One Of The Funniest S#*$r B$@l Ads You'll See This Year Makes Fun Of NFL Trademarks

from the big-game-or-whatever dept

Fri, Feb 1st 2013 5:33am — Timothy Geigner

It's almost that time of year again, when many of us lesser beings will gather together to watch super-human men on all manner of PEDs and deer antler urine sprays smack each other around while an oblong leather ball sits somewhere in the background. We'll leap for the pizza and chili like salmon during mating season while, between whistles, obligatory commercials with Avatar-like production budgets glow at us. That's right sports fans, it's [editor redacted] time!

Wait, hey! What the hell? I said it's [editor redacted] time! Oh, come on. I can't say [editor redacted]? Fine, what about a euphemism, like [editor redacted]? No, can't say that either? Maybe [editor redacted]? Damn it, this is stupid. I'm talking about something that rhymes with "Pooper Hole" (heh, got you, editor!).

Fortunately for our entertainment sensibilities, Samsung decided this year to combine a distaste for trademark stupidity and our concept of advertising being content in this gem of a spot.

Pictured: million dollar passive aggression

Yes, Samsung has decided to do a game-that-shan't-be-named commercial making fun of how the NFL is overly aggressive with their trademarks. I'd call Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd's delivery "brilliant", but that'd be like referring to Natalie Portman as "mildly attractive", and even I have some damned sense, people. The NFL likes to toss around a great deal of words and pretend like they're true even when they're not, especially when it comes to trademarks. This spot uses the absurdity of it all to highlight how aggressive they are. Maybe it will even open up an eye or two to the silliness of the ever-growing permission culture.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: advertising, mocking, paul rudd, seth rogan, super bowl, superbowl, the big game, trademarks
Companies: samsung

53 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Ninja (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 4:04am

Shit, where's the Funny button in that article? Now where's the fundamentalist "Pooper Hole" fans to swear and smear at you?

I admit, that is fun.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:02am

Go 50-1ers!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:02am

Super Bowl.
Super Bowl.
Super Bowl.

Oh science, the lawyer just appeared behind me! *crash *garble
He's beating me with a C&D order! UGHH. UGHH. UMPH.
[transmission terminated]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:02am

Re:
Funnily enough, the Baltimore Blackbirds sou8nds like a much more awesome franchise than the Ravens.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lurker Keith, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:03am

NFL pulls ad...
...cites someone else's incompotence when called on it.

Samsung makes another commercial about that senario, everyone else laughs again.

It is sad that's a possible senario.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:05am

Re: NFL pulls ad...
You just don't understand the subtle nuances of beating people over the head with your trademarks!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:24am

"...smack each other around while an oblong leather ball sits somewhere in the background."

Best description of American Football I've ever read.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Michael, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:27am

Oh no...
They table they are sitting at has rounded corners.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dennis deems (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:38am

Re:
"fundamentalist" -- pun intentional?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mr. Applegate, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:43am

Re: Oh no...
Oh no...

They table they are sitting at has rounded corners.

But it isn't a Samsung phone. Let's hope it isn't a Samsung table either, otherwise Samsung may be on the hook for another billion.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:45am

Re: Re:
Yeah, but "Quoth the blackbird" doesn't quite have the same ring.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dark Helmet (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:51am

Re: Re: Re:
Plus, then you couldn't name the 3 Raven mascots "Edgar", "Allan" and "Poe", and that really is possibly the most creative thing about any NFL franchise ever....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 6:56am

You totally left out Go For Saul; Bob Odenkirk.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Spike (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:27am

Didn't the NFL try to trademark "The Big Game" as well when that alternative became popular with advertisers? That makes it even more laughable!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
GMacGuffin (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:43am

Notwithstanding the brilliancy of the ad, I'm impressed that DH managed to slip in another Natalie Portman reference.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DannyB (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:43am

Re: Re: NFL pulls ad...
Samsung understands the not so subtle tactic of beating people over the head with their own trademark gone berserk behavior.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dark Helmet (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:54am

Re:
"Notwithstanding the brilliancy of the ad, I'm impressed that DH managed to slip in another Natalie Portman reference."

She will be mine. Oh yes, she will be mine :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:58am

wow- awesome! hence forth I shall call it the "Pooper Hole". common internet, lets make this a thing, the ultimate branding backfire- and a perfect way to draw attention to this absurdity and corruption. what are the odds they'd trademark that? ...imagine the headlines :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 7:58am

Re:
he clearly spends too much time on imgur
[ link to this | view in thread ]
alanbleiweiss (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:03am

No this is not funny
I hate when something so vile exists that I lose all sense of human capacity to find humor in a parody.

The lengths to which the NFL goes, similar to the lengths the Olympics governing bodies go, makes me want to vomit. That's how much I get outraged over their abusive tactics. So when I watched the commercial just now, all it did was infuriate me even more...

I'm so fed up with the bullshit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
art guerrilla (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:09am

is 'euphamism'...
a britishism of 'euphemism' ? ? ?
just askin'...

art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Who Cares (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:10am

Reminds me of the world soccer cup
One beer brand had an exclusive deal. So another one shipped in a bunch of women in with a very orange dress (seeing that this was done during the a match involving the Dutch) with their logo on the back.
The amount of free exposure they got when that group got arrested for showing that logo on T.V. during the match.
Ambush marketing, maybe not that ethical but damn fun to watch (if properly executed).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
el_segfaulto (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:17am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
I don't know...the Oakland Raiders calling themselves a football team is pretty creative. ZING
[ link to this | view in thread ]
G Thompson (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:17am

Re: Re:
Quoteth the Raven...

Nevermore!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
G Thompson (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:21am

Re: is 'euphamism'...
Nope, 'euphamism' is just euphemism spelt incorrectly.

and what's this britishism thou speak of? It is The Queens English that must colour thou speech and none other. ;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Rob, 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:33am

Re:
"Best description of American Football I've ever read."

Then you haven't heard Andy Griffith's sketch:

"What It Was, Was Football".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ninja (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:49am

Re: Re:
Now that I'm thinking about it it wasn't!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:52am

Id like to what happens if the super bowl uses rounded edges.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 8:56am

Re: Re:
I don't know. Mentioning Natalie and "Pooper Hole" (which is epic, BTW) in the same article may not have helped your chances...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:00am

Ah, it's that time of year when every writer who doesn't like football feels compelled to make self-righteous comments about anyone who does. Must be Superbowl time.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dark Helmet (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:02am

Re:
"Ah, it's that time of year when every writer who doesn't like football feels compelled to make self-righteous comments about anyone who does. Must be Superbowl time."

As a rabid Bears fan, this is the funniest comment I've read in a long time. Your response proves that football in America is religion, since only religion sparks such responses....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Danny (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:03am

Re: Re:
Very true.

If you ever wondered what a young Andy Griffith did to merit having a TV show named for him, this is one of two things that made him famous (the other was a dark movie role of a smooth southern con man in the big city).

The routine is every bit as good as George Carlin's comparison of football to baseball.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Danny (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:03am

Re: Re:
Very true.

If you ever wondered what a young Andy Griffith did to merit having a TV show named for him, this is one of two things that made him famous (the other was a dark movie role of a smooth southern con man in the big city).

The routine is every bit as good as George Carlin's comparison of football to baseball.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Danny (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:11am

Re: Re: Re:
Griffith movie was "A Face in the Crowd" (1957) in which he played a disillusioned drifter (according to Wikipedia). I might have used the word grifter.

In not this in a follow on comment as multi-tasking sucks on my iPad. I'd have lost my comment draft had I tried. Which, I guess is indirectly a testimonial for the Galaxy Pad--the object behind this whole [redacted by editor] commercial post.

/not that Mike ever really redacts anything.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased) (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:37am

Re: Re:
Plus, if the Bears were in "The Big Game" DH's avatar would switch his jersey. Go Hawkey! (Finally!)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
out_of_my_butt, 1 Feb 2013 @ 9:47am

Piracy!i!
Clearly, Samsung is a pirate apologist. Anybody who says or implies anything even remotely negative about the Father Law is a pirate apologist and also a Communist. Anybody who reads this site will know this.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Markus Hopkins (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 10:28am

I showed this to several people where I work and they didn't find it that funny. As someone who laughed out loud, I'm beginning to wonder how small the audience for this commercial actually is. Also, I fear my perspective has become overly attenuated.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 10:39am

Re: No this is not funny
You have to admit though it would be awesome if they air this commercial during the broadcast.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
yaga (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 10:39am

Re:
Most people don't understand what this is about. That's really sad but true.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 10:41am

Re: Re:
I didn't know rabid bears had fans.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Eponymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 10:46am

Mtv get off the air, part 2
Nice MC Paul Barman reference:
"I wanted to get in a pooper hole one day
so I invited girls over on Super Bowl Sunday"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 11:11am

Re: Re: is 'euphamism'...
It's funny that they call it "The Queen's English" like she invented the language or something. Talk about your sense of entitlement.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 11:13am

Re: Re:
No. Most people would find it funny. He probably just works with a bunch of people who lack a sense of humor.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
beltorak (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 12:21pm

Re:
yes, but MIT (iirc) smacked that down pretty hard since they (along with CMU iirc) have been using "The Big Game" for their competition for over a hundred years.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
beltorak (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 12:25pm

Re: Re: is 'euphamism'...
and what's this britishism thou speakest of? It is The Queens English that must colour thine speech and none other. ;)

;)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Feb 2013 @ 12:58pm

It would be ten times funnier if they actually said Super Bowl at the end, just because they CAN.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Franklin G Ryzzo (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 2:09pm

Re:
Better call Saul! We'll turn your addiction into a prescription!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nospacesorspecialcharacters (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 3:01pm

All Americans should be proud of their Pooper Hole.
It's such a shame I am not in the US even though I was aiming for it, I'm going to miss the Pooper Hole.

I gather there is nothing quite like getting together with several burly men, to celebrate and watch a Pooper Hole.

I know Americans get very excited about their Pooper Hole, is very important to them and they like the idea of sharing their Pooper Hole with all their friends and family.

I understand that a lot of people put a lot of things into the Pooper Hole in order to make it wide and accessible to a large audience. A lot of money is also put in the Pooper Hole. Let's hope all that cash doesn't make it a dirty Pooper Hole game.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
That One Guy (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 3:45pm

Re: Re: Re:
Trust me, when the rabid bears show up everyone (who isn't running) is suddenly a fan, as the alternative isn't so pleasant.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Markus Hopkins (profile), 1 Feb 2013 @ 4:02pm

Re: Re: Re:
That's hilarious. Not true, but hilarious.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Joseph, 1 Feb 2013 @ 4:17pm

Funny Until I Realized...
Samsung is running a Super Bowl commercial, so they have paid a rights fee and actually are able to say "Super Bowl" in their ads without fear of being sued by the NFL.

I wonder if they would have dared run this ad if they hadn't paid the rights fee?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Eldakka (profile), 3 Feb 2013 @ 6:51pm

natalie portman?
I'd call Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd's delivery "brilliant", but that'd be like referring to Natalie Portman as "mildly attractive"

Ahh, so calling the delivery brilliant is an entirely accurate statement?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sheogorath (profile), 21 Aug 2013 @ 6:36pm

Oh, crap
I guess that puts paid to Fred Flintstone eating Butterschist popcorn and drinking Rockweiser beer while watching the Super Boulder on his 52" Stony Bravia flatscreen TV!
[ link to this | view in thread ]