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From Apryl Duncan, for About.com

Those Quirky Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld Commercials

Sunday September 14, 2008
Microsoft has released another one of its commercials featuring the who-would-have-thunk-it duo of Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The latest ad, called "New Family," is basically a 4 minute, 30-second movie that puts the two in the home of an everyday family because, as Seinfeld says, "we need to connect with real people." Seinfeld and Gates become a part of the family, playing ping pong, getting Chinese food delivered and then being punished for allegedly stealing a leather giraffe from Cabo San Lucas. Read More About the Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld Microsoft Commercials:

Gates even reads one of the boys a bedtime story. When the little boy asks if there are monsters, Gates replies, "Yes, but it's okay. There's a firewall."

At almost 4 minutes exactly into the movie, Seinfeld brings up how Gates has "connected over a billion people" and talks turn to Microsoft briefly. The campaign's goal is to change the company's image.

The first ad of the campaign debuted September 4 during NBC's broadcast of the Giants and Redskins game. Microsoft's own Email to company employees said the first phase of the campaign was "designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation." That it certainly did because blog buzz showed a lot of confusion over the ad.

The Shoe Circus ad has already been ranked number one on many viral marketing sites through tracking tools. "New family" is also getting a lot of attention across the Internet and has gone viral as well.

The campaign is advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky's first for Microsoft. The agency's other big name clients include Coke Zero, Burger King, Domino's, Geek Squad, Sprite and Volkswagen.

Microsoft is spending $300 million on the ad campaign. Jerry Seinfeld's take from the co-starring in the ads is roughly $10 million.

What do you think of this campaign? Share your opinion on the ads.

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