from Adweek: Anheuser-Busch considered running a spot during this year's upcoming Super Bowl that parodies Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" that took place during the halftime show of last year's game, but decided against it after consultation with Fox and NFL officials. "We basically came to the conclusion at the same time" that the commercial, created by Omnicom Group's DDB in New York, resurrected …
“Hype” Er Text
Yesterday, I wrote this comment on Tom Asacker's blog. "There's so much evangelizing of blogs (by bloggers) right now, it makes me wonder if it's authentic exuberance or defensive posturing." Tom replied to me via e-mail. "I think it is authentic, perhaps just as Heaven's Gate members were being authentic." I too have been thinking about the cultish nature of bloggers. Over at Johnnie Moore's place I recently …
Guerillas Adopted By Toronto Shop
Bensimon-Byrne, a Toronto agency working on Molson, Scotia Bank and Ottawa Renegades, among other accounts, have hired Brendan Watson and Jana Ranjitkumar as a creative team. After meeting with David Rosenberg, creative director at Bensimon-Byrne, Brendan and Jana followed up by baking and delivering a cookie in the shape of the "flying-H" Hyundai logo, an account the shop was in the process of pitching. The …
Can You Relate?
by San Grewal and Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star: It's not enough for a company to just sell you a product any more. The goal is for you to live the lifestyle any given product is supposed to represent …
On-Star Announcement In Pieces
"This is the last time you will ever have to feel alone on our nation's roadways." GM's Find The Message consumer promotion is in the news because a hacker broke the Wheel of Fortune-like code, spoiling the game for the rest of us. Big whoop. The "period" in Times Square I like this promotion. It's a teaser campaign where one word (or punctuation) is revealed on outdoor boards in cities across the US. The web …
See No Evil
from Middle East Online: British Muslim activists have stepped up a campaign to deface or rip down advertising billboards featuring scantily-clad women in communities with large numbers of Muslims. Ads for perfume, hair dye, bras and television programs are among those that have been attacked. Photographs of semi-dressed women are the most frequently targeted, with the offending body parts painted over or ripped …
I Can’t Tatse My Beer
Miller Brewing with the help of Y+R Chicago has launched what may be the best ad campaign currently on air. Even Lewis Lazare likes it. Taking a page from the pharmaceutical advertising handbook--which consistently spawns some of the worst advertising on TV--Y+R makes fun of both Bud and Viagra-style ads all at the same time. And they do it while providing a clear and memorable product benefit for Miller. …
Sundance Celebs Tussle With The Po Po
from Salt Lake Tribune: Famed fashion photographer and filmmaker David LaChapelle was arrested outside a club in Park City early Saturday morning after a confrontation with police. Star Magazine says Nikki and Paris Hilton were seen outside the Marquee trying to defend LaChapelle from the officers. …
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Famous Man Of Letters Blames Interruption Marketing For Many Of Our Ills
The Sunday newspaper insert, Parade, asked Norman Mailer, "If you could do one thing to change America for the better, what would it be?" Mailer said, "If the desire to read diminishes, so does one's ability to read. The search for a culprit does not have to go far. The constant interruption of concentration on TV advertising not only dominates much of our lives, but over the long run is bound to bleed into our …
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Take This Blog And Shove It
Yesterday, I attended Blog Walk 6.0, a conference of sorts, where sixteen bloggers from across the U.S. and Europe arranged themselves in small open space groupings to discuss a wide variety of topics. How to make money from blogging was one hot topic we explored. The dawn of corporate blogs was another. Naturally, the purists in the room found that particular topic somewhat distasteful. Today, I found the same topic …