It’s difficult to get people to watch commercials. Most people simply want to skip past them. In the olden days, the commercial break on T.V. was the time most of us would get up to get the popcorn, take a bathroom back, or grab some more pizza. Then, the remote control came along and the channel surfer was born. Dad no longer had to get up to change the channel during the commercial break, he could switch to another channel when the annoying ad came on.
T.V. NETWORKS FIGHTING T.V. COMMERCIAL SKIPPERS
Now today, TV networks are actually suing certain tech companies that are selling technology where digital TV viewers can simply program commercials right out of existence. Networks are trying to fight this in court, while some studios are actually joining forces with them- with a big chunk of money for the tech creators.
T.V VIEWERS DECIDE
Yet, the problem lies not in technology, but in trying to force TV viewers to watch ads they do not want to see. And unless the networks can chain viewers down to their seats and prop their eyes open, the viewer at home will always have the ultimate power to exit the room, look away, or flip the station while that annoying commercial comes on.
VOLUME LAW OF T.V. COMMERCIALS NOW IN EFFECT
Now, a law was just passed in the U.S. which prohibits T.V. commercials from being any louder than the loudest spot during the T.V. program it airs on. Critics say that while this is a good start, some T.V. shows are only loud in a few spots, so it is still reportedly jarring to the viewer when certain commercials come on at the loudest level permitted by law.
ONE COMPANY BEATS T.V. COMMERCIAL VIEWER DECLINE
And so, the battle between commercials, the TV networks that want viewers to see them, and the viewers who generally want to avoid them wages on. Yet, there is one solution- create commercials that viewers actually want to see! With such a novel idea, at least one company as of late has got that problem solved. That company is Old Navy, and the solution is handled largely based upon the talent and comedic wit of the commercials’ star- comedian Jim Meskimen. While most flee watching commercials, Jim Meskimen’s Old Navy spot is racking up thousands of viewers each month, on the internet alone.
Viewers can see the Old Navy commercial in the link at the bottom of this page. Old Navy provides the latest fashions at great prices for the whole family, and Jim Meskimen’s performance in the commercial makes the national commercial spot a proven success.
JIM MESKIMEN’S COMMERCIAL SPOTS GET RISING STATISTICS
Comic star Jim Meskimen has been a professional actor for nearly thirty years. Jim has appeared in the films Apollo 13, The Grinch, Frost/Nixon, The Punisher, Not Forgotten, There Will Be Blood and many others. Some of Jim’s TV credits include Friends, Whose Line is it, Anyway?, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Castle, Lie to Me and Rules of Engagement.
In the 1980’s & 90’s, Jim had a thriving career as a man-on-the-street interviewer for improvised TV and radio campaigns for grocery stores, bank cards, coffee makers, and a host of other clients that won awards for several major advertising agencies.
As an impressionist, his impressions of political figures in the 2004 election were showcased in animated cartoons by Jibjab that were among the most popular items on the Internet. His viral video, Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices topped three-quarters of a million views in 2011 and his subsequent impressions videos have cemented him as a major YouTube talent.
The Australian Today Show dubbed him, “The World’s Greatest Impressionist.”
For more information about Jim Meskimen:
Jim Meskimen’s commercials are hugely popular, and you can see why here below. View The Old Navy commercial starring Jim Meskimen here:
