I’ve enjoyed most of the commercials in Kohler’s “Bold Look” ad campaign. It’s got to be difficult to market a product such as theirs in a way that’s interesting and captivating, so I give them kudos for the mostly successful manner of doing so. I might not be in the market for a new faucet or a toilet, but their ads catch my attention because they tell mini-stories.
Unfortunately, their latest hasn’t left me with a positive impression. For those who can’t get the video to run, it’s a commercial for a toilet. A man leaves his home and sees a plumber’s van outside his neighbor’s house. The plumber is a very attractive woman, who’s wearing shorts** and has her sleeves rolled up (to expose as much skin as possible, and I don’t mean the stereotypical “plumber’s crack” kind of exposure). They make eye contact. She looks…sultry. He watches her go into his neighbors house, and then races back into his own, where he proceeds to start throwing insanely stupid things down his toilet. Nothing works. His toilet is too good. Toward the end of the ad, he’s pouring dog food down it when his wife appears and stares at him, puzzled.
The reason I find the story this particular ad tells rather bothersome is twofold: 1) it does no justice to the female plumber. She’s eye candy. She’s fantasy material, not a legitimate professional; and 2) it does no justice to the man (the MARRIED man, even), who turns into a slavering idiot ruled by his hormones, and will clearly do anything to get the female plumber into his house so he can ogle her up close. With his wife looking on, apparently.
My negative reaction to this spot was instant. Bad Kohler, no cookie.
**ETA: Egg on my face! Jo’s not wearing shorts, though she does still walk like she’s modelling instead of going on a plumbing housecall. That’ll teach me to write an article long after viewing the subject material.
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ROFL! That’s a great way to look at it!
Jennifer Kesler(Quote) (Reply)
Hello did any of your children see this commercial. Well my 2 year old son did and he now thinks it is great to flush things down the toilet. I guess the advertisers at Kohler do not have any children.
Julia Wheat(Quote) (Reply)
No, fortunately, my kids are too old for that! Although a few years ago, a neighbor’s kid did spend a few quiet minutes in our bathroom plugging up our toilet with toilet paper. I should have killed that child then and there. He was cute, but a lot of trouble.
I’ve noticed a few commercials lately that show or insinuate a small child flushing something valuable down the toilet (like a watch, usually).
Gategrrl(Quote) (Reply)
There was a wonderful Tiny Toon adventures short that featured infant Plucky Duck learning about the toilet. He displayed exactly the behavior Julia Wheat described.
Not really on topic, except that despite its discussed flaws the Kohler commercial made me say “(Object) go down the hoooole” repeatedly.
Patrick(Quote) (Reply)
This commercial should end with wife jamming the jackass husband down the toilet with only his feet sticking out, then the wife calling the female plumber over for a laugh.
The finale’ would be a big slurping sound as the powerful Kohler sucks this unfaithful turd ball down completely.
Herb(Quote) (Reply)
Herb – Totally agree!!!
Amy(Quote) (Reply)
That commercial is not only irritating but ineffective. It really sucks.
D. Porter(Quote) (Reply)
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