Definitely better.

Is it getting better or worse? It's about the same.

Boss: Goldstein! Go to Australia and find out if there's any other bank's using the same creative idea and strategy as the ASB in New Zealand.
.
Cut to a montage of whacky ideas from TBWA Auckland creatives that have been held in the bottom drawer for decades, waiting for the right moment to get them in front of the client.

Cut to Ira walking into the Boss's office, he's standing in front of a chart.

Sir, there is one bank. The (murmer murmer) Bank.

Boss: Which bank?

Ira. Oh, Sir, the Commonwealth Bank.

We love cricket so we sponsor it? I call bullshit on that one.

I reckon it's more of a case of "we know a lot of Aussies love cricket so we'd hope that if we pump a couple of hundred grand into it we'd get some good will in return, and fark knows we need good will at the moment, what with the additional rate rise and the ad campaign that's clearly an absolutefarkin balls-up".

From the SMH: "Commonwealth Bank has added extra sting to yesterday's 0.25 percentage point rate rise by the Reserve Bank by lifting the interest rate on its variable home loans by 0.3 percentage points. This is more than the Reserve Bank's 0.25 percentage point lift in interest rates yesterday"

Ohhhhhhhh, so THAT'S what they meant by Determined to be Different.

It's just getting tragic now....

8pm's got it spot on...

I'm sure someone at Comm Bank will be reading this at some point - I pity them if they're not. So here's a message - If you can't actually back up why you're different with at least one example in your brand communication, then you should get out now before you're left in the carnage this is sure to ensue.

It's such a quagmire that this brand is in. Do any banks, let alone CBA take a moment to think why more and more people over the last ten years have been dumping more money into funds and brokerage houses? It's because of one very simple reason - Goldman Sachs don't want to be my friend, they don't even care if i like them because all they give a shit about is money and the more i give them the more they are going to make me rich.

Why haven't Aussie banks awoken to the fact is that they are there to deal with my money, I don't want you to come around to my house on xmas day to talk about home loans, i want you to be serious about my money and what you can do with it. Then i will take you seriously. Putting up your interest rate during a big brand campaign is why i hate what you're doing even more, and not as an advertising creative but as a dad who has a mortgage. So, it's got nothing to do with creativity but everything to do with what you stand for - so far nothing 'different'.

7:38 - stop gibbering.

That is way, way better. Great talent, genuinely funny.. and from speaking to real people in the pub tonight watching the socceroos, I've got a little insight..

PEOPLE LIKE THIS!

8.44 is right, have the marketing department mentioned the 'determined to be different' campaign to the rest of the company? And if they did, did they explain they were hoping to mean different in a good way?

Tragic indeed. Not just the advertising bloggers commenting but the press at large. SMH, TheAge, Fin Review.

8.44pm

I agree, maybe the cost of silly mistakes by the marketing department at CBA, as depicted in AD 1, are ruining the Nations home-buyers chance of a real go.

Well that said I agree with 8.44pm but the ad is tad better. Two down and just 10 to go. Should be a fun year. If for no-one but MONTY, who I'm sure will weigh in soon.

This would be really awesome work for an american bank launching into the oz market.

but iit just doesn't make sense for an australian bank talking to australians.

if they keep up this whole american-ad-guys-not-getting-australia thing, for australia's founding bank, aren't people going to start wondering just why the fuck commbank is using an american agency in the first place, if they're so shit at understanding the market?

AND BESIDES - BASEBALL IS SLOW AND FUCKING BORING, AND THAT'S AMERICAN. SO THE MYTHICAL AD-GUY IS FULL OF SHIT ANYWAY.

If I was a competitor I'd be doing an ad saying that we as a bank understand our customers and use/buy Australian services/ad agency because as financial folk we understand that it's good for our economy.

A LOT worse, a LOT.

9.34pm I reckon we must've been in the same boozer. It came on when I was watching the soccer and definately got a chuckle from the punters.

Americans just don't get cricket... sooo true. I watched the super bowl and don't get that game too good either. Maybe that's why they need good ads to make up for the crap game!

There's another cricket spot on you tube which is the one I saw in the soccer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFj0wutF5RQ

Wow... what a f'ing terrific brief and Buy Australian Made was such a great success.

Mate reckon you must be a planner :)

The first thing i was taught at AWARD school was show, don't tell. So you're determined to be different Comm bank? Why? Show me, don't just make some vacuous statement tagged on to a yank ad wanker not 'getting' Australia.

And surely this particular execution just galvanises Aussies' hatred of Americans because they don't take the time to understand anything different (i.e. cricket) before slagging it off? What the fuck does that have to do with my interest rates going up?

The whole US ad agency not understanding Australia is not that funny. Really. Is this whole campaign about the one gag. Oh dear oh dear. What a waste.

Not bad actually. Mr Cricket plays his role well. I think it would work tops during the 20twenty games. The dull nature of the ad could be a nice contrast during the break.

At least they managed to keep a montage of cricket action out of it.

I think they're funny - this campaigns gonna be good - stop whinging about it.

I think it's really funny.

"cricket, watch us stand." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

come on mates, take it for what it's worth.

I hate cricket, like I hated the first comm bank ad, but I like this one, because I hate cricket.

There are many Aussies who just don't like cricket, this ad is funny because it gives me, like many others a release, it's a shame it took an American agency to pick up on it though.

I can understand the though process:

And why the hell do they stand around all day with hats, zinc and sunnies on just waiting for a little red ball to come their way? Why don't they could do something more productive with their time? I'm thinking some leisure sport activity, like air hockey or foosball, just to keep the adrenalin levels pumping. Maybe down a few beers and mow the lawn or something. Or maybe even shorten the game to 30 minutes a side and then they wouldn't have to stand outside for so long, and we won't have to wrestle the remotes off avid cricket fans who've fallen asleep in front of the television due to the edge of your seat, riveting nature of the sport.

Anyway, that's enough. Do some work bitches.

10.04 you're spot on! Here, here. What a waste of money, they would have been better off giving the millions spent on this crap to charity. At least you'd be different and imagine the PR you'd receive especially seeing how the interest rates keep rising so bloody fast.

CBA should cancel the remaining TVC's and ask for a refund. Glad I'm with St George is all I can say.

I don't mind it either really and definately an improvement.

I like it. People in Australia who don't get cricket will love this. Better than having Punter and the boys playing BYC with a few beers.

Everybody please read today's [Thursday] Australian page 2 'An extra burden and still vulnerable' by Richard Gluyas.

Maybe Mr.Buckman isn't interested in what the ad industry thinks about his new Commbank campaign, but even he might be interested in how much creedance the punters and journos give it.

Demonstrate not claim.

So what current cricket sponsorship ads are funnier than those?
KFC? Ford? I think not.
Good use of talent that can't act.
Look forward to seeing the next instalments.

oh my. what have they done.

I'm still not sure how to take this campaign. It so feels like it's all a joke, but sadly it looks like it isn't. But truthfully, it is. What a serious waste of money. Especially with the current rate rises and the Comm bank's extra 0.3% sting.

I don't understand these ads and I'm a creative who understands planning, strategy and ideas. How in the world will the common punter take anything out of these ads? There's no way joe blow will work out what the fuck an american ad agency has got to do with this message.

Americans don't understand Australians but comm bank does, and we show that by telling Australian's, so that makes us different!???!!

WHAT THE FUCK!

And by using a lame "office" execution to tell this joke of a story is just plain poor. So fucking unoriginal.

The american's couldn't re-create the uk version of the office and they sure as hell can't do it with these ads either. These are cringeworthy ads with nothing to say and have no relevance to their new strap line "determined to be different".

These will go down as the biggest stain on American and Australian advertising in history.

Watch future teachers use this debacle as a case study on what not to do in marketing.

I'm so glad i'm not with the Comm bank.

They had the biggest opportunity to be different and get the punters running but they've BLOWN IT BIG TIME.

Goodby's and the comm bank, yep, we're all laughing here in Australia.

We've seen the big brand ad. Degree of difficulty 0.1
We've seen the cricket ad. Degree of difficulty 0.0
When do we see the real stuff for things like interest rates, term deposits?
Anyone can do the big $$$ make you feel good stuff. It's the down and dirty where you earn your money.

There seems to be plenty of debate on here whether these ads are funny or not. I'm sure a few people in a pub watching the soccer last night may have got a chuckle out of it (then again, after eight schooners even Rove appears hilarious).

But I would like to know how many people in the pub actually took out 'determined to be different'? And of these, who actually gives a shit? Most people are now talking about the pricks raising their lending rate, not the funny ad on TV with the zany american ad agency.

I want to like it. They're doing something different for a bank. But the reasons why I don't like it are winning. It's an American ad for an Australian audience that doesn't connect at all with it's cricket enthusiast audience. Nothing against American ads, I love them, but it's no Ernie the Clepto!

This campaign is awful, but so too are all the other cricket sponsorship campaigns this year. If anyone out there had anything to do with the terrible KFC and Ford ads, can you please explain yourself?

"prior to elbows"

that's some funny shit. def one of the better ads on tv.

st.george and the talking baby - now that's some lame ass stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDjhcVani0&NR=1

I wish Lee threw down a bouncer at that fucker.

MAKE THAM PAY!

MAKE THEM PAY!

To the Australian Advertising Community, take a good long hard look at yourselves first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnjSCdAkcZI&feature=related

Pot meet kettle.

Take into account that 36% of Sydney population, 32% of Melbourne and 17% of Brisbane are migrants (excluding UK and NZ) and obviously they are not into cricket. They will love those TVCs.

Cricket sucks. So does Combank, there's a nice strageic connection happening.

I've got a btter tagline though, tell me what you think guys.

Conbank. Determined to be greedy capitalist, scum sucking, greedy, beancounting, nobchops............. bit long maybe?

Some punters who dont like cricket may well find the cricket gags amusing. However will it make them change their bank? No. Especially after their poorly timed rate rise.
I've had the joy of working on a few brand campaigns for banks in Australia recently. None have anything different to say about themselves. None have different products to offer customers. All are foolish enough to believe that they can still pull the wool over their customers eyes by saying that they are different without any proof points. That somehow a few entertaining gags will suffice for the moment until somone brighter than their marketing people comes up with a new product that is genuinely different.
These ads, although mildly amusing , will simply make the Commonwealth look foolish for hiring an idiotic american agency who dont understand australian culture.They've probably had to raise their rate to pay for the campaign!
The pissed off govt spokesman on tv last night suggested that customers of the Commonwealth bank should leave the bank and the govt are putting into plan measures which will make it easier for customers to do so.
The Commonwealth Campaign will do nothing to stop them doing this. I will be joining the queue.
Cant wait for the Branson bank to open in Australia. He will wipe the floor with the lot of them.

What I can't understand is:

What the fuck do any of these ads have to do with determined to be different?

Basically the premise is Commonwealth bank fucked up royally by appointing a shit agency in America that no-one west of Pyrmont has ever heard of and that's how they're determined to be different? FAIL.

Secondly, if they love cricket, why would they appoint an agency to research it?

Thirdly, why would they employ an agency like that?

It's just flawed in so many ways. If the punters love it, so be it, but then again punters loved catapult and Corey Middleton.

why are australians such bad losers?

Determined to be different. Nice strategy Mark. And what's the first major thing does after launching this new campaign. It raises interest rates not to the RBA's rate of 0.25% but being fucking different, it raises it 0.30%. Time to find a new bank. Which bank?

So some people think if you don't like cricket you'll love these ads?

You do realise these ads run during the cricket, and are designed to highlight the fact that the 'Commonwealth Bank likes cricket so we sponsor it', so unless we're in upside-down world, a bad at telling of the banks love that appeals to people who don't love cricket probably won't work that well.

these ads are better than most sponsorship ads - credit for that. but the campaign is flawed. I think most here agree.

even when you take into account the high level of vitriol on this blog, bitterness that the account went offshore and general derision of americans, it's still crap. particularly the flimsy, hypocritical promise by the bank.

including this, from their website:

Introducing our new campaign. We’re out to make Australians proud of their bank, and we’re doing it the best way we know how. By hiring Americans to do it for us.

strewth

Goodby's pull off the biggest bank robbery in Australia's history.

Was watching TV with friends not in advertising. Commonwealth spot (cricket one) was in the break. After the break my question was - "What do you think of that new Commonwealth Bank Ad" Reply was "What Commonwealth Bank Ad" - they completely missed it - the definitely did not pick up that there had even been a bank ad - mind you, neither did they care

I'm determined to see the rest of the campaign preferably in one hit so we can work out if it gets any better than where it's at and don't have to listen to goodby tosspots having a go at us for simply not liking it.

But to all the Goodby creatives out there defending this ad – was the ad researched? And in which country?

I actually DO love cricket.

I mean REALLY love it

So I find this ad insulting.

People who don't love cricket (who should be deported anyway) may well empathise with these spots and like them.

But since they're only running during the cricket, when people like me are watching, um...

Did anyone talk about the target audience and all that sort of stuff when they briefed Goodbys?

Advertising at its finest.

The poms do a show called The Office, which was very funny.

The yanks then do their version of the show, also called The Office, which is also quite funny.

Highly paid American ad people then blatantly copy the style of The Office to make ads.

And that's lauded (by some) as being highly creative.

Like, creativity is based on what you choose to copy?

Interesting concept.

Actually, I have no big problem with people who copy stuff like this.

Unless, of course, it's copied badly. And isn't funny.

Which would make this strike two for the gang at Goodbys and Comm Bank.

OK, that's good. Has everyone had their say?

To sum things up then.

The strategy has more holes than those stringlets that were cool in 82
It was a bit silly for an Oz Bank to use an american agency
Goodby has delivered a rare turkey
'Which Bank' was a good line
It is hard to see the 'determined to be different' angle in the work
they should probably have shown how they are d t b different rather than say it

Have I left anything out?

Cool. So we all agree and there is nothing new to add. So lets move on.
There's so much more work out there to rip to shreds

What do ya say?

12.02, you seem to have a problem with Commbank being "greedy capitalists" among other things.

Actually it's us greedy capitalist share holders that hate the ads the most.

A bank is meant to be capitalist, and sure, there's a bit of greed there as well. But that's what the market is for - competition means they can't get away with all that much. If you don't think that's true, well, see if the Bendigo Bank (or even the union owned Members Equity Bank) offers lower home loan rates? Won't happen, because it's all decided by market forces.

That's why I hate the ads. They're pissing my dividend up against the wall and doing nothing for the long term viability of the brand.

Socialists should love it.

Well put 2:47. I sold my combank shares a little while ago, this cricket hating capitalist made the stupid decision to invest in micro cap resource stocks instead. Ouch!

Anyway, these ads are taking up precious facebook time.

Cheers

IF YOU WANT FRICKIN RATES TO FALL STOP SPENDING $$$.

* CANCEL YOUR FOXTEL.

* STOP BUYING $379 JEANS.

* DON'T SPEND $6 ON A COFFEE.

* DON'T COUGH UP $78 FOR A ROUND ON FRIDAY NIGHT

*DON'T LEASE THE NEW M3

* DON"T SPEND $400 TO ENTER YOUR SCAM POSTER AD FOR A CHARITY IN AN AUSTRALIAN AWARD SHOW

Put down your wallet and nobody gets hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the crew have seen the new spots, very amusing with some truth. I think this will go well with the general public, as cricket is boring.

If it wasn't for Kerry Packer's love of cricket it would never be anything more than a third world game.

One minute to senior girl client is saying "we don't believe in researching ads" the next minute the boy client says "we didn't have time to research the ad"

Pick a songsheet and stick to it Commbank. You're starting to look out of your depth.

You guys are such advertising dicks. Get a life and stop being try-hard creative wankers. Produce some decent shit and stop pontificating amongst your own sorry asses.

You moron 3.48. If you think cricket is boring, you won't see these ads, because they ONLY RUN DURING THE CRICKET. So they only people who see them will be people who like cricket. Dick heads like you will only see them on YouTube.

Whether or not these cricket spots are funnier than the brand ad is irrelevant. None of the executions to date deliver on the Bank's supposed promise of being 'determined to be different'. Someone somewhere was seduced by executions and forgot the premise of the original strategy. A school-boy error. End of Story.

Pontificating? Only try-hard creative wankers use those words. Little harsh considering that this is a forum for us Creative Wankers, but I get your point. It's getting a little catty.

- Do some work bitches, would of been suffice.

people it is time to SWITCH BANK

Goodby's have an excuse for missing the mark as their heads are 18,000 clicks on the other side of the Pacific.Clems on the other hand have only their own ineptitude for the ramshackle dross parading as the new Nab campaign.When you put a rippa-omatic together It's always a good idea to not shoot it for real frame by frame. A mountain of debt is an analogy best avoided one would have thought.

You miss the point 4:38. The bank has no-one to blame but themselves for the criticism aimed in their direction. They were only too happy to tell the world how they'd chosen Goodbys because they wanted the best that money can buy. [What bold clients]. They told us how they wanted category-breaking, category-defining work. [What brave clients]. They told they'd done all this because [in their opinion] in this digital age geographical boundaries should be no barrier to getting the very best work for the bank. [What forward-thinking clients]]. We didn't say that, they did. [what talkative clients]. They were so cock sure and happy with themselves they blabbered cliche after cliche [What shallow clients]. Problem is, when you promise the world the very best you'd better do it. Its called 'management of expectations. Beacause when you don't.... [What silly-looking clients].

You must watch the previous CBA Cricket sponsorship spot for reference.
This is what we're defending.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnjSCdAkcZI

The clients were determined to be heroes but ended up looking like clowns.

I liked this campaign right from the first ad, and I think it's getting even better. It's got lots of layers to it, and to me it does feel like it could be the first great Aussie campaign of the 21st century. Maybe the first great Aussie BANK campaign, at least. I'm in NZ and, trust me, we don't get work this fresh here.

The comparisons with ASB are dubious - Commbank seems to be about Americans not getting Australia. To me that feels like a great way of dramatising Australia's uniqueness, and by implication how Commbank does get Australia. As I said, I think there are lots of layers to the Commbank work, and that to me seems to be one of them.

ASB was more of a "little old NZ having a bank that impresses big shots from overseas thing" - a classic Kiwi way of dealing with the fact that we're a small country. We love it when we think we're boxing above our weight - such as well ... coming over to you guys and stealing some of your gongs at AWARD.

I do think the CommBank work is really great. I think it's very arch and post-modern. The fact that the industry is so divided about it says a lot. Long may the controversy continue. To me anyway, it's the best bank campaign I've seen since... maybe that First Direct bank work from the UK way back in the 80s - which also violently divided the industry in its day. Good on Goodbys and CommBank for doing it, good on you guys for debating it so passionately.

6.47. think you work for CBA.............................I say that in the archest way.

Well, 6.47, you're a Kiwi.

So of course you love an ad that makes Aussies look like idiots.

And, and as someone else said on here, it IS the Aussies who look like idiots, not the yanks.

After all, it's the fictional Aussie bank people who are paying good money for all the rubbish the fictional American agency is shoveling them.

Which is art (!!) imitating life if ever I saw it.

Big picture, apparently people are more likely to get divorced, than change banks.

What ad would make/inspire anyone go through the hassle of changing banks?

Just asking...

Andy M.

6.47 smells like PR people doing some blog damage control for Commbank .

Nice try 6.47, or should I say nice try Mr CommBank undercover P.R-man ... but you can't fool us. 7.08, 7.09, 7.37 ... take him outside and force him to watch his own ads ... as a warning to the others.

This blog is unreal, so so much fun to read, no seriously, Im pissing my self with laughter, keep it rolling in.

oooh the ad......uuuuuuuuum....yeah, kinda funny. but this blog is better.

Go Com bank Go!!

hahahahaahahaaaaa

oh god 6.47...

Talk like a creative if you're going to be on a creative blog, not a marketing guy that's suspiciously like the ones in the ad.

Anyway, good to have you here. I can't wait for the scene where they give you piles of coke and you signed off the campaign.

I mean Australians are really interested in seeing the most hated institution (Banks) teaming up and batting off with the second most hated institution (Advertising) about irrelevant shite.

Way to go.

I will seriously tho, congratulate you for being one of the few Australian companies to give someone a decent budget. Unfortunately, it was the wrong crew.

9.15,

A 'creative' BLOG. You're joking. Really? You are a tosser if you think you anything is a 'creative only' space.

It's like high school, no INFANTS. You must be the INFANT version of a creative. Or a light weight creative who's jumped on a band wagon which has everyone talking, less you. But you did get involved. NICE ONE.

Nice edition to the blog though, as 9.07 suggests, the blogs is less about the work now but more about cocks like you having a chance to actually have something of your own out in the public. Curious about your brief....Which is funny again cause chances are you've not had an ad approved.

The Bank ads are OK, they may misunderstood by 'creative' or ad-MEN as they actually depict how stupid the AUSSIE on the street sees our American friends. Yes, FRIENDS.

I think the BANK may be onto something, shame I agree they had to spend the money with our friends and not us.

Why FRIENDS?

'THE coalition of the willing'

This is the 73RD comment on the 3rd CB story. SEVENTY-THIRD. What does that tell you? As many have already said, this campaign is a massive industry in-joke.

Show me a forum of punters that is having this kind of debate and i will eat my hat.

Commbank marketing team thinks they're awfully clever for choosing Goodby so have accepted the first terrible idea they've been presented. But it should have been aborted. Determined to be Doomed.

the only people left commenting on this blog are commbank trying to pretend they are someone who knows what real people think ("I was at the pub...") and the people at their previous agency (SOM) who are desperately trying forget the failure that was the bland, forgettable shit they produced beforehand (anyone remember it? Nope. Mmmmm that's not surprising).

the ads? the cricket stuff is cool. more like content than anything else we've seen down here. that should be applauded. it's only taken 5 years for Oz to catch up with the developed world.

i dare one of you gutless bastards to sign in without being anonymous. that'd be different.
yours sincerely, anonymous.

The sad thing is all 150 of you mainstream bitches are wailing and flailing as you feel the pot has finallly hit poiling point.
The sad fact is tv is nigh on dead, and that goodby's are seeding a lot of footage is just confusing you.
So what to do?
And isnt it even sadder that the only part of Aus rating in award shows is Direct?
So to stop yourselves venting, go to bunnings and get a good length of rope.
Oh and if anybody had anything to do with FOXTEL IQ Ad they shouid apologise now for crimes against advertising

To 9:22 (below). Hear f*cking hear.

I'm sure someone at Comm Bank will be reading this at some point - I pity them if they're not. So here's a message - If you can't actually back up why you're different with at least one example in your brand communication, then you should get out now before you're left in the carnage this is sure to ensue.

It's such a quagmire that this brand is in. Do any banks, let alone CBA take a moment to think why more and more people over the last ten years have been dumping more money into funds and brokerage houses? It's because of one very simple reason - Goldman Sachs don't want to be my friend, they don't even care if i like them because all they give a shit about is money and the more i give them the more they are going to make me rich.

Why haven't Aussie banks awoken to the fact is that they are there to deal with my money, I don't want you to come around to my house on xmas day to talk about home loans, i want you to be serious about my money and what you can do with it. Then i will take you seriously. Putting up your interest rate during a big brand campaign is why i hate what you're doing even more, and not as an advertising creative but as a dad who has a mortgage. So, it's got nothing to do with creativity but everything to do with what you stand for - so far nothing 'different'.

Determined to be the first to raise interest rates!

Hey, and they were!

Determined to be first to recoup the losses from the American sub prime catastrophe.

Determined to persecute us for months with really bad metro light sights telling us how determined they are to be determined.........

Sorry I cant take any more.

I do not believe the claim!

It should read "Determined to hold our shareholders interest's above all"

Determined to make profit at any cost!

Whatever Goodby did, you guys would all whine. Get over yourselves.

This is a great ad though; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnjSCdAkcZI

Hey 6.01

none of us are defending the previous Singleton stuff.

Their stuff was rubbish - "mindless" rubbish.

Your campaign is rubbish too but - "considered" rubbish.

That cricket ad from SOM, made me hate freckled, fat little anglo kids, sorry.
That piece of purile, jingoistic, boganist, vomit feels like it was made in the days when Australia thought it was a pikey Island that had broken off part of the UK, not a cosmopolitan, multicultural metropolis in the Asia pacific.

Strong feelings you might say, harsh words maybe, but damn I hate cricket, I hate that fat kid, I hate the jingoistic boganism mentality, I hate Commonwealth bank.
I hate this topic...............

I need a coffee, I hate coffee.

Oh and just one more thing..............

Do some work bitches, or at least your timesheets.

I'd like to send a cheerio to mum and sis if they're reading this blog.
Love my new job, better than cleaning bricks. Still not sure what I'm supposed to be doing - but that's alright, most of the others don't either.

Please. Those links to the previous Commbank Cricket sponsorship ad is for something that is over 15 years old. Nice try Goodby creatives. But as I recall around then you yanks gave a One Show Gold to a print ad for a pasta maker that had the headline "Fasta Pasta".

These are quality executions, no problem there.

Good script, terrific actors, nice direction, good use of sportspeople (take note ford, rexona, valvoline, etc etc) and 'watch us stand' is a pisser.

It's just that an aussie bank telling the aussie public that it's different because it uses an american ad agency that doesn't get aussies... it's just a fucking stupid premise.

BUT... I've hoped all along that commbank/goodby would raise the bar for every deadshit client in Australia, or at least in the category (just like Patts/Fosters did)... unfortunately, I don't think this is going to do it.

Pity.

If it makes people talk about it then it's probably working eh?

8 months 'til Commonwealth Bank goes to DROGA 5.

Apart from the fact they are garbage, they drag on way to long which only makes me wince even more.

What about all the new ads that have been on air for weeks for Bankwest from the Glue Society....

Anyone remember seeing them??

It won't go to Droga 5. Warren will end up getting it by default - he's got the DM right?Buckman & Goodby will be fired, the bank will park the account at BMF while they work out what to do. If BMF don't fuck it up it'll just stay there.

R

I just wish the Chaser was still on TV, what fun they'd have with this.

Why in the world would Goodby be fired for this? For getting people talking? About a bank? Are you all crazy?

You're oh so right 1:10. Silly us for not understanding. In fact I'm so inspired by your logic I'm launching the Turd Bank tomorrow. That should get people talking..about a bank.

You're oh so right 1:10. Silly us for not understanding. In fact I'm so inspired by your logic I'm launching the Turd Bank tomorrow. That should get people talking..about a bank.

you're not telling me glue did all those horrible ads with nuns going 'revolutionary' for bank west?

and here i was thinking jonathon kneebone was so high and pious for 'only doing work we want to do.'

ouch.

No, the BankWest 'Revolutionary' stuff was done by 303, Perth. That's probably why Host (not Glue, but they will do creative) won the account.

That is a very silly comment 3.06. You must try and think harder.

even if these ads were the best things on telly (which they are not), no amount of brilliant creative or clever media strategy can compete with the free media that being the first bank to raise interest rates and going over the actual Reserve Banks .25 rise can give you.

Comm Bank. Not different - just a regular fuckin bank

Try this 3:45. Being 'differrent' or 'having people talk about you' is a waste of money if people don't want you to be different or people are saying the wrong things about you'. Commbank loses on both counts.

BMF, determined to get which bank account!

And that my friend is comment number 100!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look everyone. The campaign is a load of SHIT. Let's end it there huh?

Look everyone. The campaign is GREAT. Let's end it there huh?

Lets let this one go folks and get on with our jobs its becoming a little silly, and very very very boring.

While not an exact rip-off, feels very similar to the UK Orange mobile ads, only shite.

For the record 10.27, SOM NEVER had the Comm Bank account prior to Goodbys. It was the Village. And no I dont work for either of them.

3.31.
303 did not do the Bank West revolution stuff. It was the Brand Agency.

The Goodby CD on the account will be here in Sydney in a few weeks judging the Andy Awards.

http://www.andyawards.com/jurors/index.php

Wonder if he'll do any interviews when he's here?

Clearly the bank's getting the message about these two shockers, didn't notice them being run during the cricket yesterday??

The KFC 'Coleslaw!' cricket ad kicked arse over this.

For those who think that it is only bitter creatives who think the campaign is shite, you may like to check this out:

http://blogs.smh.com.au/lifestyle/allmenareliars/archives/2008/02/determined_to_be_different.html

The question now is, will Combank be too arrogant to realise it has made a big mistake?

2.39's right. At least the KFC 'Coleslaw' spot made me laugh.

Hey, hey, hey. Settle down everyone. Why so cynical?

If you visit the new Commbank campaign website you can clearly see the evidence for "Determined to be different":

http://www.determinedtobedifferent.com.au/

Check "Determined to be different in action" (under Featured Products and Services) and you'll clearly see the proof points for this bold new positioning.

Sorry, did I say proof points? I meant proof point. Because there is exactly ONE example of "determined to be different in action".

And what is that proof point? What is the ONE thing that makes Commbank not just different, but DETERMINED to be different?

They'll get someone to come round and talk to you about your mortage.

I'm sold.

It's all shyte. I'm sorry but this campaign truely disappoints on so many levels. Least of all having to put up with American humour. This is a great example of how not to market to Aussies.

6:52, lumping all 'american humour' together is a bit disengenous. they are responsible for some of the best tv shows, stand ups, authors and movies ever produced.

maybe more accurate to say this CBA ad just isn't that funny. what is on our screens?

i would love to see your list of great australian humour over the years...

Determined to be appalling.

Just goes to show you, not only do the yanks not understand Australian Culture, niether do the CBA.

Very true, 12.42.

Don't tell me The Simpsons, Seinfeld and South Park aren't funny - and that's just the letter S.

And any way, the Commbank's ad is based on English humour - The Office - they just haven't done it very well.

Or, perhaps it's not they haven't done the humour right, it's the relevance that'st he problem.

Wow, I'm impressed this thing is still going.

What's the record on this blog?