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Hard to believe that a year’s gone by, but we’re back looking and laughing at 2011′s worst ads as polled and posted by Consumerist.com. That’s right, the second annual Worst Ad in America Awards have been announced and there are some surprises in the pack of winners. The ads populating (some may say plaguing) the television screens of this country have been rated and it ain’t pretty.

“The first year, I researched and comment-called every involved agency I could find. None would provide an official quote, though I did get yelled at for 90 minutes by a publicist from a top 5 agency who accused me of unfairly targeting their clients,” says Chris Morran, Consumerist senior editor. No surprise. If you’d created any one of these spots, would you return the call?

What do you think? Would you stand up and claim these spots as yours? Would you return the call?

ABSOLUTE WORST AD IN AMERICA
Luvs — Poop There It Is

 
 
MOST GRATING PERFORMANCE BY A HUMAN
AT&T — Flash Mob Dancer

 
 
GROUP THAT OUGHT TO GO ITS SEPARATE WAYS
Esurance — Esurance Staff

 
 
TREND THAT NEEDS TO STOP BEING A TREND
Klondike — Men Enduring Wives/Girlfriends

 
 
MOST IRRITATING ANIMATED ACTOR
CarFax — CarFox

 
 
CELEBRITY WHO COULD PROBABLY USE A NEW MANAGER
Rent-A-Center — Hulk Hogan & Troy Aikman

 
 
CREEPIEST COMMERCIAL
Rejoyn Medical Systems — The Pos-T-Vac Penis Vacuum

 
Final results can be found on The Consumerist website.

It’s the ad with the funny-looking guy wearing that loud jacket and that jingle that sticks in your head for days. Maybe it’s the spot with the animated character who looks like dancing zombie road kill, or perhaps it’s the one with the actor-turned-singer-turned-security-guard. They are the ads we can’t stand but we can’t stand to turn off, and they’re being honored by Consumerist.com’s first annual Worst Ad in America Awards.

Last week, it was announced that a roster of 30 ads (airing this year) would be competing within six categories, among them major brands like Honda, McDonald’s, and State Farm and some lesser-known but equally as liable brands such as 1-800 Dentist and 5-Hour Energy. All of the contestants were chosen based on readers’ submissions.

“The masses have spoken and they are sick and tired of viewing ads that only stimulate irritation, rather than substance,” said Meghann Marco, executive editor of Consumerist.com.

The nation’s leading not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization and subsidiary of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, and ConsumerReports.org recently announced the winners of the “Fast Forward” Award; here they are in each of the six categories. Take a look — is that spot you love to hate a 2010 winner? Would you admit it if it was?!

Absolute Worst Ad in America:
Staples — Wow! That’s a Low Price!



Most Grating Performance by a Human:
McDonald’s — The “Don’t-even-talk-to-me-until-I’ve-had-my-coffee” jerkface



Most Annoying Animated Spokesthing:
The General Insurance — The General



Duo or Group Who Needs to be Broken Up:
J.G. Wentworth — The Opera-Singing Bus Riders



Celebrity Who Must Have Lost the Most Money in the Housing Crash:
ExtenZe — Jimmy Johnson



Creepiest Commercial:
Liberator Medical — No More Used Catheters

Final results can be found here.

This post also appears at TalentZoo’s blog, Beneath the Brand, as “The Worst Ad in America.”