An Interesting Contest Idea...I think...

[mrbakasan]

Commercials are something you go to for riffs... NOT something you riff.

Do you get more mileage out of "Oh no, Mrs. Burke! I thought you were Dale!" or the 30 second Grapenuts commercial that spawned it?

Do you get more mileage out of "Where's the beef!?!?"  or the 30 second Wendy's commercial?

The magic is in the reference... not the actual thing being referenced.

Tarantulas, doesn't the fact that they are in the process of riffing commericals, kind of make that arguement moot.

[Tarantulas]

Commercials are something you go to for riffs... NOT something you riff.

Do you get more mileage out of "Oh no, Mrs. Burke! I thought you were Dale!" or the 30 second Grapenuts commercial that spawned it?

Do you get more mileage out of "Where's the beef!?!?"  or the 30 second Wendy's commercial?

The magic is in the reference... not the actual thing being referenced.

Tarantulas, doesn't the fact that they are in the process of riffing commericals, kind of make that arguement moot.

You can put lipstick on a chicken, but would you want to kiss it?

Who knows, if it was something along the lines of how the Playstation Underground disc was done were Mike and the gang riffed some behind the scenes footage from some Playstation commercials, I can see that being pretty worthwhile and funny.

Riffing on 30 second commercials for Crest White Strips seems like something less than funny.  So I stand by my original statement.  Commercials are a well you go to for material, not material itself.

I really think we are dealing with another issue here though.  You seem to have some need to "one up" me or try and undermine my posts at every turn.  Rest assured that you are welcome to have your own opinions and share them with the board the same was that I can.  This seems to be some sort of theme you have focused on in several threads where I have been taking a part in.  Your constant sniping is childish and counterproductive, and I would politely ask that you knock it off.

[Bob M.]

With advertisers bitching about people using their Tivo to fast forward through commercials, I doubt they would be hip on people disparaging their product even as some cross advertising thing. 

Commercials fall into two types, comedic, and dramatic.  The comedic ones riff themselves, and the dramatic ones are still only 30 seconds long.

The idea just falls flat.

Actually, since I'm in an industry and business dealing with advertising on a daily basis, the belief that "all publicity is good publicity" is more than alive and well, in part because of the phenomenon you mention with TiVo. Ad execs will do anything to get eyeballs on the screen, and that includes YouTube. With the rare exception of an agency or corporation that takes itself too seriously, I would wager that most large commercial organizations would leap at the opportunity to get more eyes on the product. That's why many agencies make absurd ads... the product is secondary to pure name recognition and marketing speed.

[mrbakasan]

I really think we are dealing with another issue here though.  You seem to have some need to "one up" me or try and undermine my posts at every turn.  Rest assured that you are welcome to have your own opinions and share them with the board the same was that I can.  This seems to be some sort of theme you have focused on in several threads where I have been taking a part in.  Your constant sniping is childish and counterproductive, and I would politely ask that you knock it off.

Tarantulas look.  As far as this thread goes, I started this thread, so when you are posting over and over again why its a bad idea, I feel the need to disagree and say why I think it could potentially work.  If you feel like I'm being snipish its because you are being repetative.  I haven't tried to "one up" varietyofcells because he presents his ideas and disagreements in a well thought out fashion.  I like many of his posts on this thread and think he makes a lot of sense.   

Your constant sniping is childish and counterproductive, and I would politely ask that you knock it off.

If you are going to claim to be polite you might want to avoid being overtly insulting in the same sentence.   I have nothing against you Tarantulas.  If you feel like I'm attacking your posts, its because I disagree with yours just as you disagree with other posts.  I certainly don't seek you out to disagree with you, that would be a absolute waste of time.  But lets not let this turn into the "Musical Skits" thread. 

[Tarantulas]

Agreed, I have nothing personal against you, and I am sure that if were to meet in person that you are a very nice guy.

Let us agree to start off on a new foot?

[mrbakasan]

Agreed, I have nothing personal against you, and I am sure that if were to meet in person that you are a very nice guy.

Let us agree to start off on a new foot?

Agreed.  And if you take my comments as insulting, I'll try to be more tactful and aware of how my posts will come across.   

[shortstack]

Well, I think some commercials are memorable enough to use for riffing material, but not all commercials. 
Some are just too crappy to be memorable.

Second of all, I like the idea of riffing retro commercials- like maybe some of the old board game commercials or Coca-Cola commercials or something. 

Or stuff like this:

I'd love to see Mike Riff on Ron Popeil or the old Juiceman infomercials, but I'm sure the companies involved wouldn't appreciate it. 

~Meg

[Tarantulas]

That "commercial" on YouTube is more along the lines of the Playstation underground special they did.

I could totally get behind something like that.

It begs the question on how something that that could be marketed, and more importantly sold.

[shortstack]

Well, since it's about movie rentals, it could almost be used as a simultaneous riff, and advertisment for Rifftrax...  judging by the tape I dubbed it from, it's probably owned by Paramount. Are any of the current Rifftrax Paramount pictures? The only reason I mentioned it is because I found it so absurd, and therefore, Riffable.

Not so much a commercial of a specific product, but a promotion of the novelty of having a VCR. 

[Variety of Cells]

Then they could package it with the latest Rifftrax.  A special two for one deal.  Either you download the winning entry when you buy the track or you receive a link to it in the readme.

Or they might be nice and just post the winning entries on the sit, like they did for the Riff Off.

As for marketing, I believe it'd be similar to the Riff Off.  Posting some notices here and there on different sites.  The only problem is that it's not a very welcoming contest.  It's a great contest and I think it should be done many many more times, but if the purpose is to draw in new meat, it's not the best.  I wonder how many people it would attract. 

[torgosPizza]

You guys are all way off... think outside the box!

[Tarantulas]

A CLUE!

[torgosPizza]

A CLUE!

Nice try, Tarantulas! But you have not outwitted me this time!

Not a clue.. just a helpful instruction 

[Tarantulas]

Is it possible that this is some sort of "classic commercials" DVD full of public domain commericals that Mike riffing on them that Legend may be producing?

[Variety of Cells]

*steps outside of box, then rushes back in and slams the door."  It's freezing out there.  I think I'll wait until the answer knocks at my door.

Hmm, this means something is already in progress.  Interesting.