Verizon’s 4G LTE Swamp Commercial Trendy but Dumb
So if you happen to be at 30.000 LAT / –90.375 LONG and you are a major US Wireless Carrier what do you do? Easy, find yourself the first alligator you can find which won’t be too hard since you are in the middle of a Louisiana swamp and show off your 4G LTE service like Verizon did! Cashing in the very popular reality TV series Swamp people, Verizon sends out a pitiful Crocodile Dundee wannabe with the same style huge bowie knife he is carrying on his side and asks him to wrestle the alligator while bidding on a 1979 Dukes of Hazard lunch box. (I hope it at least has Daisy Duke on it).
Sporting a Motorola Droid RAZR which took me a few rewinds to finally confirm, but definitely the Kevlar back paneled, Gorilla Glass, and water-repellent nanocoating, Alligator Al here won’t have to worry about the splashes of water killing his device. It looks like the point of the commercial is to demonstrate how fast Verizon’s 4G LTE Network is while under tough situations performing crucial internet task like buying a Dukes of Hazard lunch box.
I hope Verizon does better the next go around because this commercial should have been left in the swamp.
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Fascinated with technology, saltwater aquariums and black holes. Handy with power tools or sarcasm and is an avid Clash of Clans addict.
This is not only a ridiculous commercial but very inhumane. What is wrong with these advertisers? I hope it loses more customers than gain them. I have been on the fence about leaving Verizon for a competitor. I have definitely decided now BYE BYE Verizon
@jodie: you left because of a commercial? Really??!
Wow.
Not to mention the outrageous pricing they are charging for their 4G LTE devices. $299.99 or a $100.00 premium for just over 120 markets is ridicules. The hilarious part is that it is AT&T, the true price gougers that have to drop that premium because they are so late to the party with their own 4G LTE network and have to play catch up with Big Red. The Death Star must be so pissed that they can’t milk that extra $100 dollars to cover their 4 billion dollar stupid tax payment to T-Mobile for failing to convince the US Government that they would not have a monopoly. Don’t worry AT&T, you can always make up for it by throttling your unlimited data customers once they reach some mysterious 5% of the highest data user plateau.
Inhumane commercial. I won’t deal with Verizon after this. Stupid commercial by a stupid company.
Is that Anthony Michael Hall?!
I am so happy to see all the negative responses to that horrible commercial. I am terrified of crocks and alligators, but it still made me so sad to see what it was going through! Shame on you Verizon!
Terrible.
Inhumane? First off, it’s a gator, not a person. Secondly, it’s not a real gator. Third, it’s a commercial.
@jodie: you left because of a commercial? Really??!
Wow. @Paul: riiight people are stupid has Haha
@Paul:
Paul how do you know it is fake ? Did Virazon call and tell you? No one knows if it’s real or fake cause they will not tell you. I would love to know the truth, if the gattor is real or NOT
There is a humane society for animals in almost every state, so I don’t get that using the word inhumane does not apply here.
If that is a fake gator , I would be very glad. However, it still shows something I am against, which is gator wrestling. Worry about what you want to say and allow those of us who think differently to have our own opinions. It’s a commercial so that makes it ok. Can we show murder on a commercial and then say that is ok too.???
Ok, every time this gator commercial comes on, my husband says, “do you think that’s a real gator. It does look real. Could it be a mechanical gator. Fill me in OK.
Mick
See Paul’s comment. He said it is fake. I don’t know how he is so sure, but he seems to be. I thought at first it was fake but as I watched it sure seemed real to me.
I am hearing the issue here. But it is only an animal cruelty if the gator is real. So dose any one know for sure if the gator is real or fake. Now those appose on the grounds of promoting animal wrestling well that goes with out saying if the gator is real then the higher penalty. But I watched it over & over & over & over & ya over ………and ……………..no not over but I can not tell if it is real or not . Logic tells me no way in he’ll can a man wrestle a gator that size so easy while bidding on lunch box. But there are some crazy ass strong ass MO * FO for a $ my do it for reals You may have to drug the gator oh hell
Might as well get the wrestler wasted too
Get a life, it’s a great commercial as we all know some macho guy out there who lives for buying nerdy stuff online
To all you Peter eaters I think the commercial is awesome. I’m from Florida, I love the gators and I hate the haters, keep up the good work Verizon, good riddance to bad rubbish. I think the service is awesome even when I’m out shooting gators. P.S. Haters suck it!
@Gator man Crider: me, i kinda like the haters in general, in part as a means to underscore their haterness and also as a subtle means to antagonize them.
I have checked back when notified others are writing here, but this is it for me. The low life people are now posting and I consider myself above that.
Instead of people just stating how they feel, it seems they have to make nasty comments about the opinion of others.
I just turned off verizon as a result of this commercial. They should not be popularizing capturing animals, real or not.
I thoroughly enjoy this commerial. It’s absolutely ridiculous, but that’s the point. Really–WTH does it matter if you get info a few seconds earlier than the next guy? Get real. The commercial is just as silly as everyone who’s just gotta have 4G. Grow up already and learn what’s really important in life. Parting with hundreds of dollars for a 4G telephone is simply ridiculous–just as is the commercial.
I didn’t want to justify my feelings or comments at first but decided after reading some of the comments left. YES I would leave a company over a commercial – why do you think they have commercials???? They are to get you to BUY their product so we have the right to do the opposite when we find the company offensive!!! Yes some people are very stupid…there’s no doubt and some are more evolved and humane. Of course the ones who aren’t are the ones who find it necessary to get mean and nasty. Thanks for your feelings about my feelings. Much appreciated!
You know, I really wonder what it’s like to have a mind that is able to hover in your soul as you watch this commercial and hit you with an overwhelming sense of shock, disgust and empathy for a dangerous reptile known for its ability to sneak up on things and kill them with blood spraying and limbs flying around who’s getting a little manhandled by a man for the time it takes to download an ebay page on Verizon’s LTE network. I’m just trying to imagine that, being able to feel in that way, what life must be like. Especially at a good ol’ cockfight, woah.
Mind blown.
Hey Doug Mind blown indeed…that you found it necessary to respond to people who have an issue. Obviously there are more people against it the agree with you. So yes, Doug imagine that!?!?!
And one more thing these “dangerous” reptiles were here long before us. And if you don’t want a limb torn off then stay out of their habitat! It isn’t a question of liking or not liking what a species does to another, it’s a question of respect and being humane. The world would be a much better place for all if that’s how we lived. Sadly we don’t. And by the way cockfights are illegal even though there are a-holes who still do it. One day anything and everything inhumane will be banished except for the few ignorant beings who won’t abide by the laws no matter what their punishment. Thanks thought this was important to respond to.
Cockfighting is illegal btw? Didn’t seem that way when I was riding through Bali and saw it going down out in the open. But ethnocentric point taken.
If this guy were wrestling with a baby panda or a penguin, or, hey, even trying to sell a crocodile phone sleeve, then I could understand this call-PETA mindset here, recoiling in shock to a man roughhousing with a crocodile, but it’s a parody of these Steve Irwins antagonizing big animals known for their affinity for darting up to humans picnicking by the wrong river and devouring them so well that movies made after the animal, and their aggression, were turned into a franchise. Like sharks, but easier to wrestle with.
So when I come by and say that I wonder what it’s like to be born with a brain that has such a response to this stimulus, I’m being kind of serious, wondering what it would be like to have such a hypersensitive array of emotions. Wonder if I’d enjoy my life more or less. It’s a good question.
As for the ad, it’s crap, maybe the best thing about it is that it’s apparently pretty good flamebait. You want to agree with me on what an actual masterpiece ad is and see that I’m not simply one of those guys who’s turned on by abuse for the purpose of entertainment and/or selling phones, watch this one. Then we’ll be on the same page (even though you probably use IE), or a little closer.
I have no idea about Bali’s laws – It’s hard enough worrying about any form of cruelty HERE!! But you know what Doug? I think I like you! And it proves the point that most differences of opinions and views can be discussed and possibly resolved just by patience and kindness towards one another. Sure wish our politicians saw it that way!!!
And you’re right – those ad people did exactly what they set out to do.
Cheers Doug – maybe our comment paths will meet again
I see no harm done to the alligator. Commercial is brilliant, right to the point and very nicely produced. By the way, let me add that I know what I’m talking about because I’m in TV commercial editing business on my own.
I would stop way short of calling it brilliant.
> By the way, let me add that I know what I’m talking about because…
And by the way, let me add that in 2000, before college, I interned for an ad agency, created a tv spot promoting Playboy TV’s 24/7/365 subscription model (transitioning from their pay per view model), they used it, aired internationally.
That said, I got lucky and don’t really know what I’m talking about.
It was a crude flash animation narrated by a Barry White-type voiceover man, Playboy’s got new measurements, if I recall Barbie-like measurements morphing into 24/7/365. No Peabody but the receptionist was impressed… actually she was the accomplishment not the ad.
What else you got Mark?
Hi Doug,
Truly, I see nothing in this commercial that I would correct. From composition, color correction, temporal structure, and other technical parameters this one is right on the mark. The script is perfect, it is funny and short as it should be. The actor’s play is amazing. I couldn’t believe that it was filmed with very little (if any) computer graphics effects. So, in production this ad is financially sound/efficient.
In today’s world of over-used computer graphics (from my point of view is totally unjustifiable) this ad looks like real fresh piece of video art.
In general, my standard of successful commercial is this one:
I thought I was the only only who found this commercial distasteful. It is the assumption of animal cruelty whether or not it is a fake gator.
Thank you Mayra! EXACTLY my feelings and I only hope they are getting enough complaints to take it off the air. How and why these advertisers get together and come up with these ideas, thinking they’re clever and will bring customers to their product is beyond me. They probably like the publicity good or bad, but when it comes to exploiting animals… there are groups of us who find it VERY offensive and will MAKE NOISE these days!
What cruelty did you see folks? I am a member of the Humane Society of US and I have 3 dogs that I love with all my heart. But in this commercial I see no cruelty whatsoever. This is funny, remember-able and well done commercial. Why you wouldn’t protest “Nature Hunters” type of documentaries on NG or on other channels? I guess America became more and more feminine sissy-boy’s nation and this is the base for all your complains and whining and whingeing. You better complain about cruelty of Obamacare.
Well some of us see cruelty when any living creature is used for man’s “entertainment” And we’re NOT fans of the nature docs unless we’re learning something about a species that can help save them from man-kind. But all that aside we just all see things differently so we’ll let that argument die with this conversation. However…yeah right we want the Republicans to care for all of us citizens making less than a few million a year. Come on wake up – I just don’t get how people can see what the Republicans did to us in the past and actually WANT them back in the White House. There is no middle class folks and the Democrats will try to make sure we have a place to fall when all else fails. I don’t know your situation MArk but that can be YOU or people you know and love. The best Republican we had in modern history was IKE and if you don’t know his stand then read up on it, you will be surprised. We certainly are living in tough times but I for one am happy to have my goverement there if I need them. Something the republicans want to make sure they take away from us. We should all go move in with them. Thanks for letting me “talk” cause animals and politics are passions. I don’t HUNT either!! As for Obamacare what HAD to be finally decided on was a bastard version of what he wanted and what he wanted would have been a VERY good thing for all of us. IT was the Republicans who made sure the bill wasn’t “perfect”. We really need to get the facts before making snap decisions. A lot of doctors hate it cause they say they won’t be able to practice the way they want to?!?!? No, it’s because they won’t be making the same kind of money. Our healthcare is not good folks!! See how the countries who serve their people do it! Yikes there is just so much to be concerned about.
Dear Jude,
in my old country they have one interesting saying that can be direct translated as: “To argue with the ignorant one is like to pee against the wind”. And guess what was this “old country” – my unfortunate born place. The USSR. So, when you (or anybody else) start to lecture me about socialism, I am laughing (through my tears). In 1980 I have immigrated to the USA (the best country in the World) to discover that by 2008 – 2012 I will be back in the old Russia. The only difference is that Russian population was always very much cynical and didn’t consume any BS from the Government while over here uneducated people like you sincerely believe in the leftist propaganda and government nonsense. It is a shame to loose such a marvelous country.
Case closed.
Right on Mark (though you made a typo with lose/loose).
Interesting that 34 comments into this festival of offense over what may or may not be a robot and a man less abusive than my big brother was in the swimming pool dunking me back and forth in what he called the washing machine maneuver, no one, not one person has brought up the offense one might take on behalf of the friends and family of the late Steve Irwin who for all we know would all rather be literally dunked and slammed into the mud than have their patriarch’s likeness and memories of his tragic untimely death be dredged out of the mud, but not how they may have had to dredge this croc out of the mud as if you watch it in slow-mo it looks like he made it — unless of course he’s a robot (possibly with CGI mixed in, who knows) in which case you could argue a no-blood-no-foul kind of thing, I don’t know.
Wow Smith, seems you’re getting the hang of this.
For added luls do something on Russia, think there’s some juice to juice.
Welcome to our country Mark, however one has to go wayyyy back in history to see what worked and didn’t work for the people. And if it were not for the Dems there’s an awful lot of good that would never have happened in this great country of ours, including I’m afraid the welcoming of many immigrants – and I have first hand knowledge of this fact. So we will agree to disagree and vote for what we believe to be true and THAT is one of the things that makes our country so great.
Peace
Thank you Jude for your welcoming me to “our” country, although it kind of late (after 32 years living and working here). I don’t want to talk about the history of your Democratic party not to get engaged into discussion on its role in Slavery and other pretty ugly periods of the history of this country. It is enough for me to observe what is going on today. And believe me, I don’t need any patronage in that, I can sort things out on my own. With my education and knowledge in different parts of science and art I teach students like you for quite a few years now.
But, as I said it in my earlier message: Let stop this pissing contest.
Peace.
You have no idea who I am Mark or what my education is but I do have to say if I wanted to be “taught” by anyone I seriously doubt it would be someone like you. I think everyone chooses to see their own history of this country. And I for one had family members beaten over the head when they wanted to fight for unions? Guess who opposed them? Guess who worked the immigrants to exhaustion and in some cases death? You see we all have different stories. As for welcoming you to our country I really didn’t think you had just arrived, you were a little too bitter by our politics. Quite frankly I am too, but I suppose for different reasons. Either way in the end, we probably want the same things for this country I am signing off to this site cause I really do believe we’ve covered it all. And I agree with you on some things.
Awful commercial. I feel sad for the gator. That commercial makes no sense and the message it sends is so negative! It looks as if it had been tied up and could not move his head out of the water. Hurting animals for the fun of it. It is disgusting!
Oh my GOD. There are seriously people calling this commercial out because it’s “inhumane.” How can you not tell that is a fake gator. Do you honestly think they would film this with a real one? That’s why I hate this commercial, personally. The gator struggling and moving is so unreal, it’s not even funny.
People are arguing inanely here, claiming to “know” one way or another whether the alligator here is real or fake. I DO know for a fact that the alligator’s a fake, because the actor in the commercial is a very good friend of mine. There are other commercials in this series coming, and in none of them is an animal mistreated; in fact the only creature having to endure any stress at all is the actor. It is meant to be humorous. If you don’t find it funny, I respect that, but stop trashing Verizon or the actor or the filmmakers, who are simply doing their job.
PS: The context of the commercial was not meant to be gator wrestling; rather, the implication was to be that he had been attacked by the alligator and was fighting to save himself. If that doesn’t come through, then by all means you can blame a director for not having told his or her story clearly.