h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have long been an advocate of these (and the new Guinness Extra Cold ads, which make me chortle), but I think I've just seen the best yet.

The ad for BBC Radio Shropshire is a brill mickey-take of the classic Honda car big-machine adverts. Same music (name that tune, anyone?), with lots of football gear instead of car parts. Tag line: "Don't you just love it when your team win?"

Is this showing across the country, or is it just the work of some genius bods at Shropshire?

B

I haven't seen anything like it on the BBC, but it still sounds cool

'Tis very classy. I like a good ad spoof, me. I suppose that's why the Guinness ones are so good.

B

I think it must be common to all the BBC Nations and Regions services - there's one like it in London.

By the way, did you know that Honda pinched the idea for the advert lock, stock and barrel from a couple of artists who spent months filming their thing and took over 4000 goes to do it in one take, I think it was some time in the late 80s or the early 90s. I saw the video on show in the shop of the Modern Art museum in Amsterdam in February 2003, and was stunned by it at the time. I'd like to know if they received any money from Honda - which somehow I doubt.

Well, in fairness, the artists nicked it from Heath Robinson.

B

The music is

Sugarhill Gang - Rappers Delight

Dan.

On second thoughts you could have 'Good Times' by Chic

Dan.

Have seen it, but don't think it had anything to do with Shropshire

The guiness ads are great but don't work at all if you didn't catch them first time round. I was giggling away and the fiance looked at me like I'd lost my mind...

The one for florette salad cracks me up too, not sure how to describe it though.

Yes I've seen the Florette salad advert; somehow it doesn't quite speak to me of lettuce

It's a funny advert, but I agree it doesn't work for lettuce/leaves/annoying salady stuff

Lollo...rosso, lollo rosso

B

Saw the football one for the first time last night- you're right, it is a great piece.

I agree it doesn't immediately scream 'salad' at you but it does stick in the mind (frisee, frisee!) which is surely the point of any advertising.

Yes that's true, but what they really want to achieve is recall of the advert plus positive associations about the product. Now this advert wins on the recall, but for me leaves (no pun intended) a message that they're taking the piss.

Net result - one advertising budget pissed up the wall.