I decided to choose the T.V. ad for Coca-Cola with the Simpson’s characters. It is called Hard Times and it follows Monte Burns a very rich character who is the stereotypical old, selfish, greedy billionaire mogul who controls all the power in Springfield. However, in the commercial he loses all of his fortune and becomes very sad and down. In the beginning, it shows all of Burns’ stuff being sold to other residents including his very large mansion and all his accessories such as stone statues etc. Then, very disappointed and sad for his loss, he walks in a park full of many Simpson’s characters and sees them all very happy and drinking Coca-Cola. In a very comical and cliché way, the residents all come together while drinking Coke and then when Burns walks by Apu, holding many cokes, offers him a Coke. He drinks it and immediately becomes happy and joins the Springfield residents in fun and games. The commercial ends with Millhouse running into a large Coke bottle in the sky that says open happiness.
This commercial’s goal seems to be on the surface to get the viewer to think of Coke not only as refreshing beverage, but as a drink that brings people together in happiness. Coke probably wanted to use the Simpson’s characters because it a very popular show while also being a very cheerful/colorful scene. Burns in the show is a very self-centered and emotionless, but the presence of Coke and the Springfield community is able to cheer him up from his losses. The commercial uses a few of Fowles’ appeals such as need for affiliation and guidance. Burns is alone walking in the park, but when being around happy people drinking Coke he cheers up. And also the actual Coke is the symbol for happiness in commercial and guides Burns away from being depressed from losing his fortune. The Simpsons characters are very likeable people and combined with a very cheerful mood, in my opinion Coca-Cola does a fantastic job of promoting their product without really saying anything about the product itself.
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