No joke: Microsoft is pulling its critically-panned TV ads starring Jerry Seinfeld and Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates.

Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw denied the ads were getting yanked because of negative buzz (some claimed the spots were a poor attempt to counter Apple's "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads).

"All along we said we were having a teaser campaign," Shaw insisted. "We're getting ready to start the second phase. This was the plan all along."

The news was first reported by Valleywag.

Seinfeld reportedly received $10 million for the spots.

Tell Us: Did you think the Microsoft ads were funny
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