Tuesday, September 14, 1999: Universals

[NonsenseWords]

I love how the first two brands Millie lists are 'generic parody', but Jerry Springer and Microsoft don't have generic parodies.

[Muninn]

Well, how do you come up with generic names for those two things? I guess you could change a vowel or part of the word but that'd just look awkward. Cola is a brand name so well known that sticking any other word next to it will make it recognisable. As for Backstreet Spice Boys, well that's already two popular groups of the time.

[NonsenseWords]

...that's not what I meant. I meant that 'Kablamo Cola' and 'Backstreet Spice Boys' are very obvious parodies of two different things (well, Backstreet Spice Boys is two different things on its own), but there's no equivalent analogue for Jerry Springer or Microsoft.

To explain 'generic parody', I used the term because those two are constructed in a pretty generic way (putting together at least two band popular band names; making alliteration with the word 'Cola'). My wording was a little weird, but that's what I meant.

[Muninn]

Well, like I said, what would be a good generic analogue for Jerry Springer or Microsoft?

[NonsenseWords]

Harry Slinger. Macrotough.

Very obvious. And I've certainly seen better-done but still obvious references elsewhere (I'm not going to pretend I'm good at making up silly generic-brand names). I don't really have a problem with the names being used in general, I'd just prefer some consistency; either all generic-brand stuff, or all actual references. *shrug*

[Muninn]

Hmm, the first one I wouldn't have made the connection probably. The second, is all right, but still sounds forced and awkward.

[Burning Sheep Productions]

Microsand.

[Bocaj Claw]

Funny Farm used Macrohard I think.

Come on, let's see a show of hands. How many of you would be willing to live on a pirate ship if it meant you no longer had to deal with boy bands, cola advertising, trash television...

[Cactus Jack]

The Backstreet Spice Boys combines two popular bands as a joke, and Kablamo Cola is already established in universe as an annoying kind of soda. Creating parodies for Microsoft and Jerry Springer is not necessary and would probably be counter productive because readers may not figure out what they are suppose to be a parody of.

[nickspoon]

Both of those mock names, in fact, have already been established in the comic, so it's simple enough to use them here. There was no real need to modify Jerry Springer and Microsoft. The joke comes across a bit weak unfortunately.

[Tom_Radigan]

The punchline would have worked far better if Microsoft were the sort of business which spread its name on everything it could get hold of, but Microsoft doesn't do that.

[IceDragon]

The punchline would have worked far better if Microsoft were the sort of business which spread its name on everything it could get hold of, but Microsoft doesn't do that.

But DCS loves teh Apple, so...

[Muninn]

Microsoft is as guilty of putting the words "Microsoft" and "Windows" on the majority of their products just as Apple is of using their name.

[NonsenseWords]

I think what he was saying was that Microsoft tends to only stay in the computer market; Microsoft Windows software. Apple, however, has branched out to MP3 players and phones. Windows marketing is pretty hilarious how they plaster their name all over computer products, but they haven't really stepped out of the computer business.

Of course, I don't think Apple began putting out a diverse array of products until the 2000s (at least, I only recall iPods getting big when I was in later middle school/early high school), so that was after this comic was done, anyway.

I think it was just a weak Take That at Windows Explorer. A very weak 'take that'.

[Muninn]

Microsoft have branched out as well. Xbox and Zune are the most famous examples.

And just in case people thought I'm defending Apple in a roundabout way, I've never used an Apple product other than iPod/iTunes.