Mac, Holiday Ad: B-

(image taken from Gary's Blog)

If five other companies weren't already running ripoffs of this Rudolph treatment, this would probably seem pretty clever. But I've seen at least two more--one is for insurance, I think, the other is for some terrible cell phone company. So Mac isn't exactly breaking new creative ground with this. Other than that, the writing and concept for this one fall short of their other efforts in this campaign (which I generally like). Usually the joke is based on some sort of truth; this is just a childish jab at PCs.



The only two good parts are the beginning when Santa sounds the harmonica and the "he see's you when your in sleep mode" line. If I didn't love Christmas so much, this would be more in the C or C+ range.

Apple, iPod Nano: B+

This is nothing more than a hand reaching in and removing little iPods, while a video plays on the screen. Though very simple, it makes me pay attention to the television, makes me want an iPod Nano and, strangely enough, it makes me sing. I don’t know what that song is (actually, I do now, because I just looked it up—1234, by Fiest), but I love it. It gets inside my head and I walk around my apartment, belting out my own terrible version of it; a version with no discernable words in the lyrics, just sounds that could be words if they had to. An effective, enjoyable commercial, even if it’s not very original or creative--and if you ever heard me sing, you would avoid doing anything that might encourage a repeat performance.