Michael: You know … there’s just something about “Flo” in those Progressive Insurancecommercials that trips my trigger. She’s vivacious. She’s savvy. She’s helpful. She’s a redhead. *swoon*
But Flo isn’t for everyone. Where she can be a breath of fresh air to some (like me), she can be a thorn in the side to others, I’m sure. She’s a bane in the world of monotonous television marketing … and especially where insurance is concerned.
Tara: Sorry to interrupt ya there, buddy. You know I’d rather swallow my own tongue than say something bad about someone. But. Seriously? Are you serious? “Bane” is a kind word to use. She’s annoying, obnoxious, and whiny. I wish I had her gig though, as she’s making a kazillion dollars. And! It’s a race to the remote in my house, just to see who can mute her faster! Don’t get me started on her thinking about “tacos,” either.
Michael: Yeah. “Bane.” That’s the word I used. ‘Cause she is one! After all, she beats the “supermom multi-taskers” and others of that mundane sort you see in so many commercials nowadays. And you have to admit … she is kinda swoony. She’s not annoying in the least. “Obnoxious”? Nah. “Whiny”? I don’t think so.
And … what? You think the “tacos” thing is a euphemism? Get your head out of the gutter, you! They can’t do that on television, you know….
Tara: Can too. Obviously, you don’t watch Glee. A “taco” is a synonym for the nether region of a womanal area. How can you not be watching Glee? That’s unAmerican!
And I am originally a redhead, but I changed it to blond highlights, after I saw her. And my Mother.
Michael: You know those Campbell’s soup commercials? ‘Soup is good food’? Same goes for redheads. Good stuff, Maynard….
And are you hinting Flo’s gonna be on Glee … ?!? That might get me to watch the show. Will she be selling flat tire insurance to that one kid in the wheelchair? *snort*
Tara: Soup is good. On that we agree. I make a mean soup, with chicken stock, potatoes, celery, onions, spinach, and zucchini. I’d give you the recipe verbatim, but then I’d have to kill you.
You need to be force fed soup while watching Glee.
Michael: Enough with the soup and the Glee, already! *yeesh* We’re talking about Flo and Progressive Auto Insurance. Get back on track!
Seriously … whether you think Flo to be obnoxious or not, you have to admit she’s (red)head and shoulders above other insurance personalities. Take that annoying Geico lizard character for example. Talk about creepy! I’d much rather talk to a person than a cold-blooded lizard! (Waitaminnit! You can’t talk to a lizard! Well … I mean you can … but you’d look rather dumb purchasing insurance from one.) Speaking of dumb, how about those doofus Geico cavemen? Now, they are obnoxious.
Personally, I just think you’re jealous of Flo, is all. You did mention your fondness for her “gig.” Admit it. The fact remains: She does Progressive proud. Period.
Tara: Flo reminds me of Fran Drescher. Ew. Period. And I think the lil lizard has a cute accent.
Michael: *sigh* Of course you do. Soup … Glee … cute accents … remote racing. You’ll do just about anything to avoid talking too much about Flo …..
And, by the way: “Fran Drescher”? Thanks for killing the conversation. I’m now wise to your game….
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Jun 02, 2010 @ 13:42 EST5EDT
I want to marry Flo. I love her. I fervently embrace her whimsical moxy, her childlike appreciation for the world around her, even the corny calculator humor.
And Tara? I’m so sorry, but anyone who compares her to that horrid banshee Fran Drescher? I’m sorry, but you’ve just lost all credibility in my eyes. Or, since this is Fran we’re talking about, my ears. Ugh! augh. Gurrgh. No, it’ll just be Flo and me… sittin’ in a tree… Now that’s good stuff. winking smiley goes here.
Boyo, she’s like nails on a chalkboard. What’s the matter with you men types? *sigh*
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boyo:
1) Kudos for using ‘moxy’
2) Kudos taken away for “winking smiley goes here.”
Regardless, if you can get passed Flo’s corny calculator humor, your love knows no bounds …..
Flo doesn’t get my motor running, but there’s something about her irrepressible joie de vive that reminds me of a certain blue someone. For that reason & that reason alone I’m prone to go with the Flo.
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Tick:
You deserve this: https://www.instantrimshot.com for the ‘go with the Flo’ comment …..
I think your chalkboard sensors are just oversensitive. It’s all subjective, and our perceptions are all affected by various envirionmental and historical factors, but seems to me that you are starting from a place of expecting to be antagonized. Commercials often do warrant that, no argument there, but in this particular case I think the tar is on a broad brush.
Also? As Freud once said: “Sometimes a taco is just a taco.” If you’re going to go that route, you might as well start on that class action suit against T*c* Bell…
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I have to admit: It’s kinda hard to argue with logic like that, Tara …..
Hmmm? I was pumicing my heels. What now?
I’m with boyo on this one.
Honestly, I think she’s hilarious. I don’t partake in Progressive’s deals but I would much rather watch a Progressive commercial as compared to a Geico or an Esurance commercial. She’s just much more lively. Charming in fact.
You might be the only person that I’ve heard of who can’t stand her. For shame!
Man, I want tacos now…
Hey now. Don’t diss Erin from Esurance, she’s smokin’. If I was too dimensional I’d totally hit that.
*two dimensional
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So, Tick … I’m just wondering:
Which dimension would you give up? Because, that could be problematic, if you know what I mean …
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lawly: You have my approval.
You two….love the banter! Let’s see I took an “In House” poll-that would be my house- about Flo and here are the results. My hubby- no likey- my 9 year old Son- doesn’t care either way- my 11 year old daughter can’t stand her- Moi Proggessive is very clever. Branding the almost always inpersonal “Insurance Biz” with a sometimes “wise” always “wisecraking” very personable woman. Love her, don’t love her, wish she would drive her Proggessively insured car over a cliff….it all works because your talking about it and that is the essence of good “top of mind” awareness image building advertising….yet never fear she will run her course and they’ll be on to the next “big idea”…perhaps some cute talking babies…oh wait that ones taken. Love those talkin babies….
Good poll Rose!
Funny you should mention the talking babies… we have that banter coming soon!
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“… the essence of good “top of mind” awareness image building advertising …”
Errr … uhm … uh … yeah! Right! That’s Ed Zachery what we were shooting for with this post, Rose. Ed Zachery!
Right Tara? …… Tara?
Uhm … Tara … ???
I’m sorry, I was filing my nails. What are we talking about?
First…..is this some sort of teaser???
“Funny you should mention the talking babies… we have that banter coming soon!” Or are we gonna be talkin E-trade baby etc?
In my house we are F of F’s. She cracks us up!!!!
Oh and I’m a red head and ALL red heads are great in my book :)
I’m lovin the collaboration here with you two…..can’t WAIT for your next one :)
XOXOXO….your friendly lil red-headed Diva :)
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Beth:
I wouldn’t call it a “collaboration” so much as Tara twisting my arm ’til I yelled “Uncle!”
Considering we all know he sometimes refers to himself as an Uncle, Michael was just evoking his own name when I twisted that arm. Meaning, he wanted to talk about himself more.
You both are a hoot! Love this!
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So … now were endangered, nocturnal birds.
Great. Just when I was getting the hang of …. oh …. never mind …
Flo was funny in the beginning. “Tripped out nametag” had me giggling quite a bit. But the calculator “hel-lo” really irked me and from that moment on I wanted to beat her where she stood with her fancy little scan doo-hicky. Her hair looks brunette with auburn high lights to me. Not really redheaded. Michael, mayhaps you’re confused with the other Flo who is a redhead — you know, she worked with Mel, Alice and Vera.
Yeah! Riss is right! It’s brown, brown, brown! With highlights. Thanks, Riss. Now his whole argument is shotta hell.
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You can’t fool me, Riss – Mel, Alice and Vera were *not* redheads …..
No, you goon! The woman named FLO with whom they worked was the redhead. You can’t confuse me, Rupe and I’m not falling for that link again! you know the one.
Just as I read this post, Flo came on my tv. I’m not annoyed by these commercials but I don’t love them.
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It’s fate, Kwizy.
You were meant to be here.
I find Flo attractive and like her bubbly personality, BUT after a while I have a feeling her constant perkiness would get a little annoying if you were dating her. Did I just talk about a character on a commercial like she was real?
Then again I’m dating someone who my friends think looks like Flo so I guess I made my choice.
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In all seriousness ac … very interesting.
I’ve actually thought the same thing. Can you imagine someone that perky … all the time? It could wear on a person in no time flat.
And, yes … you did just talk about a character on a commercial like she was real …
Effective advertising for me was Diet Coke and Lucky Vanous. Can we bring that back?
Flo is just one step away from being Juno. I’m waiting for her to call a customer ‘home skillet.’
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You mean “Diet Coke and a Lucky Strike”, don’t you Riss?
It’s okay. I understood what you were trying to think …
Lucky Vanous was the shirtless hunk drinking Diet Coke … and you know damn well what I meant. You’re just being a butt.
I like Flo. I don’t know why, but I just do. And I’ve never seen Glee.
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It’s as if you don’t even need a reason to like her, isn’t it El?
The connection is just there. So … is that good advertising … or the ability on the advertisers’ part to make the character so likable (to some) that it just comes naturally?
Thank you for stopping by!
Agreed, she isn’t really a redhead. But at least she’s less annoying than the cavemen.
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“Less annoying” … ?!?
She’s not even in the same league as the cavemen, Lisana! (Let alone the same evolutionary chain rung …)
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a caveman commercial *knock on wood* I suppose their actual level of annoyingness has faded in my memory.
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*pssssssssssssssssst*
You can be annoyed all over again by clicking the “doofus Geico cavemen” link in the body of the post above, Lisana.
Then your memory won’t be taxed with fading!
Excuse me! I’ve noticed that 3 people now have pointed out she’s not really a redhead. You have not responded, Mr. President.
The color of her hair is of little importance to me; I do not judge people by such singular criteria, particularly those which are ephemeral and superficial. These things may be in unique cases and in some small ways potential indicators, but they are not solitary litmus tests of character. When you cross the line into profiling, the terrorists win.
Also, the declarations regarding the always-on perkiness is far-reaching speculation, as we only see a very small part of her day. She might be SO not a morning person. Or she might be one of those people who gets ornery when her blood sugar is low. She might fall asleep in the middle of movies, like some people I know. Trumped up charges from the negativity brigade, picking nits with such vitriolic vim and vigor. I declare shenanigans! Poor Flo, the haters be hatin’… it’s tragic commentary on the times we live in.
Sorry to come to the party…like days late, as per usual, but I’ve got a permanent shadow these days who makes it hard for Mama to find computer time. Jeesh, can’t a girl just do a little surfing? Anyway, love this and the “banter” format. Just my two cents–sorry, Tara, but I’m a Flo fan. Love her comedic timing, but I am a bit jealous of the gig, too. The girl could probably buy an island by now.
As far as the product goes, is it really progressive? Hmmm…my husband thinks not. Then again, he’s one of those crazy Republicans. Ahhhh! (Kidding, but he is a Libertarian. Potato…potahto
Marnie, good to see you! And I’m saying that, even though you’re agin me and not with me on this one. Michael and I have more highjinks on the way, so we’ll keep ya posted on when to put Finn down for a nap!
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Hi, Marnie!
You’re not late in the least. It just keeps on a’goin’ … and goin’ … and goin’ …
Thanks for being on the “Flo”-side. There’re more of us than there are of them …
Every time I see a Flo commercial, I overhear this phone conversation in my weird head:
Young Woman: Dad, I just wanted to call again and say thank you for paying for my degree in Dramatic Arts. It finally paid off! I got the role of Flo in an insurance ad!
Dad: I’m so proud.
sfx: click
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… and there you go …
GET RID OF FLO!!
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. . . . .
She’s just too swoony to be gotten rid of, Theresa.
It’s not going to happen …..
Flo, needs to go. The character has outlived it’s humor. I change channels, and left Progressive because of it.