Consumerist.com Crowns Staples' Ad Worst in America

McDonald's, General Insurance, Liberator Medical, Extenze and JG Wentworth Among Winners in the Worst Ad in America Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 100,000 consumer votes were tallied up in Consumerist.com's first annual Worst Ad in America Awards. Six perpetually obnoxious ads rose to the top of the 30 nominees in six categories with Staples' "Wow! That's a Low Price!" guys claiming the top honor of "Absolute Worst Ad in America."

Staples' "Wow! That's a Low Price!," spastic shopper received just over 30% of the vote, to edge out Quiznos' cavalcade of costumed, singing animals (28.6%). Two early front-runners, Honda's Mr. Opportunity and Progressive Insurance's Flo campaigns, finished a distant third (18.7%) and fourth (15.5%). Meanwhile, the least ostensibly offensive ad of the bunch, State Farm's chummy, raven-haired insurance buddy, brought up the rear with only 7.1% of the vote.

"It seems like ages ago that we first asked our readers which commercials get under their skin, and we were thrilled to see them respond by the thousands," said Meghann Marco, Executive Editor of Consumerist.com. "There were definitely some surprise upsets in the results, but the one thing all the winners had in common was their ability to get on viewers' last nerves."

Winners in additional categories are as follows:

-- MOST GRATING PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN BEING

McDonald's – The "Not Until I've Had My Coffee" jerkface

The actor behind McDonald's "not before I have my coffee" might wish he'd slept in this morning, because he was the clear victor in this category (35%). His closest competition came in the form of another pitchman for a liquid pick-me-up, 5-Hour Energy's Mr. "Do you know what 2:30 feels like?"

-- MOST ANNOYING ANIMATED SPOKESTHING

General Insurance – The General

This one came as a genuine surprise with 32.7% of the votes. The General beat the heavily favored Charmin Bears with their prickly, toilet paper-snagging butts (25.8%) along with Geico's squealing pig (25.2%).

-- DUO OR GROUP THAT MOST NEEDS TO BE BROKEN UP

JG Wentworth – The Opera Singing Bus Riders

The busload of opera singers (24.63%) wasn't much of shocker, though it was very close to runner-up Chase (23.35%) featuring the newlyweds depositing checks on their iPhone.

-- CELEBRITY WHO MUST HAVE LOST THE MOST MONEY IN HOUSING CRASH

Extenze – Jimmy Johnson

In the end it was coach-turned-broadcaster-turned-Survivor-star Jimmy's 32% beating out Ben Stein's 29% for FreeScore.com.

-- CREEPIEST COMMERCIAL

Liberator Medical – No More Used Catheters

The ad's opening line of "I had to reuse catheters for the rest of my life" sent chills down the spines (and up the urethras) of 46.37% of the voters. Liberator's 20% defeat of second-place Old Navy was by far the largest margin of victory in all of WAIA 2010.

Visit Consumerist.com to view videos of all the winners and nominees and find out how the "Fast Forward Awards" will be delivered to the winners.

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