Firstly, Dear Reader, I apologize for planting that earworm on you. I'm so full of hate for this series of spots, though; I simply WILL NOT BE SILENCED.
FreeCreditReport.com, first of all, performs a dubious service: getting your credit report. You can do that at all three of the major credit reporting agencies, for free, once a year. A good tip I got from my Mom, of all people, is to request one report every four months from one of the three; that way you're getting your free report three times a year instead of once, the easier to keep track of that sort of thing. If you care, or DARE, of course. I don't. Dare, that is.
The point is, FreeCreditReport.com is a scam to get you to pay for “credit monitoring,” or whatever. So first of all, screw you, FreeCreditReport.com!
But on to the real hate: The Spots.
I hate every single one of them, and if you will, I would like to enumerate the ways:
PIRATE SPOT:
The spot that started it all, y’all.
HATE! First of all, how does having your identity stolen preclude you from landing a job? It seems to me, in this day and age, if you're in the market for the kind of job that actually requires a credit check, your future employers would most likely know how to read one, and therefore be able to detect a stolen identity. Hate.
Secondly: Does anyone believe these chumps would be up for a job of that variety anyway? I thought not. I never had my credit checked when I worked at the mall. The bass player is sort of cute- naturally I think so, because I only go for losers- but the Main Guy? What a choad. I wouldn't hire him and his smirky ass if he were the last dish washer on earth. I sure as hell wouldn't put him in the front of the house.
Good things about this spot: The song's timing isn't completely messed up, as some of the others are. Also, I like the little old lady and the way she holds her hands. Reminds me of my Mom's people in Virginia. Overall, I didn't start out wanting to shoot myself in the head every time this one came on; that would change.
Next up: DREAM GIRL
The spot that filled me to the rim with grim.
This spot caused a flurry of hate in a networking group to which I belong: IS HE SAYING HE WOULDN’T MARRY HER IF HE KNEW SHE HAD BAD CREDIT??????? Yeah, he is. Again, I ask you, Dear Reader: Does this look like a guy you'd allow to buy a home - especially traveling with this loser posse? Cute bass player or no, Main Guy’s got some mucho huevos complaining about his wife’s credit. Besides, credit defaults are expunged from your record after seven years. So if it's really an "old credit card,” all he needs to do is sit down and shut the fuck up for a year or two. "Happy bachelor with a dog and a yard," indeed... more like "Bitch ass loser who sucks really hard." Sing along, Dear Reader! I have a feeling she should have checked HIS credit. At the very least, to see if he could afford a divorce (or preferably, an annulment). Haaaaaaaate.
Good things about this spot: She looks like she could kick all their asses, and is going to in about five seconds. Also, they have a washer and dryer right off the living room! That's so convenient. I'm jealous.
Next up: NEW CAR
The spot that filled me so full of hate I just can't contemplate.
I will admit, Dear Reader, that up until just now I thought the lyric was
Now instead of looking fly
I'M rolling phat
Which of course is WRONG WRONG WRONG, and makes me think the client must be completely insane, out of touch, and one of those people who INSISTS on language of Kids These Days. PHAT IS GOOD, idiots. It means good. GOOD.
Either that, or Main Guy is worried about his obvious weight gain since the Pirate Spot.
On review of the posted lyrics, however, I see it's actually (or so the lyrics submitted by the band claim)
Now instead of looking fly
AND rolling phat
Which makes more sense. It still pisses me off, though. Especially since I now discover that not only is there a HUGE following for these nuggets on YouTube, including all kinds of posts with helpful lyrics, the pointing out of Pirate Hats, and a CONTEST FOR BANDS TO COVER ONE OF THE SPOTS with pretty big cash prizes (actually, the winner, a ska band, is pretty good, and should be hired IMMEDIATELY), but these PHATholes actually have their own website.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE.
And of course, the obvious question: If you had the choice of keeping your current car or driving off the lot with the POS in the spot, WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THE POS??? Especially since you could probably clear the whole thing up and then come back and get the car you want. Oh wait, I forgot: Main Guy is a looser and probably couldn't do any better with a 750.
Good things about this spot: The girls who mock them on the street totally ROCK. I love Mean Girls, and these girls are WORKING IT. So Awesome.
And the Drummer has a keytar. Sweet. He's turning out to be kinda cute too - fuck, there I go again.
Next up: BICYCLE
When I started avoiding these spots like Plague in The Hague. (Shut up. It rhymes. Also, I'm sure an outbreak of Black Death in The Hague, international center for Criminal Courts, Tribunals, and a stopovers on the way to Amsterdam, would be BAD. Didn't you see Blood Diamond?)
I don't actually know this one by heart, thanks to Pete, my TIVO, and his amazing FF skilzz. While I tend to watch commercials over and over, love or hate, this is where FreeCreditReport.com and I broke up.
Obvious question: Bike shops check your credit? What the hell kind of bike are you trying to buy, Main Guy? You're seriously trying to finance a BIKE? Unless you're Lance Armstrong, you don't need a bike that requires financing. And you are OBVIOUSLY no Lance Armstrong, sir. You can't handle that much bike.
Also, note to Cute Drummer: Get a haircut; you were much hotter with it short. DAMMIT!!!!
Good things about this spot: I don't know it by heart, so it rarely haunts me in my dreams. Also, the little old lady is back as a street crossing guard, and has a MAJOR hate on for Head Loser. I think she suspects he's selling himself a little large as well. Either that, or she's mad at herself for stopping traffic instead of ushering through a rogue SUV to put us out of our misery.
Next up: ROCK STAR
Wait for the hate.
I will begrudgingly admit that this spot has a good beat and you can dance to it. But that's IT.
How are you flummoxed in your pursuit of RockStardom (more like RapStardom, but let's leave that for a second) if someone else opens a credit card with your ID? Does it mean you can't afford payola? I'm pretty sure RICO violators everywhere prefer cash.
Maybe he needs to throw big gangsta parties to be a rock star - you know, kind of like a Rappin' Castin' Couch - and needs to put them on his Black Amex? Damn! I bet Vincent Chase stole his ID - that would explain why he had to move back in with his mom last year.
Also: Cater Waiters are usually hot, or at least don’t show up looking like they’re gonna eat everything before it goes out; I’m just saying, Jabba. Go home and iron your damn shirt.
Good things about this spot: Hm. Well, it has a good beat and you can dance to it, as previously mentioned. And. Well, the drummer looks like a Geico Caveman, and I LOVE those spots.
Next up: RENFAIRE
It’s faire to say this spot is a hate buffet. Make way!
I will admit to watching Merlin, Dear Reader. Admitting that, however, doesn’t even come near to admitting I’ve been to a Renaissance Faire (I have NOT) – which I guess is the point, I mean, I get it, they’re reduced to playing the RenFaire. Fine. I have a feeling, though, that some of the more in-character folks at the Faire would immediately kick these guys’ asses for breaking character, and that’s something I’d PAY to see. I wouldn’t pay it to FreeCreditReport.com, though, you may be assured.
Here we have a big problem with the lyrics: There is a line that’s too long, doesn’t fit, and is STUPID.
Thought I'd move to a place where my credit could stink and nobody would care
I just wish that somebody had told me that place was a Renaissance Fair!
Replace “somebody” with “someone,” and you don’t have to stumble over the line. Or dump the “just.” Or have someone who actually writes lyrics (unlike me) JUST MAKE IT WORK.
This is the BEST take they have? Someone should have noticed it’s WRONG WRONG WRONG. Insane client or inept direction? You be the judge.
I get that there are running jokes in this series – none of which are funny, so much – but the little old lady doesn’t get the job done here. I’d much prefer the guys from ROCKSTAR did a drive-by. Two birds, one stone… kill the Guys, close the RenFaire. I LIKE, Dear Reader. LIIIIIIIIIKE.
Good things about this spot: Chicken’s eye view of another chicken. I like chickens. Also, there are goats. They make me laugh. Not so much that I don’t want to kill, kill, KILL, but they’re good just the same. Goats eat all kinds of wacky stuff, so maybe he’ll eat their instruments – and their STILL BEATING HEARTS. LIKE!
Next up: ROLLERCOASTER
Just when you thought it was safe to watch TV again, here comes a new spot in the ad campaign.
GET. A. HAIRCUT. FATBOY.
This spot is hot off the presses – and when I say hot I mean VOMMIT – as The Guys point out in the song. It does indeed make me want to hurl. And not just because I have recurring nightmares about having to get to your gate at the airport via rollercoaster, due to a childhood trauma too long to go into here.
This ditty again features awkward phrasing that could be fixed so very simply.
Buckle up everybody cause were taking a ride
It can strain your relationships and hurt your pride
Actually, this works on the page, but not so much in the spot. And again, this is the best take you got, commercial? Did they kick you out of the ADR stage early? Maybe the credit card they booked the session with got stolen or something.
And my favorite:
Then bring em right back to where your laptops at.
Log on to freecreditreport.com, stat
No. No. No. Wrong. That’s about (counting on fingers) 800 syllables too many, there. Also, there are so many things that rhyme with “at:” “(beat me to death with a) baseball bat,” “(please banish me to) South Platte,” or… wait for it… PIRATE HAT. Come on, commercial, seriously? Were you too tired to write a decent song because you were up late reviewing your credit report? Those things are really LONG, you know. It could keep you up at night, much like my hatred of these spots.
Good things about this spot: Drummer got a haircut and is looking somewhat fine. Argh!!! Good t-shirt as well. Also, the idea that these doofs had to ride a rollercoaster more than once through (I seriously have those nightmares – and I seriously HATE rollercoasters) makes me happy. Of course, maybe they didn’t, since the repo guys maybe came for the cameras before the shoot was over, as evidenced by the lack of good takes. Of course, that would make me happy too.
In Conclusion: Electromagnetic intrusion.
That’s right, Dear Reader. This campaign intrudes on me electromagnetically, and I think you know what I mean.
I mean through the TV. And also the air, when and if I go outside. AND IN MY NIGHTMARES. (Seriously, that airport/rollercoaster dream is real. Magnetically real.)
And now I hate even more, Dear Reader. Why? In researching this piece for you, my beloved audience, I was shocked to find how many people LOVE THESE SPOTS. There are fansites. YouTube love letters. FANS ON FACEBOOK.
Lord.
Please please please, networks, don’t give these guys their own show like you did for the Cavemen. Then there really will be a driveby – if I can mange to charge any weaponry on my Visa, that is.
f-r-e-e, that spells free,
but not to any tolerable degree
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