Resource Center » Advertising Parodies
Some ads are just too juicy not to spoof, and with the Internet providing a stage these ads often gain as much recognition as the original ad. These jabs can come from any direction, including comedy sketches and talk shows, users or protest groups, and even business rivals.
Some of the funniest rivalries have centered around Apple and Microsoft. They jab each other, Linux jabs both, and creative people uploading to YouTube have had a field day with all of it.
These are a few of the funniest parodies centering on Microsoft, Apple and Linux:
- Microsoft Spoofs Already on YouTube (article from Advertising Age)
- Truenuff.com (has diligently provided spoofs addressing nearly every Mac and Linux advertising effort)
MadTV's commercial spoofs are legendary. Here are some of the funniest:
- AT&T Commercial Spoof
- UPS "What can Brown do for you?" Spoof (the campaign that spawned a million poop jokes)
- Tickleme Emo
No advertiser is safe on these parody sites:
- adbusters.org
- thespoof.com (a UK based online spoof magazine that takes regular potshots at advertising)
- theonion.com (a satirical newspaper that takes on the ubiquitous anti-depressant ads with this brilliant spoof news story about the first depressant on the market - for the annoyingly cheerful)
Blogs and articles about ad parodies:
- Advertising is Good for You by Paula Zargaj-Reynolds
- Unleashed on Marketing blog by Gary Bembridge
Parody with a point:
A poorly-conceived Motrin commercial offended so many people that a Twitter group called Mob (Moms On a Budget) protested vehemently and caused Motrin to take it off the air. They then reverted to direct marketing their product via promotional giveaways.
Point: MadTv gives us the IRack dual-purpose crossover spoof
Not all spoofs are jibes at advertisers. Some are mainstream commercial ads perpetrated by major marketers:
- Novell Linux Takes on Both PC and Mac
- DirecTV Spoofs Stephen King Movie "Misery"
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