You know Apple’s 1984 commercial. You’ve seen Apple’s 1984 commercial. Heck, it’s widely accepted that the 1984 commercial is one of the best ads of all time. But did you know it was almost cancelled by Apple before it ever aired?
Of course, it wasn’t almost cancelled by Steve Jobs, who loved the ad. It was almost cancelled by the suits sitting on Apple’s board. Former Apple board member Mike Markkula actually wanted to fire Chiat\Day (the ad agency who handled Apple marketing at the time) because the commercial was so bad and CEO-at-the-time John Sculley told Chiat\Day to just sell the Super Bowl airtime Apple purchased instead of using it for the commercial. EVERYONE ON THAT BOARD HATED IT.
Chiat\Day only ended up selling one of the two airtime slots they had (refusing to sell the other and lying to Apple that it was too late to sell). So Apple begrudgingly held on, it had paid for everything already, after all.
The best part of the story is when Woz heard that the commercial was in trouble, he told Jobs that he would pay half the $US800,000 it cost for the airtime to save the commercial if Jobs would pay the other half. The lesson, as always, Woz is the awesome. Read more about Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl commercial at Mental Floss. [Mental Floss]
Ozoneocean
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 6:15 PMI think what’s widely accepted is that it’s one of the most ironic advertisements of all time.
dyl
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 8:09 PMHa! Exactly what I was thinking. I also think its terrible.
Danny Allen
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:00 PMFrom a marketing impact perspective, definately one of the best ads of all time. Totally agree, though, that these days, it wins the award for irony. Funny how ads change meaning overtime. Back in those days, Steve Jobs hung pirate flag outside the office. Now they chase pirates through misguided efforts like SOPA. (well at least early on: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/11/apple-microsoft-and-the-27-other-tech-giants-who-support-sopa/)
Chris
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 6:20 PMI love how Giz automatically thinks everything Apple does is the best. BORING!!!!
Danny Allen
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 9:57 PMhttp://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/rant-apple-kinky-sex-and-g-spots-fine-for-12-year-olds-but-penis-bad/
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/02/apples-new-subscription-model-is-evil/
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/12/the-crap-tablet-apple-thinks-samsung-must-make/
So you’re on drugs then?
Titsnass
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 9:29 AMAh, c’mon now, when Jobs died, Giz went into melt down. Every second story was a tear fest, right down to what the man was wearing for Gods sake! ;)
Danny Allen
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:02 AMAnd that’s related to this conversation how?
Titsnass
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:50 AMSeriously,…? The guy pointed out that Giz has a bias, and you try to shut him down with a few little bits that supposedly say the opposite! Giz has always been biased towards Apple! How doe what I said not relate?
Danny Allen
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:10 AMOh sorry. I get you. That definately relates — my bad.
Still disagree with you though. The guy didn’t point out any bias on Gizmodo’s part, he just moaned and pointed out his own. Towards Apple and towards the now dated (though once factual) perception that Giz was Apple biased. And those links back me up. Giz US has gone through an overturn of writers in recent times. Some are fans, some aren’t. Balance is definately better than when I worked on the US edition in 2009. Now as publisher (and former editor) of the Aussie edition, I remain very aware of the concern and watch the balance carefully.
As for the Jobs stuff — all of those stories covering aspects of Steve Job’s life were extremely well trafficked. We’ll do the same when other major tech leaders, like Bill Gates pass away. Only then we’ll be called Micro$oft fanboys.
Matt A
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:08 AMIm sorry you contributed what to the world?
Titsnass
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:40 AMHmm, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Giz certainly has improved. As for if some other high profile person dies, I really doubt they will get the coverage that Jobs got. Having said that, what I said was more or less tongue in cheek until you poked me with a stick! Lets kiss and make up :)
Titsnass
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:43 AMBugger, could have sworn I replied to Danny! This new comments section has some design issues that need ironing out. Bigger font would help too!
Danny Allen
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 1:45 PMHehe, all good man, you’re a welcomed regular and we like being kept on out toes.
Titsnass
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:41 AMNo doubt, about as much as you mate!
bob
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 7:59 PMEither Apple are extremely stupid or love promoting anti-apple.
Kroo
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:53 PMAnd this was the Apple board that almost drove the company into oblivion. If you weren’t alive at the time, then don’t comment on the irony. IBM was the bland boring monolith that sucked the life out of computing. The game changed when the Macintosh was born.
JohnnyP
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 12:11 AMSamsung should redo this ad when the Galaxy S III comes out. But instead of setting free mindless workers, they would be setting free hipsters that carry around an iPhone, iPod, IPad and MacBook and frequent coffee shops
ogre
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 7:54 AMAlready done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOX9mb7V4o
Alex
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 7:37 AMIt is a pretty awful add. Corny at best. But it is considered great mainly because the Mac sold so well for it’s time.
Ed Powers
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 8:23 AMThis comment has been deemed inappropriate and has been deleted.