Filed under: bad advertising overkill and a potential “career” bites the dust.
Remember those incredibly annoying “Dude, you’re getting a Dell!” commercials? That was one of those CLASSIC bad ideas by a company marketing team. It was so bad, in fact, that it left the actor who played the dufus character we all wanted to smack in the head waiting tables and selling admission to his kegger.
Times must be tough for former Dell guy Ben Curtis. The commercial actor/Tortilla Flats waiter, who was arrested in February 2003 for allegedly buying marijuana (the charges were later dropped), sent out a text-message invite for a party at his apartment this past weekend charging $5 “all u can drink!” Dude, you’re getting desperate.
You have to be REALLY careful about your catchphrases. How many possible anti-Dell uses are there for the “dude” phrase? Tons. I typed in “dude, you’re” on Google and here were a few of the examples:
Dell’s Software License Policy: Dude, you’re getting screwed.
Dude, you’re getting a cell! (referring to Curtis’ arrest for maijuana posession).
Dude, you’re recycling a dell
Dude, you’re getting a skin graft
Dude You’re Getting Wasted
Dude, You’re Getting A Safety Hazard
Dude, You’re Getting a Recall
They go on and on. In a way, this was a brilliant ad because so many people remember it and that is often the most important thing when it comes to a catchphrase. The problem is the combination of how memorable it is and how annoying it was is a very bad thing…particularly for Curtis. Sorry, dude.
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If they would have just left it with the first commercial it would have been fine. It was cute. But no, like most companies (including unfortunately Apple and their silhouette dancers) they find a concept that is popular and then beat it to death.
Curtis should have consulted with Jared.