I was reading something recently about shock advertising – which explained some of the more bizarre ads I’ve seen recently although not why someone thinks it’s going to get me to buy their product.  Yes, they’re memorable but…  Anyway, it got me thinking about other memorable ads recently and how iconic the main characters have gotten and how much TV advertising has changed in recent years.

If you are female and were over 13 back in 1994 I’m guessing you remember this Diet Coke commercial, and I’m sure guys have their equivalent from that era.  Fun, but predictable and a long way from the Verizon Guy, although I have to say he’s been looking a lot more attractive since he stopped talking in the last year or so. And then there’s the Progressive Girl, Flo, who has a following to rival any actress that gets a full 30 minutes.  They are both more quirky than sex symbol/model caliber and yet they’ve got more buzz than the old fashioned spokesperson gets including their own Wikipedia pages ( Flo and Verizon Guy).  So are they really something different? Or are they so appealing because they are more realistic?  Not the crazed housewives of early Calgon commercials or the snow bunnies of beer ads but people with just a little too much mascara and enthusiasm?