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Empire Today - "$99 Dollars"

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ThatNerdInPhilly View Drop Down
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    Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 5:11am
After one viewing of this new ad strategy , I've had enough.
The old ones were pretty darn annoying but this makes me cringe! 



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sgtrock21 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 5:55pm
Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:

After one viewing of this new ad strategy , I've had enough.
The old ones were pretty darn annoying but this makes me cringe! 




Empire commercials are so cheesy I thought they were local. I had no idea this kind of low budget crap was widespread until I discovered CIH.
EEEEts All so REEEdEEEculous
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote aka ron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 6:29pm
Empire has been around a long time. I remember living in northern Indiana and watching UHF television.
The Empire ads have always had the same slogan/song.
The old guy that used to be the spokesperson was a soft speaking, nice, old man.
I wasn't hating commercials back then, not until I got old and bitter, was I offended by the bullsh*t they throw at us.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ad nauseous Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 9:46pm
Somebody, please knock me out! Until this commercial series stops airing. I've just seen the worst of song botching!
One good thing about TV-you could always turn it off
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote insanity213 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 9:50pm
They must not be down here, or at least their commercials don't air. I sure as hell would have remembered seeing this heinous sh*t otherwise.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote purple rose Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 11:13pm
Where's the Larry King-esque cartoon guy?  Is he being discontinued?
And what kind of crappola are they selling for $99?  Even an IKEA area rug costs more than that.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tiz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Dec 2014 at 11:52pm
^^ Probably a cheap loop- pile with limited color selection. That or they'll stick you with bloated installation, padding and misc. prices. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EasyChango Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2014 at 12:26am
Originally posted by Tiz Tiz wrote:

^^ Probably a cheap loop- pile with limited color selection. That or they'll stick you with bloated installation, padding and misc. prices. 


Yes, Padding and installation jacked up.  Borderline bait-and-switch.

I remember this company being bought by some big outfit years ago.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ThatNerdInPhilly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2014 at 1:01am
Originally posted by aka ron aka ron wrote:

Empire has been around a long time. I remember living in northern Indiana and watching UHF television.
The Empire ads have always had the same slogan/song.
The old guy that used to be the spokesperson was a soft speaking, nice, old man.
I wasn't hating commercials back then, not until I got old and bitter, was I offended by the bullsh*t they throw at us.


I didn't know they have been around since the 70s. 



The ads started around the Philly area about 6 maybe 7 years ago. It was simply the old soft spoken guy - I assume the founder, very low budget. It was just called "Empire." I guess that lasted a year or two and then came the Empire Today jingle, various idiot actors yapping about "I got all of this carpet, but paid THIS much." (graphic of 1/4 of the room with a rug) Ending with the cartoon old guy. 





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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ad nauseous Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2014 at 1:59am
I miss the old cartoon guy. He used to say "Today" and the end of the jingle!
One good thing about TV-you could always turn it off
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote madwoman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Dec 2014 at 4:30am
Builder grade carpet. Tissue paper padding. And they'll probably charge the consumer $100 for every chair, end table, or door stop they have to move.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Ad nauseous Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Dec 2014 at 1:20am
Damn! That commercial is not as annoying as the current ones. It was nice and quiet except for the sped up jingle. Even that I don't mind. Commercials used to be nice and simple back then.
One good thing about TV-you could always turn it off
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ChrisInMI Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 2014 at 4:22pm
I actually like the old jingle - it had kind of a retro 1940s-1950s sound.  This one... blech.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote caroln242 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 2014 at 7:20pm
Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:



Originally posted by aka ron aka ron wrote:

Empire has been around a long time. I remember living in northern Indiana and watching UHF television.
The Empire ads have always had the same slogan/song.

The old guy that used to be the spokesperson was a soft speaking, nice, old man.

I wasn't hating commercials back then, not until I got old and bitter, was I offended by the bullsh*t they throw at us.



I didn't know they have been around since the 70s. 



I remember these commercials from when I was a kid around 10 years old and I'm 66. Their theme song is so burned into my brain I'll never forget their phone number..."588-2300 Empire".
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote usmaak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Dec 2014 at 8:51pm
I think that Empire was originally in the upper midwest, before it went national.  I just moved from IL, after living there for 22 years, and I remember the 588-2300 commercials from the entire time.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote caroln242 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Dec 2014 at 10:55pm
Yeah, I was from Chicago. Grew up listening to 588-2300...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zippyjet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Dec 2014 at 6:40am
Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:

After one viewing of this new ad strategy , I've had enough.
The old ones were pretty darn annoying but this makes me cringe! 



I agree with you 100%. The old Empire Today commercials were just low budget drek. I associate Empire, and Next Day Blinds with Rent to own appliances/furniture at loan shark rates aimed toward the folks who watch Judge Judy, Maury Povich and other daytime TV. I guess with this new abortion Empire is trying to tap into the young Gay professionals who are oh so busy with the theatre, broadway show tunes and NPR that they could use a one phone call ASAP delivery of carpet. Go figure, it has all the hallmarks of a memorable commercial that is so hateworthy. 
1. A bad kid's song
2. Gay style choreographed broadway show tune singing, dancing and prancing. Maybe the shortage of schmaltzy gay friendly Christmas Caroling dancing commericals this year enabled these poor actors and dancers the ability to get a gig singing, dancing and prancing for Empire Today. Why not change the slogan to 888 2300 Empire---IS GAY! Not that there's anything wrong with that. And, I guess with the end of Glee Empire was able to get all the choreographers and schmaltzy showtune makers on the cheap.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote caroln242 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Dec 2014 at 3:58pm
Originally posted by zippyjet zippyjet wrote:


Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:

After one viewing of this new ad strategy , I've had enough.
The old ones were pretty darn annoying but this makes me cringe! 




I agree with you 100%. The old Empire Today commercials were just low budget drek. I associate Empire, and Next Day Blinds with Rent to own appliances/furniture at loan shark rates aimed toward the folks who watch Judge Judy, Maury Povich and other daytime TV. I guess with this new abortion Empire is trying to tap into the young Gay professionals who are oh so busy with the theatre, broadway show tunes and NPR that they could use a one phone call ASAP delivery of carpet. Go figure, it has all the hallmarks of a memorable commercial that is so hateworthy. 
1. A bad kid's song
2. Gay style choreographed broadway show tune singing, dancing and prancing. Maybe the shortage of schmaltzy gay friendly Christmas Caroling dancing commericals this year enabled these poor actors and dancers the ability to get a gig singing, dancing and prancing for Empire Today. Why not change the slogan to 888 2300 Empire---IS GAY! Not that there's anything wrong with that. And, I guess with the end of Glee Empire was able to get all the choreographers and schmaltzy showtune makers on the cheap.


You say "not that there's anything wrong with that." Unfortunately, there's so much hate spewing forth in your post, I can't believe you. You have effectively bashed gays and branded anyone who watches daytime TV as trash.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zippyjet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jan 2015 at 3:44am
Originally posted by caroln242 caroln242 wrote:

Originally posted by zippyjet zippyjet wrote:


Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:

After one viewing of this new ad strategy , I've had enough.
The old ones were pretty darn annoying but this makes me cringe! 







You say "not that there's anything wrong with that." Unfortunately, there's so much hate spewing forth in your post, I can't believe you. You have effectively bashed gays and branded anyone who watches daytime TV as trash.

I don't hate Gays as you imply and it's not the people that watch daytime TV, it's the Ad-Holes perception of them that brings out the hatoraide. Especially regarding the daytime TV shows like Judge Judy and Maury. Both are bottom feeder shows that pander to the lowest common denominator. Judge Judy is a loud mouth crone and the guests on Maury's show come across as trash and one of the reasons why our great nation is becoming a great big joke around the world. If I were Gay, I'd be hating on the media/advertisers for the stereotype of prancing, dancing and theatrical loud. And sadly many of the poor folk who watch shows like Judge Judy don't realize nor care they are being laughed at and ridiculed while the advertisers are banking on their misfortune and misery. 
I'm proud, that I'm a bit brash and eschew political correctness BS. I sometimes do impromptu standup and get plenty of laughs. A lot of comedy can sound hateful especially to the PC hipster crowd. But I digress. Happy New Year.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote sgtrock21 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2015 at 4:54am
Originally posted by Ad nauseous Ad nauseous wrote:

Somebody, please knock me out! Until this commercial series stops airing. I've just seen the worst of song botching!

Since I still cannot find McDonald's Jalapeno double/McChicken WAAAAAAAAAAOH!!!!! commercial on YouTube I will have to change my worst of 2014 vote to Empire Today 99 Dollars.   
EEEEts All so REEEdEEEculous
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Joe Minx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2015 at 6:31am
Originally posted by ThatNerdInPhilly ThatNerdInPhilly wrote:



I didn't know they have been around since the 70s. 

The ads started around the Philly area about 6 maybe 7 years ago. It was simply the old soft spoken guy - I assume the founder, very low budget. It was just called "Empire." I guess that lasted a year or two and then came the Empire Today jingle, various idiot actors yapping about "I got all of this carpet, but paid THIS much." (graphic of 1/4 of the room with a rug) Ending with the cartoon old guy. 


His name was Lynn Hauldren. Apparently he was the copywriter for the ad agency that was hired to come up with the commercials. They looked over & over for somebody to play the role but when they couldn't find anyone they liked ended up going with him. He passed away back in 2011.

There's an entire website dedicated to him with a lot more info.

http://www.empirecarpetman.com/
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tikibagger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Jan 2015 at 3:40am
its like an ad bad dream fully realized and put on to stink up the airwaves with retro FUNK
...YUMMY Broccolini!!....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2015 at 7:29pm
Looks like I'm too late to start a thread about this God-awful piece of sh*t.

My Gawd, they really should pass some kind of law against putting that kind of horrible, ear-splitting noise on TV.








...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender

C'mon, man!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote i8acannibal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2015 at 7:38pm
It's always been 588-2300 here, at least as far as I can remember. I hate these ads, especially with the sickly sounding jingle. Reminds me of the sick sounding Water Country one.
Say something clever here...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2015 at 9:01pm
And that stupid, perky singing dancing dimwit is just too much to stomach.

...the ads take aim and lay their claim to the heart and the soul of the spender
Jackson Browne - The Pretender

C'mon, man!
Joe Biden - 46th President of the United States
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