Video: The obligatory freaky-awful Jerry Seinfeld/Bill Gates ad for Microsoft
posted at 4:40 pm on September 6, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
Surely the first and last time Seinfeld will ever co-star with a guy worth more than he is. They’re going for a “show about nothing” vibe here, I assume, but … dude.
I say again: Dude.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »
I never “got” why Seinfeld was so funny. I definitely don’t get this.
SouthernGent on September 6, 2008 at 4:43 PM
I disagree, AP. Liked it, thought there were some LOL moments, but then again, I loved Seinfeld, that could be part of it.
LastRick on September 6, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Bad commercial.
But the point is very subtle: it’s an ad answering the apple ad with the “cool” mac guy and the “boring” pc guy. Microsoft products are for “normal” people who shop at discount shoe stores and aren’t condescending.
Xolom on September 6, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Seinfeld is still around?
Et tu Brute on September 6, 2008 at 4:45 PM
The photo on Gates’ membership card is his mugshot from the ’80s. LOL!!!!!
Tuning Spork on September 6, 2008 at 4:45 PM
*blank stare*
lodge on September 6, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Is this supposed to make me want to go out and buy Vista?
Mark1971 on September 6, 2008 at 4:46 PM
What?
RobertInAustin on September 6, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Dreadful commercial. What was Jerry thinking?
Paradox Drive on September 6, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Does anyone know where you can find a Shoe Circus? If Bill Gates shops there, it must be decent.
Skywise on September 6, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Jerry kissing someone else’s ass for a change.
RobCon on September 6, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Compare and contrast the ad at :57 to this:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/gatesmug1.html
heh.
Tuning Spork on September 6, 2008 at 4:48 PM
It doesn’t hold a candle to the Napoleon Dynamite commercial.
Andrew D on September 6, 2008 at 4:48 PM
It’s part of the DNC campaign to convince people that they are all just regular guys who only happen to be billionaires by accident.
Damiano on September 6, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I have new respect for the Seinfeld writers. Clearly they are what made that show.
D0WNT0WN on September 6, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Point.
Anita on September 6, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Kind of a fun commercial. Too bad Vista SUX!
gridlock2 on September 6, 2008 at 4:52 PM
I don’t get it.
4shoes on September 6, 2008 at 4:52 PM
?
TheSitRep on September 6, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Seinfield? Pffft
If you want to sell computers, you need Ben Curtis, The Dell Dude, stoned or not.
He could sell bidness computers to straight white guys, I’m sure.
He’s why I call everyone ‘dude’, ya know?
rockhauler on September 6, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Good stuff.
indythinker on September 6, 2008 at 4:53 PM
I didn’t think it was possible that I could be less likely to by a PC. Ever.
If I didn’t need Entourage to work with the Exchange server at work I’d be deleting Office after watching that.
That was “Apply directly to your forehead” bad.
Stephen Macklin on September 6, 2008 at 4:54 PM
How much did Seinfeld get for this? That to me is the funny part, sort of like the whole Vista roll out.
bbz123 on September 6, 2008 at 4:56 PM
I actually know where he sometimes eats. A waitress there told me he’s shown up without his wallet before.
I like him, and I liked the ad.
capitalist piglet on September 6, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Zzzzzzzzz
Right_of_Attila on September 6, 2008 at 4:57 PM
I disagree. I use Vista and it’s fine. Google “Mojave experiment”, maybe it’ll change your mind.
LastRick on September 6, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Typing on my very kool, never crash, don’t have to re-configure every week, don’t need not stinking Maul-ware software, never stops running like a ‘66 Volkswagen, have all the apps. I need already installed, 250 gig MacBook here.
Oh, the new iMac is in the other room.
God bless Steve Jobs people.
Heh.
P.S. Who’s Jerry and that other guy.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 6, 2008 at 4:59 PM
……..
uh, ok.
They’re going for the “common man” feel but lost it when the shoe salesman was clueless about fitting Bill’s feet.
Sienfield to the rescue!
yeah, right.
Ace ODale on September 6, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Is this some kind of crypted message to Al Zawahari?
Aristotle on September 6, 2008 at 5:01 PM
*channels Obama*
I am Barack Obama and I approve this message.
Damiano on September 6, 2008 at 5:01 PM
This was just an avatar of Bill Gates, but unfortunately it really was Jerry Seinfeld.
Mr. Joe on September 6, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Microsoft – bug filled bloatware.
semloh on September 6, 2008 at 5:04 PM
The message must have been too subtle for me, it didn’t inspire me to buy anything.
TooTall on September 6, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Aw, I was going to point out the mugshot thing.
OneGyT on September 6, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Wow. I’m a huge Seinfeld fan and own most of the series on DVD. But this commercial sucked. And I heard Seinfeld got paid $10 mil to be in it. Crazy.
Har. Mojave Experiment is a poorly executed marketing ploy designed to make the user feel responsible for issues with Vista. I’m a Windows XP user and normally defend them from the Mac fanboys. But Vista = FAIL OS. Sorry to break it to you.
malan89 on September 6, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Why would Bill Gates need to portray himself as being a “common man”? He a self-made billionaire – everyone knows it and he should be proud of it. That liberal guilt must be overwhelming.
lobstress on September 6, 2008 at 5:07 PM
For once, Big A is right about something completely sucking.
flipflop on September 6, 2008 at 5:09 PM
This ad is appropriate for VISTA: Offers nothing, falls flat!
landlines on September 6, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Puhleeze. I use Macs for work. They crash…plenty. Not more than PCs, but enough to show that the fanboys that claim Macs never crash are full of sh*t.
malan89 on September 6, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Hmmm…
I kinda like this ad.
It made me laugh a couple times.
alphie on September 6, 2008 at 5:13 PM
I saw it this morning and wasn’t sure what it was for ’til they showed the logo at the end. I figured it was a Billy Gates look-a-like. It impressed me less than seeing a Cialis commercial during Saturday morning cartoon time.
GeneSmith on September 6, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Blue screen of yawn.
innominatus on September 6, 2008 at 5:18 PM
I liked watching it. Funny in spots. I don’t think it makes a good ad though.
Coronagold on September 6, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Okay, I thought that was really funny.
elladeon on September 6, 2008 at 5:21 PM
I love Seinfeld, but aren’t they supposed to be trying to sell software? The ad didn’t really make any sense.
CP on September 6, 2008 at 5:22 PM
I have a HP PC in my bedroom (was my main ‘puter for almost 3 years), when I needed to put my YouTube project together it wouldn’t even let me load the editing software, (I paid for 3 different appz. zilch).
In frustration after trying to get it to work for 2 days, I ran out to Best Buy with my Debit card and got the iMac. That was three months ago…never a crash and I got the project done in record time.
“Just the facts mame” How do you you spell that word anyway?
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 6, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Awful
Can mega-rich Liberals retain humor?
Hening on September 6, 2008 at 5:26 PM
I never, evah, watched Seinfled. The few clips I saw of his stand up acts were enough to discourage me.
Yakko77 on September 6, 2008 at 5:29 PM
The funniest part of that whole bit is Bill Gates’ “Platinum Shoe Circus Clown Club” membership card.
The picture on it is Bill Gates’ MUG SHOT PHOTO from when he was arrested in New Mexico many years ago.
The commercial is pretty dumb, but Bill Gates isn’t. I really like the guy.
SilverStar830 on September 6, 2008 at 5:33 PM
What sort of film did they use?
They both looked ancient.
They’re not young, but they looked mummified.
NoDonkey on September 6, 2008 at 5:33 PM
As someone else said recently, “It’s above my paygrade”.
Background would have been better and more relevant if it had just been blue….like the death screen.
GarandFan on September 6, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I liked it.
Pretty good for a teaser ad.
Asher on September 6, 2008 at 5:40 PM
LAME AND LAMER.
Thankfully there will be no further.
profitsbeard on September 6, 2008 at 5:41 PM
I blame Bush.
Mr_Magoo on September 6, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Funny!
Windows XP doesn’t crash on me. And I use it pretty intensively 8 – 10 hours a day (programming .net). Their development tools are getting better and better too. So I have to assume that those who have problems are downloading p0rn and sending glurgy emails. There’s nothing else to explain it.
tlynch001 on September 6, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Obviously all part of the Liberal strateegery.
It is amazing though how after rich people get rich then they are all for socialism. When they are poor they are all for getting rich.
Mr_Magoo on September 6, 2008 at 5:43 PM
I actually liked it best when it wasn’t funny.
“Is that your toe?”
“No.”
“Well, then what is it?”
“Leather.”
**unknowing looks**
This is dada for the 21st century.
Tuning Spork on September 6, 2008 at 5:46 PM
TOOT! TooT! CAUTION: blowing own horn here!
–
I did a quick note about this commercial for my zdnet column this morning. My point there is that the ad reminds me a lot of Marie Antoinette’s “let them eat cake” -with Bill Gates giving the butt shrug of approval as a kind of faux Louis XVI.
So far.. most of my readers do not share my amusement at this “evidence” of history repeating itself.
:)
Paul Murphy on September 6, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Seinfeld’s show WAS great. I still laugh at the same things.
But this commercial has got to be the WORST I’ve ever seen. It makes NO sense. Can’t they see that when they are making it??
It was funny that you put it on here. We were saying the same things when we saw it, what’s this commercial mean, what’s it even for??
Conservatives R Us on September 6, 2008 at 5:50 PM
They were talking about this ad on FoxNews, saying Microsoft is trying to rebrand itself as being trendy.
Only problem with that is, Seinfeld finished in what, 1997?
cyclosarin on September 6, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Fail.
m064404 on September 6, 2008 at 5:55 PM
This reminds me of a M*A*S*H episode that had a strange premise or plot twist that made no sense. Mike Farrell objected to it saying, of the audience, “the smarter they are the more confused they’ll be.” I don’t remember the episode or the issue, but I do remember that he was right about it. Whatever it was.
Tuning Spork on September 6, 2008 at 5:57 PM
My first thought was “Why is Bill Gates doing a shoe commercial?”. I guess I just don’t understand nuance.
Harpoon on September 6, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Is it just me, or is Bill Gates beginning to physically resemble Hugh Hefner?
Mike H on September 6, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I thought it was funny. But I think Seinfeld is the most hilarious man ever, so I could be inclined to be biased here.
MikeknaJ on September 6, 2008 at 6:05 PM
This was a commercial? For what? A shoe store?
Over (under?) my head; I guess I’m not hip enough.
Love the Apple commercials, though. I understand them.
Then, I am a Mac bigot, though I have to use XP for specialty software. Macs are better.
MrLynn on September 6, 2008 at 6:09 PM
If I hear one more computer-illiterate person who’s never used Vista and knows nothing about it say “Vista sux” I’m just might vomit.
In any case, I thought the ad was funny… it’s the first of a long campaign, so we’ll see what happens. I’m sure it will morph into a campaign about “something” over time.
DaveS on September 6, 2008 at 6:13 PM
“Macs are better.” Did I accidentally navigate to, slashdot? The unsubstantiated fanboyism is palpable.
DaveS on September 6, 2008 at 6:15 PM
I liked it and even laughed
Baphomet on September 6, 2008 at 6:17 PM
I liked it. Not that anyone asked.
mikeyboss on September 6, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Liked the ad. Good brand promotion by showing owner/creator is human.
Also, I’m typing this message on a box that runs Vista Home Premium. I like it – fluid, attractive, intuitive. Like the other guy above who is a programmer, I keep my box clean of pr0n and warez and it stays stable. I can go weeks without needing a restart.
knob on September 6, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Insane as this ad campaign is ($300 million down the drain….), I like it because it’s as close as we’re ever going to get to another Seinfeld sitcom. This and those Superman ads which NBC actually aired that one time. I liked that one better actually but this is just the first episode.
Typhonsentra on September 6, 2008 at 6:31 PM
*grins* I built my own machine, with Vista on it, and have twice the computer for half the price of a Mac. No problems at all on it. Commercial was odd, but I got the vibe that they were trying to go for the cost conscious, everyday person vibe.
coyoterex on September 6, 2008 at 6:33 PM
A couple of data points. 1) Seinfeld got paid $10 million for the ad campaign; 2) Microsoft is reportedly planning on spending $300 million on the campaign. Yikes.
This is supposedly only the first of a series. It’s a character intro. Does it stand on its own? Not really. There are probably lots of different ways they could have started this off that would have given everyone a better sense of what they’re trying to accomplish. That said–this is Seinfeld we’re talking about, and a commercial essentially about nothing fits his MO perfectly. Others would argue it fits Microsoft’s as well…!
It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. Will it be a train wreck, or merely a multi-car collision with minor injuries?
Time will tell.
nukemhill on September 6, 2008 at 6:38 PM
LOL..i enjoyed that:)
Capt-Dax on September 6, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Ah, AP… the andi sullivan of the MS campaign.
andycanuck on September 6, 2008 at 6:57 PM
I swear to god I saw tumbleweed
LimeyGeek on September 6, 2008 at 7:03 PM
I laughed out loud a few times. i would love to be able to produce aimless, funny advertisements and write them off as business expenses. you would then see somee seriously stupid stuff. ;p
Calm Before the Storm on September 6, 2008 at 7:03 PM
I hope Microsoft didn’t pay a lot for that. Whatever they paid, it was way too much.
Mrs. Happy Housewife on September 6, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Well they got Bill Gates for free,
Tony Soprano on September 6, 2008 at 7:18 PM
sure, I get it: microsoft = weird.
I knew it along.
jimmer on September 6, 2008 at 7:19 PM
I don’t get it.
fossten on September 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM
i liked “seinfeld” the show, but much like jerry’s standup, i thought this ad was just.not.funny.
anna on September 6, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Gawd awful. And I liked Seinfeld’s television series.
gmoonster on September 6, 2008 at 7:36 PM
I have an air of grievance with Mr. Gates.
When is he going to develop a stable operating system? Am I going to be reimbursed for wasting my money?
It is time for the feats of strength!
Festivus for the rest of us!!!
kiakjones on September 6, 2008 at 7:37 PM
Gates’ butt swish in the middle of the road on underwear–the straw that broke the ad’s back.
maverick muse on September 6, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Well they got Bill Gates for free,
Tony Soprano on September 6, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Bill should ask for a Playboy Playmate if he wants audience attention.
Didn’t the EU just outlaw sexist ads?
maverick muse on September 6, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Obviously, Larry David wasn’t involved.
flyoverland on September 6, 2008 at 7:49 PM
The no such thing as the Mafia launders money like Microsoft.
So Gates is a godfather & Seinfeld’s connected?
/sarc
maverick muse on September 6, 2008 at 7:54 PM
My thoughts exactly.
regal on September 6, 2008 at 7:56 PM
It is definitely weird, but it is hard to criticize the new campaign based on one ad. People are talking about it, and by the time they roll out the whole series, we’ll see what they’re trying to do.
BillLalor on September 6, 2008 at 8:04 PM
The specs has a lot to do with it. If you had a $400 HP Wal-Mart special and you upgrade to a $1500 iMac, of course you’ll see a difference. Faster processor, more RAM, overall better specs = faster performance. But the fact of the matter is, OSX doesn’t crash any less often than Windows if run on machines with similar specs.
malan89 on September 6, 2008 at 8:05 PM
But he wasn’t around for a good chunk of Seinfeld’s run either. Yet it still didn’t stink like this pile of crap called a commercial does.
A big part of teh suckness is the fact that MS was so sleazy about telling people whether or not their barebones machine could handle Vista. You have to admit, it sucks a ton of resources. If you have the resources to handle it, I’m sure it’s not bad. But in my experience with it, I wasn’t impressed enough to say “I’m going to drop $300 to upgrade to this”, something that should have been considered before MS figured they go half-assed when releasing a new OS. It seemed like the upgrade focused mostly on aesthetic features as opposed to functionality. Throw in the fact that there are issues that even the biggest of Vista fans can’t deny (see Compatibility With a Ton of Device Drivers) and I made the decision to sit and wait. Maybe SP2 will change my mind. I might even just wait on Windows 7 (I’ve heard in some places that this may just be Vista SP2 with a new name, nobody’s really sure). I’m not positive about what I’ll do at this point…and I think it’s a compliment to XP that I’m not rushing to switch to a new OS.
P.S. It’s painful to have to be on the same side of a debate as the evil, disgusting creature known as Macintoshus Fanboyus.
malan89 on September 6, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Uhmmmm… Not to be crude. But…
WTF?!??!
LibertarianConservative on September 6, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Would be funnier if Gates and Seinfeld were speedwalking and suddenly Mr. T appears… well, you know the drill.
whitetop on September 6, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Let me help you out there. I’m computer literate, and I say, “Vista sux.”
It’s a pretty widely held opinion. In fact, it’s kind of arrogant to presume that everyone who doesn’t like Vista is just computer illiterate.
Vista changed too much too fast. Some of it was good, some bad. The overall evaluation of a lot of people boils down to, “Vista sux.”
Of course, if you’re using a fast enough computer with software designed for Vista or updated for Vista, then yes, you can have a positive Vista experience. Doesn’t change the fact that many others have a sucky experience, and businesses are avoiding Vista like the proverbial plague.
Overall, the Vista upgrade has been about as successful as the Windows Me upgrade. Maybe less.
theregoestheneighborhood on September 6, 2008 at 8:43 PM
I don’t get it. I think the best part was the picture of Bill, at like, 17. Other than that, was there a point?
Geronimo on September 6, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Just … stupid.
I’m in the target audience for Microsoft – I’m in the market for a computer, I have a ginormous budget for it, and yet this commercial tells me, well, *nothing*.
In what way, in what *universe* does this equate to selling MS product?
Mew
acat on September 6, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Nah. Just a web site where everyone has an opinion.
Mac users almost always think Macs are better. Which might be why they buy Macs.
Of course, that’s just because they’ve never used Linux…
theregoestheneighborhood on September 6, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 Next »