Comments for Not Funny: Microsoft Cancels Seinfeld Ads

Not Funny: Microsoft Cancels Seinfeld Ads

2008-09-18T00:39:55Z

According to numerous reports, Microsoft has decided to cancel its controversial series of ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates after releasing only two ads. When the first ad was released, the reviews were mostly negative, though some commentators, including our own Sarah Perez, thought it was a good effort on behalf of Microsoft to enhance its brand. However, it seems Microsoft didn't think so itself and is now trying to salvage what is left of this campaign.

To us, it was never quite clear what this campaign was supposed to achieve. The first ad, in which Seinfeld and Gates go shoe shopping, was at least slightly funny. The second ad, which had both live with a 'normal' family to get back in touch with reality, was just awkward. Indeed, the whole campaign felt out of touch with reality and completely failed to enhance Microsoft's branding.

]]> According to Kara Swisher, Microsoft might continue some version of this campaign with Gates alone. That is probably not a bad idea, because Gates himself was surprisingly funny in these ads, but we will definitely not shed a tear for the end of this part of the campaign.

Advert 1:

Advert 2:

Comment from Stephen Kelly on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T00:53:19Z

Maybe Bill gates should do a TV show about his life and his friends - living in an apartment in New York City. As I agree with Frederic - Bill was actually quite funny in the ads.

Instead of Kramer for a next door neighbor - maybe Steve Jobs :)

Comment from Fernando on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T00:59:35Z

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as next door neighbors. I would definitely watch that sitcom. Might as well add Larry and Sergey in as regulars too.

Comment from Scott Fillmer on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T01:05:18Z

I kinda thought they were funny... but... it was totally unclear what in the world they were trying to promote anyway. It seemed like they were trying to do an "apple-mac" type ad, except apple is actually selling a product, Jerry and Bill didn't seem to be selling anything.

Comment from Aram Zucker-Scharff on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T01:45:43Z

I'm sort of disappointed. I thought the ads were pretty funny. I thought that, for a company who suffers in an image as an uncaring monolith willing to destroy competitors, these ads did a lot for their image.

Microsoft doesn't want the type of indy uptight-feel of Apple, they want to be the friend who you hang out with in your living room, the one who will put up his feet with you and just talk. I thought that the ads subtly but successfully accomplished that.

Bill Gates was great, they wouldn't be doing a bad thing if they did a few ads like this with just him. But who would he play off of well?

Comment from Jon on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T01:51:04Z

Geez you guys! This is simply conversational marketing! We already know who they are, most of us are into them with Windows and Office. They've already got us, so we aren't being 'sold' anything in particular. We're just being entertained by Microsoft, by the big Bill himself. For all that's written about Web 2.0 and the new age of communication here, I would think you guys would get it right away. (Kudos Sarah!) The #2 commenter seems to get it. It was just a mini-show.

I have simply loved each time I get to watch one of these things on TV. Jerry was being the stereotypical Jerry and Bill was just being funny. Our expectations made each of them a perfect foil for the other. Even allowing for the horrible writing, I will really miss these commercials.

Comment from Nilesh Jethwa on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T02:18:09Z

So what did Bill say at the end, yes or no? I didn't get any message from the ad either. But it is always pleasure watching Jerry and Bill.

Comment from Steve Boyd on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T03:07:52Z

Bill + Kramer or George

Kramer and George were always the funniest ones in Sienfield

Comment from guruz on 2008-09-17

2008-09-18T06:07:53Z

I liked them, too :)

They should have done them with less money and just spread them on the internet instead to declare them as a big advertising campaign.

Comment from Dan Grossman on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T08:11:27Z

TechCrunch is reporting that the ads aren't canceled, just that they're continuing without Seinfeld, and it was always the plan...

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/17/its-over-for-seinfeld-but-crispin-porter-keeps-microsoft-business/

Comment from Dave on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T10:19:07Z

Bill couldn't get to hang out with Seinfield any other way than to pay him :)

They already have most the Business people with Office & Windows, I thought they were playing to the Napoleon Dynamite crowd which the Web2.0 companies have but Microsoft just can't seem to capture and get them interested.

Comment from Yoram on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T10:59:37Z

I thought they were extremely funny. An internet campaign would have worked better, but I assume their media buyers think in larger numbers.

Comment from Engago Team on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T11:29:57Z

Bill Gates as Al Bundy (shoe shop) and with a weird family (Bundy family).
Thus Bill Gates has stopped dreaming about his sitcom career, as we asked a few days ago: http://bit.ly/1yprQ2

Now the problem remains:
How is Microsoft going to sell XP upgrades to Vista?
How to achieve this?
Microsoft cannot expand into the market, thus the need to sell upgrades to Vista.
What would be your drive to upgrade to Vista?
or are you already using Linux on your mini notebook (Asus, Acer Aspire One,...) and convinced it works fine with open source (Open Office, Star Office).

Comment from Femina on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T12:51:19Z

I like Seinfeld, but I didn`t like Bill and Vista

Comment from Andy Rush on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T14:31:16Z

So there's numerous "reports" and you choose to link to Vallywag? C'mon guys. Link to the other reports and get some credibility.

Comment from Langel on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T16:45:36Z

hahahahahhaa

that second ad was actually funny
the first one not so much
our culture sucks if it can't find that funny =P

Comment from The Masked Millionaire on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T16:48:39Z

I like the ads and thought they were funny. My assumption was that the ads were just trying to promote the Microsoft brand.

Comment from Avatar on 2008-09-18

2008-09-18T23:17:20Z

unfortunately. most reporting this news are wrong and jumping into conclusions. this is a campaign shift and it was planned all along. this is a multi year campaign after all. this is something that even techcrunch took the time of ask before claiming what you are claiming here.

Comment from Shane on 2008-09-18

2008-09-19T00:20:49Z

I liked the ads, and can't really understand what all the bad press is about.

Comment from Scoop on 2008-09-19

2008-09-19T22:21:57Z

New Seinfeld / Billy G. ad released. This one actually makes sense...

http://yesihaveone.blogspot.com/2008/09/latest-microsoft-seinfeld-ad-im-pc.html

Comment from web on 2008-09-25

2008-09-25T08:40:12Z

There were at least three Seinfeld/Gates ads.