Cisco kid. Where’s Pancho?

I got a tip about this Cisco advert and managed to catch it on my DVR without realizing it, but I accidentally deleted it before I could digitize it. I was waiting to catch it again but it seems like it only aired on one week. Cisco commercials show up, but it’s always a different one. Since then, discussions have popped up all over. So I finally decided to pull it of the Cisco web site. There are additional spots that didn’t air on TV. I’ve put them all together in one vid so you don’t need to wait through the intermissions. Where to start on this… it’s too easy. The main thing they are trying to sell is the fact that with Cisco Networks you can be in touch with everyone on a project almost instantly, no matter where they are. Ironically, the ad agency who put his together couldn’t have been more out of touch with skateboarding culture or history. – Thanks to Tracy Sigler and Paige for the tip.

Cisco Networks commercial using skateboards.

The first part of the video was what they used for the TV commercial. Everything after the first Cisco logo was not shown on TV.

The analysis.

They put a lot of effort and money into these ad spots. They even went so far as to invent fake histories for the fake personalities that work at the fake company that uses Cisco network products. Let’s see if they got their money’s worth from the ad agency.

Voiceover: New prototype! Let’s see what the skaters think.

The skaters think you designed that board in 1979 at best, or 1983 and still a few years behind the times at worst. I think you have to go out of your way to find that shape at that size. Even the toy stores have moved on to popsicles.

Voiceover: Is it working? It’s better!

Cut that point off! Oh oh, not much nose left. Fire the person in charge of continuity, the point is back! Aaagh! It’s the albino twin of Carrot Top!

Hanging out in Venice, painting the board now, except it’s back to a popsicle stick, until I point a camera and it’s then it’s slalom board, unless it shows up on in a conference room in which case it’s back to a popsicle stick. Those graphics really pop on the top of the deck there. Now where did I put my clear pizza grip?

Voiceover: I’ve been a professional skateboarder since I was 14. For the last few years i’ve been product testing for Thunder Sk8. They were the dudes that invented the twin tail trend back in the early 90’s. So when they invent something new, they get me to test it out.

Professional skateboarder since 14, actor since last week. Really, a professional skateboarder? He barely lands that rock and roll on the launch ramp, and then those tic-tacs practically throw him off the deck. Thunder Sk8… Yeah sure, weren’t they the company that Corey Webster went to after leaving Smash Skates? I think they sponsor Shaun Yost as well. When did Thunder Sk8 invent something new? Oh right, they invented the retro cruiser.

That’s Shawn Adams, fake director of fake product development. He’s in charge of everything, including subliminal advertising for Nike in the graphics. When not in the office, he trolls skateparks for young boys, I mean product testers. Who is the mysterious woman in the green shirt? I’m sure she’s a critical part of the development team, since she’s messing around with skateboard trucks on the conference call. More on that later.

Voiceover: My name is Dylan Ho. I love to skate and I love to design. I’ve been painting on boards since my days in Hawaii. Surfboards, wakeboards, and now skateboards. My first skateboard was a Thunder Sk8 brand twin tip deck. So when I heard that Shawn Adams was a big fan of my work, it wasn’t long before we became collaborators.

Last name Ho? History in Surfboards? Yes, go on, it sounds familiar. Surfboards to wakeboards to skateboards, that’s a logical progression. Shawn Adams is a big fan of your work and Termite skateboards apparently. How did they manage to get one semi-real skateboard in there and then have such a laughable deck as the main board in the commercial? Was there absolutely nobody on the production team that skated? Kids, always wear a helmet when spray painting decks at your local skatepark. Sure, it’s OK, bring lots of spray paint to the skatepark, they love it!

Hey, It’s Tanya Ponce! She’s not part of the product development team at all, she’s just the IT gal. Cisco networks free up so much time for her that they let her learn how to skateboard in the office, just like at that design firm in Portland.