Prank Call to Reebok, Part 3
A comedy article
by John Hargrave  119,938  37
03/01/2004 06:18 PM 161 views
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 You've probably seen the "Terry Tate" Reebok commercials, which premiered during the 2003 Super Bowl, and are now offered on Reebok's web site. They're funny ... even more so because Reebok doesn't seem to have a clue about the explicit sexual references "hidden" in the commercials.
Last year, I called Reebok and confronted them about the reference to "felching," which is a disturbingly graphic sex act that would probably lead to a stomachache. Reebok pleaded ignorance. I called Arnell Group, their high-powered New York ad agency, who hung up on me.
A few months later, Reebok unveiled a new "Terry Tate" online commercial, this one filled with references to sex acts that even Ron Jeremy is afraid to try. I spoke again with Reebok's PR representative, who hung up on me when I explained some of the references in their own commercials. I tried Arnell Group again, but they wouldn't return my calls. So I finally tracked down Hypnotic, the marketing company that produces the Terry Tate spots. I spoke with an extremely businesslike woman, who I pictured looking like the babe in the Terry Tate film.
HYPNOTIC: Hypnotic, how can I help you?
JOHN HARGRAVE: I'm calling from ZUG.com, and I had a question about your most recent Terry Tate short film for Reebok, with the HR professional from the firm of "Steamer & Sanchez."
HYPNOTIC: Who is this?
JOHN HARGRAVE: John Hargrave.
HYPNOTIC: ...
JOHN HARGRAVE: Is Hypnotic aware of what "Steamer & Sanchez" refers to?
HYPNOTIC: No, what does it refer to?
JOHN HARGRAVE: The "Cleveland Steamer" and the "Dirty Sanchez" are two sexual acts, almost too disgusting to mention.
HYPNOTIC: Can you hold on please?
JOHN HARGRAVE: Sure.
HYPNOTIC: [General rustling and commotion] Thanks for waiting, I guess I'm not understanding your point, because the legality of these spots has already been approved by all parties, and this is a packaged product.
JOHN HARGRAVE: So the commercials you produced for Reebok are legal? That's good to know.
HYPNOTIC: What I'm saying is that the concept of the project is reviewed through both parties, lawyers, and many other people, in minute detail.
JOHN HARGRAVE: Yes, I know. So you guys had a lot of planning meetings about using the idea of the Dirty Sanchez and the Cleveland Steamer?
HYPNOTIC: I don't understand the point you're getting at. I don't understand your angle on this at all.
JOHN HARGRAVE: Did you guys kick around the idea of calling the company "Bismarck and Blumpkin" instead?
HYPNOTIC: I'm sorry, what company are you representing?
JOHN HARGRAVE: I'm just curious how the conversation went. It sounds much more interesting than most corporate meetings I've been in.
HYPNOTIC: I guess I'm not following, because of the content of the spot can be interpreted many different ways by different people. It is a packaged project already, I think if it was meant to be an offensive reference, that would have been caught earlier.
JOHN HARGRAVE: Yeah, I talked to Reebok's PR lady about it, and the poor woman seemed a little taken aback by the description of the Cleveland Steamer.
HYPNOTIC: Well, this is the first call I'm getting about this.
JOHN HARGRAVE: According to my sources, the Cleveland Steamer is an act whereby you defecate on your partner's chest.
HYPNOTIC: [Pause] I have no comment sir, please don't call back again. [Hangs up]
You know, I'm disappointed. I really thought she'd have a better sense of humor about the whole thing. Maybe I caught her in the middle of a 'Steamer.
But what do I know? Maybe they're all marketing geniuses. Maybe they've got terabytes of data on the buying habits of shoe consumers, their walls papered with surprising graphs such as:
John Hargrave, the King of Dot-Comedy, is an author and performer who is wondering when they'll change the name to "Reecok," because it sounds funnier. Past articles >>
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Like This? Rate It!
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Side-splitting
25 votes
5.0
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Also Recommended on ZUG:
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15 Comments on "Prank Call to Reebok, Part 3"
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0 votes
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Boots at the Boar 2,296  9
03/01/2004 07:12 PM
Second...third?
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0 votes
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Boots at the Boar 2,296 9
03/01/2004 07:13 PM
And maybe fourth?
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0 votes
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Boots at the Boar 2,296 9
03/01/2004 07:13 PM
How about fifth?
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0 votes
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Boots at the Boar 2,296 9
03/01/2004 07:13 PM
Sixth. Okay, I'll stop now.
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0 votes
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The Puggy of the D: Assholier than thou 48,206 10
03/01/2004 07:16 PM
C'mon, mgross, you should know better than that by now. And you're confusing the n00bs.
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0 votes
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Boots at the Boar 2,296 9
03/01/2004 07:18 PM
You're taking the wrong approach to get a response from these people. What you really need to do is campaign against them as an outraged representative of a minority group. May I recommend PlanetOut or even the Christian Coalition.
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0 votes
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King Nucca 4 7
03/01/2004 11:24 PM
I take offense to this aricle, due to the fact i wear Adidas, and I believe we are being mis-represented by the graph above. I was wondering where this survey came from, as in this area, buttplay is much more abundant among Adidas supporters.
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0 votes
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mrscott 0 7
03/02/2004 03:08 AM
I think an e-mail or snail mail campaign is in order. I think this could be a very funny, very long running prank. It's too easy for some low-level underling to hang up and offer a 'no comment'. I think it'd be funny if someone in power had to answer for it.
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0 votes
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sharribarri 14,059 8
03/02/2004 10:58 AM
I whole heartedly agree with the mass provocation idea.
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0 votes
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I am such a douchbag 13 7
03/02/2004 03:17 PM
Godot definitely wears Reebok!
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0 votes
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owtytrof 8 7
03/04/2004 01:56 PM
The graph alone gets my clicky.
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Frogtacular 160,935 16
03/20/2004 06:54 PM
I'm not telling you.
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Frogtacular 160,935 16
03/20/2004 06:55 PM
Im not telling you.
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