Jerry Seinfeld And Bill Gates' Microsoft Ads Being Pulled

Microsoft is preparing to pull its TV ads featuring comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Microsoft's co-founder and chairman Bill Gates.

Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw said the end of the Seinfeld ads was planned well in advance, and wasn't coming in response to any criticism of the spots. "All along we said we were having a teaser campaign," he said. "We're getting ready to start the second phase. This was the plan all along."

The news, broken this afternoon by Valleywag, comes just days after Microsoft aired the latest in the series of commercials, produced by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, featuring the two men in comic situations. The ads have been largely panned as a strained effort on the software giant's part to not only promote Windows but also portray Microsoft as cool and in touch with regular consumers -- basically, to counter the stodgy image painted in Apple's "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads.

Seinfeld, who reportedly received $10 million for his efforts, was a superstar in the 1990s with his hit show. Using him now, in 2008, only added to Microsoft's image as being behind the times, critics said.

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Comments

[ccpostman]

Let me know if they run these. All buy more Apple stock!

[PuddyKatz]

The funniest ad ever, but I still don't want to buy their product (what was it by the way).

[Sloopydrew]

Am I the only one who thought the second ad with the family was actually pretty funny? I laughed a few times in the 4 minutes -- that's a few times more than I laugh during most ads. I think the first ad, in the shoe store, blew it for them, as that one wasn't nearly as good and was just sort of weird ... and not funny.

[BlogAngel]

Yes, you are.

[firelord5000]

Actually I thought it was very funny also. Also you are right about the shoe one, it just had nothing to do with anything.

[LeftRight]

As Leno said, You KNOW the economy is bad when Seinfeld and Gates are shopping in a discount shoe store!

[BowlingForRevenge]

Leno's wrong.
Wealthy folks always look for the bargain....that's how they got rich and stayed rich.
Likely their wealth entitled them to a discount anyway....like that Nike store in LA where all the celebs get free swag. The idea is if us common folks see them with it we'll be jonesing for it till we get it.
Only difference is we pay retail!
FYI the only thing Leno pays retail for is the hotdog he buys from the street vendor

[miles120]

And exactly what is that campaign supposed to accomplish? What positive message about Microsoft am I supposed to come away with? All I get from those dismal failures is the notion that Microsoft has money to burn.

Instead, they should invest in a reliable OS and a workable user interface...

[BillieJohn]

I thought the ads were great...I laughed out loud. Guess I am not up to date either.

Oh well.

[jeplanet]

That makes 2 of us.
:)

[salemor]

Jerry who???? no one even knows who seinfeld is anymore. He is not funny, actually never was, just watch some of the old tv shows, has no appeal and boring as hell! Now Gates - well...The ads are really silly and make no sense.

[NicoleAnon]

What shows do you think are funny? I'm just curious.

[phantom5551]

i agree. i never got the seinfield appeal and his standup act just sucks to me.

[cfreedom]

You and Phantom are so comfortable in your cluelessness that you come here and publicly profess your stupidity. Please, for all of us, think more and act out less.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Oh, that second one was very funny.... Why did they cave?

[danoj]

The sienfeld commercials sucked, and that's why, me thinks, they were pulled.

[RJPasadena]

I Agree...these commercials really suck! A commercial about nothing...that'll work...NOT!

[templeofdoom]

If these weren't ad spots, they'd be even funnier. Advertising is an awful business, those of you in it should quit, however for someone unconcerned with purchasing and brands, these are simply funny little narratives.

[vincefango]

Macs never did it for me, and I'll never buy anything from Apple more expensive than an iPod....so the ads mean nothing to me. I did think they were kinda funny in parts. I just think Jerry Seinfeld is funny as is and Bill Gates was ...well, Bill Gates. The only thing that gets me is...why 4 minute commercial? If they had kept it to 30-60 sec ad it wouldn't have been so over bearing. But, like I said, I buy PC's and this campaign doesn't mean much to me, I'm already sold. What's funnier is the constant battle between Mac people and PC people, that are already taking over the comments here. You like a Mac? Who cares? I like a PC...good for me.

[stagebandman]

I notice you started your post with a dig at Mac. Nice.

[NicoleAnon]

This is what I learned today from this discussion:

1) Seinfeld needs to hire a new agent immediately.

2) SP should be blamed for everything including making Adam take a bite from the apple.

3) Bill Gates can't dance.

[Yermammy]

What I learned today (from you)
1) You don't know much about CPU's (Mac's are inherently superior operating systems)
2) Nobody cares about Bill Gates
3) If you are defending Muskrat Sally, then you obviously don't know much. About anything.

[GTRich2004]

"What I learned today (from you)
1) You don't know much about CPU's (Mac's are inherently superior operating systems)"

OK, I can't resist. That comment alone shows that "you don't know much about CPU's" either.

[AmandaBC]

"1) Seinfeld needs to hire a new agent immediately."

Why? He got him $10 million for two lousy ads.
Hard to beat that...

[JacklynD]

I think they are funny.

[reasonlives]

Really, funny? Wow. You are easy to please. They were long, confusing and dumb. Very ineffective, but Jerry can cash his 10 million. Not bad.

[ccpostman]

You must work for MS.

Get back to work slacker! I found another bug in Vista.

[AmandaBC]

"I found another bug in Vista"

Riiiiight. Mac fanboys don't even know how to start a Vista box...

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Too boring to follow. Was never sure what was being hyped. Couldn't get over how paunchy
Seinfeld looks. Gates is about as animated as a rock. If you're looking for cool, watch a few Target ads.

[atciii]

i agree, i dont know what they were selling. the only connection to microsoft was gates himself in the ad, then the logo at the end for a brief second. but still did not connect at all.

besides MAC is better, and Microsoft is just a bad rip off version of MAC

[KOisGod]

The ads were lame. The Apple ads are way better with the dork republican guy representing Microsoft. He's perfect, Micro$oft wasted its money.

[AmandaBC]

I thought the republican guy was the snotty and elitist apple cultist, who hinted that anyone who doesn't buy their overpriced and underperforming computers is a loser...

[KOisGod]

I defer to your superior analytical skills Amanda, and your astute powers of observation on matters related to the computing scene.

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Me too, it's a great computer, but it's too much money!