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New "Real Men of Genius" Ad


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The parts to be sung by that greasy guy (wasn't he in Winger???) are in quotes....

BUD LIGHT PRESENTS, REAL MEN OF GENIUS

"Reeeeal men of geeeeeniuuuus!"

Today we salute YOU, Mr. Really Mad Internet Sports Fan

"Mr. Really Mad Internet Spo-orts Fan!"

Only YOU can fully appreciate the mind-blowing tragedy of a bunch of 18-22 year old athletes you'll never meet, losing a game.

"Don't you TAAAAALK to me about perspective!!"

While others are too preoccupied with things like real life, you take your anger directly to the place where it will make the absolute least possible impact: An Internet discussion forum.

"Loggin' on now!"

Your unique eye for logic allows you to sling turds of doom every which way, and then brag about how you were RIGHT as soon as one of the pieces sticks to the wall – regardless of how many dozens fell limply to the floor before that.

"See I told you sooooooo!!"

And if some idiot newspaper columnist has the gall to not be as incensed as you are, you unleash your fury down upon him with all the tenacity and mercilessness of a rabid pit bull with a tender buttock locked in its jaws.

"Total anonymity!"

So keep clicking away, oh Marauder of the Mousepad. Because when the results you so desire finally come about years from now, you can say it was because YOU demanded it."

"How come they haven't fired that ----- coach yet?"

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P-D, 11/12/03

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

© 2003 St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Thomas Lee

Of The Post-Dispatch

REAL ADS OF GENIUS

* Anheuser-Busch is making TV ads based on its popular "Real Men of Genius" radio commercials. If they take off, they could be the next big television advertising campaign for the brewer.

Radio commercials are hardly the stuff of pop-culture buzz these days, not with television and the Internet blasting away at consumers.

So it comes as a bit of a surprise that one of Anheuser-Busch Cos.' longest-running -- and most honored -- ad campaigns never made it to the small screen. Until now.

The St. Louis-based brewer recently opened the first of what will be several TV versions of its "Real Men of Genius" radio commercials for Bud Light. A-B executives say they hope to translate the series' extraordinary popularity on the radio into the company's next big TV campaign, just in time for sports-heavy fall and winter schedules.

Since its debut four years ago, "Real Men of Genius" has earned plenty of laughs and nearly every major advertising award.

The 30-second spots feature an over-the-top, 1980s-style rock ballad sung by David Bickler, the former lead singer of "Survivor." Bickler's rendition of "Eye of the Tiger" was the anthem of the popular movie "Rocky III."

The campaign originally was called "Real American Heroes," but the name was changed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The spots spoof old-fashioned beer commercials that saluted the hard-working little guy, said John Immesoete, group creative director of DDB Chicago, which created the campaign.

"Real Men of Genius" singles out "people who make our lives better" in the most subtle ways, Immesoete said. They include Mr. Bowling Shoe Giver Outer, Mr. Giant Foam Finger Inventor, Mr. Losing Locker Room Reporter, Mr. All You Can Eat Buffet Inventor and Mr. Restroom Toilet Paper Refiller.

What makes the spots so appealing is smart writing that "finds sort of a unique individual observation that sits in the back of your head but you don't necessarily think about," said Marc Kempter, managing director of Core, an advertising agency in St. Louis that has done work for rival Miller Brewing Co.

In the Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer spot, a voice asks: "What do you do with a master's degree in art history? You get a nose ring and pour coffee for a living," and "Why is it called a latte? Maybe because it costs a latte and it takes a latte time to make."

Immesoete said he and his group of writers often find inspiration in real life. For instance, he noticed dieters in the cafeteria of his building put "tons of guacamole" on their taco salads. The result: Mr. Giant Taco Salad Inventor.

"You may ask if this is healthy," the commercial says. "Of course it is. It's a salad, isn't it?"

Recent spots have taken a "What were you thinking?" tone, Immesoete said, such as Mr. Really Bad Toupee Wearer and Mr. Tiny Thong Bikini Wearer.

As for the music, DDB Chicago approached Sandy Torano, a musician and producer, to write a "cheesy '80s song." Torano immediately thought of Bickler.

"David Bickler is a friend of mine," said Torano, who owns Scandal Music in Chicago. "I told them, 'If you are going do an '80s parody, why don't you get the real thing?'"

Bickler, he said, was a good sport.

"Real Men of Genius" has spawned a mini-following of sorts. Recordings of the music are offered for sale on eBay. Several fans have designed Web sites.

The campaign has flourished partly because it stands out against other radio commercials, which tend to be loud and in-your-face, said Bob Lachky, A-B's vice president of brand management.

"Radio is the most misused medium in advertising," he said. Radio ads "are typically not done well."

And that's a shame, Lachky said, because radio allows listeners "to have a theater of the mind. There is a lot you could do with pacing, timing and sound effects. You're asking the consumer to be involved."

Which makes turning "Real Men of Genius" into TV spots even more risky, said Kempter, at Core. The spots work on radio because people use their imaginations, he said.

So far, A-B has made Mr. Footlong Hot Dog Vendor and Mr. Really Bad Toupee Wearer into TV spots.

However, Kempter said, for the toupee commercial, "there was nothing that visuals brought to the table."

Immesoete disagrees. He acknowledges that some "Real Men of Genius" bits are better radio commercials, but he said television offers fresh possibilities. For instance, the toupee commercial showed the reactions of attractive women to a bad toupee, Immesoete said.

A-B has high hopes for "Real Men of Genius." The brewery might use some of the commercials for its Super Bowl lineup, Immesoete said. "TV gives it a whole new life."

===

Some of the Real Men of Genius:

Mr. All You Can Eat Buffet Inventor

Mr. Athletic Groin Protector Inventor

Mr. Boombox Carrying Roller Skater

Mr. Beach Metal Detector Guy

Mr. Camouflage Suit Maker

Mr. Centerfold Retoucher

Mr. Company Computer Guy

Mr. Edible Underwear Inventor

Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer

Mr. Giant Pink Inflatable Gorilla Maker

Mr. Giant Taco Salad Inventor

Mr. Handlebar Mustache Wearer

Mr. Hollywood Plastic Surgeon

Mr. Horse Drawn Carriage Driver

Mr. Next Day Carpet Installer

Mr. Nudist Colony Activity Coordinator

Mr. Parade Float Driver

Mr. Restroom Toilet Paper Refiller

Mr. Silent Killer Gas Passer

Mr. Souvenir Snow Globe Maker

Mr. Sports Fan Face Painter

Mr. Supermarket Free Sample Guy

Mr. Tiny Thong Bikini Wearer

Mr. Wedding Band Guitar Player

===

Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer

Sample script

Announcer: Bud Light presents Real Men of Genius

Singer: Real Men of Genius.

Announcer: Today we salute you, Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer.

Singer: Mr. Fancy Coffee Shop Coffee Pourer.

Announcer: What do you do with a master's degree in art history? You get a nose ring and pour coffee for a living.

Singer: Pour it on now!

Announcer: Why is it called a latte? Maybe because it costs a latte and takes a latte time to make.

Singer: A whole lotta' latte!

Announcer: Someone ordered a cappuccino? Step aside! Let the man who works the milk foamer take over.

Singer: Step aside!

Announcer: Sure, you charge five bucks for a cup of coffee. It's putting that tip jar out that takes real guts.

Singer: Yeah!

Announcer: So crack open an ice-cold Bud Light, guru of the ground roast. It's not the caffeine that gives us the buzz. It's you.

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