Progressive Insurance clown makeup
By Eric Verlo
NOT MY TRIBE - 2/18/2009 2:19AM MDT - 8 Comments
My favorite TV commercial has to be the Dr Pepper candy aisle parade, but next best is Progressive Insurance’s painted lady Flo. The unselfconscious checkout geek is simply a brilliant solution to a daunting PR challenge. Who does not despise their insurance company? We hate their greed and eagerness to invade our privacy, in the person of the operator trying to glean more information than you want to tell, to the adjuster intent on paying out as little as possible. How then does an ad campaign portray an insurance spokesperson who is likeable and still believable?
Make her an object of ridicule, although oblivious to judgment. Flo’s not prettier than anyone, nor smarter, nor certainly fashionable, and as a result she is completely non-threatening. Throw in an indefatigable enthusiasm and she becomes endearing beyond words. She’s an insurance rep you can’t hate because why bother?
Nothing new to the stereotype, Flo is Madge of Palmolive meets Drew Carey’s nemesis Mimi Bobeck. But they obviously threw in sex appeal, which I lack for insight to deconstruct.
Tags: Advertizing, Flo, Mimi Bobeck, Progressive Insurance, Public Relations, Stephanie Courtney, TelevisionPosted: February 18th, 2009 under Perspective.
Comments: 8
Related articles
link 
Comments
Comment from Tony Logan
(IP: 75.70.161.250)
Time: February 18, 2009, 9:27 am
Well, she’s asking you if you want something, Eric?
Comment from The Professor
(IP: 76.211.210.125)
Time: April 4, 2009, 10:12 pm
She seems pretty nuts to me.
The Professor
Comment from Cesar
(IP: 97.96.131.204)
Time: April 21, 2009, 8:49 pm
Sounds like you just want to complain about Flo for no real reason. Don’t have anything good to blog about?
Comment from Matthew
(IP: 75.142.12.14)
Time: June 16, 2009, 6:11 pm
I’m not sure about all the hype going on about Progressive Insurance spying on a church group? What’s that all about? But I will tell you this, the person who plays “Flo” for the commercials, if she really is named Flo, doesn’t change my opinion of her as a person. I think that Flo is extremely attractive and I might add, very good for PR for Progressive Insurance. I really like her, as do my kids. My kids tell me that she would make a great ‘mommie’, my kids say that they would want someone like her to be their mom. When my kids see a Progressive commercial, they yell “Flo’s on TV!! Daddy, she’s on!”, I would like to say this, “Flo” you’ve made an impression on my kids and to me. You’re a wonderful person and a great human being. I would like to give that as a compliment to “Flo” from me and my children. You’ll always have a place in our home and our hearts. Keep up the great work.
Comment from zK
(IP: 71.193.227.121)
Time: September 18, 2009, 7:24 pm
“Who does not despise their insurance company? We hate their greed and”
WE? You must refer to the single collective obamanoid brain which equates anything relating to prosperity as “greed”.
Wonder if FDR had to demonize America to fail it. Surely those people didn’t opt for a crashing depression out of some secularist mindless vow of poverty.
You useful libiots to anti-Americans ARE the problem.
Fashionable.. what a bunch of airheads. Hope-n-change that when youre pushing your shopping carts around town looking for a left tennis shoe you find a fashionable one.
Comment from Tony Logan
(IP: 174.22.137.189)
Time: September 19, 2009, 7:36 am
You are practically incoherent, Dude. About the only thing that you said that made any sense was that you are offended by us for attacking insurance companies. That seems to make us ‘anti-Americans’ in your dazed mind?
And like you’re some super star American all wrapped in Old Glory? You’re just a dumb puke, Zeke, who demonizes ‘liberals’.
Comment from Caseyy
(IP: 12.198.54.66)
Time: April 26, 2010, 5:35 pm
I Love Flo ! Ill Love To Meet Her !
Comment from Debbi
(IP: 74.70.62.186)
Time: May 12, 2010, 12:31 pm
I changed my insurance because of Flo, I LOVE her!
Write a comment