Creative > Ad of the Day

Ad of the Day

Verizon Wireless "Misfits"

Brand: Verizon Wireless Mobile Communications
Agency: McCann Erickson North America
Review Date: November 16, 2009

Verizon Wireless turns up its attack on the iPhone in this holiday-themed commercial that banishes the Apple device to “The Island of Misfit Toys.” At first, the outcast inhabitants are surprised to see the iPhone arrive. “What are you doing here?” asks a plush elephant. “You can download apps and browse the Web.” The sad-looking  iPhone explains by showing a map of its spotty AT&T 3G coverage. “You’re going to fit right in here!” giggles a welcoming model airplane, instantly understanding the predicament. A voiceover and on-screen copy explain, “This year, it’s the 3G coverage that counts.” For those considering smartphone gifts this holiday season, the ad provides a compelling argument for Verizon over AT&T. No one wants to invest in a gift that will disappoint, and this spot raises concerns about an apparently lacking aspect of the iPhone's functionality that all the apps in the Apple Store can't fix.--Eleftheria Parpis

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Overall rating:
(3.2 ) Good

10 Comments
  • 1. MI comments:
    November 26, 2009

    This ad does exactly what every ad should do. It conveys a message, it uses creativity to deliver the message and it triggers a reaction with the receiver. It also sells the product. The only bad thing about the ad is that it uses an identical ad and theme as "The Island Of Forgotten Toys" which is an ad that ran locally in my state for its state lottery. Lets look past the favorable commentary from the iPhone lovers and look at how clever the ad is. It completely works.


  • 2. MI comments:
    November 26, 2009

    This ad does exactly what every ad should do. It conveys a message,It uses creativity to deliver the message and it triggers a reaction with the receiver. It also sells the product. The only bad thing about the ad is that it uses an identical ad and theme as "The Island Of Forgotten Toys" which is an ad that ran locally in my state for its state lottery. Lets look past the favorable commentary from the iPhone lovers and look at how clever the ad is. It completely works.


  • 3. Interesting comments:
    November 23, 2009

    Is Y&R agency of the year yet?


  • 4. Tony Granger comments:
    November 18, 2009

    The ad fails to do the one thing that all good spots must do, and that's shake the entire category. This is still crap from a crap agency.


  • 5. BJS comments:
    November 17, 2009

    I wish Verizon had the iPhone and so do they. The ad is funny.


  • 6. BJS comments:
    November 17, 2009

    I wish Verizon had the iPhone and so do they. The ad is funny.


  • 7. @AZ comments:
    November 16, 2009

    Creatives do not make legal decision of "fudge" maps with detailed coverage. Clients provide that type of information. Creatives execute against information they are provided, not information the make up. You are an idiot.


  • 8. curbyour_advertising comments:
    November 16, 2009

    Love it! First time I saw it, I thought, what the hell is this? It's so stupid and cheesy--oh, wait--that's the iPhone. I mean, they took the Maps for That idea and just blasted AT&T network inferiority with a really smart, savage humor disguised as a little holiday ad. Animation is picture-perfect spoof of the crappy old Xmas specials.


  • 9. AZ comments:
    November 16, 2009

    Great ad? Ad of the day? It's everything that's wrong with a lot advertising today. The map they show isn't factual, but hey it's creative, so let's just fudge the information and we'll sort it out in court. If Parpis wants to extol this ads virtues then the blatant misinformation Verizon uses should be pointed out as well.


  • 10. Saw on the tube comments:
    November 16, 2009

    I love this ad. It's not necessarily really original as the format has been done a bunch with the Island of Misfits, but it's a great slam.


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