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The 8 Sexiest Commercials
A naughty British razor commercial is raising eyebrows stateside, which got us thinking about our favorite sexy commercials past and present.
Not All Metaphors Are Subtle
This hilarious, double entendre-laden U.K. commercial for the Wilkinson Sword Quattro razor certainly looks innocent enough. In fact, we caution the faint-of-heart to watch with the sound off. You can also see the toned-down American version here.
Not All Commercials Are Subtle, Either
Even muting the sound won’t stop this commercial from steaming up your computer screen. Watch as Top Chef’s Padma Lakshmi goes to town on a Hardee’s burger.
And Now, Something For the Ladies
The classic 1994 “Diet Coke Break” commercial proves that women haven’t cornered the eye-candy market.
Really Not Subtle
Aussie chanteuse Kylie Minogue gyrates on a mechanical bull in this provocative ad for the aptly named British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, proving Victoria doesn’t have nearly as many secrets abroad.
The Heiress and the Hamburger
Padma isn’t the first woman to get up close and personal with a big, sloppy hamburger. Check out Paris Hilton’s ad for Carl’s Jr. The burger itself may only make a cameo appearance, but do you really care?
Eat More Veggies
Big, dripping hamburgers aren’t the only things getting the sexy commercial treatment. This pro-vegetable PETA ad was banned from the 2009 Super Bowl for its complete lack of subtlety, which is really saying something.
Herbal Essences Makes Women Organic
This classic ad features a woman going all When Harry Met Sally for Herbal Essences shampoo. We’ll definitely have what she’s having.
Charlie’s Angel to the Rescue
Lest you think scandalous commercials are a post-millennial invention, here’s a saucy 1973 spot featuring Farrah Fawcett suggestively soaping up Joe Namath.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Why America Must Learn to Bow
Martin Jacques is the cofounder of the UK think tank Demos, writes a regular column for The Guardian, and is a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics Asia Research Centre. His new book, When China Rules the World, is available now.
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Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
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All of these are just annoying. Just really annoying.
Does anybody really believe that if they buy the right product, they will get sex?
Really?
I have this bridge.....
The selection is 99% one-sided. Didn't you ask for input from ANY of the female or gay staff? Except for the diet coke dude, I take it males are not all that sexy. The Wilkenson ad was cute but not sexy. The others, more egregious in their sex-selling personas, were- YAWN !- UGH! simply run-of-advertising beastly.
Yea ;) anyone who has seen European sexy ads is too battle hardened for these *g* I will no doubt get banned for posting examples but search for "French condom ad" somewhere uncensored ;)
I think the top one is funny, but I can't figure out what they are selling.
The second ad grosses me out.
It's always fun to ask yourself: "Who is the intended audience of this commercial?" I'm guessing half of the time, it's the people who made the commercial.
it is always for the people making it! but that is why some of them are so funny and or entertaining....well, you are entitled to enjoy watching Mister Clean commercials if you want....does anyone really need to be told what to buy? Let's face it, all advertising, no matter how 'good' it is, is still a waste of time. Might as well have a laugh while you run to the kitchen to grab a beer.
Yay! Women are objects!
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The Diet Coke and Herbal Essences commercials are hillarious. The others are either disturbing... distasteful or just stupid. (lol) Anyone agree?
Correction these are what advertisers think are the sexiest commercials. Sex only goes with sex. I don't want a burger now. I have to visit another site entirely.
Most ads operate on a subconscious level. You think you're immune, and you are to some, but the one that gets you, you never see coming.
Also, you people are prudes.
Hey, is that Herbal Essences husband the guy who plays Buster on Arrested Development?
Typical sexist selection of ads. "Here's lots of ads featuring women as objects - oh, and we'll throw in one guy with his shirt off from 1994 for you frisky ladies." Stupid and trite.
As for ads like the one with Paris Hilton - this sort of thing must have worked years ago, when porn was difficult to get so boys would stay glued to the television to catch a glimpse of something naughty - and would be oh so grateful when they saw it. Nowadays they can download Paris' sex tape; watching her gyrate next to a hamburger is redundant.
When people see Paris Hilton now, do they think of - whatever burger that was - Hardees? Carls Jr? I just watched it and I can't even remember.
My point: its amazing that some companies are willing to spend big bucks on ads that *don't* promote the product or service they sell, just because they heard "sex sells" and didn't bother to complete the sentence. ("Sex sells" what, brainiacs? In this instance, sex sells Paris Hilton; what sex does not sell is hamburgers). Paris didn't do anything to help Hardees or Carls Jr promote their burgers; rather, Hardees or Carls Jr. helped Paris promote her career.
Morons.
No Brooke Shields "between me and my calvins? I was pre-sexual and I know that one...
What about our Australian commercial? It's a great one. It got everyone talking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxM57E9u_QM
I am surprised by the number of Republicans commenting on these video's. No sense of humour.
To those making comments, Wow, what a bunch of soar grapes. These were sexy, funny and cute. First three are classics. You'all need to get a life, you only get to enjoy it once. Quit hanging out at funeral parlors.
Thank you.
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