Clemenger BBDO, Sydney unveils first TV work for Hungry Jack’s following account win in Dec
February 22 2011, 4:09 pm | | 110 Comments
Clemenger BBDO, Sydney has unveiled its first work for Hungry Jack’s since winning the business in December last year.
110 Comments
Let the onslaught commence…..
I only recently saw an ad for the Freedom Furniture sale, where a chick sat in a chair and spun to choose what she’d buy. Terrible Clems, truly.
gives mediocrity a bad name
And Indians. They’re so FUNNY!
4:22 you took the words right out of my mouth…
I jumped straight on CB after seeing this on Mumbrella to see what slagging shit people had started with. On the upside, it will give Mojo a break from the haters.
The still gave me hope. Looked kinda cool. Sweet grade.
Then I watched the ad.
Sigh.
Funny stuff, I actually thought it was great for a Hungry Jacks ad. Well done.
So much better than the old crap, that’s for sure.
Umm. The set design was nice.
I have no idea why, but that’s funny
From where the client was, this is a step in the right direction. But it was a baby step. And the baby then fell over, cried and shat itself.
Is that the same way they picked the concept?
It’s not that bad, and I like the (predictable) pratfall. But it could be for any of the big chains. ‘The burgers are better’ was fertile territory based on a truth. This, I’m afraid, is generic.
No credits?
Come on boys, own up!
Not great, but as good as they used to be.
I do however think that someone falling over a water cooler is possibly the funniest thing that can happen in an office.
Anyone know the Prod Company?
I like it, not keen on Hungry Jacks though. It’s very different for sure.
no 4.50 its how they picked the agency…
This is actually pretty decent. I love how the DM dogs are the first to slag. I work at a place that works with another big fast food client, this is cool compared. Onya Clems.
looks great.
funny
where’s the strategy?
I think it’s a solid effort.
The hard thing will be not sliding back into rubbish after the sixtieth burger concept.
Big challenge – Good luck guys.
I LOL’d.
Clems must be banking on some iman will declare a fatwa on this ad for suggesting a good muslim boy should eat bacon or something. There has to be another level.
You can tell the MJW posters. Relax boys it’s gone, move on!
I like it BTW. Different, nice. That’s all.
Dizziness, nausea and Hungry Jacks.
Wish I’d thought of it.
It’s so obvious.
It’s a tough category. But this is rubbish. Lazy gags to help sell lazy food.
Indian or not, tough category or not, this is absolutely appalling.
Judging by the comments there’s some pretty narrow minded people in the Australian ad industry. Since when has casting a person who is of non-Anglo appearance been racist? I am of Asian heritage and I’m thrilled that the guy cast isn’t a cliché but just another gue. He doesn’t work in a corner store. Isn’t in a servo. He is just one of the boys, like you, like me. In fact, almost every fucking ad I see features a blonde surfer from the Northern Beaches. Hats off to Clems for going against the grain. Well done guys.
This is funny. When this comes on while I’m watching Rafters I know I’m going to have a quiet chuckle to myself. And then I’ll probably feel like a burger. By all measures that mean anything that’s a success. It’s hamburgers boys. Lighten the fuck up.
Eye 6:32PM
Why is it appalling? Enlighten us with your knowledge of Burgeradmastery.
or just chill the fuck out.
Good start. Let’s see if you can keep them different and fresh.
Insight: fail. Product truth: fail. ‘The burgers are better’ is actually something you guys can say – so why not pull it out of the strap-line and integrate it in an idea? Still, if your aim is to give the client what they want, then go home and bathe in cash: win.
it could be for any fast food place at least the previous animated stuff had a unique look.
Radvertising 7:17PM
Dude, your strategy’s showing.
What’s so fucking funny about spinning someone around in a chair so they can pick one of two burger names?
If this was Crispin Porter, it wouldn’t have been in an office, the characters would be funnier and the end gag would have been absolutely ridiculous. He’d fall out of a window or something. This is just a crap ad, made for an obvious demographic (“…research has shown that office workers are a growing source of revenue for the lunchtime meal deal….”) and done with that try-hard directorial style that Australia excels at.
Oh, and to the poster ‘of Asian descent’ – I’m sorry mate, the Indian wasn’t chosen because of any ‘new Australian’ values or any vague kind of nod towards multiculturalism, it’s because in Aussie ads, Indians are considered funny.
Simple and cool. Nice work.
Slow news day.
Radvertising:
Obnoxious and unoriginal use of the word fail: win.
I can’t remember any Hungry Jacks ads AT ALL, therefore this obviously isn’t the easiest client in the world. If any of you work at big agencies with proper big clients and all their layers and politics you will know that doing good work takes time and trust. Next time you get a big, new (and, I’m guessing, conservative) client, try pushing them into some edgy advertising straight away and see how long you last.
8.01 So what’s wrong with indians being funny? The alternative is two nerdy looking Anglo guys like every other comedy ad. To me this doesn’t feel like ‘ha ha look at the funny indians’. A comedy ad will always have the characters being fall guys. I guess you could argue that they’re making out indians are nerdy but equally it could have been any nerdy guys and worked. It’s not like we haven’t seen a million anglo nerds on TV. I demand multicultural nerds!
8:01
If this was Crispin Porter…one day when you actually have a job you’ll realise how dumb that comment is.
And what Aussie ads have Indian talent? Not that it matters, I just can’t think of any.
Great directing, good acting, Fresh casting and Single minded. It looks great too.
Does this mean there will be no more angry angus? Damn it!
See, hungry jacks were using stereotypes in their ads long before they switched agencies.
I agree, this doesn’t seem to have much strategy behind it, other than the ‘make it amusing to sell product’ one of course. But that’s ok, they kept the line. The burger eating punters won’t care or even notice, they’ll have a chuckle and go buy a big mac… I mean whopper!
The old agency have their Knickers in a knot.
8:01PM
Aussie ads? This ad was directed and produced by Kiwis you Knob jockey.
And they know where you live.
See the rainbow yawn. Taste the rainbow yawn
8.01 what a muppet comment to suggest how crispin porter might have done this. if you really knew that you’d be working there instead of the fluro lit cubicle youre probably festering away in now. this is lighthearted fun that demonstrates they have a couple of tasty burgers thats all and the fact that he didnt (do the very cheezy and obvious) fall out of the window shows a bit of refreshing restraint…made me hungry too btw
Nice work. Funny!
The ads used to be better at bbdo
sweet grade!
they do, however, say “shit ad”.
10:36pm
Burgers are better when I have your mum in the sack.
See what I did? That’s unexpected.
Can’t wait for the day when 97% of fuckwits working in advertising realise their career isn’t actually the creative super-orgasm they think it is, and actually find creative activities outside of work. Then they might stop attacking everything that is “what the client wanted”, because they would realise that they aren’t doing anything amazing at work, and start actually doing something amazing outside of work.
Oh the ad? At least there’s an idea behind it, rather than just a flaming burger on a grill.
Some of you juniors need to understand that an agency is often only as good as the client will let it be.
You think Hungry Jacks wants Clems (or anyone’s) best work?
I watched this on YouTube with the sound off, and laughed so hard a little bit of wee came out. But I’m a vegetarian so what does it matter.
The Burgers look heaps tastier than they used to. Defo going to smash one for lunch today.
7.58 Who cares if everyone’s not as creative as they’d like to be? Arn’t we all that way?
I think the point is we all have a standard in our mind of what good is, and what we think should be achieved given the circumstances.
If work is posted that I, or anyone, personally thinks is pretty bad, should we keep silent because our career isn’t the ‘super creative orgasm’ I wish it was?
No ones happy with the standard of their work, but this community helps us lift the metaphoric bar. It’s about a standard we think we should all achieve.
Look, blah blah sorry for the long boring msg but it’s horses for courses, mate. This blog is about being extremely judgemental. We all want the industry to do great work. If it’s anything less, we attack.
Ripping people for being judgemental on CB is kinda like attacking an accountant for going bald.
I know heaps of Indians and none of them are funny.
@ 7:58
I think most creatives that have worked in Sydney for 5 mins already know there’s no “creative super-orgasm” in this town! Pity the CD’s don’t know that yet, in their never ending quest to find the hottest, shiniest, most awarded creatives to work for clients that just want middle of the road dross, that your below average drain digger could do.
No argument: this ad is garbarge. Though it’s neither better or worse than previous fare.
8:00AM is right, Hungry Jacks has never been a client that has approved or even wanted creative work. This is the dross they think sells burgers. And this is why McDonald’s laughs all the way to the McBank.
Having said that, the agency is deserving of these slings and arrows, because it produced and then, rather stupidly, PR’d this limp little ad.
To be 100% honest there isnt a thing I can fault about this ad. I don’t know what you muppets are going on about. It’s a simple little spot for two new burgers. Well shot, cute idea and the product looks great. A far sight from
where they’ve been that’s for sure. Well done.
Does this mean that there will be no more ‘Angry Angus’?
See, HJ’s were using stereotypes long before they moved their business. And no, I don’t think this Indian fella was supposed to be the ‘funny’ stereotype he is, but who cares if it was intended that way? It’s representative of every bored office-worker out there, including everyone writing on this blog.. (obviously me included).
The ads are ok, somewhat amusing and different for HJ’s, but not amazing. It does seem like a bit of a missed opportunity not to develop creative that reinforces the line, but who cares. The only people thinking about that are reading this now. The burger guzzling punters out there will see this, have a chuckle, hear ‘the burgers are better’, then go buy a big mac… because there’s more McDonalds out there than HJ’s and burger-eating people are fat lazy buggers – another stereotype… but that’s ok.
Judging by the amount of comments people are posting about this ad it means that – hate it or love it – the work is still getting discussed. Which is more than anything the old incumbent could lay claim to. And we can all tell you’re still a little bitter about it.
Part of the overall marketing problem is that it’s no longer quite so true about the burgers being ‘better’ at HJ’s.
It was definitely the case a few years ago, because the flame grilling made HJ’s much tastier than their main competitor.
Since then, Macca’s has fought back admirably with some quite interesting and tasty burgers with gourmet buns, Angus beef, etc.
So now, you might say whichever is better depends on which novelty burger/s each is offering at any given time.
Mind you, for the dedicated aficionado, there are now quite a few alternatives which are consistently better than either, such as BenBry, Burgerman, etc.
If a brand has a problem it generally doesn’t take long after moving agencies to show where the problem really sits… with the company. In this case nothing has changed since HJ’s moved except for the source of the material… The proposition is retained as is the obsession with lame gags … agree with others chair spinning was evidently used in the selection of agency and/or concept
This is the best Aussie fast food ad I’ve seen in months.
A solid retail ad. Simple, well-produced. I reckon this is a good trust-building exercise. And certainly updates the brand from the cheesy old “invisible burger” campaign.
funny. heaps better than before. good casting. like it.
It is Clems Sydney.
70. Yes.
Nice ad.
better than the usual boredom
7:58.
If you don’t think ‘flame grilled’ is an idea, then what is the ‘idea behind it’?
Would have been better/funnier/more appetising with some gorgeous Indian women in sarees, doing a Bollywood musical number at the end.
Commenting positivelly on your own ads every few minutes and then saying ‘they’re getting discussed a lot’.
You guys are only kidding yourselves.
@February 23, 2011 5:11 PM
7:58 here. “Flame grilled” isn’t an idea. It’s like McDonalds claiming their burgers are “hotplate cooked”, or Pizza Hut claiming their pizzas are “oven cooked”.
I suppose the idea behind flame grilled would have come from a long time ago when someone said “Hey, burgers taste better if cooked over a fire than on an oily hotplate – let’s cook ours that way from now on.”
Compared to other fast food chains, it’s probably a point of difference, and one worth championing obviously. But it’s certainly not an idea unless you’re going to credit it to the founders of Hungry Jack’s cooking methods.
Got to go, it’s knock-off time, and i’m off to explore genuinely creative passions other than making more of the wallpaper that you 8.37 times out of 10 produce working as an advertising “creative”. At least I can admit it, and don’t expect every piece of communication I see to blow my fucking mind.
Hey I really don’t think anyone at Clems expected this ad to generate such a heated debate. It’s a tight spot, admit it and move on.
the only thing tight is the bottom it came out of…
Can some tally up all the Clems comments on this blog… Lynchy, maybe you? I reckon if they keep going it might just push this ad into the campaign briefs famous ‘most commented’ for 2011 – which would be a bigger achievement than this ad. Something the agency could be really proud of.
Ps. The ad is not the most creative thing ever, but it’s ok. So let’s all just agree to disagree, or at least agree that if we were all as creative as we’d like to think we are, we wouldn’t be working in advertising, now would we?
7:41pm. Fair call but I reckon you’ll need to tally the MJW comments with the those from who didn’t win the pitch. Just saying.
Are you guys retards? It’s shot well, burgers look great, actors aren’t cornball Home & Away characters and they managed to throw an idea into it. The old stuff sucked balls, and in my own opinion so do most of the other fast-food ads coming out of Aus. Well the fuck done. Beers.
Dear Mr @ 23 February 23, 5:51pm
But what is the idea – you said there’s one – tell us what it is.
Yours etc.
Confused
A flaming paper bag full of dog poo tossed on the client’s doorstep.
Actually thought it was pretty funny.
Are you talking about your book again 9:26am? Are you the serial hater that’s been poisoning the blog with emotional, non-constructive negativity lately? If you elaborated a little someone might see your point. No seriously, why would this simple, little product ad get your blood boiling and occupy so much of your attention? like most sane people I’ve spoken don’t mind the ad. It’s even got 3,400 hits on YouTube you’ve watched it so many times. It will stop hurting soon pal.
From where I sit, it looks like all the ‘blood boiling’ angst is at 10:04 not 9:26. Gee Clems, a little over-reactive aren’t we? You guys can’t expect to suck up obscene salaries, post unfunny slapstick dross like this, and have us all falling about with praise. Surely. It’s time you big Establishment players took a good hard look at what you actually produce given everything at your disposal.
Nice work, old stuff sucked the cheesy bacon pork sword.
Let’s get it to 90. You’re all shit.
Reckon all the comments are coming from the agencies that wanted the work, the agency that lost the work and the agency currently doing the work. The rest of us couldnt give a toss.
Hey February 24, 2011 7:12 AM
If you can’t see an idea in this ad then you should hang up your brochure template for fuck’s sake.
90.Yes! Nice ad too.
@ 3.07pm
I don’t see an idea in this ad either, can you explain what it is?
I’m not trying to provoke you, I seriously need you to explain it to me – I’ll be the first to admit I’m clueless if you can clarify this.
(I wasn’t gonna say anything but I wanted to be the 90th comment!)
@ 3:25pm
You’ve also not seen the inside of an advertising agency, have you?
Much ado about do do.
@ 5:26pm
You do, I do, we all do do do. Though not quite like the do do that you do.
Write me a long copy brochure for dog food. Or design a starburst or something. Let’s take this shot to 100 comments baby!
@4.12
Actually, I have been in working in advertising for 20 years.
I’m also still waiting for an answer – as are many other people on this blog.
Sorry for being a dumbo Mr.3:07 but ……
WHAT IS THE IDEA?
My mum likes the idea.
4.12
I would also like to know what the idea is. Can you please explain it to me?
“we’ve got two new burgers to sell. Obviously people need to choose which one they want, but how?”
“hmmm, how about we get a couple of dudes in an office to play a chair-spinning game to decide, rather than just show the burgers in the ad. I guess you could say we will create semi-funny scenarios of how people decide which of the two to eat HAHA”
“ohhhhhhh.”
@10.39
Yeah….I’m sure we all understand that!
But what’s the idea?
Can someone please define idea in terms of advertising just to clear up the confusion in here? Please?
Still waiting to be told what the idea is.
I know what the joke is.
I know what they’re doing.
But it all ends there for me.
There IS no idea here. It’s just the lazy old ‘How will YOU decide?’ formula which is so lame and generic you could apply it to absolutely anything in life. Here’s an example: It’s like saying, “hmmm, let me see, would I prefer to eat the dingo poo… or the pug poo?” It’s a meaningless distinction. A moot point. Who cares! It’s ALL shit.
A step in the right direction, well done.
A million times better than anything HJ’s has done.
I also saw that Freedom ad but it was rubbish. In an office for a lunchtime choice is far more suitable than bullshit furniture.
At least this will give the punters a bit of a laugh, probably increase sales and build a good client relationship that gets Clems to better work. Good luck Clems. A step in the right direction.
Amazing all this chatter. Highly enjoyable as a former creative on HJ’s (mind you back many years ago). Pretend we didn’t know the account had switched agencies – would you say this one off ad (not a campaign) was any different to the last five years of advertising that’s graced our TV sets. Not really- we could debate a slight shift, but the punter watching would have no idea, they the true ‘control’ to this question.
Clems this is disappointing on your part – tisk tisk. New account, new chance, new direction but nothing new enough.
MJW staff. Must hurt that what you were doing or so long mustn’t have been that wrong in the clients eyes. To have the account taken off you and you to lose your jobs- Ouch. Feel for you.
Really this is the point for all the discussion and rightly so.
Debate back on!
I asked myself, why add to an overly long conversation about a TVC that will be forgotten before the week it out?
But here I am doing it anyway.
The thing is, a few years ago – quite a few, actually – Hungry Jacks did the best fast food advertising in Australia. They had a simple line – Resistance is Useless. They had great product shots. But most of all they had really good ideas. Every ad for every product and every event was different (though they did all tend to use obscure 50s or 60 songs), and they were all genuinely funny.
Weird things were done, but they all kind of worked – you looked forward to the next ad. I don’t want to comment on this current ad except to say I’m not looking forward to the next one. Not even thinking about it. But those old ones, I used to watch them and try and think up ways that I could add to the series – but I was inevitably surprised by the actual next ad when it came along, and it was always better than the one I was thinking of.
A bloke called Larry Narveson wrote most of them, with a team of creatives who he inspired to do good ads and have good fun. He’s no longer with us. You just wonder why the people at Hungry Jacks don’t look at their history reel and say to their agency, “do the next ad in this series”.
The old ads were ok in a naff kind of way and probably right for thier time. These are look different and feel a little fresher. No hate here for old or new.
Totally inappropriate – just proves how xenophobic Australian’s are. Funny would be the reverse – the Indian chap spinning the smart alec white guy around. Has put me off Hungry Jacks forever.
I have seen the ad hundreds of times but yesterday I really watched it for the first time. So sensitive guys; lets laugh at the Aussie and his “funny indian” fall guy, and than all go eat a burger. Hope hungry jacks and the advertising company all contract terrible illnesses and go broke.