"The Working Lunch" Made Me Barf

We pride ourselves here at Jobacle for doing a lot with very little. My resources consist of a computer and $327 in my checking account. That's why when I see big business spend a ton of dough on DOA concepts, it makes my stomach hurt.

Back in November, Healthy Choice (the food in the green box people) teamed up with MSN to launch "The Working Lunch," a streaming live video program that is "directed by visitors."

The improvised show is formatted like a corporate meeting. You can watch live on air days between 12p - 4pm ET. Shows are also archived.

I quickly toggled through about a dozen shows. I kept thinking that the funny was taking too long to get to. So I kept watching. And waiting. Unfortunately, the funny rarely came. One thing did smack me over the head like frozen dinner: this concept is trying way too hard.

With no career crap to sell, you know you always get the straight truth from Jobacle. As much as we'd love to recommend this video series, we simply can't. Check it out for yourself and leave your comments below. We appreciate the creative concept, but the execution comes up short. Content is king, people!

I'm not sure about you, but the last thing I want to do with my lunch hour is spend it at my work terminal watching a cleverly-guised infomercial.

The program is designed to help sell Fresh Mixer's by Healthy Choice, 'just add water' hot meals that keep you anchored to your cubicle. I'm not sure how they taste, but the whole concept of encouraging people to eat at their desks is DIScouraging.  Especially given the alarming number of germs.

I get it. Some people are sooo important and busy that they don't have a second to step away from their desk to eat. Nor do they have the time and sensibility to prepare something at home and bring it with them. I have a sneaking suspicion that if you are too busy to get away for lunch, you will likely not have the time to devote to "Working Lunch."

This whole not laughing thing made me pretty hungry. Better head over to the frozen aisle pasta aisle and grab some Fresh Mixers.

Comments

[Halesafe]

Haha! I thought I was the only one who didn't find this thing funny. You are right about it trying too hard. Sometimes the best campaigns are simple and this one was clearly over thought. MSNBC should be ashamed of themselves for aligning with such junk.

[Donna Noble]

I just watched about thirty seconds of one of these "working lunches" and that was more than enough for a lifetime. Aside from the blatant product placement (which isn't even well done), the "improv team" is just dreadful. Why would anyone want to watch a pseudo-office non-comedy when they can get it for free by just going to work? I have to say, this really annoyed me. Step out for lunch people and get some fresh air. Even a smoke break is less harmful than watching this crap!

[Andrew G.R.]

@Donna: I love that you are willing to destroy your body smoking than watch this bile. VERY funny!

[Michael Anthony]

Even the name is not original since it looks like Working Lunch is the name of a BBC show.

http://twitter.com/workinglunch

[Marsha Keeffer]

Ditto - more corporate crap disguised as something we're supposed to care about. I depend on you Jobacle folks to call it what it is - thanks for keeping it real.

[D. Schwartz]

The funniest part of this entire campaign are the meals. Have you tried these things? They might fill up a 12-year-old girl, but they are nowhere near enough for a grown adult.