Why do TV advertisements lack such creativity?

Alot of them that are meant to be funny are simply ripping off the same stand up comedians over and over. Especially Tom Green stuff from over 6 or 7 years ago. And then you have the outdated Office Space deadpan zany office humor crap. Is this as good as these ad agencies can do?

a lot of it has to do with who is paying for the advertisement. There are some good ads out there but they are the ones where people were willing to take a dare and try something different and radical. One down side to that and probably the real answere is that it is so hard to come up with new fresh material with out actually going over the edge for most americans. You have to realise that if these companies say something racy they will have lots of up tight people boycotting their brand.

Look at overseas ads in companies like europe who have more open ways to like. they actually use sex to sell certain items and do all kinds of crazy things in ther ads.

It will probably get worse

It is becuase they target a society that also lacks creativity. Thank you, television.

They lack creativity because they are aiming for the lowest common denominator.

We, as a country, have become mean and dumb.

For example on meanness --- have you ever watched America's Funniest Home Videos(Movies --whatever it's called)? The things that happen are things that injure or scare others. How is that funny? How sick are the people that think those things are funny?

For dumb examples --- what kind of person thinks it's cool to wear pants with crotches below their knees? Or to wear hats backwards? Or to dress like a whore? Who taught these people how to spell? Why is it OK for a ball player to be paid millions to play games --- and yet he can't read. Why would anyone act spastic and think jerky hand motions or crotch-grabbing is a good thing?

As long as we continue to denigrate education and as long as the people that most would benefit refuse to take advantage of the opportunities that free K-12 education can offer, creativity will continue to be lacking.

Why waste the energy required to be creative on people who are unable to appreciate that creativity?

The best TV commercials DON'T lack creativity. The very best ones are quite creative: just look at the top ads that run on the Super Bowl each year. FedEx, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, etc.

Yes, most TV ads do lack creativity. Especially the local ads, which don't have any production budgets.

And, look at the "lower 50%" of anything, and you find mediocrity. Whether you're talking about teachers, manufactured products, doctors, or whatever, we are swimming in a sea of mediocrity. Why? The standard "bell curve" shows that fully 50% of anything will, be definition, be "below average."

Enjoy the good TV spots. Some great professional people create them.

Tom Green ripped his stuff off as well, nothing is original.

Often commericals come out a lot lamer than the original concept because the business people who run the companies need to put their stink all over it and destroy it by changing some aspect of the idea. Also many creative people are not so good at selling their idea so it gets shot down. the trick is to involve the decision makers in the process at the beginning to trick them into thinking that the concept was mostly their idea. then it flies.

It's because they won't hire me! Ugh trying to get a job in advertisment is impossible yet I agree with you and I know I could come up with way more creative things.!

They want to make sure they everybody gets it and not go over some peoples heads

Some really good TV advertising out there from very creative people. Creative people at agencies are at the mercy of their budgets and, more's the pity, the legal department. Some of the best right now in the US are for Target stores. Very creative, and really expensive.