Dispatches from NYC: American Advertising

I am beginning to love commercials. Not because I have a fetish for seeing medicine advertised after coming from a country where that is banned. Nor is it because of the production values being higher - indeed when watching a local affiliate (I still have got to get to grips with how the TV channels work over here) the production of some adverts is appalling, and furthered by the comedy splicing in of a local advert halfway through one that is already on. No, it is because American Advertising is becoming more and more ruthless, with brands taking pot-shots at their rivals. Perhaps in the current climate, being aggressive and attempting to belittle your competitors is a savvy business move. In any case, seeing commercials where people from Burger King go to a drive-thru for rival fast-food outlet Wendy's and ask for a Whopper (No), another BK exclusive burger (No), and then ask what there is on offer - "Baked potato with sour cream" - provoking the response of "A baked potato? Are we in Russia?!" is getting compulsive. Of course, in the UK at the moment with the commitment to shrinking the waistlines of people and eating less fast-food, Wendy's could run the same advert to their advantage. But that's a different story for another day.