Television Advertising

Slyman v. Slyman: Appliance Store Family Sues Each Other Over Trademark

Slyman. The name has been synonymous with household appliances in St. Louis ever since brothers Bob and Harry Slyman aired a commercial of themselves seated on top of the Gateway Arch. "Thanks for making us tops in town," the jovial brothers crowed in the 1972 advertisement that took liberal use of ... More >>

Will Ferrell's Guerrilla Old Milwaukee Ad Campaign Strikes Again

For the second consecutive Super Bowl, residents of a very, very, very select number of far-flung towns across America saw a surreal, low-budget commercial for Old Milwaukee beer starring Will Ferrell. It was even more surreal than last year's -- and, yes, even more surreal than the Old Milwaukee ad ... More >>

10 St. Louis Restaurants With Winning Super Bowl Food and Drink Specials

With the weekend creeping closer, we here at Gut Check realize we need to make plans for Super Bowl Sunday -- specifically, what will we be eating and drinking, and where? From all-you-can-eat nacho and wing bars and barbecue dinners to discounts on beers, booze and shots, Gut Check's roundup of St. ... More >>

VIDEOS: Catch a Glimpse of Anheuser-Busch's 2013 Super Bowl Ads

For the 25th consecutive year, Anheuser-Busch is once again the sole beer sponsor of the Super Bowl. This year the St. Louis-based brewer plans to unveil at least four commercials during Sunday's big game that is expected to draw at least 111 million viewers. See also: - Anheuser-Busch Dethroned ... More >>

McDonald's Films TV Commercial in Delmar Loop, Downtown and at Lambert Airport

If you've ever been struck by a sudden craving for an Egg McMuffin and wished McDonald's could deliver, today might be the day your wish comes true. Gut Check spotted a film crew and a guy on a moped wearing a McDonald's jacket in front of Chuck Berry Plaza this morning, and we just hoofed it down ... More >>

VIDEO: The TV Ad Dave Spence Doesn't Want You to See

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence has sent a cease-and-desist letter to television stations around the state warning them they could face legal action if they continue to run what his attorney calls a "defamatory" ad. The television commercial in question paints Spence as a St. Louis ... More >>

The Polyphonic Spree

9 p.m. Friday, May 11. Duck Room at Blueberry Hill, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City.

The Best Super Bowl Commercials by the Music

The Darkness saved Samsung's ad from spiraling down into forgettable territory. ​Let's be blunt. This year's Super Bowl was dismal for Midwesterners. Sure, there were exceptions. Transplants from Boston, New York City or New Jersey may have enjoyed the game. Some may have had a rooting intere ... More >>

Pitch Sessions: A look back at the wild and wacky local TV ads of yesteryear.

This Year's Five Best Super Bowl Commercials

​That was, without a doubt, one of the worst Super Bowls I can ever remember. Oh, sure, the game was just fine. Instant classic material, I guess. Two great quarterbacks, historic franchises, a great comeback that almost happened, plenty of drama in the last two minutes, and a brilliant storyline ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Clydesdales and Elton John Don't Mix

Today's comment comes from a post reviewing last night's Super Bowl ads with ties to St. Louis. One reader was not impressed with Anheuser-Busch's advertisement featuring its famous Clydesdales, a western gunslinger and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer." KittyLitterKing writes: "Tiny Dancer" is just as bad ... More >>

Super Bowl Commercials Are So Last Millennium

This trio is no longer limited to a flatscreen.​Quick: What's your bet for the first Super Bowl ad on Sunday - Budweiser, Pepsi or Ford? Or, how about Option 4: Who cares? That's the attitude of Washington University marketing Professor Seethu Seetharaman, who opines on the Wash U. website ... More >>

A-B's New Ad Strategy: 'Grab Some Buds' aka Free Beer!

image via​Anheuser-Busch unveiled a new advertising strategy for Budweiser today, reports USA Today. Brace yourselves, because it's a revolutionary one:FREE BEER!! The idea behind the company's new "Grab some Buds" campaign is targeted toward the under-30s who guzzle astonishing amounts ... More >>

Poll Suggests Robin Carnahan is Closing the Gap vs. Roy Blunt; Is Fox News to Thank?

Carnahan never looks a Fox News gift horse in the mouth.​First a caveat, the following poll was conducted at the behest of the Missouri Democratic Party. Assuming, then, that their pollsters got it right, Democratic candidate Robin Carnahan is now neck-and-neck with her Republican rival Roy Blunt ... More >>

Flag Day PSA: How to Fold Your Flag

It's Flag Day people. And here with a little public service announcement are Harvey and Michele Kronberg who'd like to tell you how to fold a flag. Kronberg clan, take it away...

Al Joyner and Sean James Star in Planned Parenthood's Response to Tebow Ad

Image viaPam Tebow and the son she chose not to abort, Heisman Trophy-winner Tim.​By  now you've read about the kerfuffle over Tim Tebow's Super Bowl ad, the one where he and his mom Pam talk about how, when she was pregnant with Tim, she refused to have an abortion for health reasons. You've ... More >>

The Controversy of Tim Tebow's Super Bowl Ad is Old News in St. Louis

Amen. Here in St. Louis we like to think we clap for the other team when they make a good play. We're gracious and forgiving of our pro athletes (fans here give needle-in-the-butt guys like Mark McGwire minutes-long standing ovations.) We love them, even when they're not talking about sports a ... More >>

Dirt Cheap Commercial Named One of Leno's "Bad Ads"

The big news on last night's airing of the Jay Leno Show was that the comic would be returning to his old gig and timeslot at the Tonight Show on March 1 after the Olympics. Well, that's the big news for fans of Leno. There's a St. Louis connection to the news-making episode as well.Dirt Cheap on Le ... More >>

Truly Ghetto Tax Preparer Arrives in Missouri: Mo' Money

Saw the following commercial last night during the local news. Thought it was a joke before finding the company's website. Mo Money Taxes describes itself as "the largest independent tax company in Tennessee, and everybody involved believes this phenomenon will continue to roll on." The firm now has ... More >>

Go Ahead, Pee In the Shower: It's Not Bad for You (and It's Good for the Earth!)

Yes it's true. Peeing in the shower is NOT unhygienic, according to this piece in the Post-Dispatch. Plus, it would apparently conserve hundreds of gallons of year per household. Why, there's a little TV spot running right now in Brazil that advocates shower-peeing for everyone - aliens and basketba ... More >>

The Really Important Stuff About the Super Bowl -- The Commercials

We witnessed one of the greatest single games in the history of NFL football last night. The flurry of momentum and lead changes, the outstanding performances by players both known and unknown, and a finish that actually outdid last year's dramatics. Simply outstanding. But, really, does anyone ... More >>

PETA Veggie Ad Too Hot for TV

PETA produced a Super Bowl ad urging viewers to go veggie. It was deemed too hot to broadcast. Give 'em credit: PETA understands the football demographic.

Dave Sinclair's "Buy American" Ads Win Organized Labor Award

Used to be that Dave Sinclair was the "South County Ford Dealer." These days, Sinclair prefers the title the "American Car Dealer in South County." Sinclair's television ads -- you know the ones with the 80-year-old standing behind a podium -- have won praise from the St. Louis Building Trades Counc ... More >>

Anheuser-Busch: King of Beers, Bud of Joke

Anheuser-Busch: King of Beers, Bud of Joke

Responsibility Matters

In the trade group known as the Beer Industry, Anheuser-Busch holds sway

Best Musical Instrument Store

Ron Busch Guitar Studio

Trolling for Endorsements

We wake up a Margaret Cho-approved congressional hopeful; plus, Unreal gets the Tiger Beat facts on local car dealers and Bill Haas goes south of the border

Best Local TV Commercial

Becky's Carpet and Tile Superstore