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December 17, 2008

A Special Awkward Message From The Lady Who Created Airborne

thumbnail icon: A Special Awkward Message From The Lady Who Created Airborne

I was catching up on yesterday's The View last night (it's better at night), and JUMPED OUT OF MY CHAIR when I saw this commercial by the lady who created the fizzy, falsely-advertised "immune-boosting" tablets known as Airborne. Just watch her squirm as she tries to defend her product with a straight face, and then we'll get into the at least ten funny things about this commercial:

The first question viewers might have about this commercial is "Why the defensive campaign-style ad when she's not even running for office?" Well, that was yesterday, and today the news broke that yet another class action lawsuit has been settled against the makers of Airborne for falsely claiming on their packaging to have any health benefits whatsoever, despite what that crazy lady at your office tells you. Other funny things: the fake school setting, the Airborne lady's resemblance to Molly Shannon and the way that resemblance evokes an SNL parody, the ominous man who walks by at the end (I think he's supposed to represent germs?), and the way the Airborne lady says smugly "So in October of 2008, I bought it back." (Subtext: "For one dollar.") On the one hand, this PR strategy seems insane to normal people with common sense. But on the other, normal people with common sense are not the target audience of The View.

Posted by Lindsay at 12:00 PM in
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8 Comments

grace6697

this "commercial" basically gives her enough rope to hang herself. that said, i think the product works. i know i am wrong.

Posted by: grace6697 profile link at 12/17/08 12:12 PM | Reply
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Darren87

It's the placebo effect. I think it works...so it does.

Posted by: Darren87 profile link in reply to grace6697's comment at 12/17/08 1:23 PM | Reply
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adrienne

I used it once and it was useless. I really don't think vitamins in gummy bear form can really do anything to prevent sickness.

Posted by: adrienne profile link at 12/17/08 12:25 PM | Reply
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grace6697

*alka seltzer.

Posted by: grace6697 profile link in reply to adrienne's comment at 12/17/08 12:31 PM | Reply
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adrienne

they have a bunch of products, one like alka seltzer, the other is a chewy one, and i think they have a strip as well.

Posted by: adrienne profile link in reply to grace6697's comment at 12/18/08 10:11 AM | Reply
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Is she married to the Extenze guy?

Posted by: Beefy profile link at 12/17/08 2:26 PM | Reply
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TalbainJ

wait a second... it's a placebo???

boy, my dad is going to be pissed. if he ever wakes up from his deadness.

Posted by: TalbainJ profile link at 12/17/08 3:06 PM | Reply
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itsthenewjanbrady

Where is she walking to? Why did she sell it at its height then buy it back after people finally realized it's crap? There's nothing right with the commercial at all.

Posted by: itsthenewjanbrady profile link at 12/18/08 11:08 PM | Reply
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