Gates-Seinfeld Team Solidifies Strategy

Ex-Microsoft CEO Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld break bread with a stereotypical American family in a second ad that attempts to rejuvenate the Windows maker’s image.

When Microsoft’s in a bind, this is the kind of advertising it comes up with. Something really risky and new.

Second Microsoft ad with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld

Microsoft’s second ad featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates is trying to get attention based entirely on the idea that it makes no sense at all. There’s something about the Seinfeldian rhythm in the ad, and it’s definitely building upon the original, but where is this going?

Impossible to say. It makes no sense. (You can watch it yourself below.)

What were they thinking?

I can just imagine the pregame speech Seinfeld gave ol’ Bill:

“Alright Bill, we’re gonna go in, we’re gonna start this one out with about thirty seconds to introduce the situation. It’s you, it’s me, it’s the average American family. And their cranky, sort of manly grandma. We’re gonna establish a premise. We’re gonna establish it until there’s no more to establish.”

“Mustard?”

“Yes, Bill. Mustard.”

“Toenail clippings?”

“Bill, you’re losing focus. We’re gonna hit them with the premise for almost four minutes, then we’re going to get framed for a ridiculous crime, sand a door, insult a little girl, and make with the exit strategy.”

“Non-sequitur to a silly futuristic computer idea with an animal and a ‘signal’ of me shuffling my legs around a bit. Got it.”

“Ready? Break.”