For the perfect balance of annoyance and repetition...(Tour thread)

[bluebug32]

...we take commercials and recycle them.

I've been holding this in for 10 stages now, but every time I hear that Saab commercial on Versus, I just want to jab my eardrum with a skewer!

:p

[BlueVet11]

I hate that commercial so much I want to recycle it....

I hate that commercial so much I want to recycle it....

I hate that commercial!

[Becky]

Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-vo....just zip right through them :D

(And yes, all of those commercials are awful!)

[SouthernBelle]

Agreed.

I also hate the Autozone one where the kid gets rid of his bike.

Do they even check their audience?

[ny biker]

I hate most of the commercials they're running. But I LOVE the one with Jonathan Vaughters describing what it's like to crash in a bike race: next time you're doing 50 mph in your car, strip down to your underwear, open the door and jump out.

[Beane]

it looks like they may have finally moved on to a new commercial. my mute button was getting a good workout!

i also thought the autozone one was a rather poor choice given the viewers..

[Zen]

i also thought the autozone one was a rather poor choice given the viewers..

It's like showing a PETA psa during the rodeo :p

[NJBikeGal]

I'm just glad they finally cut that damn "Brand new Day" spot. Geez...that was getting so ANNOYING! Yes, we get it...they doped. Let's move on!

[indysteel]

Agreed.

I also hate the Autozone one where the kid gets rid of his bike.

Do they even check their audience?

You just read my mind.

That Saab commercial is The Worst. Ever.

[ny biker]

Well, if they didn't have any commercials, Versus wouldn't be making any money so they wouldn't be broadcasting the Tour in the first place.

I'm just glad they got rid of Al Trautwig.

[Kalidurga]

No. The backwards dopers one is the worst ever. That's just insulting to anyone who's trying to maintain their love of the sport. Instead of reminding us over and over of the ugly stuff in the past, show the teams and riders who have come together to create that "Brand New Day".

I also love the JV jump-out-of-the-car-in-your-underwear commercial. Now that's good stuff. All the macho dudes out there who think cycling's for cream puffs need to watch that one ;)

[GLC1968]

I also love the "jumping out of the car at 50mph" one. I hope they are showing that one during the WEC fights! ;)

And the only thing more annoying than that SAAB commercial is how often they play it. UGH!

[7rider]

Oh, c'mon!!!

Dontcha just love all the chest thumping WEC ads???? :rolleyes::D

Yeah...it's nice that they have a few corporate sponsors to pay to put TdF on the air, but it would be nice if they could ad some variety (and quality) to their ad lineup.

Even the Trek ad is a re-hashed dog food ad. :(

[tulip]

I like the riding backwards ad.

Versus doesn't get it that cycling fans, unlike ice hockey fans, DO NOT watch for the crashes. Their Red White Black and Blue ad is just silly for cycling fans.

The mojito ad had me dancing the first day, but now it's very old.

Locally, there is at least one bike shop with ads. That's cool.

I'm using that MUTE button alot.

[jobob]

I'm just glad they got rid of Al Trautwig. Oh, ever so ditto! My husband now doesn't have to worry about me throwing things at the TV and yelling "SHUT UP, AL!" Craig Hummer is a pleasant relief. :cool:

Although, year by year, Al was sloooowly getting less irritating. Maybe I've become desensitized to his inane babble.

Nah, not likely, I'll probably be throwing things at the TV again come the Olympics. :p

[jobob]

Do you suppose the Versus announcers get a bonus each time they mention George Hincapie? :cool:

[OakLeaf]

I hate most of the commercials they're running. But I LOVE the one with Jonathan Vaughters describing what it's like to crash in a bike race: next time you're doing 50 mph in your car, strip down to your underwear, open the door and jump out.

Not original. I heard it first from Colin Edwards (although of course in a motorcyle racer's case he let you put on his leathers and the rest of his gear, but took the car up to 120 :D). Now that I've heard it a second time, I doubt it was original with Colin, either.

That Saab commercial is annoying even when I'm fast-forwarding through it and can't hear the audio :rolleyes:

[DrBee]

Do you suppose the Versus announcers get a bonus each time they mention George Hincapie? :cool:

If only the new guy would pronounce his name correctly. He seems to have a problem with Hin-cuppie and ...oh...there's another one he messes up that escapes me at the moment...

I'm glad my hubby and I aren't the only ones that want to drill our ears out when the Saab commercial comes on. Pausing for a while and then fast forwarding through the commercials helps maintain sanity.

[jesvetmed]

Now all of that I can handle, but the male enhancement commercials???? UGH! Maybe they only do those on the night time review!? But I cannot stand that ad!

[Trek420]

Even the Trek ad is a re-hashed dog food ad. :(

:D :D :D :D "we believe in dogs, dogs rule!!" too funny.

C'mon Lance, you can do better. :rolleyes:

[bmccasland]

Can't do the Mojito dance. Anyone notice the girls are wearing the same skirt design?

And the commercial where the stoopid photographer is 'neaking up on the ducks, slams her tailgate down, then bemoans the fact that she missed getting the first flight on film. or something like that. If the dang broad didn't slam the tailgate down, the birds wouldn't have flown off!! geeze. Cars make terrific duck blinds too. For some reason they ignore you, right up to the point you actually get out of the dang vehicle.

And I change channels for the Saab ad, Saab ad, Saab ad; and the wrestling commercials.

Ooops. gotta go, the Tour is on....

[boy in a kilt]

When the tour first got big, there was the Lincoln Navigator with the short yuppie woman and her goofy date. Dude does a display of mock chivalry by putting his coat down so she doesn't have to step in the water. When she unlocks the tank, the running boards come down, making him look like even more of a goof.

They showed that one for TWO DAMNNED YEARS!!!

And someone please clarify. How is Caisse d'Espargne prounounced? In last year's pronunciation, they didn't say any of the three s's. This year they don't seem to be able to make up his mind.

Al was a dork. The new guy is a little better but I could still do without him.

And for the record, most men find "male enhancement" ads terribly funny. The Enzyte theme was the unofficial theme song of my platoon in Oklahoma. I can't get into the rest of our opinions without violating the Male Terms Of Service I signed at age 14. I'd lose my license.

[Zen]

Can't do the Mojito dance. .

I'm working on mine :D

[NJBikeGal]

This just dawned on me. they stopped playing the "Brand New Start" ad right after the caught Beltran doping. Guess that tag line wasn't going to work anymore. I think I should write Beltran a thank you note. I wanted to shoot my TV every time I heard that dumb song start! ;)

Happy Rest Day everyone...back to vegging in front of the TV for hours tomorrow morning! :D

[Crankin]

Well, I don't like the Saab ad, but other than that, I like the others. I might get up and do something, but I don't turn the sound off. That's because they remind me of a certain time of year. I can't explain it, but it's like a seasonal thing.
I guess our cable company is very conservative; we don't get the "male enhancement" ads. In fact last year, we noticed they would start, and then some other ad would come on.

[7rider]

Happy Rest Day everyone...back to vegging in front of the TV for hours tomorrow morning! :D

Today's a rest day??
Yay! I can finally watch my movie from Blockbuster that's been sitting around for far too long!!! :o

[chutch]

I agree- Sabb ad is awful. I see the point of a repetitive commercial, but not when its shown every commercial break for three weeks.

The Trek ad bothers my hubby... Here's Lance saying "we believe in bikes" but, um, he wrote a book called Its NOT About the Bike... I see hubby's point.

And categorizing cycling with cage fighting and bull riding isn't doing it for me.

Oh well, at least we have coverage. Although I really miss the days when OLN aired Giro and Vuelta and we had Phil and Paul on the primetime coverage too.

[beccaB]

I like the riding backwards ad.

Versus doesn't get it that cycling fans, unlike ice hockey fans, DO NOT watch for the crashes. Their Red White Black and Blue ad is just silly for cycling fans.

The mojito ad had me dancing the first day, but now it's very old.

Locally, there is at least one bike shop with ads. That's cool.

I'm using that MUTE button alot.

EXACTLY. Hockey fights and getting slammed into the boards is normal and expected. Bicycle crashes are not.

[beccaB]

Oh Yeah, and why don't they still show the ad where people are applauding military personnel in an airport? I really liked that one. It brought a tear to my eye.

[IFjane]

Oh well, at least we have coverage. Although I really miss the days when OLN aired Giro and Vuelta and we had Phil and Paul on the primetime coverage too.

Cyclism Sundays. I DVR'd every race this spring.

[pll]

Even though they are old, I still like the Specialized ads (like Paolo Bettini's... "la velocità è tutto") and the Cannondale to a certain extent. The Saab commercial is indeed unbearable and I cannot see the one with crashes. I tend to get up and do stuff around my place during commercials.

I'm sick of hearing about this "new era" of the tour. It must be at least the 4th consecutive tour to the same tune and I'm a big skeptic. I'm sure a couple more dopers will be caught in the days to come, many won't. However, being a skeptic does not help with the disappointment each time a rider is caught.

[tulip]

How is Caisse d'Espargne prounounced? In last year's pronunciation, they didn't say any of the three s's. This year they don't seem to be able to make up his mind.

Kess depargne. Kindof nasal "gne" at the end.

[bluebug32]

Another favorite is the "Leaky Gas Boys." According the Phil and Paul, they've been leaking for years now! Must be hard to draft them...

[Lifesgreat]

Do you suppose the Versus announcers get a bonus each time they mention George Hincapie? :cool:


Not George Hincapie, but Big George Hincapie.
:D Never hear him mentioned w/o the word "big" in front of his name.

I have Comcast DVR so I zoom through the commercials, but DH slogs through the show. I like the JV commercial though. DH is "Saabed" out and I keep thinking the bike crash in the Versus commercial is part of the stage I am watching-it is always right before the Tour broadcast resumes and looks like part of the race when on fast forward.

[VeloVT]

Saab commercial makes me CRAZY.
I personally hated the riding backwards commercial. This is going to be hard to explain in one sentence, so I probably shouldn't try, but I thought it was disrespectful of the riders shown -- it not only trivialized their effort (which was pretty impressive even if they were doping) but also suggested they were somehow an anomaly -- and I just don't buy that "a few bad apples" theory in regards to doping in cycling (at least in the past). Ever notice how uncomfortable the old guys get when doping comes up? Bobke suddenly gets really vague...

I am also coming to really like Bob Roll. I hated him last year -- thought he was just a big meathead. Now, next to Craig Hummer (who reminds me of one of the vapid new guard of TV news anchors like Brian Williams or Stone Phillips, who drive me crazy), I really appreciate Roll's experience and perspective.

I would rather have Al Trautwig than Craig Hummer, I think.
Continue to love Phil & Paul.

[bmccasland]

Anyone notice that Bobke is pronouncing it "tour de france" - in french, instead of "tour DAY france" (american pronounciation of the country). Has he forgiven them?

[short cut sally]

Bluebug beat me to it..i had to see how many times in like one viewing did they say "leeky gas" vs liquigas..I actually lost count when they pronounced it right for the first time..I chuckle every time-its that infantile kid in me that hasn't grown up yet:D. I dispise that Saab commercial now. I miss the commercials from last year for Specialized and Cervelo, I have not seen any commercials advertising bikes yet. AND I certainly can not take the TapOut and WEC commercials..I can't stand that crap on a good day let alone having to watch the commercials for it. BUT they are making it possible for me to watch the tour..after all, that's why I pay for the upgrade on my dish and the only reason is so I can watch the tour.

[arielmoon]

I agree. Enough of the Saab commercial and TapOut/ WEC commercials. I cant wait to change the channel but then I come back late and miss something... grrr!

I did notice Bobke pronouncing it right cause I used to make fun of him the whole time... no more fun... oh well.

[OakLeaf]

I saw a Cervelo commercial today. Mostly I've been zapping all the commercials. DH, who doesn't ride much, laughed at the line in the Cervelo commercial, "We build bikes for everyone." :p

What Liza said about the "riding backwards" trailer. Plus, I thought it's just bad marketing. Why not portray excitement and a positive attitude about the future of the sport? I can't imagine them getting back any viewers with that melancholy, apologetic approach.

[Lifesgreat]

Bluebug beat me to it..i had to see how many times in like one viewing did they say "leeky gas" vs liquigas..I actually lost count when they pronounced it right for the first time..I chuckle every time-its that infantile kid in me that hasn't grown up yet:D.

I can't find it on the internet anymore, but Dave Z would do "one minute interviews" in the peleton. One time he asked a Liquigas rider if he had "liquigas". A short conversation ensued that third grade boys would have loved, if their mothers would let them read it. . . :p

[Jones]

I would rather have Al Trautwig than Craig Hummer, I think.Continue to love Phil & Paul.

+1.

[Kalidurga]

I can't find it on the internet anymore, but Dave Z would do "one minute interviews" in the peleton. One time he asked a Liquigas rider if he had "liquigas". A short conversation ensued that third grade boys would have loved, if their mothers would let them read it. . . :p

I am soooo missing DZ this year. The Tour needs some wackiness, and it's a shame to see how well Chipotle's doing and know that he's not able to be a part of it. I hope he's recovering thoroughly and enjoying his new little WZ. Can't wait to see him race again.