I find this Mastercard dinner scene commercial confusing. First of all, they seem to be implying that only people with credit cards can buy and/or afford generic food brands like Pillsbury and Jolly Green Giant veggies. Not so. Secondly, this is one bizarre-ass meal they’re coming up with. Pickles, peanuts, Count Chocula cereal, Spaghetti-O’s, crescent rolls, tuna casserole, salt, fish sticks, canned vegetables, and god knows what else…those ingredients do not a satisfying feast make. And I find it strange that Mr. Clean is doing the dishes…his brand represents cleaning products, not dishwasher detergent. How about Joy Droppy?

Here’s the odd feast in video form:

Mastercard mascot feast

For god knows how many years, Mastercard has been bombarding us with commercials suggesting that all the costs associated with having a good time are unimportant, because the experiences and memories you’ll create by spending money are “priceless.” Messages like these are part of the reason we’re in this whole mess where people spend money they don’t have, but that’s beside the point.

The “priceless” campaign is memorable to be sure, but I’m suggesting it’s time for a change. Even mocking the commercial’s catch phrases is old hat now, and if that doesn’t prove it’s over, I don’t know what would. Mastercard probably pays advertising companies millions of dollars a year, so they should put them to work for once and have them come up with a new campaign! It’s not that hard. Geico does it every couple of years.

Anyway, here’s the latest “priceless” ad, which is actually quite bizarre. I don’t know what the giant jack-in-the-box is all about, but I feel like it’s going to give me nightmares.

Mastercard ad with weird jack-in-the-box

I loved the Mr. Bill sketches when I was growing up, so in a way I’m happy to see the character revived in the new Mastercard ads. But this isn’t the Mr. Bill I know and love. He keeps finding a reason to be happy that all these terrrible things keep happening to him, which kind of ruins the joke. Maybe it’s because they didn’t want the commercial to seem too negative? Whatever the reason, it’s lame.

Mr. Bill Mastercard Commercial