[hammock]

I work in marketing. Every brand I know complains that there is no humor anymore. And that they can’t be funny, and have to walk on eggshells with watered down messaging, because there are so many different groups that are easily offended.

[hightrix]

I don't work in marketing. My exposure to ads/commercials is generally only during live sports.

The Superbowl used to be not only the ultimate NFL event but also the "super bowl" of commercials. They used to make you laugh. We used to actually want to watch them. The last 5-ish years of Superbowls have completely flipped that. Now we mute during commercials because they are all so sterile and unfunny or faking sincerity about this year's major social topic.

Now, watching NFL, the commercials are actively grating, annoying, and the complete opposite of entertaining.

I mute these shitty commercials now. I used to love them.

Marketing departments have ruined yet another thing that used to be enjoyable.

[blastro]

WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSUPPPP????

WASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUUUPPP???

Oh yeah commercials used to be so good...

[jstarfish]

If you're still talking about it 24 years later, it did what it was supposed to.

> Heinerscheid, who became a vice president at the company in July 2022, stated that her goal was to evolve the Bud Light advertising to make it more inclusive, and to move it away from its "fratty and out-of-touch humor". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Bud_Light_boycott)

"Fratty and out-of-touch humor" stuck the landing well enough to be remembered for 24 years and counting. Budweiser's customer base being both brand-loyal and outspoken homophobes, Heinerscheid thought it would be a hip and trendy idea to associate a trans influencer with the brand. Now Budweiser is on its deathbed.

Talk about being out-of-touch...Heinerscheid must have been the former VP of advertising at Quizno's.

[LeafItAlone]

> If you're still talking about it 24 years later, it did what it was supposed to.

Grandparent comment:

> Now, watching NFL, the commercials are actively grating, annoying, and the complete opposite of entertaining.

These are not mutually exclusive. Perhaps toeing that line is a key to good marketing?

[Clamchop]

Budweiser is on its deathbed? I doubt that very much.

[hightrix]

I know your being sarcastic, but the first time that ad aired, everyone loved it.

Yes it got played out just like the Bud Wise Er frogs, or the Real Men Of Genius, but the first couple were hilarious.

[dieselgate]

The ironic thing about that one is I can't recall what the ad was for

[fullshark]

Yeah brands aren't funny (if they ever were), they are "clever" and "snarky" to the point of irritation. Sincerity is seen as unhip and unsophisticated and all the brands don't want that.

[Arrath]

I think it's the same vein of quippy, pithy, nothing-is-serious line of humor that started to infect film after the success of the Avengers and the follow on films.

[lancesells]

That seems to follow the comics. I think for the last 20 years or so Marvel comic characters are all sarcastic one-liner comedians committing ultra-violence on each other every month.