Wednesday, November 28, 2007

George who?


When it comes to home made coffee in Europe you can be sure that a Nespresso machine is not very far. Nespresso (a brand of Nestlé) is a huge success here: almost 1.5 million machines and 2,3 billion capsules sold and18% of the capsule machine market. All this success is due to the good quality of the coffee of course, but also the advertising campaign which stars George Clooney. From what I read though, Americans will never see this campaign as George refuses to "spoil" his image "at home"! Click here to see the television and movie theater version.

42 comments:

  1. oh la la, my ideal man on a giant billboard!! Thank you, Eric!

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  2. I don't get it - it's not like he's pimping war or cigarettes, so why would it spoil his image?

    Great photo Eric! George is beautiful as usual, and I love the black and white ad against the blue sky. Looks like evening is settling in.

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  3. I'd buy anything that Clooney promotes.

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  4. HUBBA HUBBA

    which is American for Mon Dieu!

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  5. That is a great black and white board and nicely captured Eric. I read and hear about other actors who do this...advertise only certain things abroad or only do voice ads. Interesting. And thank you for posting on the Seguin DP yesterday. You beat even me! You knew about the article before I even saw it! ;)

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  6. Now, if GC offered a kiss with the coffee, I might be tempted; but I think he should change the part in his hair - ages him too much. Can you imagine him with a Rod Stewart hairdo? No? Ok then, keep the part but lay off the hair gel.
    Desolee Eric, I'm a little frisky because I've been to the hairdresser today and I'm focussed on hair. I went into the salon brunette and "bugger me" (Australian expression meaning 'Mon Dieu'), I came out blonde! Ooh la la, wait til M.B sees me at the park for tennis this afternoon. He won't recognise me - I barely recognise myself.

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  7. This coffee machine is not costly not but those capsule cost you all lot compared to fresh beans in long run. So Nestle cash register keeps on ringing. It's like color ink-jet printer where printer cost is less but you need to buy those costly refills quite frequently.

    But with said that the machine really makes your day and quality of the coffee is really great.

    Americans do not drink Espresso in general as they gulp those big glasses of coffee. In Europe you get coffee American as well for that reason. So it is perfect if this advertisement is not getting shown in US which is not a strategically market for Nestle right now.

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  8. If he is seen with one of those capsules in the US (or driving a Smart) people will think he has a small wiener (zizi).

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  9. When I saw this photo I thought to myself, "What on earth could people say about that?" Silly me! You all never cease to amaze me (in a good way!). Mme has blond hair, coffee capsules are like ink-jet printers, he's using way too much hair gel, and now his zizi is small. That's why I love this blog...the people who come here make it fun!

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  10. George advertised some product on TV (I forget which) a couple of years ago in England. They are all at it. I wonder what image he has in the States?

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  11. Very funny, indeed !!
    Personnally, this advertising campaign (specially on TV) is one of my favorite. True : GC is also one of my favorite actor or ideal man !! But still the TV spot is quite well done, with a touch of french style and a good sense of humor from GC, so famous, so worldwide star ! I like it !! But I still haven't drink any Nespresso coffee.
    "What else ?" :)

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  12. Haven't seen these machines. Do we have them in UK i wonder? Maybe Ham has them; everything happens in London. The rest of us merely push our noses up against the window. Or... coffee machine.

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  13. If I remember rightly, he did a series of Martini adverts in UK with his then girlfriend, Lisa Snowdon.

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  14. You must remember that anything American is twice as big and twice as good as any foreign rubbish.

    So to advertise foreign muck would be a real black mark for him, his manhood would be non-existant.

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  15. navrad: Twice as good? I doubt that. U.S. products (in general) aren't really known for their great quality, are they?

    Love the photo, btw! :)

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  16. Funny you post that pic - I took one of him yesterday next to the Galeries Lafayette with the christmas lights and he was on TV in the ad just 10 mins ago. You really can't escape him in France! I haven't bought the machine though...

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  17. OK, I think I was right to post this photo. Lots of George admirers here. Wonder why LOL!

    Kate "I'd buy anything that Clooney promotes." Tss Tss!

    Thiên. I knew I would surprise you LOL. I must confess that I was helped by a certain Mr Google...

    LOL Madame Beneau. Did Monsieur Beneau say "poo poo pee doo" when he saw you?!

    Santm. Well Americans also go to Starbucks to enjoy a good expresso don't they. I'm sure that with a little advertising (by clooney or someone else!!) you could get American households to turn to home made expressos. And you're right, Nestle business' plan is evil, but the quality is there so there is not much to say.

    Matt Maddox LOL. Any secret info you'd like to share on Mr Clooney's [Smart] drive?

    The things you learn on PDP Michael...

    Lynn, "everything happens in London" LOL You make it soud like you live in the desert! I'm sure you have nespresso machines in the UK, I think they are all over Europe.

    Rich Painter 21. [...adverts in UK with his then girlfriend, Lisa Snowdon.] Thanks for mentioning her name, with him it's hard to keep track!!

    Navrad. Er...

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  18. It must be a given that good looking men run only into gorgeous women, and that they live in a flawless world.

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  19. LOL!!! Of course not! "He-Man" George Looney, drinking _coffee_?!? Quelle horror!

    Mari-Nanci
    US
    {Yes, his bod is fantastic!!! But his agenda lost me, quite a while ago. I pay no hard cash for his films. Nor would I buy 'his coffee,' if he hawked it here. -chuckle-}

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  20. Americans do see this advertisement! I saw it in the theatre last year and loved the subtlety. George is a doll---I knew he'd really made it when I stopped referring to him at "Nick." (That's his father's name and I knew him in Cincinnati.)

    I believe there is nothing wrong with companies making products that make you want to buy more. The world is an abundant place.

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  21. Pass on the Nespresso. Donnez-moi du GC, au naturel!!! Anytime. Anyplace. ;)

    Quick shout-out to Monica and Brazil. Parabens, Helio Castroneves vence “Dancing with the Stars”!

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  22. I wish we had those Nespresso machines here. I enjoy George Clooney's movies, but I perfer his Aunt's music, Rosemary Clooney.

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  23. Well i've just peeked around the cactus, Eric, and i can't find one.

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  24. Two things I have never understood...Nespresso and George Clooney.

    I could never understand people waiting in line to buy their capsules in Paris, and I could never figure out the huge attraction to Clooney, I guess you have to be a woman. His late aunt Rosemary is another story..a real talent!!

    For santm...We do have Nespresso in the US, but most people buy their capsules through the mail. The US has certain regions where strong coffee cultures have developed and grown, like SF and Seattle and people there are true to local roasters and even though the average American gulps down gallons of sludge coffee[like Starbucks sugary "Coffee drinks"..]there are plenty of people that appreciate espresso.

    The Nestle company was also involved in a huge scandal back in the seventies when they supposedly were responsible for tainting mother's milk in developing countries, like India. So many people still avoid their products, and the Nestle Boycott still exists.

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  25. The Big question : will George be in Paris for the inauguration ? ;-) Some rumors say he will...

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  26. Tonton flaneur, you reckon the Nestle boycott is still on? That surprises me. Very interesting...

    Loved mrs benaut's comment on GC's hair. She is right, too!
    Good luck to you as a blonde, Mrs.B!!!

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  27. Merci Nathalie! I was blonde when we married and yes, M.B is very happy!
    Eric: not "poo poo pee doo" but "very nice!". M.B had a hair cut yesterday too!

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  28. If poor George only knew... some of us can't be bothered to care what he sells his soul for. Ah well... Interesting post, no doubt!
    Thanks,
    Wayne

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  29. I saw posters of George Clooney all over Paris last spring, but never really paid attention to them - he's not my cup of tea, whoops, I mean expresso. Or, Nespresso. Whatever!

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  30. La rumeur dit que Catherine Deneuve va d'ouvris le café "Nespresso" sur le Champs élyssés?

    Mais encore que ceci n'est qu'un rumeur. :o

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  31. Et puis, le gros chiffre de la semaine : 65.000 €, la somme offerte à Catherine Deneuve pour participer à l'inauguration de la nouvelle boutique Nespresso sur les Champs-Elysées. Avec ou sans sucre ?

    ;D

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  32. Coffee and George Clooney. Is there more one could want in life?! I have had one of these wonderful machines for several years - love the quality of the coffee - such 'crema' - and now George Clooney. Perfection!

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  33. I am American & I own a Miele coffemaker that serves Nespresso. It was outrageously expensive but the coffee is fun to serve & tasty too. Cheaper that Starbucks in the end for me.

    Plus I LOVE Clooney!
    Clooney & Nespresso = Yummy! :)

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  34. Love everything about this post: love the picture, love the theme, love the man!

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  35. Recently bought a N'espresso Machine and George had nothing to do with it, well, maybe just a little. Great cafe!!

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  36. think the rumor about him not wanting the ad shown in the US is just that, a rumor. I doubt he's worried about his image, he does voice-overs for a really terrible beer over here.

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  37. I agree with Shay: Starbucks would be in trouble with those adds here. Heck, I might even start to drink coffee. Maybe not.

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    http://www.spymac.com/details/?2315706

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  39. I would no sooner purchase coffee from Nestle than I would purchase brie from a manufacturer of american cheese.

    Pod coffee has it's place in peoples lives, I am not one of them and the humor of the ad was not lost on me.

    The smell of fresh brewed coffee evokes a memory of my first morning in France. While my grandmother prepared the coffee, my grandfather went to get the morning bread. I watched the various people walking to center of the village to get the bread with empty baskets, only to return with the long sticks of freshly baked bread.

    We feasted with bowls of coffee, at that time heavily ladden with milk and cubes of sugar. The bread smothered in butter, fresh strawberry preserves and perhaps a bit of brie. It was delightful and I was only 15 and drinking coffee! Today I prefer the strong black roasted beans sans the extras.

    You would have a better chance with Curious George selling me something instead of Mr. George C. He sold out a long time ago. Oh yes he is kind to the eyes. I would not give him the honour of perfect man, because we are all perfect in somoenes eyes.

    Great picture I am sharing you Eric with others

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