A Look at Potential Talent for 'Jingles'

Our Five 'Favorite' Audition Tapes

Posted by Rupal Parekh on 07.17.08 @ 04:02 PM

If CBS's "Jingles" actually gets off the ground later this year as the network has promised, we're in store for a train wreck of a show based on the ad biz, judging by a quick survey of audition tapes posted to YouTube.

Glad it's not us who has to weed through these contestants to ultimately decide who gets to take home $100,000 and an advertising contract. That job is in the hands of the bizarro trio of judges: Kiss rocker Gene Simmons, jingle guru Linda Kaplan Thaler and no-introduction-needed Julie Roehm.

Based on the audition tapes, the brief that potential contestants were given isn't quite clear: Some made jingles for fake generic brands like "Grease Away soap" and "Swift Cola"; others made up their own brands like (ew) "chocolate garlic gum"; and still others crooned about real marketers like Pringles and Elmer's Glue. Here, five examples that say it all.

Jon Mack and Rich Williams' audition jingle for Elmer's Glue -- complete with outtakes

A sad living-room version of a Robert Palmer video for "Swift Cola"

Wannabe Flight of the Conchords duo Rhett & Link's audition jingle for the "Blitz 5 Razor"

Pepto Bismol threw up all over Team Kitty Kiddy's audition jingle for Fruit It Up candy. (Editor's note: I predict that this team will win the competition.)

An awful rap by the "Fox Brothers" for Pringles

1 Comment

By echomusic411 | Boston, MA July 21, 2008 02:22:53 pm:

Linda is playing her cards smart to ride the curve of this whole industry as it reboots. Jingles are about MUSICALIZING the "best idea" to sell a product. Guess what? No one has a lock on the best ideas. This is an old game with a new spin. If your message is about targeting your audience and your budget is about stretching your 60 seconds into Forever, then "why not maximize your advertising dollars"? Find out more at http://www.echomusiccreations.com.

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