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Jerry Seinfeld + Bill Gates = ‘Churro?’
Techies (and perhaps a few Microsoft employees) are scratching their heads this morning over a new Microsoft commercial featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld.
Set in a shoe store, the ad features Gates trying on “Conquistadors” while a joke-bomb-lobbing Seinfeld offers friendly advice.
It sure feels like one of Seinfeld’s American Express ads until the very end when Seinfeld asks about computers that can be eaten like cake (huh?) and we learn that it’s actually an ad for Microsoft.
There are a few reasons why this ad may be fuel for the fire of Microsoft hate that many have. For one thing, it’s not exactly clear what the message is of the ad and it cost, ($10 million as part of a reportedly $300 million campaign) (according to Michael Arrington’s TechCrunch site). TechCrunch also posted an e-mail to Microsoft employees about the ad.
I think the ad is cute, but I have no idea what it’s trying to say about Microsoft. I thought Bill Gates had left his post at the company, staying on in a much-reduced role. Sure, he’s still the most recognized face at the company, but why feature him in the commercial if you’re trying to reassure people about the future of the company?
I expect the ad will be posted all over the Web this weekend, ripped apart by techie know-it-alls and Microsoft bashers. I’m a little torn because as much of a misfire as I think the commercial might be, I couldn’t help but smile at Seinfeld’s familiar-yet-new greeting, “Churro?”
What do you think? Judge for yourself:
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By LK
September 5, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Who doesn't love a good Churro?