Quotidian Corner: Flo from Progressive Insurance

Let's be honest. Television these days really is in the slumps. The majority of filler commercials is some stupid skit with questionable cavemen that don't mention car insurance, or unintelligent blather-filled infomercials about blankets with sleeves (that's right Snuggies) or magic cleaning clothes (you too ShamWow!). One really is finding less and less reason to turn on the television when stupid and boring frame-flashing suffocates the air-waves. And then came Flo.

Sure, I have no intention of buying car insurance, nor do I even OWN my own car, but the fact of the matter is that Flo (as most commonly know her, the "girl from the Progressive Insurance commercials") is a improvisational, and commercial, genius. Her quirky-cute routine may be obnoxious to some, but after really scrutinizing each Progressive Insurance commercial, one realizes that they pay an abnormal amount of attention to the television when Flo is gracing us with her pixelated presence. Stephanie Courtney, the actress behind the 50s hair and "neon make-up", struts around the Progressive Insurance cyber world with her "tricked-out name tag" and her price gun, creating the genuinely remarkable character of Flo.

But why is Flo so remarkable? Shortly after her debut on national television, Flo began to receive a sort of fan following from people who found her to be hilarious (I, for one, am guilty) to men who find her to be attractive (guilty again!). Flo? Cult status? Exactly! Forget the long, drawn-out Mac vs. PC commercials, or even the awkwardly adorable GEICO gecko, for Flo puts commercials in a whole other realm: commercial comedy. Not only do people patiently watch the commercial in full when they come on at every break, but people actually get excited when a new one comes out. I'd consider that successful marketing, not only do you remember the message, but you enjoy it as well. On the contrary, there are some marketing strategies that replicate this formula, but severely fail. For example, if I ever see that stupid wad of dollar bills with eyeballs again, I will vow never to buy from GEICO no matter how good the deal is. I hate those commercials THAT much.

In conclusion, Flo captivates an very difficult audience, one that normally wishes that their program was still on over the pesky, and repetitive commercials. She hones in on an unsuspecting crowd of eager and excitable viewers, looking to fill the void left since that Dell Guy got caught for possession, or when beer commercials became mediocre. She is a good model for advertising, and otherwise a good model citizen. If you ever need car insurance, or quite simply a good laugh, watch a Progressive Insurance commercial. I promise you won't be as bored as usual.