George Weber was sick of the typical car commercial, where the owner of a dealership screams about the cheapest model on the lot.
"Car commercials do so much yelling at you," says Weber, owner of George Weber Chevrolet. "I don't think people are listening to ads with a notepad writing things down. But if I make it funny, then people will want to see it."
See also: St. Louis' Wackiest Local Ads of the '70s, '80s and '90s
So Weber drew his inspiration from the AT&T's "It's not complicated" commercials where comedian Beck Bennett asks children simple questions and gets hilarious responses.
The Monday before Christmas, Weber brought in the children and grandchildren of his St. Louis employees, divided them into five groups and asked them each thirteen questions. Their unscripted answers will leave Weber Chevrolet with four months' worth of commercials.
"That was all natural; we didn't tell the kids anything," Weber tells Daily RFT. "The kids are the stars of the commercial, not me."
Weber's commercials may be a little ersatz after months of AT&T's version, but if there's one thing Weber has that Bennett doesn't, it's size.
See also: Weber Chevrolet's TV Commercial Lambasted by Daily RFT Reader
"I'm a big guy," says the six-foot-six-inch owner of the Midwest's largest Chevy dealership. "The table is way smaller than the one in the AT&T commercials."
If Weber is OK with drawing inspiration from other commercial campaigns, then we know a few successful campaigns he should try.
Continue reading for the five commercials Weber Chevrolet should rip off next. If Weber is OK with drawing inspiration from other commercial campaigns, then we know a few successful campaigns he should try:
1. Flea Market Montgomery
We'd love to see George Weber rapping in a spiffy suit about his cars. This commercial is so outrageous and yet so successfully catchy that it's guaranteed to work. "It's just like, it's just like, it's just like a Chevy Cruze."
2. Life Call
"I've fallen and I can't get up!" Then the old lady pushes the button to call...George Weber in a big ol' Chevy truck or something. She swoons. We all swoon. We'd pay to see that.
3. Hardee's Fantasies
Daily RFT asked Weber if he'd consider reworking a Hardee's or Carl's Jr. commercial, where scantily clad beauties stuff giant burgers in their faces with plenty of suggestive spillage. He asked us if he'd have to wear a bathing suit...and then said no.
4. GEICO
Money with eyes. The lizard. The Pillsbury Dough Boy. Let Weber recreate all of the GEICO "mascots"! We think he'd make a great caveman.
5. Old Spice
Terry Crew's hyper-masculine yet crazy awkward commercials always make us laugh and tilt our heads in confusion at the same time. Put Weber on a white horse, backward. Put him on a wave runner and send him through a kitchen. This could be amazing.
Follow Lindsay Toler on Twitter at @StLouisLindsay. E-mail the author at [email protected].
