In the Annals of Stupid Subway Ads...

Sometimes there are fun subway ads, like the Bronx Zoo ads. Sometimes there are bizarre ones that become a part of your brain's fabric, like the Dr. Zizmor ads. And then there are the unbearably lame ones, like the Mitchum Man ads that try to appeal to men's machismo or something, with phrases like, "If you're pretty sure you could kick out the window in the event of an emergency, you're a Mitchum Man." And the NY Times confirms that the ads flout the MTA's own rules. Now, Gothamist believes in some MTA rule flouting, but after seeing some of the other Mitchum ads, like "If menage a trois is the only French you know, you're a Mitchum Man," we're pretty pleased that the MTA is now annoyed that Viacom (which handles their advertising) let the ads through. The Times breaks down that the "if you've ever hurdled to get the subway" ad is problematic because slips and falls are 74% of the accidents reported in the subway (and we're sure the MTA gets lawsuits all the time) and the window kicking ad is "almost certainly be illegal, and taxpayers, who pay about $2 million for each new subway car, may not take kindly to a window-kicker's choice." But this doesn't mean the MTA is exempt from stupid advertising: Check out this photograph on Flickr. And join the NYC Subway Photo pool on Flickr!

bloggy wondered if the ads were in bad taste after the bombings. And for kicks, This is What We Do Now's subway riding guide was extensive, but we'd like to add "When you get to the top and bottom of the stairs, just stop and stand there because it's not like there are other people behind you."

Photograph from the NY Times

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By Jen Chung in News on July 21, 2005 1:14 PM

Comments [rss]

Michael

I have always liked the mitchum ads. I find them somewhat creative and the fact that they appeal to male machismo makes them funnier. To be able to laugh at the stereotype makes the ad something to remember. Every man on the planet who has seen a schwarzaneggar movie wants to kick out a window in an emergency. It is meant to be creative not literal.

Joey SP

The worst best I have seen is

"if you have ever urinated for 60 seconds straight you are a mitchum man". Deep down inside I hate these ads......

sam

I find these ads quite humorous and edgy...its incredible the adverse reactions some of you are having to otherwise innocuous adverts...welcome to guerilla marketing. remember the paris hilton Carl's Jr. ad? of course you do! it made Mr. Carl Jr. quite the name and $$$ for himself, despite and because the naysayers such as the naysayers found here.

Jane Minty

"If you've ever closed your legs because you finally realized your cock isn't that big, you're a Mitchum Man."

Funny, if the MTA is so hell-bent on preventing my morning platform sprint, they would reinstate the proper number of cars on the G line.

Ace

14 comments, 95 degrees, and nothing about the obvious lack of Mitchum use on our subway?

Dan Dickinson

I would argue that this is the worst Mitchum ad in existence:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/13988489/

bob denver

Captain Morgan: "Feel the Flava"

areacode212

My least favorite subway ad campaign in recent memory is the Courvoisier "How respectful of you to stand" one. So obnoxious.

architourtured

There is an ad at the nysc on 14th over the water fountain that reads, "If your personal trainer was at your brthday party, you're a Mitchum Man." It should read, "If your personal tainer was at your birthday party, you need to get out of the gym and make some real friends."

w

the budweiser ads in the subways bother me.. the blue ads with the guy checkin out all the ladies.. can someone explain those to me?!!!

w

the budweiser ads in the subways bother me.. can someone explain those to me?!!!

eatsdirt

I like the Dr. Zizmor ads. Mostly because it reminds me of his old television ads in which people would show off their new, beautiful clear skin and say, "Thank you Dr. Zizmor!"

Oh, and here's a more interesting subway related story

kristin

Brightliner, that would be a good one. Perhaps another could be "If you've ever pissed in the corner wasted because you couldn't hold it, you're a Mitchum Man."

The hilarious possibilities for this ad campaign are endless....altho not sure they'd necessarily be good for the mitchum brand.

newyorker

The mitchum ads feature photos of various non-NYC trains and subway cars. (Look closely at the photos).

Brightliner

What, no "If you've ever surfed on top of a speeding subway train, you're a Mitchum man"? Hey, if they're going to advocate stupidity, might as well go all the way.

The most thrills I ever went for on the subway was heading for the darkened cars with no lights in the bad old days. Always nice, but a little spooky, to have a car almost to yourself.

badger

You're kidding right? Please tell me this "outrage" or whatever is a joke. All the advertising out there to take issue with and Mitchum's is what we pick? Jen, c'mon, you work in advertising.

krunkymunky

yeah i noticed that "have you ever offered your seat" sign after i offered my seat to a lady carrying around a sleeping 4 year old the other day. it's a good thing i wasn't sitting under the "kick out the windows" ad. does this mean we're going to start seeing bold new old spice aftershave ads in the subways too?

bob denver

The only ads that really got under my skin were the wall to wall Captain Morgan ads featuring giddy hipsters that were "Comin' Alive After Five".

cla

Yeah, "If you've ever offered your seat to woman on the train, you're a Mitchum man." Isn't that the other one? I saw those the other day, and couldn't imagine why someone thought this was a good idea.