Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends
What's the deal with Seinfeld doing ads for Microsoft?
Microsoft has set aside $300 million for an ad campaign featuring once-funny comedian Jerry Seinfeld in a series of advertisements targeting Apple. [Insert "master of his domain" joke here. -Ed.]
According to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft will pay Seinfeld $10 million to appear in a series of ads for its "Windows, Not Walls" campaign that will feature Seinfeld and Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman. According to AdWeek, other highly-relevant comics like Chris Rock and Will Ferrell may also appear in the ads.
Wired notes that Microsoft's "choice of Seinfeld was an effort to avoid pandering to the kids with 'a celebrity that was too hip.'" Mission accomplished.
It's unclear why the titan even has to advertise; its highly successful Windows Vista and Zune media player products have dominated the landscape for ... I'm sorry. I just can't type anymore. I'm laughing too hard.
The campaign is due to launch September 4, and will be produced by MDC Partners' Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The agency is responsible for such memorable hits as Burger King's "Subservient Chicken" and Miller Lite's "Man Laws," the latter with Burt Reynolds. Will his star ever stop rising?
[via Macworld]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Christina Warren said 12:12PM on 8-21-2008
Get OUT! He was THE Mac guy! So sad that a guy that lived through the dark ages of Macdom and still proudly displayed the newest model on his desk would do spots for Vista.
But you KNOW his kids have iMacs in their rooms at home.
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Jonathan Wise said 1:53PM on 8-21-2008
Ya, I always look for the Mac on his desk to identify what season of the show I'm watching. He had a Duo Dock, and even a TAM for awhile... I guess M$ is paying him a lot...
Simon Arch said 1:58AM on 8-22-2008
Hey, business is business. If Microsoft offered me a million bucks to say how great Vista is, I'd do it, happily.
A million dollars would buy me a lot of Macs. :)
Paul said 12:14PM on 8-21-2008
The text should read, "its highly successful Windows Vista" — no apostrophe. In that context, "its" is a possessive pronoun, and has no apostrophe.
The only time to use "it's" with an apostrophe is when it's short for "it is." So right now, your article means:
"It is unclear why the titan even has to advertise; it is highly successful Windows Vista and Zune media player products have dominated the landscape…."
First "it's" correct; second "it's" wrong.
This is very basic grammar. Please be a good model for the masses and do your copy editing!
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Robert Palmer said 12:24PM on 8-21-2008
Thank you, yes, I'm aware of the difference. I've fixed the typo.
Jam said 12:26PM on 8-21-2008
You need help.
Bassir said 12:28PM on 8-21-2008
I wish everyone typed in proper grammar and spelling in AIM chats, too. I do it, and all I get are messy acronyms.
CaptSaltyJack said 12:40PM on 8-21-2008
@Bassir: lol wtf r u tlkng bout??!? omgwtf!!!11
TD said 12:42PM on 8-21-2008
@Bassir
I believe it is AOL Instant Messenger.
Paul said 2:36PM on 8-21-2008
Bassir: I wish that too, but in IM mistakes are totally forgivable. This is a more polished piece, so I'd say the standards are higher.
Ryan said 1:02PM on 8-21-2008
... when I was in school, they said "it's" is posessive, and "its" is it is. o_o The people that make the books really need to get together...
SM said 1:05PM on 8-21-2008
@TD
I believe it's America Online Instant Messenger.
TD said 1:20PM on 8-21-2008
@SM
Damn, how could I have made such a mistake :(
puhsitch said 2:50PM on 8-21-2008
Paul, you connected two fragments with a semicolon; that is rather poor form! Remember that when you use a semicolon, you must make sure that the two parts can function on their own as independent sentences.
Here is how it should be:
First "it's" is correct; second "it's" is wrong.
Hope this helps!
### said 4:16PM on 8-21-2008
Why Are You Such A Dick Like I Do Understand In A Way That This Is "Constructive" Criticism But Its Only A Very Simple Mistake Next You Write The 200 Word Post
Cory said 12:16PM on 8-21-2008
Didn't he always have a Mac in his apartment on the show?
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Roy said 12:16PM on 8-21-2008
What's funny about this is that in all the episodes of Seinfeld, Jerry always has a mac on his computer desk. He even had one of those freakishly expensive 20th anniversary macs.
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superberg said 12:17PM on 8-21-2008
... I thought Jerry was a Mac guy. Isn't there a Mac featured prominently in his apartment during the entire run of Seinfeld?
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Kris said 12:22PM on 8-21-2008
did he burn through all that money he got for the show already? sad.
oh well. never liked they show either.
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Wardy said 12:27PM on 8-21-2008
A few thoughts 1) Jerry was a Mac guy. 2) Microsoft has yet again proven it is in a time warp getting a star that was popular 10 years ago, instead of getting a more recent star, or better yet creating a star, like Apple did.
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