Do you for even an instant believe this guy?
Do you believe he’s ever visited South Africa?
Or do you believe he’s reading corny, badly written dialogue from a script?
Question: What do these phrases have in common?
- “An adventure unlike any other”
- “For those who live life to the fullest”
Answer: Neither ever has been spoken by a real human being.
“How was your trip to South Africa, Bob?”
“It was an adventure unlike any other!”
“Really? I wonder if I would enjoy visiting South Africa…”
“Well, Steve, you will if you’re the one of those people who live life to the fullest.”
And the highlight was when “we sat together, sharing stories”? Really? His audience must’ve been spellbound.
Thankfully, toward the end of the spot the announcer steps in…to continue the idiocy. She boasts of the “unbelievable packages” available.
Unbelievable? Really? Their travel packages aren’t varied or interesting or exciting or unusual; they’re unbelievable!
“But Dan, it’s just a radio commercial. Lighten up. Everyone knows the voices on radio commercials are just actors.”
If you’re going to have someone portray a human being in a radio advertisement, that someone needs to be able sound enough like a real human being that we can “willingly suspend disbelief” and buy into the story.
But this piece of tripe? It’s not a story. It’s not a character. It’s not a human being.
If you write “announcer copy,” then have an “announcer” deliver it. Don’t have some poor voice guy pretend to be a real person who is sharing his personal experiences.
But hey, I’m sure the college interns responsible for this radio campaign did their best.
Comments on this entry are closed.
Quite possibly one of the most poorly written spots of all time, the voice actor delivered what they were supposed to do, but you are right Dan, this tripe is just that, tripe.
Even if I could afford a trip to South Africa, I doubt very seriously it would be the adventure of a lifetime, maybe I should call now because they’re conveniently located at travel agency near me at the corner of blah and blah and downtown blah at 555 5555 that number again is bleh
With all due respect, don’t blame South Africa for a bad promo. As A proud South African I take issue with your statement Scott , “I Doubt very seriously it would be the adventure of a lifetime”. Don’t dismiss the country because the ad offends your sensibilities. Just saying.
@gail ashford: I don’t believe you’ll find any place in my critique where I blame the country of South Africa for the bad radio commercial.