New Money

Microsoft Ditches Seinfeld Ads

By Katy Marquardt

Posted: September 18, 2008

Microsoft is halting its quirky commercials featuring conversations between Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, which met with mixed reviews. "The ads only reminded us how out of touch with consumers Microsoft is—and that Bill Gates's company has millions of dollars to waste on hiring a has-been funnyman to keep him company," says blogger Valleywag. Ouch.

Waggener Edstrom, Microsoft's PR firm, told Valleywag that the company is not going on with Seinfeld but that there is still the potential to do other things with the comedian. The next round of the computer giant's $300 million ad campaign features a play off Apple's attack ads that portray a boring PC character. (This time, the PC guy reportedly will say "Hello, I'm a PC, and I've been made into a stereotype.") The new commercials will also feature celebrities, including Eva Longoria and Pharrell Williams, Bloomberg reports.

Microsoft Seinfleld ads

These commercials only proved the point that Apple is making with there commercials. Microsoft uses a commedian that has never been funny and puts him with a cardboard cut out of a person. Why not get Al Gore and Al Frankein?

Richard of TX @ Sep 19, 2008 08:07:37 AM

That's great news! Saw an ad last night and I was in shock as to how ridiculous it was...and I'm a huge Microsoft supporter.

Enid of IL @ Sep 18, 2008 14:17:30 PM

Microsoft Seinfeld ads

Thank heaven! Through no fault of Seinfeld's, unless he wrote them, those ads were the stupidest & most pointless since the Infiniti was introduced by showing only rocks & trees! And what's up with the flexible shoes, anyway??

Jude from Flushing of NY @ Sep 18, 2008 12:02:20 PM

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New Money

Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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