9799: BHM 2012—Allstate.

From conceptual and executional standpoints, Allstate strikes out for Black History Month.

9779: BHM 2012—WWW.

Black History Month presents patronizing via social media. Ronald McDonald woos with 365Black® while Colonel Sanders counters with KFC360º. AT&T parties for 28 Days and Allstate pushes its Beyond February Program. The Few and The Proud salute Montford Point Marines while American Airlines flies with BlackAtlas. Verizon is Celebrating Your Story as Procter & Gamble proclaims My Black Is Beautiful, a copycat effort that inspired more copycats like Pepsi We Inspire and Pine-Sol Powerful Women. Not sure whatever happened to the Budweiser Great Kings and Queens of Africa.

9554: Allstate Mayhem Extends Losing Streak.

Here’s yet another reason to hate the Allstate Mayhem campaign: A sports-related commercial glorifying mob violence directed at referees. Nice. Anyone who has ever produced advertising with the NFL or NCAA knows it’s forbidden to denigrate the officials. Additionally, coaches and players who criticize the refs can expect to face league reprimands, penalties and fines. So why is Allstate allowed to run this shitty spot during game broadcasts?

9535: Insuring Clichés And Crappiness.

Allstate and State Farm must really be suffering, as the insurance companies’ campaigns are all over the map. From Dennis Haysbert mimicking Progressive’s Flo to big-budget bullshit, the advertising smacks of corporate desperation. This new State Farm commercial features high-priced production values and copyrighted music. But does using the theme song of 1980s sitcom Cheers make the brand contemporary or outdated?