Geico's new mascot doesn't quite stack up
So, it's come to this. Forget about the caveman and the gecko. Geico has introduced a new commercial character that requires no budget for actors, makeup, animation or voice talent. "Kash" is just a stack of bills with eyeballs, designed to get down to the basics of how much customers can save on car insurance with Geico. In two new spots by The Martin Agency—one set in a corporate meeting room, the other in a restaurant—the wad of greenbacks shows little in the way of personality. It doesn't talk, walk or earn interest. It just sits there, inert, begging for viewers to find the concept cute or kitschy. It's not weird cool—it's weird weird. Actually, it's not even weird. It's just a misfire made worse by the use of an insufferable remake of the Rockwell/Michael Jackson song "Somebody's Watching Me." And now I've got that stupid tune stuck in my head! The caveman was like Shakespeare in comparison. |
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December 8, 2008 in Geico, Gianatasio, Insurance, Martin Agency | Permalink |
Comments
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Wow...a rare misstep from Geico. This concept lacks any kind of clear message to consumers and is just plain odd. Get back to the cavemen.
Posted by: Stuart Foster | Dec 8, 2008 9:01:52 AM
Wow. The cavemen concept was such a failure, too.
Posted by: cw | Dec 8, 2008 11:18:02 AM
Looks a lot like a cash character from a video game called Conker's Bad Fur Day.
http://www.conker-base.com/artworks/6.jpg
Posted by: Doinger | Dec 8, 2008 12:23:09 PM
The problem to me is that at first glance the cash is expected to be the gecko and the small prespective makes you think it's that green creature...so this green critter is a letdown.
Posted by: glenn | Dec 8, 2008 8:14:24 PM
I dunno, I find it funny, and unlike anything else out there at least
Posted by: David Cross | Dec 8, 2008 11:29:32 PM
I agree, this is a horrible commercial. I've never blogged about a commercial before but I just hate this one. money with eyeballs on it with somebody's watching me playing, i just want to jump out a window.
Posted by: Taylor | Dec 9, 2008 3:56:51 PM
You're dead wrong about this one...try a Google search for "Somebody's Watching Me" and you'll get about 1000 hits with people asking about the song. Apparently it IS "kitschy"...Martin has done it again.
Posted by: Matt D. | Dec 20, 2008 7:00:16 PM
These commercials are absolutely hilarious!
Posted by: Abhorrent | Dec 29, 2008 3:23:31 PM
wtf? i love kash. Douchebag's with blogs think they're opinion matters. Just because you don't get something doesn't mean everyone shares your disjointed beliefs. Anyways, I love these commercials. Fuck the cavemen.
Posted by: david | Jan 3, 2009 11:07:47 PM
kash is my hero. i always feel like somebody's watching me!
Posted by: echz | Jan 7, 2009 11:26:04 PM
Both commercials make me laugh every single time I watch them. What you complained about -how it has no personality- is what makes the commercial amazing! It just sits there ... watching you ... just staring. So, you're sitting there like, "That should've been in my pocket."
It's supposed to be a little creepy. Like that lost money is haunting you.
Not exactly sure if my mind is just more comprehensive than most of you, but I understood the concept immediately.
Posted by: slipp | Jan 9, 2009 12:12:00 AM
think catchphrases...
leaving Kash on the table
have fun with the rest
Posted by: cj | Jan 17, 2009 2:54:15 PM
To slipp your mind is no more comprehensive than the average lawn sprinkler. These commercials are insipid, and no doubt there is a writer patting himself on the back on how "clever" this commercial is. Sometimes stupid is just stupid.
Posted by: cobalt joe | Jan 18, 2009 1:33:53 PM
nobody gets the joke huh? "I always feel like some MONEY'S watching me!" (they're throwin em too fast for ya)
Posted by: dd | Feb 21, 2009 7:47:43 PM
Funny and hilarious mascot!
Posted by: Car Insurance Ads | Mar 22, 2009 11:59:27 AM
This is actually a good campaign from a marketing standpoint - People have remembered the song and are talking about it.
Posted by: Marketingman | May 19, 2009 11:03:42 PM
Eyes on the money. Funny mascot!
Yea! All people put their eye on the money. So, thats why so many people goesdown with their business.
Posted by: eBusiness Government | Sep 5, 2009 5:41:20 AM
Funny mascot. Have you create a funny video for youtube by this funny mascot?
Posted by: Google Adsense Friendly | Oct 9, 2009 5:48:37 AM
