Flight of the Conchords (TV series)

Flight of the Conchords is about a two-man band, starring Jemaine Clement and Bret Mckenzie, from New Zealand who are trying to make it to fame and fortune. The show is based off Jemaine and Bret's comedy stand up featuring their own music.




The Flight of the Conchords can be considered are generations Spinal Tap. The whole first season is based off their music and done in high fashion as not just parodies but more a represetation on the music industry itself. Half the comedy is from the song and lyrics. But the other half is how they film each one like a music video and the humor comes from how serious they try to make the song be.

After the first season they had just about run out of material but they still came back strong with an even better critique on music videos itself. Each new episode from the second season is based off an original idea of another musician's song. In episode 6, the story is about Bret and Jemaine falling for the same woman that they just met. The song is a parallel to R-Kelly and Ushers song "Same Girl".


Sadly though, Flight of the Conchords will not be returning anytime soon. Their musical commentary on the industry and strive for indie music still lives on CD and DVD

that's what friends are for.....

Extra Credit BLog: Rachel Cicardo

This TV Ad is trying to sell Bud Light beer by using movie star, Will Ferrell. This is "hard sell" because it is using one of the funniest, well-known actors to explain why we should drink Bud Light. He uses comic charm to convince us that it is the best. He even says that it would make a great Valentine's Day gift. He also says that all he drinks is one, just one is all he needs. Maybe if you drink Bud Light also, you will be as funny and witty as Will Ferrell.

The ad also has "soft sell" characteristics. Bud Light is an established name brand that is well-known with stable users. People who drink Bud Light will continue to drink it, and people who do not like it may or may not switch to Bud Light depending on how much they were really affected by the commercial. It is also "soft sell" because there is urgency in using the product. No one HAS to have the product immediately due to health or other important reasons.

This commercial does appeal to non-product related needs. It focuses more on Will Ferrell and the movie, Semi-Pro. I think the ad focuses more on promoting the film and the humor of the actor than it does the product. But it also wants the product to help the consumer to have the desire to be funny and the center of attention.

Extra Credit BLog: Leah Cicardo

This electrolux ad has many qualities that fall into both "hard sell" and "soft cell" categories. It's hard sell qualities include the colored washing machine and dryer craze. Although washer and dryers you could say are a neccasary item,but bright robin's egg blue washer and dryers are not. Also another thing the ad tells the consumer is that these appliances can cut your laundry time in half so you can focus on all the things you need to get done in the day to be as "AMAZING" as Kelly.
The "soft sell" components of this ad include the fact the appliances have repeated use. Also the fact that Electrolux brand is a name brand and established store qualifies as soft sell. The last soft sell component of the Electrolux washer and dryers is the intended buyer segment is aimed toward mature adults with residents in the United States.
The product is definitely trying to appeal to non-product needs. Kelly Ripa's image represents independence, security, coolness, hip, attractive, succesful etc. Through integrating her into the product's commercial; Electrolux is saying that you too can be as AMAZING as Kelly and juggle your personal life, home life and job life as long as you do in fact have these appliances that cut out unnecasary time spent on doing laundry.

Extra Credit BLog: Leah Cicardo

Extra Credit BLog: Leah Cicardo

Advertisement: Morrie's Wigs

There are characteristics of this ad that are hard sell. The man claims, "Morrie's wigs DON'T come off, even underwater" as he jumps into a swimming pool with a wig on. He also claims, while standing outside in "extreme" wind, that Morrie's wigs do not even come off in hurricane winds. These are hard sell methods because they are portraying the product as the best or with really amazing qualities that other wigs probably do not have.

The commercial does utilize soft sell by associating the product with "any budget". It claims the wigs are affordable for anybody.

Maybe Morrie's Wigs did not do too great of a job but I believe they attempted to appeal to an audience desiring to feel more attractive. When persuading the audience that the wigs won't fly off at the wrong time or in hurricane winds, the man has his arm around several different women. The first time it just is just woman. The second time he has a young girl in each arm! They are seemingly saying, "If you wear Morrie's wigs, you'll get all of the ladies."