June 23, 2008
RIP George Carlin
The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television got him arrested and made him an Icon. Carlin knew the power of language. The "Stuff" routine can still make me laugh out loud. Thanks for the laughs, sir.
June 16, 2008
Mentally Tough
This spot has been around awhile, but I hadn't seen it until this weekend. On Father's Day, actually. Maybe it was the mood of the day, but this just jumped out of TV and slapped me around a little in terms of relevance. A great example of the right spot placed at just the right time. Creating spots like this seems deceptively simple. Oh, hell you just take a quote from an interview Earl did a few years ago and cut together some old footage. But crafting a spot this tight and this on strategy out of found material is, in no way, as easy as it sounds. WK is just so damn good at this stuff. The Magnificent Bastards strike again.
File under: marketing to men.
June 06, 2008
Mentos & Diet Coke Booby Trap
I've been cheating on Diet Coke with another soda lately (the worst one you can imagine) and feel just awful about it. With the amount of DC I go through, I am sure the Coca-Cola company has noticed. To make up for some of my lost volume, some of you might consider this shenanigan.
Thanks to Paul Jarret.
May 30, 2008
R.I.P. Harvey Korman
Too many of these this week. Here's to you Mr. Korman. Thanks for the laughs.
Sidenote: There's a "thing" in theatre about "breaking character." Sure, Conway is chewing the scenery here. But the real laughs come from Korman going ahead and laughing at him. Korman knew exactly what he was doing.
May 29, 2008
MySpace. The next "Fucking Merlot."
It's sad when the shunning starts. Funny interpretation of Internet brands as your friends and neighbors.
Spotted at the one and only Dear Jane Sample.
May 29, 2008
Disney brand standards apply. Even to Jack Sparrow.
A guy learns the hard way that there are rules about playing Disney characters.
Via LA Mag and Joe.
May 27, 2008
Fast Company likes American Copywriter's hometown.
Kansas City has been named by Fast Company as one of the Best Cities for Innovation. We like the honor for our hometown despite the fact that the peeps at FC really tortured the 'ol cow town analogy.
In terms of the creative culture, KC's sports architecture firms are formidable. The Crossroads Art District, home of SHS, has been called a "Midwest Soho" by The New York Times. And, of course, we are home to one of the world's largest creative companies.
In terms of advertising, one can argue that Kansas City has the largest and most successful collection of independent agencies in the country (plus a WPP player). I found a non-sourced article that said Kansas City agencies generate about $214 million in revenues (cash not billings). You can compare that to $149 million for Atlanta or $63 million for St. Louis. And while it's not happening on the mass level our creative community would like, work from Kansas City is now consistently making the books and the shortlist at Cannes. And the cost of living is still pretty cheap. So, cheers to 'ol KC.
May 22, 2008
Nike runs home.
According to our friends at Ad Age, Nike is back home with Wieden. Whilst we're fans of all involved, something about this says that all is right with the world.
March 25, 2008
American Copywriter salutes Hal Riney
Here's to a voice that stood out. Spoken and otherwise. A voice that I'm certain our industry will miss even more than we may suspect. If you're a little young and stupid (which is perfectly acceptable), do yourself a favor and bone up on The Riney Way. You can start by absorbing what Jeff Goodby had to say about the man.
Here's to you, Mr. Riney. We are believers.
February 24, 2008
And the Oscar for Best Ad on the Oscars goes to...
Tonight, is a big, big night for brands. Star brands, studio brands and marketer brands all mix on the red carpet. We can count on the Nicholson brand doing well tonight. It's a tradition to cut to him grinning in the audience. His smile is as iconic as the Clydesdales. But what about the marketers that are making their big bet with this event instead of the hyper-hyped Super Bowl? Follow a live chat with the pundits on Adfreak's new OscarFreak. If you are so moved, leave your opinions on the winners and losers here or as an audio comment. We'll update this post with our own opinion in the morning. In the meantime, we already know what Judd Apatow thinks of the whole thing.
UPDATE: I'll be honest, Sunday night laundry made me miss a lot of the spots. The one I caught that I found really intriguing was MasterCard "searching eye." It's paid off online here.
December 31, 2007
American Copywriter salutes Phil Dusenberry
Former chairman and CCO of BBDO, Phil Dusenberry, passed away on December 29th after a battle with lung cancer. He was 71. In 1999, Ad Age ranked him 31 on their list of the century's most influential advertising people. He was a bona fide advertising luminary. His lofty titles and achievements disguise the fact that he was, throughout his career, a copywriter's copywriter. Dusenberry's work is the stuff of legends including Pepsi's Michael Jackson spot and Ronald Regan's Morning in America commercials. He penned a few screenplays, too, most notably The Natural. An apt description for Dusenberry himself in the context of his chosen profession.
When I was in college I interned in the corporate communications department of Pizza Hut, Inc. When it came time for the big franchisee convention, I got plopped down in some back room of a Wichita Marriott hotel making last minute changes to speeches for the Pizza Hut execs. I was pecking away (on an original Mac BTW) when I heard someone say, "Hi Phil!" I turned and saw Dusenberry sweep through the room. He was there to present BBDO's new crop of spots to the franchisees. I punched "save" and stole into the darkened hall with everyone else. I really wasn't supposed to be there but no one hassled me. The room was electric. Advertising is a big expense and franchisees pay much of the bill. Hundreds of eyes locked on Dusenberry as he took the stage. From word one he owned that room. With his white hair, whiter teeth and power suit, Dusenberry was the definition of an impressive "ad man." He deftly introduced several spots to the crowd that afternoon including (if memory serves) the classic "Right Field." The crowd loved it. And him. It was a lesson to me. An advertising contract is a potent mix of money, power, politics and creativity. Yes, it's always about the work, the work, the work. But a little showmanship never hurts.
Here's to you, Mr. Dusenberry.
November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving.
Hope you have even more to be thankful for than last year. Enjoy your feast, friends and family.
November 20, 2007
Rest in Peace Mr. Whipple.
Dick Wilson, a.k.a. Mr. Whipple, 1916-2007. P&G ran the "Please don't squeeze the Charmin" campaign from 1964 to 1985 and again in 1999. As Steve said, "...Wilson, was a lovable, humorous television advertising icon back in the day when brands didn't change campaigns and agencies at the whim of a here today gone tomorrow CMO."
November 19, 2007
Sonic guy supports writer's strike. Stirs thoughts.
From the minds at the Colbert Report. Nice to see one of the Sonic Guys scoring even more work.
The writers strike should remind all creatives that intellectual property is anything but a commodity. Guard yours.
Thanks to Darryl.
November 06, 2007
Bee Movie posts $39.1 million. Almost breaks even.
In its opening weekend, Seinfeld's and DreamWork's Bee Movie grossed $39.1 million.
By my rough calculations that won't quite pay for the amazing amount of advertising and promotion activity that was placed behind this movie. This would include TV, print, cinema, sponsorships and the very confusing Bee Movie shorts on NBC prime time.
American Gangster (nice name) grossed $46.3 million. And it did that in 1000 fewer theaters.
I can't guess how many impressions Bee Movie was putting out there but, whatever the number, my money says this property was actually overexposed.
Which begs the question: Did Bee Movie actually advertise itself out of part of its audience?
Note: Had the producers had been really smart, they'd have added some cause marketing into their plan and joined the genuinely crucial effort to save our bees.
October 19, 2007
40th Anniversary of Patterson-Gimlin footage
This Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the film that made the Sasquatch pop culture royalty. So, here's to you Mr. Big and Smelly. Jack Links, Coldstone and Coors (among others) salute you.
October 16, 2007
Steve Hall is a sell out.
Sorta.
Splendid news for our friend Steve Hall and Adrants. Watershed Publishing LLC, which owns online titles such as MarketingVOX, MediaBuyerPlanner and MarketingCharts, is buying a minority interest in Adrants for some cold, hard cash and future commissions.
It's pretty cool that an ex ad guy can turn a blog into an industry force and a legitimate money-making enterprise. Adrants has inspired a lot of bloggers. The coverage is entertaining, but, in my opinion, fair. Something to be celebrated in the blogosphere. This is well-deserved success.
We are officially requesting a ride on the yacht, Steve.
October 01, 2007
When your own brand takes you to task.
Some in the development community are miffed about the current state of affairs with third party apps on the iPhone (Apple has it locked down). There are several sides to the story. We remain confident that Apple will open up the iPhone platform eventually. In the meantime, you just gotta love the pressure applied by the weight of Apple's own brand.
Noted at Scobleizer
September 25, 2007
Dear Apple Media Planners...
Dear Apple Media Planners:
I am clearly in your target audience for the new iPod Nano. I love Apple products. I own two iPods. I'll pop for an iPhone eventually. I work exclusively on Macs. I am a brand zealot. And, demographically I must still fit because, despite the fact I really haven't watched that much TV as of late, I have been exposed to the new Nano TV commercial 98,412 times. And this is the problem. I quite enjoyed the spot the first 78,767 times. But, as of today, I think if I have to listen to that snippet of the hip, mellow vibe that is 1,2,3,4 by Feist again I will throw a brick through my new Vizio. Jesus, peeps. Is it too much to ask that you actually look at your plan and think, "Hmmm, this is a really big buy, lets make sure to let the creatives know that we should make at least a couple of spots." I believe the weight you've put behind this single execution is, in a word, inhumane. The spot has gone from ingratiating to grating and it's all your fault. All I'm asking for is a little bit of variety. A couple of executions. Maybe even three. Really. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
JJ
September 10, 2007
Internet Virals: A Visual History of...
Dan Meth, Micah Frank... we salute you for bringing us up to speed on all of the popular internet virals of the past few years. Great stuff.
September 06, 2007
Go mind-to-mind with Manning.
Another NFL season kicks off tonight and that can only mean one thing: a heavy dose of Manning marketing. Here's some from Goodby and Sprint. This sports trivia advergame let's you take on Peyton (though he seems to go pretty easy on you). Last year, we crowned Peyton as the best of the NFL pitchmen. We can expect to see lots of him in the next few months. Think Brand Manning can get overexposed or spread too thin?
August 24, 2007
Life for Allstate agents a living hell.
"Most of us go through life as if nothing bad can happen," says the baritone VO of Dennis Haysbert at the open of an Allstate ad I saw last night.
"But Allstate agents know that all too often bad things DO happen."
As Haysbert velvet tones soothe our ears, we watch a man driving down a street. He glances up at a lovely family home visible through his car window. At this point, the man in a car, who we come to believe is an Allstate agent, sees the house burst into bright, orange flames. You can't quite hear the screams of the trapped family. Later, the poor agent, who, by the way, seems to have stopped caring about the tragedy he sees everywhere, witnesses a nasty car accident. This is followed by other unpleasantries including a wedding that, by virtue of a nice match-cut, turns directly into a funeral officiated by the same pastor.
Yeeeesh.
Maybe the spot will be good for business. But if I wash out of advertising I'm not going to sign up to be an Allstate agent. Apparently, the job is way too Sixth Sense/Ghost Whisperer/Final Destination for me.
August 20, 2007
Clowns, strippers and finger walking.
Seems that Yellow Book made a slight change to the way they categorize entertainers in their latest directory, and it's pissed off some clowns. And mimes. And stilt walkers. Maybe some strippers, too. According to this reg. required story, Yellow Book combined "family entertainers" and "adult entertainers" into one mega "entertainer" category.
This means that if one lets his or her fingers do the walking at 3 a.m., Bubbles the Clown may get a call intended for someone else named Bubbles who is a different kind of entertainer altogether. Send in the clowns, baby.
In a prepared statement, Yellow Book noted that they might reconsider the decision next time. But that doesn't do much for the strange bedfellows until the next directory comes around. One clown lamented that this development probably wasn't good for the overall image of the profession. Of course, given the level of terror clowns can inspire in some people, the overall perception of clowns and clowning may not be exactly sparking anyway. Maybe the World Clown Association should put out an RFP for agencies to research the issue. While the clowns aren't laughing, you do have to wonder who is really going to be tempted to see if a clown pole dances? Oh wait, strike that – seems there are plenty of people with that particular fetish.
August 15, 2007
Cuddle a cloud.
Your personalized air molecule (and message) joins others in your own patch of sky.
Look, I know we're seeing a lot of these collaborative user-generated projects. But I'm currently still a sucker for them. From Human Ideas and Space 150 in the Minnie.
July 19, 2007
Plagiarism is in the eye of the beholder.
Anyone who reads this blog likely knows the unwritten rules of applying creativity to sell a product, service or idea. 
One of the greatest sins? Intentionally ripping off an idea from another creative. In fact, it's considered grounds for excommunication from the creative tribe. Not just because it is wrong but also because it speaks volumes about your opinion of your own talent.
As the lines between entertainment and advertising blur, however, it seems our tribe may have some trouble adjusting to the culture of the networks and Hollywood where straight out rip-offs don't seem to carry the same stigma.
The most recent case in point: Don't Forget the Lyrics on Fox and The Singing Bee on NBC. One of many cases of network duplication including Trading Spouses vs. Wife Swap and Super Nanny vs. Nanny 911.
We've talked before about the collective unconsciousness. Two creative teams working half a country apart on poorly differentiated brands can and do arrive at similar conclusions. It happens. That doesn't stop the whispers and disapproving looks. Even, uh, borrowing elements from other parts of the popular culture can be frowned upon i.e. the kerfuffle about the origin of the look of the iPod spots.
How is it that something so taboo on the advertising side is so out-and-out blatant on the content side?
Maybe it's that TV shows aren't viewed as ideas but rather as competing products.
July 02, 2007
Amazing Integration
We've all heard about the bold move that 7-Eleven and Fox agreed on a while back to promote the new Simpsons movie and thought it was cool. But if you haven't seen the level of detail they've gone through to bring the Kwik E Mart to life, then you haven't lived (today). Here's a nice set of Flickr photos covering the entire store.
Mega big-time props go out to Fox, 7-Eleven and FreshWorks (and anyone else that had a hand in this) for pulling off what should be considered the best example of bringing a brand to life.
Can you imagine the brainstorming sessions that went into this? Lovely.
June 27, 2007
Coffee Morning: Happy 90th Mildred
Last week Seth proved that finding a picture of Mildred's Coffee House isn't an easy task. This week, instead of Google I turned to Flickr. A search for "Mildred's Coffee House" came back with zero results. I typed "Mildred's Kansas City." Just for fun I typed "Mildred's." The first images that appeared were titled "Mildred's 90th." I don't know Mildred, but, judging by the picture below, her 90th birthday party looked like it was a pretty good time.
I hope I'm still sipping flutes of Sauvignon Blanc when I'm 90. Cheers, Mildred. We'll be back at Mildred's Coffee House this Friday morning at 7:30. Here's the Coffee Morning Map to help you find your way. See you then.
June 27, 2007
The iPhone's most important feature? The Brand.
The iPhone is partly about the features, but kids, it's mostly about the brand. And this is what seems to be lost on many of the folks in technology land. After all, the iPod wasn't the first, and one could argue, never the best MP3 player around. Especially for the dough. Many say the N95 is superior to the iPhone. In terms of the technology that may be true. In terms of the brand, however, the N95 isn't even in the same ballpark. The tech sites will be aflame with debate on Saturday. Few, however, will note that the iPod isn't really a piece of technology. It's a piece of self-expression. And that's why people will part with their money.
June 26, 2007
Can Friday Come Any Sooner?
Oh boy! I can't wait for Friday to arrive. Friday, June 29! You know what that is, right!?! That's right, it's iDay! And that means we can all finally get our hands on an iPhone. Take it home, call people, surf the interlux, etc. etc. etc.
Actually I'm more excited about Friday coming so we can start NOT hearing about the damn iPhone. This thing has almost 69 Million results on Google. In my RSS feeds, specifically TUAW, about 75% of all the posts for the past two weeks have been about the iPhone. Or an iPhone accessory. Or how much it'll cost for the data plans. It's been like Christmas day, every day, for the past month for them.
Seriously. If this isn't the most talked about thing since the supposed Y2k computer crash, I don't know what is. Maybe the Segway before it was called a Segway? Who knows. The sad part about Friday is that it won't be the end of the iPhone discussion. Starting around 7pm on Friday we'll get first hands-on reports. What it's like to un-package it. How well the reception is. If it breaks when dropping or when taking a shower with it. Someone will buy one only to break it open and show us the guts.
Think Microsoft is jealous of Apple's marketing genius?
The iPhone craze isn't over. Not for a long while. And if you're like me and tired of all the talk, buckle up, because it's about to get bumpy. Err, bumpier.
May 24, 2007
Dead rocker spec work + Web = fired?
The Daily Swarm is reporting that Doc Martens has fired the London arm of Saatchi & Saatchi for unleashing a rejected campaign on the Web earlier this month. The posters have generated a fair amount of controversy.
TDS has also published a response from Saatchi:
“We believe the ads are edgy but not offensive. There has
been blog commentary both for and against the ads, but it is our belief that
they are respectful of both the musicians and the Dr. Martens brand.
We regret that the controversy has led Dr. Martens to terminate the
contract with Saatchi & Saatchi. We are investigating the circumstances and
considering the ongoing employment of the individual who was in breach of
instructions not to distribute the ads further than the original approved
placement in Fact Magazine in the UK..."
There's more than a little "he said, she said" going on. Doc Martens says they did not approve the campaign. Saatchi says the campaign was approved to run in one specific place, but that it was not to be distributed further (which doesn't make a lot of sense). Courtney says she never approved the use of Kurt's image. Whatever the absolute truth of the situation, one thing is irrefutable:
Spec work in the age of instant, global communications can be career-limiting.
Hat tip to: Ben Thoma
UPDATE: More here.
May 22, 2007
Marvel vs. DC.
Conservatives vs. liberals. PCs vs. Macs. DC vs. Marvel. Some tribal skirmishes never grow old. Check out the rest of the series, too.
Side debate: Is Batman really the most Marvelicious of the DC characters? Which characters from which comic universe could or should switch? Let your geek flags fly, people.
April 30, 2007
Cheating at SEO sends you to Google Hell.
What are all those weird drone link farms? They're a tactic designed to push certain Web sites up Google's list. Participating in that practice and other questionable forms of seo can send you to a pit of doom from which you may never return. Walk the straight and narrow, children. Who knows how forgiving the Google gods really are?
April 25, 2007
Spinal Tap is back.
If you happen to do some work on a green brand (or a brand that wants to go green), now may be the time to strike a deal with the lads from Spinal Tap. Since we've been so nice to them, maybe the fine folk at W+K London will see fit to fly us over the pond for the show at Wembley?
April 16, 2007
From our little granfalloon to Mr. Vonnegut's ears: We will miss you.
A granfalloon – according to the religion of Bokonoism as invented by Kurt Vonnegut in his 1963 novel "Cat's Cradle" – is a meaningless group of people who choose or claim to have a shared identity or purpose. Some examples in the author's own words: "the Communist Party, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the General Electric Company, the International Order of Odd Fellows—and any nation, anytime, anywhere." One of AC's favorite KC bars, the Granfalloon (the name obviously Vonnegut inspired) notes the definition a little more simply on their front door and on their t-shirts for sale: "A proud and meaningless association of human beings."
And while granfalloons may be meaningless, the work of Mr. Vonnegut certainly was not. From the travel of Billy Pilgrim to apocalypse by way of Ice Nine (the name of the Grateful Dead's publishing company, BTW) to the collected and awful works of Kilgore Trout to well, pretty much everything else, Kurt Vonnegut gave the world a truly unique voice that will be remembered, studied and sorely, sorely missed.
So from our little granfalloon (the absurdity of which surely would not have escaped him) American Copywriter hereby salutes the life, times and writings of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Tug's recommended reading list - in this order or any other:
1. Cat's Cradle
2. Breakfast of Champions
3. Galapagos
4. Slaughterhouse-Five
5. Slapstick
Peace.
March 16, 2007
Have a magically delicious St. Patrick's Day.
For something even more magically delicious, go here.
March 13, 2007
Oh, you mean you were serious about that copyright thing?
But we thought the law was just so analog.
March 12, 2007
Did an "integrated agency" just launch without a Web site?
I read with interest and enthusiasm the numerous accounts of Chuck McBride's new SF venture, Cutwater. The Wall Street Journal reported that the shop was created to:
"...pioneer new ways and new forms of bringing big brand ideas to life. CUTWATER is a full-service agency, offering a creative department built around the philosophy that all disciplines -- design, interactive, and advertising -- must collaborate in order to develop a deeper, single-brand story. This triple-play, one-entity approach is the most natural way to ensure that team stakeholders share ownership of one idea. The result: produce complete, cohesive, iconic brand stories that expand across what the agency refers to as the "asymmetrical" media environment."
(Side note: It continues to irk me that this seems like a new idea to giant ad conglomos and the coastal press when many independent, mid-sized shops have operated this way for years now, but I digress.)
First, I'm really cheering for McBride. I've admired his work for a long time. "Aaron Burr" remains one of my favorite spots of all time. And, new idea or not, I believe that genuine collaboration between all disciplines is the only way to go. So, I'm glad to see such a huge creative star embrace the approach.
That said, at the time of this writing, I can't find this new integrated agency's Web site anywhere. And it makes me want to tear my voluminous hair out. Yes, this is a frequent and old complaint of mine. But I just believe that if you're going to talk to the talk, you gotta walk the walk. Starting with your own agency brand. Even if the site exists (and I hope to be proven wrong), the only site referenced in the release is Mama Omnicom's corporate nightmare. If you're going to hang your hat on integration, shouldn't you hold the release until the site (even a made in 15 minutes placeholder) is ready? And if the site is up and running, wouldn't you want that integrated into your big release?
Credit where it is due: The McBride illustration was done for Creativity by I Love Dust.
February 26, 2007
After the all the hoopla, edited GM spot is better.
I missed it on air, but Sethy G. pointed out that The edited version of the GM Robot spot ran last night on the Oscars. Found it, watched it and, it's just one guy's opinion, but this is a better cut. The additional jokes and the new, more conceptual ending make the spot more charming than before.
February 21, 2007
Isn't this exactly what you'd tell a client to do?
When a brand has something go awry, many of us say, "God, can't someone just take responsibility, apologize and really try to fix things instead of just spin, spin, spin?" Well, here's an example of a company who seems to be attempting to do just that.
The whole jetBlue situation was horrific for passengers. No denying that. I wondered if the brand could ever recover. However, in the aftermath, I've been pretty impressed with some of the steps they've taken to own the mistakes. I don't know if the customers involved will ever forgive them, however, it's clear jetBlue takes their hard won brand fame seriously, and I want to believe they're making real, fundamental changes on behalf of their customers. I think their triage response to the situation is genuinely encouraging.
Spotted at the BMA.
February 15, 2007
Vee Dub pulls the Jumper.
February has sure been a big month for high-profile spots getting yanked.
Hot on the heels of GM promising to re-edit the Robot spot, Adweek is reporting that VW has decided this pull the "edgy" Jumper spot which, at the time of this writing, can be still seen on the Adweek link.
There's a really frank and open discussion about people's feelings about the Robot spot over at Ernie's blog which demonstrates how polarizing the subject is no matter how deftly it's handled in advertising.
As for me, I'd certainly put suicide themes in the camp of Creative No Fly Zones. Yeah, I know a comedian could tell a joke about it without too many gasps. There likely wouldn't be an uproar if a scene similar to the one depicted in the VW commercial were to be included in a movie. But there's an important difference. Movies, TV, comedians...these are generally considered by the American public as art (even if a low form of it). Art has permission to humorously explore sensitive social issues. Whether we like it or not, the American public does not equate advertising with art. We have no such permission. So, when we attempt to poke at the same issues, we get our leash yanked. This is how it is. So, I'm not sure why we're so damned surprised or pissed off when it happens. Of course, this is where some of you will begin to argue that this whole thing is an engineered controversy. That everyone involved both expected and welcomed the fire-breathing and teeth-gnashing.
God, I hate to think it's really come to that.
February 01, 2007
When it all blows up in your face.
I am of two minds this morning on the whole Boston/Cartoon Network fiasco which you've already read about here, here and here or maybe you saw it as the lead story on the Today Show and nearly every other major news outlet this morning.
My first mind says that this tactic should never have seen the light of day. Part of our job is to be culturally aware. We're the ones who are supposed to know what everyday people are thinking and feeling. The country, as a whole, is jumpy as hell about terrorism. 24 has built its new season around nukes going off in L.A. Entertainment reflects culture. The country is living with some fear. Read any consumer study and it'll confirm it. So, right now, placing plastic stuff with batteries and wires under bridges and in public places is just a dumb thing to do. Even if it just looks like a big Lite Brite. Every political leader, every canned airport voice and even other ad campaigns tell us to be aware and report anything suspicious. And the cops have no choice but to respond to a possible bomb on a major commuter route. Responsible people within the approval chain should have had some light bulbs go off in their heads. Packages of any sort left under bridges, on Subways or buses, are just begging to misinterpreted no matter how well art directed they are.
That said, my second mind feels awful for all the creative people involved. Dumb idea or not, I know all they wanted to do was provide a little theatre for bored rat-racers. And, as many commenter's on other blogs have noted, the target audience sure didn't run screaming from it. In fact, the target seems to be rallying for the advertiser. Some say there's no such thing as bad press. I don't believe that. One guy is in jail. The agency yanked its Web site down. No one is sitting around with big smiles are their faces. Least of all Ted Turner. We've all had lapses in judgment. Most times though, those don't end up the talk of the country. It has got to be a real nightmare for those involved.
Still, there are consequences to our actions, and the consequences here have a ripple effect on you and me. Everyone in the industry get whacked with the same bat when something like this goes down. "Look at them! How far will they go to push their brain-washing techniques on us!" If governors or mayors are talking about a campaign that doesn't have something to do with tourism you know someone has really stepped in it. That's where we stand today.
Update: Looks like I'm wrong about the nightmare part for those involved. These guys don't seem to be concerned at all.
December 12, 2006
Forrester says iTunes sales suck.
iPods are selling like water. iTunes library gets bigger and better each day. But this report from The Register says iTunes sales are "collapsing." Interesting reading to say the least.
December 11, 2006
American Girl freaks me out.
The impending birth of a little girl drew my wife to investigate the American Girl superstore just off Chicago's Michigan Ave. I tagged along.
I had heard of American Girl. I knew there were some dolls, some books and, I figured, some other merchandise. A successful little brand, I thought. Yeah, successful? You bet. Little? Not so much. Those blessed with female children probably already know that American Girl is not so much a brand as an empire. For those of us still a little in the dark, let me put it in perspective for you: There were, (by visual estimation) at least three times as many people milling about the three (or was it four) floors of the American Girl store than there were checking out Apple's showplace on the Miracle Mile.
The AG store was a serious scene. I was incredulous upon entry into the place.
There was a doll hair salon, a doll hospital, a cafe, a theater (with live shows), American Girl furniture and clothes. Oh and let's not forget the beauty merchandise (brought to you by the folks at Bath and Bodyworks). Most of the other guys in the store had the same dumbfounded look as I did. This is a world we just never knew existed. The dolls themselves cost about $90. Add the clothes and furniture and movies and books and you can drop several pretty pennies on the concept without trying very hard at all. This is a premium brand.
What it all adds up to is a total brand experience for moms and daughters. Seeing it in action was truly amazing. So many brands would kill for the stuff that was happening in that store.
What interests me most about the American Girl phenomenon is that this is a brand that, as far as I can tell, isn't all over TV. This fact is made more interesting by the fact that the company is owned by Mattel (the makers of Barbie). American Girl is, however, a powerful direct marketer. We didn't sign anything at the store but, I fear, our mere entry into the edifice will earn us an American Girl catalog. AG is old news to many of you, I'm sure. But it was an eye-opener for me. I am always happily surprised to discover powerful brands lurking just off my radar. 
It reminds me once again that we all can get a little too myopic about what's really going on out there in the world (for instance, nobody in the store seemed to care who Wal-Mart's agency is or isn't). In the meantime, I'm opening a new savings account for American Girl purchases. If I start now, it'll ease the pain the day that my daughter discovers this brand.
November 29, 2006
Bad news for one of the world's power brands.
If you don't (or haven't) had small children in your life, you may not have even heard of The Wiggles. However, they are a powerhouse global brand that straddles all media and an incredible array of merchandise. They are Australia's top-earning entertainers, banking more in '05 than Nicole Kidman and AC/DC combined. Now there are reports that the yellow Wiggle, Greg, may have to quit the band because an illness. Children all over the world are crying. Have some fruit salad and get well, soon Greg.
November 28, 2006
AC Pulse Check #2
'Tis the season for advertisers (and agencies) of all sizes to take familiar songs of the season and rewrite their lyrics for commerical purposes. Tell us, dear community, is this an effective and useful practice or is this an idea that is not just checked out, it's worn out?
November 11, 2006
Thanks for the memories, Jack.
Jack Palance.1919-2006. No one did a better one arm push-up than you.
November 09, 2006
Spec iPod phone spot makes us drool.
Despite the fact that everything here is purely speculative, color us officially hot for this product. When people talk about the dream of consumer-generated content this is it (although some pros were behind this). Simply delicious. Unless the real thing isn't nearly this cool. In which case, cgc could bite Stevie boy right in the butt. Cheers to those behind this beauty.
UPDATE: A reader emails to say, "This video is quite old." Well, we musta missed it first time around. Old or not, it's still hot.
November 09, 2006
'Tis the season for season treason.
There's a radio station here in town that's already playing holiday music 24/7. They've been at it since the first of November. Last night, as I helped unload some groceries at home, I noted that the polar bears are back on Coke's packaging. Of course, the holiday decorations began sharing shelf space with Halloween's ghouls late last month. Some retailers seem to be holding the line, but others are starting their holiday push right now. Or actually, a week and a half ago. Budgets and plans aside, it's a mistake to go all Santa on us this early. Yankelovich calls it "season treason." And it pisses consumers off. Rightly so. The question is will consumers ever begin to punish those who are guilty of the "treason?" Most of the stuff I see says that while the practice annoys, it also works for retailers. What are you best examples?
November 07, 2006
A rookie once asked Marcus Allen what he should do if he got the ball into the endzone on Sunday. Marcus replied:
"Act like you've been there." Apparently, Faith Hill did not get that memo in her CMA gift bag. Watch. the meltdown.
November 03, 2006
Dark Elves of the world unite!
Don't ask me how I know what tomorrow is.
Just know that my longsword, Krakthorn of Infinite Shadow (Attack bonus: +9 ranged, Damage: 1d8+3, Critical: x3) has a piercing range of 100 feet.
So come forth and parlay, geeks! Or face the cold steel of the blade of Gronlin, son of Ranholme -- elven ranger of Faerün!
Anybody got a 20-sided die? I just took damage from an orc halfling. Fuck.
November 02, 2006
Nike scoffs at BALCO, Juices up.
Nike Golf has a new golf ball on the market, the Juice 312. If you care, it has a 312 Dimple Pattern which was designed for more carry and distance. Whatever, fine. But the most alluring thing about the Juice campaign are the online spots where they shoot a golf ball into objects and completely destroy them.
It's vaguely similar to the Milwaukee's Best Light beer gun montage, but it's different enough to be fun. Or maybe it doesn't matter how similar it is at all... maybe I just like seeing stuff blown up. Not all the time, though, having Gallagher as a co-worker might be a bit too much.
September 12, 2006
Nike's Briscoe High scores.
Yeah, yeah. I know. We're way, way too heavy on the football-related theme of late. But Nike's satisfying "Football is Everything" stuff must be noted.
W+K's Briscoe High campaign is everything it should be. It's the dream of every high school football player captured on film in :90, :60 and :30 versions. It's loaded with watch-it-again-and-again cameo roles for football's most famous names and faces. The Easter egg of a title layers on meaning. An immersive Web site is geared to keep you coming back for more each week as Nike puts fictional Briscoe High on the gridiron with real high school football powers such as Tulsa Union, Massillon and Katy. It's utterly insider. And utterly wonderful. I thought it was the best spot of the bunch for the NFL's opening weekend (despite Lee Corso's less than subtle performance). Great to see that the campaign lives well beyond the TV screen, too.* You can see the prequel to the above spot here. Okay, we're done with the football stuff. For the moment.
*To whom it may concern, nice job on the Wikipedia entry.
September 08, 2006
Peyton Manning. Superstar.
The new NFL season kicked off last night. It's not just a new sports season. It's a new advertising season with a slew of NFL-related commercials. Many of the new spots will undoubtedly feature Peyton Manning who has proven to have both a strong arm and a darn decent sense of comic timing as evidenced in this new Sprint spot, and even more so, in last year's priceless Mastercard campaign.
My current favorite Peyton commercial is the new SportsCenter spot that he shares with his famous brother and father. During a tour of ESPN's studios, Peyton and Eli act like kids giving each other wet willies and back kicks while Archie shoots them disapproving fatherly looks. Classic.
We'll keep our eyes peeled for good spots this weekend as we watch entirely too many games. Go Chiefs.
August 23, 2006
Why being an asshole creative is bad for your career.
If I had to put money on it, I'd wager that senior clients and agency heads really aren't that much different in mindset than the people who run the big studios.
After all, each of these managers use a creative product to make money. All have learned to be quasi-adept at working with creative souls. All allow a certain amount of eccentricities to slide. But no matter how great a creative you happen to be, consistently acting out just because you can will eventually cost you money.
Everyone loves your freak flag. Just know when to put it away. Your personal credibility as a source for smart thinking and ingenious solutions is worth much more than any any street cred you think you're building with some asshole act. As Jeff Goodby once said, "All we're asking for is a little fucking judgment."
August 22, 2006
AC #44 Now Available
The Late to the Partay Edition:
In this episode, John and Tug talk about all the stuff the rest of the world already talked to death last month. In fact, some of what we say is so dated, it's not even true anymore (see note below).
We begin with a brief discussion on ill-fated attempts at positioning (1:30). We make a poor transition to a brief, yet slightly confusing, discussion of hyperbolized copy getting in the way of a good benefit (5:41). After the break, the lads take on Tea Partay (8:50) and, proving that they are so four weeks ago, finally weigh in with a take on "the video" (14:36). Tug splits after a toast to some friends, leaving John to offer his $.02 about Snakes on a Plane's less than stellar opening (19:01).
Note: teapartay.com is now up and running. Our take still stands. The site is an afterthought. A lot of opportunity was missed, and continues to be. At this writing there really isn't much additional content outside of the video. We've seen that. Give us more reasons to spend time with the brand.