The DirecTV 'What/Why/When & How' spot features a quirky John Cleese as its leading man in a quick-paced short.
Though there is supposedely no such thing as a stupid question, the spot shows there is in fact such a thing as too many questions. Cleese is seen incessantly asking 'Who, What Where When Why and How' throughout the commercial -- all in a ridiculously penetrating tone and set against totally random backdrops.
Creativity is key when it comes to a commercial's execution. With the viral potential of videos nowadays, a really great one could make a world of difference. After the release of Old Spice's 'The Man Your Man Could Smell like,' many companies found themselves scrambling to create a character and persona that would evoke a similar reaction.
This DIRECT TV ad is an example of such an ad that hopes to gain wide audience attention.
Quirky Questioning Ads
The DirecTV 'What, Why, When, How' Spot is Side-Splitting
Trend Themes
1. Quirky Questioning Ads - Ads that incorporate unique and odd questioning can go viral and gather greater audience attention.
2. Viral Ads as Business Strategy - Companies are recognizing the power of creating viral videos and are leveraging creativity in their advertising strategies to boost brand recognition.
3. Personalized and Memorable Ads - Customizing ads with unique characters or personalities can make them more memorable to audiences and generate greater brand engagement.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - The advertising industry can incorporate uniquely-questioning ads as well as more personalized characters into their campaigns.
2. Entertainment - The entertainment industry can use quirky questioning to create memorable and engaging trailers for films, TV shows, and web series.
3. Consumer Electronics - The consumer electronics industry can experiment with different ad concepts, like DIRECTV's 'What/Why/When & How,' to create more memorable and effective commercials.