Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street: Aug. 22

As Hip as Jerry Seinfeld

One thing Apple apparently doesn't have to worry about is Microsoft's (MSFT Quote) new ad campaign.

To show it's not the square, irrelevant, fogey software leviathan that Apple's ads make it out to be, Microsoft hired a new pitchman: Jerry Seinfeld, the 54-year-old comedian whose TV show hasn't aired a new episode in 10 years.

As The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, Seinfeld, who will receive $10 million, is slated to appear in a series of Microsoft ads alongside Bill Gates, the company's hilarious, youthful co-founder.

The campaign is part of Microsoft's response to the feisty "Mac vs. PC" campaign, which deployed contemporary funnymen John Hodgman, 38, and Justin Long, 30, to depict Microsoft as a doofy, aging lummox and Apple as a paragon of sleek, modern versatility.

Microsoft's rebuttal campaign may well confirm the doltish obliviousness Hodgman brings to his role as "PC." (Note to Microsoft's ad team: Right click on the word "irony" and use the look-up function).

Microsoft may want to consider a different spokesperson from the Internet generation. Seinfeld is funny -- maybe the funniest comedian of his decade -- but that decade is, well, over.

-- Mike Taylor

Dumb-o-meter score: 95. This ad campaign is gold, Jerry. Gold!