Though you wouldn't want to live there, the Brits do have one thing going for them—terrific TV commercials. Historically, British advertisers have given ad agencies a long, creative leash when it comes to hawking their products, thereby creating exciting and often artistic mini-movies. Meanwhile, Americans have been subjected to the whims of unimaginative and conservative advertisers. However, the times they are a changin'—and while American commercials have definitely improved (let's not count that Fanta commercial, okay?), the Brits' creative wellspring seems to be running dry. Or so the winners of the British Television Advertising Awards (BTAA) would lead us to believe.

Every year, the BTAA trots out the best in limey advertising, which are then judged by a jury of experts who are given an overriding directive: choose commercials that hold up to repeat viewings, and "award work that is different and relevant." Unfortunately, even the BTAA's chairman is finding it hard to muster up enthusiasm for this year's crop, stating in his foreword, "Overall, I think the jury would like to have seen a little more originality. Obvious influences were The Office and retro '70s kitsch." He nails it right on the head. The BTAA is rife with Office-style cinematography and rip-offs of '70s cop shows (which Spike Jonze and the Beastie Boys already ripped off years ago).

However, there are a few bright spots. Highlights include a husband getting his tongue caught in a mousetrap after the cheese had been doused with Heinz Ketchup, and a Citroen C-4 car turning into a breakdancing Transformer Autobot. Even more effective were the serious ads, featuring startling images you'd never catch on American TV— including an ad that warns of unlicensed cab drivers being potential rapists, a ventriloquist's dummy as a metaphor for sexual abuse, and a victim of epilepsy taking a long, painful fall down a flight of stairs. (Which, okay, is a little funny. Sorry!) However, unless your media studies or advertising class is taking a field trip, there's not much else here for the casual observer. On the upside, there are no Fanta commercials.