Mayhem is Back

The Mayhem commercials created by Allstate are some of the most recognizable ads created. The ad's humorous character named Mayhem, portrayed by Dean Winters, is as recognizable as Flo from Progressive and the Geico Gecko. What many do not realize, though, is just how big of a part this ad played to save the company.

The company was in the aftermath of a financial crisis, and the "in good hands" campaign wasn't making a big enough impact. The company needed a thunderclap to get consumer's attention, and that was what Mayhem delivered. It was the perfect way to show people that anything could go wrong at any moment, without being scary. Instead, the Mayhem campaign focused on humor, which I find is a more memorable way to appeal to the audience. I believe this because humor makes people feel good, and because Mayhem had many different humorous scenarios, it was that much easier to get consumers to remember the commercial. The campaign has also managed to avoid becoming overused by changing the constant situations and by changing things with their latest version.

The newest campaign featuring Mayhem features the character having a new years resolution. Deciding to protect people rather than cause destruction by being a road fare or a lightning rod. Of course, when others can't keep their resolutions, Mayhem comes back with all his destructive hijinks. I found this to be a refreshing twist, and it made the commercial even more memorable. This is why, in my opinion, Mayhem will be known as one of the most recognizable campaigns created.