Caffeinated posts from a copywriter/adgrunt. I write about advertising, design, astronomy, cooking, and pretty much anything else that strikes my fancy, including random bits of reference info for work purposes. You may also know me as 'that other gal' who helps run Adland. | make contact | RSS Feed | ATOM

Thursday, February 26, 2004
[ Noise inside my head ]

I read on Brand Republic (well what I could, as I lack a subscription) that Antoine Bardou-Jacquet (of Honda Cog fame) is directing a spot for Ogilvy for the Ford Fiesta called "Pinball". I'm curious to see the spot - was wondering if anyone has seen it. It's possible it hasn't broken yet. While looking for the spot on line, I found an Ikea spot "Unlimited Possibilites" that he directed for the Karmarama agency. It's pretty funky. Think it's the 3rd one down on the page. I also found some odd/interesting spots for the Ford Fiesta UK.

Some random TV/media news...coming to a boob-tube near you. From media.guardian.com:

Survivor creator Mark Burnett is teaming up with DreamWorks and Sylvester Stallone to develop a reality show that goes in search of the next boxing superstar. Burnett hopes to launch a new boxing organization in conjunction with the show in January 2005.

From tvbarn.com:

Comedy Central has ordered eight episodes of a new animated series called Odd Todd, based in part on the life of Todd Rosenberg, a laid off dot.com-er and the creator of somewhat autobiographical cartoon shorts that can be seen on Rosenberg's website, oddtodd.com. The network has added two other series to its group of premieres this year. One is a UK sketch comedy show (think Monty Python) called Hollow Men. The second is a series spoofing traditional topical debate shows called Crossballs. Hosting this show is comedian Chris Tallman.

Interesting stuff. I think the Stallone show sounds funny. And the oddtodd show seems like it's the next step of online memes going to the small screen.

Ads in Spaaaaaaace."Although the vision of astronauts donning Hooters baseball caps while performing experiments on the space station or stepping off the shuttle to announce they’re now going to Disneyland may make some NASA officials a little queasy, the notion has its supporters." Is turning NASA into a cross-promotional, billboard, ad partner a good idea? Maybe it will help them get the funds they'll need to get to Mars. ;-)

Lawsuits brewing for Anheuser-Busch and Miller From the article:

Anheuser-Busch and Miller face claims that TV ads starring cartoon frogs that croak "Bud . . . weis . . . er," the introduction of malt-based drinks with sweetened citrus flavors, and other actions are proof of a concerted marketing effort aimed at people younger than 21.
"This is about pitching your product expressly or implicitly to underage people," said Robert Carey, an attorney with the Hagens Berman law firm, which filed the suit earlier this month in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Seattle-based firm has built a reputation as one of the nation's top tobacco litigators.
Both Milwaukee-based Miller and St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch have said the suit is without merit. While both companies are reluctant to comment on the suit's specific claims, Miller spokesman Mike Hennick said the brewer's ad campaigns and sales practices are aimed at people who are 21 and older.
The suit against Miller and Anheuser-Busch was filed on behalf of Lynne and Reed Goodwin, a California couple whose 20-year-old daughter, Casey, was killed in a March 2003 traffic accident involving an 18-year-old man who was drunk on beer and high on methamphetamine. The suit seeks class action status in claiming the two brewers violated California law by marketing their products to underage people.
The suit asks a judge to halt the marketing practices. It also seeks damages equivalent to the money it says Miller and Anheuser-Busch received by selling alcohol to underage consumers. That could be $4 billion to $5 billion, attorney Steve Berman said during an appearance on the "Today" show the day after the suit was filed.

So because this guy was high and drunk...it's the beer companies fault? This seems like an awfully large stretch to me. And why those two brewers? Or rather why *only* those two brewers? Deep pockets would be my guess. Screwy.

From the NYTimes:

The campaign, by the longtime Nike agency Wieden & Kennedy in Portland, Ore., which also created the "Bo knows" ads, carries the theme "What if?" The commercials, in lengths of 15, 60 and 90 seconds, offer these unlikely crossovers by Nike endorsers: the tennis star Andre Agassi playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox; the cyclist Lance Armstrong boxing; the pitcher Randy Johnson as a professional bowler; the runner Marion Jones as a gymnast; the football players Brian Urlacher and Michael Vick as hockey teammates; and the tennis star Serena Williams playing beach volleyball.
"The basic premise for 'What if?' is what they all have in common other than hard training and dedication," said Nancy Monsarrat, United States advertising director.

If you're a superadgrunt over at Adland view the spot here. It's a very nice spot. Although, last night when I saw it on telly, I was slightly distracted, and if I hadn't read the article about it, I don't know that I would have caught that it was athletes playing sports than what they do. So it's not dead obvious, but like I said I was distracted, so maybe it's clearer if you're watching it and listening to the copy. ;)

Guinness launches a £6.5 million campaign with an the first ad called "Moth" set in the Brazilian jungle, introducing their new tagline/strapline "Out of darkness comes light".A second ad will follow in the autumn. See the ad. (probably will require age info to get there)

From USA Today: "While banner ads have become passé and pop-ups a nuisance, the use of so-called rich media ads is poised for rapid growth, industry experts say. Rich media combines animation, video and sound with interactive features." (thanks Clay.

Revolution Magazine tells of a new viral campaign for RunnersNeed.com: "Leap Day is traditionally the one day every four years where it is acceptable for a woman to propose to a man. In the viral campaign, called "Leg it" and created by Lowe for the website RunnersNeed.com, a woman goes through a series of unappealing ablutions as she prepares for her lover to come over for a romantic dinner. Once she is ready she is then shown descending a staircase in overly high shoes and an underly modest frock to prepare a dinner of gammon steak and pineapple. For desert is a cream bun with a wedding ring concealed in the cream. The spot ends with the woman opening the door to her unseen boyfriend while the words "February 29. Time to start running lads" appear on screen. The spot was created by Simon Brotherson and Steve Paskin and directed by Matt Follows through 2am Films. See the film here.
Thursday, February 19, 2004
[ This, that and the other ]

First...check out the Super Bowl Ad Review at Adland.

First Dunkin' Donuts, now P&G, seems like everyone is having at Starbucks.

A great Nike ad- out of Australia. A whole city gets caught up in a rugby game. Keep the Ball Alive. (Big file, may time a while to load.) And Keep the Ball Alive Reprise.

Neato way to watch time pass.

Yayayayyayayayayay! Dr. Zoidberg soundboard.

Durex condom ad. Funny.

Adage.com reports the new brand spokesman for Wendy's Interational is about to draw some attention. With a bullhorn clenched in his fist and an "I Love Wendy's" button pinned to his chest, the new character -- 'Mr. Wendy' -- takes the stage three years after the death of Wendy's iconic founder, Dave Thomas.

Giant Microbes-When you don't know what to get that special person...get them Black Death or Athlete's Foot. (via metafilter)

From adweek.com:

Burger King will return to its "Have it your way" positioning in a new television spot set to break Thursday night, the company confirmed.....Burger King abruptly shifted creative duties on its roughly $300 million ad account to CP+B, owned by MDC Partners, from six-month incumbent WPP's Young & Rubicam, New York, without a review. Y&R's advertising played up Burger King's flame-broiling cooking with the tagline, "The fire's ready."

Somewhat odd to go back to the old tagline. Not that it's a bad thing, but how common is it? I would think that it's not a usual occurance. The old tag is a better line than their "fire" one anyways as it has meaning. Too many tags mean nothing or say nothing about the product/service/etc these days.
Saturday, February 14, 2004
[ Random fun stuff ]

I've been a bit busy lately. Not much time to post. But here's some fun stuff to enjoy. :)

Let off some steam. Throw rocks at boys. Thanks Dab!

Having trouble figuring out a color palatte? Check outcolormatch. Beautiful find by Alec.

Trouble with a boss or co-worker? Stick a needle in them or staple them where it hurts with Digital Voodoo for the Office.

Fark ficticious holiday Google banners. Some good ones in there. Thanks Dab!

More Penguin Fun! Yay! So far my best is 649.8! I love how the penguin feet dangle! Much better than the baseball game. :)

[ Happy Valentine's Day! ]

A sweet little love song for you all. ;-)
Ain't Nothing But Mammals: Bloodhound Gang

Sweat baby sweat baby
Sex is a Texas drop me
Can you do the kind of stuff that only friends would sing about
So put your hands down my pants and I bet you'll feel nuts
Yes I'm Sisco, Yes I'm Ebert and you're getting two thumbs up
You've had enough of two hand touch
You want it rough you're out of bounds
I want you smoothered want you covered
Like my waffle house hash browns
Come quick like fed ex
Irridgenate like fex
Just like cuticle cost stock
You are inclined to make me rise an hour early
Just like day light savings time

(Chorus)
Do it now
You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the discover channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the discover channel
Getting horny now

Love the kind you clean up with a mop and bucket
With the lost catagrins of Egypt
Only god knows where we stuck it
Heiroglphyics let me be specific
I wanna be down in your south seas
But I got this notation that the motation of your ocean
Meets small craft of that visery
So if I captsize
And devize high tide give me five
You sunk my battle ship
Please turn me on I'm Mr. Coffee with an automatic drip
So show me your's I'll show you mine
Tool Time you'll love it just like la
And then we'll do it doggie-style
So we can watch x-files

(3x's)
Do it now
You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the discover channel
Do it again now
You and me baby ain't nothing but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the discover channel
Getting horny now