I'm sure we've all seen this commercial by State Farm, where staff members disappear to attend to their clients' distressed calls of "like a good neighbor...State Farm is there". For the most part, i enjoy this commercial - it doesn't wear out quickly after being seen many, many times; it reinforces the dedication State Farm has to its customers while also reinforcing their wide coverage and protection against accidents; and it's got a nice catch and humor to it.
However, i recently noticed a small quirk in this commercial that made me wonder about the intention behind its inclusion (if there is one). In the scene where the birthday cake candle-blower disappears and the other man leans over to cut the cake, he makes the following remark to the woman's disapproving look: "what? we gotta meeting at noon."
A meeting at NOON?!?! Isn't that the sacred hour of eating lunch at our desks, or briefly exiting the office for some fresh air and salads, or venting with colleagues about our mornings, or for the type A's out there - going to the gym???
So...why was this line included in the commercial I wonder? The only two hypotheses I can come up with are:
1) It reinforces how hard working and dedicated State Farm employees are that they hold meetings at 12noon. There's no stopping work for them! They're always on! There when I need them!
2) The copywriter decided the line reads and sounds better when the actor says "noon" instead of "eleven" or "one" or "after lunch" or "soon".
Although I may very well walk away from this commercial with the perception that State Farm employees work hard, I am also wondering what type of company and supervisors are supporting a lunch-time-meeting culture (and on top of that an eat-cake-instead-of-lunch culture!!) But, you know, that's just my 2 cents.
However, i recently noticed a small quirk in this commercial that made me wonder about the intention behind its inclusion (if there is one). In the scene where the birthday cake candle-blower disappears and the other man leans over to cut the cake, he makes the following remark to the woman's disapproving look: "what? we gotta meeting at noon."
A meeting at NOON?!?! Isn't that the sacred hour of eating lunch at our desks, or briefly exiting the office for some fresh air and salads, or venting with colleagues about our mornings, or for the type A's out there - going to the gym???
So...why was this line included in the commercial I wonder? The only two hypotheses I can come up with are:
1) It reinforces how hard working and dedicated State Farm employees are that they hold meetings at 12noon. There's no stopping work for them! They're always on! There when I need them!
2) The copywriter decided the line reads and sounds better when the actor says "noon" instead of "eleven" or "one" or "after lunch" or "soon".
Although I may very well walk away from this commercial with the perception that State Farm employees work hard, I am also wondering what type of company and supervisors are supporting a lunch-time-meeting culture (and on top of that an eat-cake-instead-of-lunch culture!!) But, you know, that's just my 2 cents.
