• USA Today, Monday, December 18, 2006 12 PM

Two wisecracking birds who trick a man into bumping into his patio door because Windex has made it so clean took top honors as the most-liked ad of the 43 TV commercials followed in 2006 by Ad Track, USA Today's survey of consumer's reaction to advertising. The ad makes its point about the product, too, according to Ad Track. It also finished No. 4 among ads the respondents rated as "very effective."

Simplicity and humor remain keys to producing a commercial that consumers like. Dairy Queen ranked No. 2 as "most-liked" with two funny ads for Blizzard ice cream treats. One shows an airline passenger setting his Blizzard on the seat tray while putting his bag into an overhead bin. A fellow passenger's attempt to gulp the treat leads to baggage havoc.

Alka-Seltzer, a Bayer product, tied for No. 4 in likeability after a nearly 10-year hiatus from national TV advertising. Its remake of the classic "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" spot features Doris Roberts and the late Peter Boyle, the parents from the sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond."

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