Comments for

Maryland Comptroller Unveils "Real Taxpayers Of Genius"

2009-02-10T03:14:10Z

Remember those Bud Light Real Men of Genius commercials? So does Maryland's Comptroller, Peter Franchot, and he's commissioned a cringe-inducing parody to encourage Marylanders to use the state's e-file system for their taxes. Behold: "Mr. Frustrated Taxpayer." We're pretty sure he recorded the backing vocals.

Comment from gStein_|bringing starpipe back| on 2009-02-11

2009-02-11T22:28:48Z

@FLConsumer: but then you still have to pay federal

Comment from sarahq on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T17:29:06Z

@STrRedWolf: Heh. Judging from the production values, I don't think that was an expensive commercial. I bet everyone in the commercial worked in his office or was a relative of someone in the office.

Comment from se7a7n7 on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T10:10:04Z

@rpm773: Go for it.

Comment from Aaron Kravitz on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T10:03:00Z

Yeah, i filed my taxes the other day online- it took about 30 minutes all told, and the money was in my account about 72 hours later. I don't care how bad the commercial is, they did a great job with the site.

Comment from yevarechecha on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T08:49:37Z

I thought it was actually kind of cute. Better than car ads. Yeah, so it was lame, but it made me chuckle and it got the message across.

And I'm a Marylander.

Comment from FLConsumer on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T08:16:24Z

I have a better solution-- work in a state that doesn't have an income tax. Simple.

Comment from savdavid on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T07:50:31Z

I hope they use the taxpayers money to make a better commercial next year.

Comment from madanthony on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T07:10:52Z

I used TurboTax to do my taxes, and it came with a free federal e-file, so I used that. But I would have to pay for a state e-file through TurboTax, or I could file online for free from the state - if I copied all the info off my turbotax form onto their web form.

Not worth it. I mailed in my forms - I can wait the extra week or two to get my money.

Comment from Zachary Schmook on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T06:59:04Z

@skizsrodt:

Please do even if you don't live here...we can use the money.

Comment from jblack on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T06:11:17Z

Yeah, in light of the responses, I agree that I was overreactive. For what little my comment was worth, the resulting comments were excellent, and have me, at least, given a lot to think about.

Comment from mac-phisto on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T06:09:58Z

am i the only one that noticed that they poached the IRS e-file logo at the end there & chopped in "maryland" above it.

geez. at least use your own logos already. 1) maryland doesn't have an "IRS" & 2) your service is called "i-file".

Comment from Dansc29625 on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T05:43:50Z

Yep, looks like you are.

Comment from col1999 on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T05:39:06Z

@jblack: On the other hand, they fought age stereotypes by having the old guy use the computer and the young guy using a pencil and paper.

Comment from Canino on 2009-02-10

2009-02-10T05:11:57Z

@jblack: So...in your world all black people must be portrayed as being at least as smart as the nearest white person or else you feel...what? Guilty? Angry?

Comment from Tightlines on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:57:15Z

@jblack: I guess you missed the fat white lady struggling with her taxes as well. If the black guy was the smart one, would it make you feel better?

Comment from STrRedWolf on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:53:02Z

@sarahq: No, I don't want him making as many crappy commercials as he wants. Making 'em takes money away that could go into our refunds!

And yes, I filed.

Comment from jblack on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:34:22Z

I must be overly sensitive to racial stereotypes, but did I just see a dumb skinny black guy in a long sleeved tshirt doing taxes with a pencil, and a smart fat white guy in a business suit, behind a computer on a nice wood desk, e-filing? Surely, I'm overreacting, right?

Comment from KStrike155 on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:14:52Z

At least we know they didn't use any federal bailout money to make this thing, thanks to the terrible singing.

Comment from warf0x0r on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:06:13Z

The first frustrated guy shouldn't have put in those granite counter tops and spent the money going to HRBlock

Comment from admiral_stabbin on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T04:04:24Z

'Tis cute...especially for gubment work.

Comment from sarahq on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:53:41Z

I'm all for Franchot making as many crappy commercials as he wants. I e-filed via Maryland's free system last Sunday and had my refund in my checking account by Thursday. Sing all the crummy power ballads your heart desires, Pete: your e-filing system rocks.

Comment from JeffDrake on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:51:18Z

I'm pretty sure that could've been hilarious, if either person speaking/singing had any ability whatsoever.

As it was, it just looks like my high school class video class did it.

Comment from Canino on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:47:22Z

What commercial are they going to parody when the tax revolts start?

Comment from skizsrodt on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:38:00Z

Nothing like an aged pop culture reference to bring out the inner accountant in all of us. I want to pay taxes in Maryland now.

Comment from rpm773 on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:37:08Z

@se7a7n7: Jokes are kind of like farts. If you try to force one, it's very likely that shit will come out.

Can I use that? That's beautiful.

Comment from geoffhazel on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:33:56Z

That was actually pretty good for getting the message across and grabbing your attention -- in a fingernails-scraping-on-blackboard kind of way.

Comment from se7a7n7 on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:31:29Z

Crap. It bothers me when commercials try too hard to be entertaining and the message would be so much better if they just delivered the message without trying to be funny.

Jokes are kind of like farts. If you try to force one, it's very likely that shit will come out.

Comment from ironchef on 2009-02-09

2009-02-10T03:21:09Z

good gawd