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Has anyone noticed that men are often made to look like idiots in commercials? Often times the commercials that I see that puts a man and a woman at odds with each other; this includes those commercials where the man and woman in question are working towards the same goal (eg. better car insurance). Even in those commercials that are advertising a game of some sort, it'll usually start out with two guys competing with each other only for a girl to come in and crush them both. Just the other day I saw one where two guys were trying to one up each other seeing who has the better sword, then they are both out done by the tiny Asian girl with a bazooka twice her size.

Mind you, I can't say that in every case they make the man either appear to be weaker (relative to what the commercial is about) or outright stupid when placed against a woman in these ads, but it certainly feels that way given how often this happens.

They're probably overcompensating since so many people are freaking out about how women are "objectified" in commercials. Which is kinda funny, since the "smart" or "talented" women in those commercials are all stereotypically hot anyway. Basically media's reaction to everything- "We're not actually going to change anything, but look how awesome and progressive we are!"

Honestly I don't care either way. Both the guys who act dumb and the girls who show cleavage get paid more than I ever will, so props to them I guess.

(Also people find it funny to make men look dumb. That's why every cartoon ever has to have the token "dumb dad" character.)

Well obviously they can't make men look strong in commercials because it would send Twitter into a frenzy that a certain company was contributing to the American Patriarchy. Especially, like you said, men and women are often at odds in a commercial. If a commercial had that dynamic with the man coming out on top, I can only imagine the shitstorm that'd happen on social media.

Men vs women in commercials?  Here's an old one for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c

 

It's a psychology thing. Commercials try to be funny to make people pay attention to them and nobody finds bad things happening to women funny. Men see a woman on TV and feel protective and women see a woman on TV and project themselves into her position. It's the same rules that govern a lot of slapstick (what would realistically be really painful things happen to guys but it's still hilarious) or horrors / thrillers and the like (woman is put into peril to racket up tension)

To the surprise of no one, advertisers do their research.