Justin Timberlake Sucked Into Givinchey Spokesmodel Position

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Maybe Justin Timberlake is the new ad babe. He hooked up with Pepsi for that Pepsi commercial that sucked. Now, he's hooked up with Parfums Givenchy to be the brands spokesmodel for an un-named fragrance to be launched in August. The dude's a singer, actor, clothing designer and now a cologne salesman.

And let's not forget. He's the "wardrobe malfunction" guy that, as a result, has given us a steady stream of old rockers every year for the Super Bowl. Which, perhaps, is not a bad thing. After all, if they're still doing it at age 60, they must at least be sorta good.

by Steve Hall    Feb-25-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Celebrity



Nothing Says Confidence Like a Manly Man's Beard

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Ever wonder what Bob Garfield's really like? Newsgroper sorted it out. Check out Garfield's true mausoleum of unfiltered thoughts and opinions.

Via Make the Logo Bigger, who found it at home base for that naughtiest of ad men, George Parker. (Because we're kind of like a knitting circle.)

by Angela Natividad    Feb-25-08    
Topic: Online, Spoofs



Pig Songs Take Shot at Saving Farmers from Extinction

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UK-based National Pig Association surveys say consumers would pay more to keep high-quality British pig farming in business. Currently, farmers lose about 20 pounds ($39.09) per pig.

The elegant solution: "Stand By Your Ham," an objectively painful pop appropriation. Stay safe and Read the lyrics instead.

Sensory molestation aside, will the song save British farmers from losing their livelihoods? (It sure as hell won't save pigs.)

See ponderous print ad too.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-24-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Magazine, Online



EPURON Puts Pesky Wind to Better Use

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We swear we've seen this before, but it's been lost in the vast archives of Adrants -- which contains not only ads, but souls, your precious time (WASTED! HAHA) and other doodads. Anyway, imagine if "wind" were actually an obtuse French guy who walked around kicking sand at your kids and mussing up your hair.

"Maybe I was ... too intense," he laments.

Last year the EPURON GmbH spot for wind energy use won best TV ad spot from Germany at the ad festival in Cannes. It was put together by Nordpol + Hamburg.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-24-08    
Topic: Best, Commercials, Television



Test Drive a Land Rover. On Your Phone!

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"But how do I do that?" you wonder.

Actually, you can't. But if you have a Blackberry, Treo or iPhone, you can locate a dealership and schedule a test drive.

"This is everything I've ever wanted!" you cry.

Wait! Don't thank us. Thank Ford, Mediaedge:cia and AdMob.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-22-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Mobile/Wireless, Promotions



Cleveland Agency Gives Patriotic Treatment to Elevator Rescue

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It seems even the most mundane things such as...oh...an elevator rescue make their way to YouTube. Courtesy of Cleveland-based Brokaw, which has the most hilarious Flash intro we've ever seen, we are blessed with this patriotic production of a person rescued from a stuck elevator in Brokaw's building.

Not news? Hey, it's Friday. We have space to fill before he head off to Boise to get drunk with George and ponder why Advertising Age still employs Bob Garfield.

by Steve Hall    Feb-22-08    
Topic: Agencies



Top Ten Hottest Mobile Phone Girls Highlighted

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Dial A Phone has put together a top ten list of mobile phone ads which feature hot women. And, oh yes, just as in all advertising, if you buy the product the hot girl is pimping, you'll get the hot girl for yourself. Or so the story continues to be told even as it is, time and time again, proven wrong. Hey, we aren't complaining one bit. We love to look, to fantasize and even to drool just a bit.

by Steve Hall    Feb-22-08    




American Apparel Ad Complaints Get Slammed

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After receiving a copy of a recent American Apparel ad (which appeared in the Austin Chronicle) with a sticky note adhered to it which read, "My God!! What were you thinking? What the hell are you selling anyway?", Austin Chronicle writer Michael Bartnett humorously dissects the query and offers up a lengthy and witty reply.

by Steve Hall    Feb-22-08    
Topic: Brands



You Want It. You Need It. The iHam 5J!

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It's a high-cholesterol take on Apple's design-makes-the-man ethos.

This was part of an in-office Christmas promo for the employees of Shackleton Direct. Packages included a CD, manual and "iKnife." The site somehow generated 400,000 visits across Latin internet audiences and 100,000 YouTube views, says Shackleton.

In exchange for serving as muse, the team sent an iHam package to Steve Jobs. Awww.

by Angela Natividad    Feb-22-08    
Topic: Agencies, Online, Spoofs



Delta Gets Cute with Classic In-Flight Safety Video

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Adrants reader Atif sent us Delta's new airline safety video. It's all slick production and jammed with in-flight classics:

o A hot pilot
o A distractingly hot spokes-stewardess (Dubbed "Deltalina" by the Flyertalk forum geeks, for her similarity to Angelina Jolie)
o The requisite forced enthusiasm for the 5 minutes of life-saving schlock we've heard 30382943908453908 times
o The "No Smoking" finger wave
o An Orbit tooth glisten, complete with sound effects (wait for it!)

The spot felt gimmicky because it was gimmicky. But maybe there's genius in thinking a formulaic safety video can win back some groove with a commercial tribute feel.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Feb-22-08    
Topic: Brands, Inflight, Opinion, Packaging