Please, please, please tell me someone else saw that Alien news report last night on the plight of the poor pickle imprisoned in glass within the dark, cold isolation of the fridge.
I hope this is a series, and that whatever genius thought of it gets much credit... though I couldn't find any mention of it on technorati.
Sadly I only caught the tail end of this ad, and was distracted too.... so I don't remember the brand. But you know I'd be all over their site today if they'd included an url.
Hey, Ken Schafer, give these guys a finger wagging would you please.
Tags: ad, alien, pickle, bicks pickle, alien news report, bicks in captivity ken schafer
I *love* this commercial. I don't remember the brand either. I did a quick search on YouTube and GoogleVideo. Nothin'.
Posted by: Kate Trgovac | June 27, 2006 at 11:43 AM
It's Bick's
Posted by: Marc | June 27, 2006 at 12:58 PM
The Bick's website has nothing about the Alien... but it does have a contest for 125 Fujifilm digital cameras.
But that's it... no product info, no downloadable alien reports, no nothing. Who's runnin' this campaign anyway?
Posted by: Lex | June 27, 2006 at 03:43 PM
Yvonne and I have seen this ad a couple of times and both of us thought it was great.
It's not surprising that there's not much on the Web about this, because Bick's is Canadian (though now US-owned) and appears to sell only in Canada.
Posted by: Rohan Jayasekera | June 27, 2006 at 03:55 PM
So... I wrote them...
Hi,
Last night I saw the funniest ad - an Alien news report on the plight of the poor pickle imprisoned in glass within the dark, cold isolation of the fridge.
I liked it so much I blogged it - http://www.unsweetened.ca/unsweetened/2006/06/plight_of_the_p.html, intending to link to the ad (like the Smucker's ads you have on your smucker's website) or a web version on the bicks.ca site (which has a great contest, but nothing else), or perhaps a Youtube.com version... lord knows everything else is up there.
But I was disappointed to find no reference to this ad anywhere on your Bick's site, your Smucker's site or anyone else's.
In fact, so disappointed and confused I wasn't entirely sure that it was a Bick's ad. I mean, you guys are savvy enough to have your smucker's ads available online... so you couldn't possibly have put out an ad this funny and left us online folks with no way to reference to it and talk about it.
What gives?
Professional food writer, amateur blogger and Bick's Gerkin-lover from way back,
Alexandra Clark
Posted by: Lex | June 27, 2006 at 03:55 PM
My guess is that this is a standalone ad, not part of an alien-themed campaign.
I generally don't see multiple ads in a campaign other than from the really big spenders. Which is too bad, because I am getting SO SICK of seeing the very same ad what seems like a billion times. Please, ad agencies, shift some of your spot-buying budget to producing variations on the ads. Yes, I know it's expensive, but if a viewer sees the same ad too many times you risk turning the viewer against your product.
Posted by: Rohan Jayasekera | June 27, 2006 at 04:06 PM
I made Kate buy pickles because of this ad. Now I have pickles in a prison in my fridge. Mwah ha ha ha ha ha!!
Posted by: roro | June 27, 2006 at 06:14 PM
Which means that our hydro bill is going thru the roof b/c roro just stands in front of the fridge and randomly opening it trying to catch the alien! Darn you, Bicks Pickles!
Posted by: Kate Trgovac | June 27, 2006 at 07:35 PM
And the Pickle People write back
----
Dear Ms. Clark,
This letter is in reference to your recent contact with Smucker Foods of Canada Co. We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us and most certainly enjoy hearing from consumers who enjoy our products.
It is always gratifying to receive comments such as yours and we look forward to your continued interest in Smucker Foods of Canada Co. and our Brands. Feedback from our consumers is always valued and assists us in future activities. You may be assured that your comments have been forwarded to our Marketing Group in charge of this product for future consideration.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us. If you should have further questions or need additional information, please contact us at 1-800-567-1897, Monday to Friday, between 8am and 7pm EST.
Sincerely,
Jessica Vidal
Consumer Services Representative
Ref # 7473677
Posted by: Lex | June 29, 2006 at 06:15 PM
I WANT THAT PICKLE COMMERCIAL
Posted by: kim | June 29, 2006 at 07:20 PM
You've got it, Kim!
Go to http://mynameiskate.typepad.com/at_home/2006/06/its_not_perfect.html and you can see a bootleg of it.
Posted by: Kate Trgovac | June 29, 2006 at 07:41 PM
The original spot was created by Ogilvy in Toronto. You can watch the spot and ask them questions on their blog:
http://meanwhile.wordpress.com
Posted by: jted | June 30, 2006 at 11:33 AM
jted - thanks for the follow-up. Some of my favourite people in the world have done time at Ogilvy Toronto.
Posted by: Lex | June 30, 2006 at 01:08 PM
BTW, not to minimize Kate's excellent bootlegging skills, jted also posted a version of the ad on YouTube, which can be viewed on Meanwhile -- http://meanwhile.wordpress.com/2006/06/27/bicks-tv/
Posted by: Lex | June 30, 2006 at 02:03 PM
Yes folks, there are definitely more to come. The next two should be just as awesome as the first.
Posted by: michelle | June 30, 2006 at 09:32 PM
here's ur link to that darn commerical u could never find. THE BICK'S PICKEL COMMERCIAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TKoEi7BUH0
Posted by: commercial-provider | July 05, 2006 at 09:45 PM
Anyone knows the whole speech? I've seen it several times...
"Speakless, the Bick's pickles live behind glass walls of protection. Human offspring, unable to control their cravings, have evolved in created tools to get to the pickles. The pickles cries, going eated. Craving satisfied, the pickles are returned to their prison, paralysed in fear, wondering who amongst them will be next."
It's something like that but there are several words I didn't really catch; any one can help me with those? Thanks!
Posted by: Eolan | July 14, 2006 at 02:54 PM
I absolutely love the Bick's pickle commercial!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its ingenious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favourite is the latest one, where theres a bunch of poeple having a bbq eating pickles, and at the end when the asian dude starts laughing the alien says (from afar) something like "the human bares his teeth" LOL okay its jsut so funny when you see it i aboslutely love it! I gotta go out and get me some Bick's pickles!
Posted by: Louis | August 01, 2006 at 01:54 AM
Louis, thanks for the run down. Paul O sent me a portion of the ad, but I still haven't caught it on-air. Hopefully either jted or Ogilvy will get it online soon.
Posted by: Lex | August 01, 2006 at 09:24 AM
I found the second commercial on youtube!!!!!!!! here it is!!!!1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LroNuNMf_m8
its amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
does anyone know if the third one is out!??!?
Posted by: Louis | September 20, 2006 at 05:08 PM
WOW. Are there more of these. That was funny. Has anyons seen the Salad Fingers? There fun to.
Posted by: richard | October 25, 2006 at 05:48 PM