Random question: where is this commercial?

October 4, 2006 7:47 PM

Has anyone seen this commercial?

A client of mine has asked about this commercial for VISA that launched last week, specifically where it's running, is there similar imagery in other media (print, etc.). It won't show up in our measurement tools for at least another month or so, but she seems to have a bug up her ass about it, so any help the hivemind could give me would be appreciated.

posted by TheWhiteSkull to media & arts (37 comments total)

Nope in Vermont, USA.
posted by SirStan at 7:51 PM on October 4, 2006

Yup in Seattle, WA. Within the last week.
posted by bruceo at 7:55 PM on October 4, 2006

Thanks for the quick responses. Can you tell me specifically which networks/programs/timeslots?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:01 PM on October 4, 2006

Not in the Washington, DC area.
posted by cerebus19 at 8:03 PM on October 4, 2006

Wouldn't you know right away from your media buy where it is showing up? That's sort of what your buyers and traffic people should be monitoring -- where the airtime has been purchased, what it is being placed with? Or am I interpreting this question incorrectly?
posted by macadamiaranch at 8:08 PM on October 4, 2006

I saw that one. My exact thoughts were "what a crock of shit" My fiance was watching ER at the time. So it aired on NBC, in Wichita, KS 9:00 CST last thursday.
posted by jlowen at 8:08 PM on October 4, 2006 [1 favorite]

Yes in Rochester, NY. Don't remember the exactly when, but I *think* it was during Heroes (Monday, 9pm EDT)
posted by Lucinda at 8:09 PM on October 4, 2006

Not in Madison, Wisconsin.
posted by divka at 8:12 PM on October 4, 2006

Yes, in Seattle. Don't remember exactly when. But that ad creeps me out. I like the song, but seeing the flying papers come out of an office building and sail through the air in such quantity reminds me of all the paper that fluttered out of the World Trade Center. Maybe it's just me, but it's one jarring image.
posted by GaelFC at 8:23 PM on October 4, 2006

I know I saw it in Washington DC, maybe during The Office. I only remember it because I was wondering if it was a Beck song.
posted by amarynth at 8:26 PM on October 4, 2006

No in Pheonix.
posted by furtive at 8:27 PM on October 4, 2006

There are media schedule services that will run a quick report for you for a few bucks. Competitors use it all the time. We usually use it to estimate a client's ad spend budget.

If you have any connections in a larger agency, they'll run it for you for free.
posted by Gucky at 8:40 PM on October 4, 2006

It's not my media buy, rather a client's concern about a competitor. As far as competitive reporting services are concerned, there is still a time lag involved for decent data, and my client would rather have anecdotal and totally unrepresentative information right away.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:50 PM on October 4, 2006

But I'm not bitter.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:50 PM on October 4, 2006

Yes in Orange County, CA, but I dunno which networks.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:58 PM on October 4, 2006

that's one of the first new ads from the "Life Takes" campaign out of TBWA Chiat/Day in Marina Del Rey, California. the same agency does the ads for apple, playstation and until recently did infinity.

I didn't find the exact ad yet but here are the key people on the account. call them and ask who the media buyer is, I am sure they can tell you exactly what they bought. I'm pretty sure though it's a generic national buy, which means you're soon to see it all over the networks.

Executive Creative Director:
Rob Schwartz

Creative Director:
Jerry Gentile

Associate Creative Director:
Chuck Monn
Doug James

Agency Executive Producer:
Michelle Burke

Agency Producer:
Mila Davis

Executive Music Producer:
Michael Frick

Production Company:
Epoch Films - New York

Director:
Jeff Preiss

Director of Photography:
Peter Donahue

Executive Producer:
Jerry Solomon
posted by krautland at 8:59 PM on October 4, 2006

I haven't seen it in New Orleans, but I don't watch that much TV and probably wouldn't remember an ad like that anyways.
posted by Mr. Gunn at 9:39 PM on October 4, 2006

I saw it in Minneapolis, MN during NBC evening news.
posted by yogurtisgenocide at 9:41 PM on October 4, 2006

No, in Portland, Oregon, and I can tell you that without clicking on your link. Don't watch commercials, thank you.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 10:28 PM on October 4, 2006

croutonsupafreak writes "No, in Portland, Oregon, and I can tell you that without clicking on your link. Don't watch commercials, thank you."

Well that was really fucking helpful.


Anyone else out there want to let us know that they don't watch commercials or don't own a TV or own a TV but don't watch it or use TV to entertain the help or their children or their childrens' children but don't watch it themselves or leave it on in the room with them but exercise the willpower to ignore it and sing songs during the commercials to drown out the horrible horrible mercenary mercantile capitalist beast invading their homes over that one-eyed Farnsworthian monstrosity? Do you? 'Cause you're better than the rest of us! Take this opportunity to brag! Take it! It'll make your life worthwhile.



I haven't seen it in LA. But I don't watch TV.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:36 AM on October 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

Here's some more info about this particular ad.
posted by Guy Smiley at 12:51 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes Bloomington Indiana 3-7 days ago
posted by dragonsi55 at 4:26 AM on October 5, 2006

No in Boston.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:03 AM on October 5, 2006

No, Vermont.
posted by jessamyn at 5:20 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes in Chicago. Law & Order last Friday night.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:33 AM on October 5, 2006

No in New Jersey (we watch the NYC stations)
posted by xsquared-1 at 5:43 AM on October 5, 2006

Not in Madison, Wisconsin.

I've seen it in Madison, Wisconsin. NBC affiliate, prime time, last week sometime.
posted by thanotopsis at 6:53 AM on October 5, 2006

Thanks to all for the info- this has actually been quite helpful to me in dealing with a somewhat ridiculous request.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:35 AM on October 5, 2006

No in Cincinnati.
posted by cramer at 7:41 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes in Chapel Hill, NC. Sunday Morning, during "Sunday Morning", CBS, between 9-10:30 am.
posted by msali at 7:50 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes in Chicago. Morning of 10/5, on Good Morning America (ABC).
posted by CMichaelCook at 8:43 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes, New Orleans. Don't remember when though.
posted by pyjammy at 8:53 AM on October 5, 2006

Not in Buffalo.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:25 AM on October 5, 2006

No in Columbus, Ohio.
posted by dgeiser13 at 9:44 AM on October 5, 2006

Yes in Austin, TX on Fox7. Most likely during Simpsons & Seinfeld from 6-7pm and 10-11pm (CST). So it should be one of those timeslots.

You asked about any similar ads. Yes, Discover Card.

It's a similar look and feel but I think more creative. The ad theme is: "What if thousands of happy sunshine scissors everywhere could cut away all the crap and hype of credit cards?"

I like that ad very much.
posted by forwebsites at 12:27 PM on October 5, 2006

Yes in Milwaukee, WI. Can't tell you when or where, but it had to have been on either:
a) Discovery during an episode of MythBusters recorded this past weekend (sat or sun I can't remeber)
b) CBS during Amazing Race (Sunday)
c) CBS during How I Met Your Mother (Monday)
d) ESPN during the MNF game

Those are the only shows I've watched this week.
posted by JJtheJetPlane at 2:49 PM on October 5, 2006

Yes in eastern Iowa. Can't say when or what station, I only watch TiVo, where times and networks are meaningless (and I fast foward through commercials, but did catch at least the beginning of this one). The only show mentioned by anyone above that I watched in the last week was Heroes.
posted by redheadeb at 9:53 PM on October 5, 2006