(I don't know if this should be Music, TV, Random or Banished. It is rather silly.)
These ads have been airing on USA, and they're killing me. I mean, they seem like bad ideas all around.
First there are the dramatic lip-licking close ups of different breeds. That's just a little disturbing for me. Then there's the little dog with huge querulous eyes, his whole body visually shaking onscreen, like the very act of being in front of the camera is basically terrifying. (Look, he's frightened out of his wits! Yaaaay!) Then there's a long-haired dog with his ears and hair flying in a stiff breeze obviously made by a wind machine -- like he/she is the Sports Illustrated swimsuit supermodel of dogs. I don't need to see that.
But then... then there's Europe's "The Final Countdown" blaring over the whole ad. Great. That immediately puts that song in my head for the next three hours. But, of course, for as long as I'm watching the ad, I imagine seeing GOB Bluth hosting the dog show and saying things like, "Anyone can make an Irish Setter disappear.... But how about a WHOLE DOG SHOW?!?!" Then, naturally, he blows up the arena.
Has this song been warped into a GOB-Bluth related vision for everyone else who watches Arrested Development? I mean, I used to think the song just plain sucked, which it still does. But now it might as well feature someone dancing with knives in their teeth.
Just remember -- we're not the demographic. Dog fanciers will love it, we think it's a turd in a punchbowl.
From a creative standpoint, I think it works; I would think it's relatively cheap, since you only need a dog handler and maybe a wind machine. Otherwise, it's ASCAP/BMI rights along with b-roll from last year's event.
I still wouldn't watch the show at all unless it involved Triumph; I've seen the promo and I think it's fine. OTOH, it did stir a reaction in you, which maybe is what a promo is intended to do, negatively or positively.
I only bother watching the terrier group. The rest of the show makes for good background television, but it's almost always the same dogs that make it to the finals; gets boring quick. Also, I'd have to say the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet on super bowl day got about as interesting as the Christmas Yule Log.