August 31, 2009

I love the shit we get pissed about -- like Ikea's new font.

Sheesh. I mean, is it REALLY that bad? After all, a designer made the decision. Meanwhile, in other news, lots of shit is fucked up.

Your Monday morning dose of perspective, my friends. Have a happy week.

Posted by Tug McTighe on August 31, 2009 at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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August 28, 2009

Recently dumped? The iPhone can help.

If you can't laugh at the dark thoughts of the recently dumped, honestly, what can you laugh at. Genius little details (check the calendar reference) make this worth several viewings. Don't thank us. Thank @benkunz and Thought Gadgets.

Posted by John on August 28, 2009 at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: Consumer Content , Current Affairs , Entertainment , The real world , Web/Tech

August 27, 2009

AT&T, I've been waiting for this!

I love getting mail. Love it. Even if every piece of mail is junk mail or a bill, I love seeing what's in the mailbox. So the other day when I received an envelope with a handwritten address and no return address (except the business-like P.O. Box address across the top of the envelope flap), I knew that a  close friend had sent me a letter. I opened it immediately.

Inside was some random AT&T ad that someone made a copy of and then wrote notes on it for me. Here's a scan of said letter:

Like I mentioned before, I don't know who sent this to me since they didn't give me any note or put their name in the return address, but I do have a few questions for the sender:

1. You've been waiting for what exactly? A globe icon?
2. You say it's a breeze to order, so you must have already signed up, right? No wait, then you said you're calling today. I'm confused.
3. How did you know it's up to 6.0 Mbps?
4. Just HOW many people are in your family!?!
5. You're right, that $250 will definitely come in handy. If only I knew what that asterisk was for -- oh wait, you sent me a double-sided ad, complete with all legalese on the back. Smart thinking!
6. Why did you write all these notes on the ad, but chose to address the letter in Bradley Hand?

And now the big reveal: it was AT&T the whole time!

I actually love the idea of this, but I wonder if the creative team behind this didn't get to execute it as well as they hoped to. Did anyone else receive this ad?

Posted by SethyG on August 27, 2009 at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: Advertising

August 26, 2009

AC #63 Now Available

The Giant Remnant Sale Edition Featuring Eric Proulx

One giant episode composed of segments from three different podcasts plus an interview with Please Feed The Animals founder Eric Proulx and extra special bonus material. Why not give a listen?

00:00 Intro
01:18 VW and CPB
09:04 Madmen is back
14:49 We still miss John Hughes
18:47 A sidetrack into a discussion of bad/good TV movies
23:49 Is rebranding always a good idea?
28:56 Aunt Barb and expectations
35:33 Please Feed the Animals
54:45 The wrap up
56:04 A scene from a bar called The Gaf

Posted by John on August 26, 2009 at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: AC News

August 25, 2009

I can has meemz?

So, the vloggers working over at RocketBoom.com have created a new website that's probably going to leave me struggling to fill in my timesheet with any billable hours for the next couple of weeks. Introducing KnowYourMeme.com -- the definitive source for all things lulz-related. Don't believe me? Then let's take a little look at a few Know Your Meme episodes:

First off, for all of you that didn't get the headline, watch LOL Cats immediately (then visit ICanHasCheezburger.com to see more and even make your own).

And now, let's learn a little more about one of the first memes to cross over to mainstream culture with All Your Base Are Belong To Us.

Finally, my favorite meme of all time and one that got positively HUGE without the help of YouTube -- Bubb Rubb, everybody.

So this is it, dudes. You're looking at the stuff that the Millenials who are making their way into your agency grew up on. So next time you think our work is weird, non-sensical or just plain dumb, consider this quote from the lab-coat-wearing psuedo-scientist above:

"When getting stupid and being ridiculous is the name of the game, how can you blame the player for playing by the rules?"

Posted by Nick Kinney on August 25, 2009 at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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August 19, 2009

Art & Copy: The Movie. Hell yes.

Check out the trailer. I am taking my whole creative dept. Why don't you?

*Currently no showtimes for KC but I am going to email the producers to see what can be done. Request a showing by emailing gotinfo@artandcopyfilm.org.

**Also check them out at facebook.

Posted by Tug McTighe on August 19, 2009 at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: Movies

August 18, 2009

Crispin and VW break up & Tug translates the press release.

What VW said:

"Our goal of rapidly increasing our volume in a mature market requires the Volkswagen brand to evolve into a more relevant mainstream choice," Tim Ellis, VP-marketing at Volkswagen of America, said in a statement. "The Volkswagen brand needs to inspire our base of enthusiasts as well as reach out and captivate those in mainstream America. Therefore, we are re-evaluating all areas of our business and after careful considerations have decided to take the necessary steps to ensure we have the right agency partner in place."

Translated:

"We're going to get rid of that freaky, weird shit that Crispin kept coming up with and are going to appeal to the middle-American morons who never understood those crazy-ass campaigns anyway with what they really want: Sheet metal and ads that make sure to spell the dealers' names correctly."

What Crispin said:

"We have been privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Volkswagen for the past four years and are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished together. As a rule, we do not participate in reviews for our current accounts, and this will not be an exception. We wish Volkswagen the absolute best."

Translated:

"Up yours VW."

I really am going to miss those quirky campaigns that CPB created and still miss the exceptional work that Arnold used to do.

Posted by Tug McTighe on August 18, 2009 at 09:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: News of the Ad World

August 17, 2009

The revolution is over, and the naysayers lost.

I'm officially putting marketing people who say social media is a fad in the same category as the policy-makers who think global warming is a myth.

Posted by Nick Kinney on August 17, 2009 at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
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August 16, 2009

Well, whatever gets it done, I guess.

If you've seen any page on the Web that concerns video games, you've probably seen an advertisement or two for Evony, which is a free online multiplayer strategy game that is, by all accounts, pretty decent. 

 

UPDATE (8/18)

Welp, say what you want about the tactics, but Evony is getting an awful lot of attention for these little banners. So much, in fact, that the guys over at Pop Cap Games have fashioned some parodies for their popular Plants vs. Zombies game.

Posted by Nick Kinney on August 16, 2009 at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
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August 11, 2009

Love this comic and the campaign it parodies.

Posted by Tug McTighe on August 11, 2009 at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Categories: Advertising