The Adams Family’s pet hand makes me smile. The hand in the new Office Depot commercials makes me cringe.

Why?

I think it is because Thing was portrayed as a dog; friendly, always getting involved with wild shenanigans, and helping out when the Family was in a bind. The audience developed a relationship with the character even though Thing never said a word.

The Office Depot hand is just freakish. It represents a crazy productive employee helper. It pops out of the box like it was invited to the party and people smile.

Something is just off. It doesn’t work for me.