AdWar: The Winner’s Name Starts with the Letter “V”

AT&T has released a new commercial for 3G starring Luke Wilson. It’s not good. (For a hilariously disparaging analysis, click here)

Here’s what they’ve got:
1. The less-famous Wilson brother
2. A bad script
3. Nothing creative
4. An embarrassing budget (did they just sneak into some under-construction warehouse?)
5. A fishbowl? Magnets?
6. A boring anti-Veri… (oh wait, we shouldn’t say the name) zinger at the end
7. A dull one-shot summary of product details

Now let’s look at Verizon’s most recent 3G commercial:

What does Verizon have?
1. ELVES!
2. Awesome set with computer generated graphics, moving parts and cool light/sound
3. A budget
4. Holiday cheer
5. Creativity
6. Calling AT&T users “naughty”
7. A fancy, moving “here are our products” spot

My only concern for Verizon is that some people (albethey sensitive) might see the commercial as a little anti-Semitic. I mean, not really… but… sort of. (As a lapsed Jew, I am satisfied to alert people to these things without actively doing anything about them). The “nice” Verizon customers have the last names Cook and Taylor, and then when Mr. Schaffer comes up, the sirens start blaring. He’s naughty. Also, Jews don’t celebrate Christmas, so not only does the commercial alienate Jews by being Christmas-themed, but the one Jewish guy who apparently does celebrate Christmas is naughty! Ouch. “Good luck browsing the web with that one…”