Review of Very Funny Ads

Very Funny Ads launched on August 23, 2006 in tandem with the TBS special World’s Funniest Commercials, hosted by Kevin Nealon and his wife Susan Yeager. 

The one-hour television program featured funny television ads from several countries, some of which were never before aired in the US. The online endeavor originally presented many of the same ads and a few too racy for television.  Since then, however, the site has amassed much more content and is now being touted by TBS as the leading source for funny commercials online.

Be careful, as you can easily spend far more time than you initially anticipated on this site. Viewers browse commercials by brand, country, and category (featured, top rated, most watched, sexy, and international). Each commercial comes with a display providing its title, a descriptive blurb, its country and brand, and the year it aired.

The ads are hilarious, mostly because our neighbors on the other hemisphere don’t have to adhere to strict FCC regulations (FCC withstanding, even commercials from the States have their brilliant moments). It’s evident that sex sells in the international market considering how many sexy ads there are on the site, like the one for Ann Summers Lingerie, which shows off just how hot their undergarments can get. However, there are also times when you wish these countries had a more conservative governing communications body to guide them.  And considering that this is a TBS site, don’t be surprised that a decent chunk of the content promotes things Turner. 

Why is it an international truth that condom ads are always so funny? (If you’re looking for something a little more work safe, the same truism seems to work for insurance advertising.)