Comedians in Comercials: Never Remotely Funny
Well, doesn’t this just sound dandy:
Optus has recruited comedian Josh Thomas to promote its “live more yes” positioning as it seeks to amplify its ‘Yes’ branding through new price offerings and services.
It’s hard to know what’s more depressing in that sentence: the idea of “amplifying branding”, “promoting positioning”, or calling Thomas a comedian.
Sure, you can go and click that link, but why bother? You can pretty much guess what kind of advertising they’re planning (hint: it involves cuddly kittens). And “live more yes”? Remember the days when Thomas fans would occasionally mention that his live show was full of hardcore gay sex jokes? Guess nobody told Optus. Unless they’re asking people to say yes to a variety of acts illegal to show on free-to-air television.
Anyway, here’s a Bill Hicks quote:
By the way, if anyone here is in marketing or advertising…kill yourself. Thank you. Just planting seeds, planting seeds is all I’m doing. No joke here, really. Seriously, kill yourself, you have no rationalisation for what you do, you are Satan’s little helpers. Kill yourself, kill yourself, kill yourself now. Now, back to the show. Seriously, I know the marketing people: ‘There’s gonna be a joke comin’ up.’ There’s no fuckin’ joke. Suck a tail pipe, hang yourself…borrow a pistol from an NRA buddy, do something…rid the world of your evil fuckin’ presence.
To be fair to Thomas this is not the least embarrassing\’sell-outish’ thing he has done.
I can’t say I agree with the idea that comedians shouldn’t do commercials. In Josh’s case he isn’t really a political comedian and gay marriage is his only pet political issue. Unlike someone stridently political such as Aamer Rahman. I mean Thomas has a mortgage to pay.
Neither can I agree that just because you have adult jokes you can’t do material for the general public and by extension children. Take Sarah Silverman purveyor of ‘ironic’ non-pc and adult jokes, made an indecent proposal to a republican, appeared nude but voiced a main character in ‘Wreck it Ralph’. People are pretty adept compartmentalising different aspects of a comedian.
Couldn’t care less if Thomas did a commercial. At least it’s trying to be entertaining in it. I’m more offended by him going on celebrity splash. Let’s be honest if Please Like Me hadn’t been picked up by Pivot he’d be struggling. I don’t have a problem with him making the cash while he can. It’s not going to make me think any better of Optus but you know… meh…
Remember the days when “sell-out” was an insult? Guess you have to have something to sell out in the first place.
Oh, he’s going for the Plea for Sanity Dollar
He is very annoying.
I closed my optus account, I want better packages, not ads hosted by annoying nobodies