'What Men Need to Know' is for Online Lad Mag. O RLY?

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As promised in frustratingly obtuse video teasers like this one, "What Men Need to Know" unveiled its secret sponsor today.

And it's ...

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by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Good, Online, Promotions, Publishing



What Ho, It's a Film Strip Roller Coaster

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Animation studio th1ng helped create this ad for NBCU's PictureBox, a subscription film service. Tagline: "Movies full of emotion. Enjoy the ride." I missed the whole "emotion" vibe, but come to think of it, I did see Russell Crowe looking ragey.

Actually, that's not new.

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by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Bad, Campaigns, Commercials, Poster, Promotions, Television



WeeWorld Starstruck, FWA Theater Goes Live, Vespa Gets Smart, Pole Dancers Feud

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- WeeWorld is holding a celebrity lookalike contest. The WeeMee at left is a Miley Cyrus lookalike. Funny: it's become difficult to recognize her without her blankie.

- What could be more chic than shoving a five-dollar footlong up your headlight? Vespa teams up with Get Smart and Subway.

- Check out the FWA Theater, which went live on Monday. It has a "Hot Advertisements" section that made us recall the fighting days of Firebrand. And then we laughed.

- Registered voter kthustler27 would like Hillary or Obama to buy his vote. He had an eBay auction up, but it's been yanked.

- This has nothing to do with advertising, but watching pole dancers fight just doesn't get old.

by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Promotions, Sponsorship, Video



Bush Won't Help Lenders, Countrywide Demonstrates Why

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Here's a contextual quirk that appeared in Joe Madison's AP news feed. In the video, Bush refuses to support a bill that bails mortgage lenders out of crisis mode. Meanwhile, a contextual ad for Countrywide -- a lender in dire straits -- appears below his torso.

"No closing cost refi. No points. No credit report," the ad promises. Jesus, Countrywide. Is it any wonder Bush wouldn't stick his neck out for you?

In related news, Countrywide recently got ripped in the press when its CEO trashed a hard-up borrower via email. (It was an accident. The borrower was appealing for financial relief, and apparently the flustered Mozilo pushed "reply" instead of "forward.")

What beautiful irony.

by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Online



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Wexley Revealed, Deutsch Strips, Deutsch Douchebagged

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- Seattle agency Wexley School for Girls gets some nice press in Business Week from Jon Fine who visited the agency and shared his thoughts about its work and approach to marketing.

- Apparently, Donnie Deutsch is pulling a Tom Cruise. In an interview with The Observer, Donnie strips off his shirt and announces he may someday run for Mayor.

- Headvertising, Boobvertising and other forms of human advertising are passe. Now, it's all about prosthetics.

- Gawker provides five reasons why Donny Deutsch should win the Douchebag of the Year Award.

- Ad Age: "William Morris, Media Execs Create 'Agency 3.0'" Oh please.

by Steve Hall    May-21-08    
Topic: Agencies, Human, Strange



Spend A Million on Social Media With Measurable ROI? Yes, Indeed

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Writing on his blog, PR Squared, SHIFT Communications Principal, Todd Defren, in reaction to a comment Rohit Bhargava made during a panel at NewComm Forum, explains what he'd do if he had a million dollars to spend on a campaign heavily focused on social media.

While Rohit expressed concern over the ability to affix ROI metrics to a social media campaign (in comments, Rohit clarifies the concern was for the ability to scale, not the ability to measure), Todd argues measurements can be made and outlined a few tactics he might employ were he to be handed a million to spend.

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by Steve Hall    May-21-08    
Topic: Social, Tools



Pittsburgh Destroyed for Fundraising Event

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The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, a "non-profit organization that improves the quality of life by encouraging good design of the built environment," ran an ad for last weekend's Pedal Pittsburgh fundraising event. The ad places Pittsburgh's four most noticeable buildings, USX Tower, One Mellon Place, PPG Place and One Oxford Center, atop a bicycle tire.

The juxtaposition of the skyline and the bicycle tire makes sense but one really has to wonder how, throughout the entire campaign development process, no one raised the possibility someone might look at this ad and ask, "Why are the placing Pittsburgh on a tire where it will be destroyed as soon as the tire turns?"

by Steve Hall    May-21-08    
Topic: Strange



American Apparel's Dov Charney Awarded Dildo of the Year

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Last week, American Apparel CEO Dov Charney was awarded Retailer of the Year. Some witty prankster wasted no time spoofing the announcement with a poster showing Charney holding an object very different from an award. Animal's Copyranter took the photo.

by Steve Hall    May-21-08    
Topic: Brands, Spoofs



Sorry Beck's, but Saying 'Different by CHOICE!' Doesn't Make it So

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To draw attention away from its absence of a sound position in the beer market (unless "favorited beer of the band 'Black Label Society'" counts), Beck's tries wearing the message "Different by Choice."

This new spot -- produced by Anonymous for agency Lowe Worldwide & Partners -- compares the mediocre green beer to avant-garde painters, punk rockers and the VW bug, among other subversive cultural icons.

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by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Television



Amstel Light: Not Big on the Whole 'Literacy' Thing

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Amstel Light may have taught us properly how to spell "beer" in Dutch, but this is definitely not how you spell "damn." Unless you're referring to what beavers make, or are trying to be clever with your city of origin. But really, did bad puns ever get a brand anywhere good?

Also, I'm digging how the YouTube video description reads "Tradition since 18070." I didn't even realize we'd passed that year yet.

by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Television



Now You, Too, Can Be in the Business of Propaganda!

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In an ad bluntly called "McCain, Fire Charlie Black," MoveOn tries strong-arming John McCain into dismissing his lobbyist, whose firm allegedly made millions by aiding dictators, terrorists and sundry other villains.

$25 helps get it on the air!

by Angela Natividad    May-21-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Online, Political, Video