Consumerist.com Hosts First Annual Worst Ad in America Awards

Nominees Based on Consumer Votes to be Announced Wednesday, September 22

NEW YORK, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Do annoying jingles, creepy animated characters, and cheesy celebrity endorsements in advertisements rile you up? If so, Consumerist.com wants you to vote! Kicking off today, Consumerist.com is on the hunt for the worst ad in 2010—and no company is safe.

"Every day we are bombarded with commercials that we have no control over," said Meghann Marco, Executive Editor of Consumerist.com.  "Now is the chance for viewers to shout back and put their worst commercials on the chopping block for all to see."

In mid-August, the editors at www.Consumerist.com asked readers to name the worst commercials currently airing on TV, and the response was overwhelming.  The only qualification placed on potential nominees, aside from being grating, overplayed and obnoxious, was that they had to be for national brands, and air during 2010. Among the ads that drew complaints were those for Progressive Insurance featuring "Flo, the Progressive Girl" and those for the yogurt Activia, featuring actress and pitchwoman Jamie Lee Curtis.

On Wednesday, September 22, Consumerist.com will post the full list of nominees and open the door for voting on the worst of the worst. Categories will include:

• Absolute Worst Ad In America
• Most Grating Performance
• Most Annoying Animated Character
• Celebrity Who Apparently Lost The Most Money In Housing Crash
• Duo Or Group That Most Needs To Be Broken Up
• Creepiest Commercial

The winners in their respective categories will be announced on Wednesday, September 29 and will receive the coveted "Fast-Forward" Award.  All winners will be based on consumer votes.

Click here to visit Consumerist.com and view the 2010 nominees this Wednesday, September 22.

About Consumerist.com

The Consumerist is a subsidiary of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, and ConsumerReports.org, and the nation's leading not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization. Since its founding in 1936, Consumers Union has fought for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To maintain independence and impartiality, CU accepts neither outside advertising nor free samples. It employs a staff of "mystery shoppers" who buy products in retail stores around the country, just as any other buyer would, and then ship them to the Consumers Union labs, where technical experts test some 3,000 products yearly.

To further advance its mission, CU employs a dedicated team of grassroots organizers, advocates and outreach specialists who work with the organization's more than 600,000 online activists to change legislation and the marketplace in favor of the consumer interest. Consumers Union is also the leading publisher of information to help consumers choose the right products, stay safe, and protect themselves against unfair business practices. In addition to The Consumerist and Consumer Reports, CU's publications include ConsumerReportsHealth.org, ConsumerReportsEnEspanol.org, ShopSmart magazine, Consumer Reports on Health and Consumer Reports Money Adviser. CU's publications have received many major awards, including multiple National Magazine Awards, several Webby Awards and numerous awards for public-interest and health-care reporting.

SOURCE Consumerist.com