Microsoft Seinfeld ads abruptly canceled

Guess that didn't work out so well. Though we've only gotten a look at two of the ads featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, which were intended (I guess) to ultimately promote Vista, the ads appear to have been pulled.

Valleywag is reporting that Microsoft is spinning Seinfeld's departure from the ad series (which hits an ominous-sounding "phase two" tomorrow) as planned, but the truth is probably a bit murkier. A spokesperson for Microsoft's PR agency says that "there is the 'potential to do other things' with Seinfeld, which Shaw says is still 'possible.' He adds: 'People would have been happier if everyone loved the ads, but this was not unexpected.'" While I guess it's conceivable that the plan was to drop Seinfeld at some point, it's a little hard to believe that Microsoft spent $10 million for Seinfeld to appear in two measly commercials.

That's kind of sad, because although the ads were quirky and inscrutable, they were something different, and I would have liked to see where they were going to go with the commercials instead of the loud-music-colorful-graphics spots and celebrity endorsements that are likely to come next instead. Of course, assuming additional spots with Seinfeld were already shot, I have a hunch they'll end up on YouTube before we know it. Eagle-eyed readers, drop me a tip if you see them surface anywhere...

In case you missed the two installments, you can check out part one and part two here.