George Clooney doesn’t want to do terrible ads for crappy companies It’s very, very important not to do very, very lowbrow and stupid TV commercials, according to the proud and virtuous George Clooney. He tells the British press: “You don’t want to do ones that aren’t classy. That’s the truth. That’s the secret to it. You want to have a product you are proud of and not embarrassed by.” Whether or not that applies to Budweiser and Nescafé, both of which Clooney has pitched outside the U.S., it’s hard to say. But this U.K. commercial for Martini seems to fit the bill. It involves Clooney running out of gas on his very classy boat and having to choose between a classy, beautiful woman and a case of Martini. (“George Clooney makes a poor decision,” reads the caption in the ’boards screening room, where the ad is posted, but you judge for yourself.) Of course, there’s always the chance that Clooney chooses commercial projects based less on the products than on the women involved. He did meet Lisa Snowdon on the set of a Martini ad in 2001, and ended up dating her for four years. Will Clooney ever direct a very classy TV spot of his own? “Well, I’ve never directed a commercial,” he tells ITV, “but I think it seems to be a lot harder to do a commercial than a film because [in a film] you have time to set the story.” Words to live by, copywriters, when you just can’t seem to nail that fart joke. —Posted by Tim Nudd

April 27, 2006 | Permalink

Comments

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Hey Nudd, how many times a week do you pull your pudd (not a fart joke, but in the same class arena)?

Posted by: copyranter | Apr 27, 2006 11:20:48 AM

That's some talent you've got there.

Posted by: Tim Nudd | Apr 27, 2006 11:49:15 AM

Oh, Copyranter, you card you!

Posted by: Dark Muffy | Apr 27, 2006 1:05:50 PM

Clooney doesn't just push Bud outside the U.S. Listen to the voiceovers of a lot of the Budweiser ads here. That's him.

Posted by: Jesse | Apr 27, 2006 11:41:12 PM

he does a great one in Spain - kind of like the Milk Tray man (you may not get the ref outside the UK) for dodgy suits made specially for Spain's chain of department stores El Corte Ingles (The English Cut/Style! Classy!). Anyhoo, he has to dodge all sorts of urban obstacles to break into the room of a lady for whom he has a bunch of flowers (of course the suit stays crisp and clean throughout)... and what else is he so desperate to give her, you think, until he finally makes it thru her window and an old lady hoves into view. I guess you're supposed to think it's his mum, but it just makes him look like an old lady perv.

Posted by: kf | Apr 28, 2006 4:22:51 AM

Nudd: I think sour grapes explain your bitter whining. (Yes, that's a pun.) Relax your spleen. George wasn't insulting you personally, just your profession.

Posted by: earl of sandwich | Apr 29, 2006 6:52:44 PM

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