football, but I see those commercials and I think "THIS is what's wrong with America!" I even was so peeved off one night that I send Coors an email voicing my displeasure and the fact that even though they would never admit it, they are aiming these ads at underage drinkers. To my surprise I received a response, albeit an automated one, that basically said, "We don't advertise to underage drinkers, we think it's wrong, we are saints in the community. Thank you and please buy our product." I HATE those spots! And I hate to say it, but I think Sam Adams is on its way down this path as well. Has anyone else noticed how over the past couple years they have, in a subtle way, changed their advertising. They started with changing the likeness of Sam Adams on the label from a stoic, stern faced patriot, to a smilin', drinkin' colonial dude! Now the likeness is completely gone and they refer to it as "Sammy". I used to like you, Sam Adams, but alas, you are now no better than Miller, Coors, Bud, et al.
Those ads are selling fun, not beer. Let's face it, beer is fun. I drink beer, I have fun.
And is there anyone on this board that waited until their 21st birthday to have a beer? No.
What is really "wrong with America" is people that don't take responsibility for their actions, i.e. blame ad agencies for underage drinking. Bullshit. If parents would take responsibility for the parenting (or lack thereof) of their offspring rather than blaming it on outside forces, I would be both pleased and astounded.
CA Stu <---likes them ads just fine, thank you.
PS No one in their right mind believes that drinking Coors Light will get you laid more often than drinking Sierra Nevada Bigfoot do they? ... if it does, I'm going to go buy a case!
Maybe I didn't articulate myself as well as I had intended. I agree with just about everything you said as well. Parenting and upbringing is probably the most important aspect in how a child views alcohol and how to use it. Parents should be more responsible. The only point I would have to respectfully disagree with is they are selling "fun". I'm sorry, they are selling beer. They can't make any money by selling fun. They spend millions of dollars on marketing research to determine what will get someone to remember their name and buy their product. I suppose just the fact we are discussing this ad on a message board is a success for them. They are selling beer disguised as humor and fun. I don't have a problem with that I guess. I guess what I have a problem with is that too many people can't recognize that.
Ten bucks says Ben Franklin would have liked that commercial.
I have to admit,sometimes it is disappointing and disheartening to look at stuff that is so obviously aimed straight for the lowest common denominator, but what are you gonna do? Cry in your beer? Hell no! Just take it for what it is and enjoy it. And I agree, that ad man is a fleekin' genius!!
CA Stu <-- Not much for Miller Lite, stilll likes the commercial.
" Honey, those women have great big personalities !"
The only problem that I had with the commercial was the ending (Let's make out). I'm glad that they cut it. At least I think that cut it. That part hasn't been there the last few time I've seen the commercial.
Theses ads are selling beer to men. What's the quickest way to get to a man's attention. T and A!!!!!!!!! They sure have my attention every time the ad is on. If that make me the lowest common denominator, then some of you should come down off of your high horses and join me. It much more fun down here.
Quote, "...And is there anyone on this board that waited until their 21st birthday to have a beer? No..."
Certainly not me. But the pemitted age for consumption of alcohol is considerably lower in most countries than it is in the USA.
In the UK 18 is the minimum age at which a person may purchase alcohol, although persons of 16 may drink beer or cider (but not spirits) with a meal. Most pubs allow children in although they may not buy or consume alcohol.
To come to the topic, though. I have not seen the mudwrestling advertisement (I suspect it hasn't been shown over here) but it is an undeniable fact the the adverising and other promotional activities of the major brewers is of a very high order.
Over here Anheuser Busch probably spend a thousand times more on promotion than do all the Real Ale brewers put together. Let's face it, if they didn't nobody would buy their products - they certainly wouldn't sell on their quality!
Promotion is probably the single most expensive ingredient in a bottle of American Budweiser.
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Richard English
How many drinkers have you converted to good beer today? ;)
I need to see more...perhaps a slow-motion instant replay?
My third thought was...
Who cares!?!
People get offended way too easily. If you find the ad offensive then don't buy the product. As for me, I almost always drink microbrewed or imported craft beer. I'm buying taste, not advertising.
I'm 40. I'm a woman. And I thought it was funny. I knew it was meant to be a comedic take on the stereotypical guy fantasy before the scene cut to the guys in the bar. I imagine many people knew that.
OK, it's been a few days since I posted my "rant" and I guess I must have been a little edgy that day. I read it now and I think, "Whoa, calm down, fella!" All in all, I haven't spent a whole lot of time giving this issue much thought. In the grand scheme of things, it's a commercial. There are thousands of them out there and this one doesn't really seem any better/worse than any others. It hasn't made me want to buy their product, but then I doubt they could come up with a commericial that would make me want to!
That commercial has become one of my favorites to see during football games! It's a great attention getting ad!
I'm right there with gatorbri on, seeing more and slow-motion instant replay.
The commercial is a big hit with the guys at work too. The big question though is why they didn't wait and release it during the Super Bowl?
As far as all the controversy and analysis... WHO CARES!!!
You don't need ads like that to sell your product unless the product has no selling point of its own.
The thinking behind the ad and the people populating it are exactly the things that make me embarrased to be an American, whenever I feel that way.
On the other hand, american football, being the most *unsporting*
"athletic event" in the world, is a perfect occasion for an ad like busch-miller-coors typically makes.
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kpo
www.louisvilleorchestra.org
www.richos.com
Hey, I'm one of "those girls". I can't complain about this commercial. The first time I saw it I thought it was friggen hilarious. It takes all of the stereotypes of what guys supposedly think and cram it all into one commercial. Great job!
Quote, "...You don't need ads like that to sell your product unless the product has no selling point of its own...."
I wish that were true!
Sadly Emerson's famous saying about the "better mousetrap" is just not borne out by by the facts. The world will not beat a path to your door, no matter how good your mousetrap is, unless they know of its existence.
The world's largest brewer, A-B, also makes arguably the world's worst beers (sold, I accept, through advertising).
There were many excellent beers made by excellent brewers whose products are no longer available because they went out of business - because customers preferred to buy the heavily promoted products of their rivals.
Although you do need expensive advertisements if your product is rubbish, the converse is just not not true. No matter how good the product is, it will fail if it is not promoted.
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Richard English
How many drinkers have you converted to good beer today? ;)
I wasn't overly amused by it, but good lord how thin skinned do you have to be to actually get offended by it?? And if your sensibilities were that delicate should you really be watching football in the first place, or _anything_ more stimulating than golf for that matter?
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"Quaintest thoughts and strangest fancies / come to life and fade away / What care I how time advances? / I am drinking ale today!" E. A. Poe
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