A Fantastic Show -- if the Title Sequence is Anything to Go By

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Crush/Toronto, the fine folk that produced the promo work for Douglas Coupland's The Gum Thief (kicking off our love affair with his books), partnered with Blok Design/Mexico City to produce the opening title sequence for Arte en Construccion.

The latter is a Mexican TV program that "[examines] the creative process of leading artists in Mexico."

The score is playful, almost exploratory; the visuals are well-shot and deliciously tactile: grains of sand, vibrant pink against dull landscapes, thread being manipulated between metal points. Thankfully, it's also short, so you can enjoy all its charms without holding that wry grin for over a minute.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Commercials, Good, Television, Trends and Culture



'Why Are These Women So Happy?'

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Because they're spraying on their pantyhose.

But wait! -- don't stop at aerosol hosiery. Think bigger. Think self-adhering panties. Introducing the NYCE G strapless G-string, part of a life-changing liaison between Nyce Legs -- the spray-on pantyhose people -- and Shibue Couture. Helping you look your sexy best.

Thanks to MTLB for the find.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Specialty, Strange, Television



Mortal Coil Be Damned, There's a Popcorn Bowl at Stake!

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On October 2 in Times Square, Netflix kicks off a five-day movie-watching marathon. The objective: to make the Guinness World Record for most consecutive hours spent watching movies.

Provided you don't die of sleep deprivation, drowning or electrocution,* winners get "undeniable notoriety associated with holding the title of world champion," plus $10K, a lifetime Netflix subscription, and a Popcorn Bowl trophy -- the first of its kind!

But jobless film buffs be warned: the current record-holder, Ashish Sharma of Mathura, India, will also compete. The time to beat is 120 hours and 23 minutes.

To promote the marathon, DECON produced three spots for TV and three for online. The online ones are pretty much the same as the TV ones, except more to-the-point (see?).

Each ends with a huge Netflix logo, followed by the ominous words, "The training has begun." Titillated? Is your calling calling? Enter on Facebook.

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Arby's Hijacks Billboards in Atlanta

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A Fletcher Martin "insider" tells us, "Fletcher Martin (on behalf of our client, Arby's) is hijacking billboards around Atlanta during rush hour tonight to remind drivers they should be 'thinking Arby's.'"

Nice effort.

by Steve Hall    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Outdoor



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Menstrual Cramps Got You Down? Print Out Some Iron-On Cupcakes!

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In its ongoing quest to appeal to the Prozac nation ("Have a happy period!"), P&G pad-peddler Always redid its site.

Think pastel shades, abusive Corsiva-style typefaces and a general "Happy" theme. PMS-sufferers are invited to spread the happy! with downloadable insanity, zen garden therapy, or -- better yet! -- by printing out iron-on clip art.

"Make your period a happier time by grabbing a comfy tee and pair of panties, picking your favorite transfer designs and heating up the iron!" the site prattles, its copywriter clearly a model of loathing -- or on a whole lot of Zoloft.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Online, Strange



Jungle at the Opera, Paddington Bear Poisons Guests, Millennial Girl Destroys America

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- Hyundai and Goodby Silverstein & Partners are breaking up. Yeah, it's such a tragedy.

- Tokyo Agency brought the jungle to Paris's Opera Garnier to promote Guerlain Homme, a fragrance for the testosterone-soaked wild animal in you. That's cool and all, but I wonder if the wrist-spritzing preppies in suits didn't send a mixed message. Merci to in:fluencia for passing this along.

- Speaking of France, one Languedoc vintner launched a saucy new label: Le vin du merde (Shit Wine). For optimum psychological fuckery, serve with dark chocolate cake.

- Childhood icon Paddington Bear sneaks Marmite into egg sandwiches during his birthday party. Surprise! All the guests gasp and gag. Wonderful stuff by DDB.

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Democracy in Perspective: What Would Obi Wan Kenobi Do?

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Ever see those Advent Day calendars that count down to Christmas, and with each new day you can pop open another part of the calendar to reveal a wooden toy or a piece of chocolate?

Gerrymander, a company that produces political oddities, worked with Ignited/LA to release an election day calendar that does pretty much the same thing. Buy one for $12.98. Then, starting from October 1st, pop open each of the cut-out doors to find neither chocolate nor choking hazards, but non-partisan political wisdom, like what's listed below.

Guess who said what!*

o "I never vote for anybody, I always vote against."
o "Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to untiring effort."
o "Who's more foolish; the fool, or the fool who follows him?"

I like how when you Google "advent day calendar," the "2008 Election Day Advent Calendar by Gerrymander" is the first organic result that comes up. Way to usurp the old-school kitsch kings!

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by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Packaging, Political, Strange



PSA Says Messy Sex is Healthier Than Neat Sex

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So there's usually this explosive moment which culminates the inter-relationship between two people engaged in sexual relations which results in the expulsion of a certain contents that must find a home. For those who like to keep neat and clean, expelling that contents anywhere is feels like going just isn't acceptable.

However, according to this Belgian PSA for Sensoa, consuming the expelled contents, while a neat solution, may not be the best idea. Boondoggle created.

by Steve Hall    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Cause, Racy, Video



Creative Crooner Matt Maxwell Is Out With New Tunes

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Crazy crooner Matt Maxwell is at it again. Following his five songs about Flash, design and web technology, Maxwell is out with some new tunes about the heated inter-relationship between left-brained account managers and right-brained creatives as well as the difficulty in preparing for client presentations. It's goofy stuff but it does highlight the pain points only someone who works in the business can know.

Maxwell admits he's not such a great singer but he did have the opportunity last month to perform one of his songs in front of an audience of 800 in San Francisco at FlashForward. That can't be all bad.

by Steve Hall    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Agencies, Strange, Video



Richard Simmons the New 'Go to Guy' For Commercials

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OMFG. Poor Richard Simmons. The dude has been reduced to nothing more than a one line joke for advertisers to toy with as they please. He was run over in a Bridgestone Super Bowl commercial and now he's accosting women in a grocery store screaming at them for even thinking about enjoying delicious goodies such as key lime pie, Boston cream pie and strawberry shortcake.

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by Steve Hall    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Bad, Celebrity, Commercials



No, Those Are Not Goatees

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When it comes to educating the public about sex, nobody beats the French for racy content and entertainment value. But RFSU, the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, comes pretty close.

Visit Shave the Pussy, a promotional "intimate care guide" for, uh, trimming Fiffi. Style you own, name it too (the one at left is called "KFC"), or just rate the designs of others. Get this: for entering a unique design, you could win your own barber set.

Fun times in the bathroom!

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Online, Promotions, Racy, Strange



Old Icons Meet New Ones in Primetime Emmy Campaign

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When you've got nostalgia on your side, you'd be damn silly not to take advantage.

Bowing to this philosophy, WONGDOODY is promoting the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards by compiling collages of popular TV characters from the last 60 years. See banner ads, a ginormous collage (tagline: "one night. everything you love about tv.") and a fun bus wrap ("Everybody on TV is going. Are you?"). It's so Universal Studios!

The campaign, "Where TV Comes Together," will run until the broadcast of the 60th Primetime Emmys, which airs Sunday Sept. 21 at 8pm EST.

In the meantime, it should guarantee some good clean time-wasting fun. Use the ads to play a makeshift version of Where's Waldo?, except with Captain Kirk and Miss Piggy instead of a stripey-shirt dude you don't even know.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Good, Magazine, Online, Outdoor, Poster, Promotions



More Hygiene Faux-Pas from Your Business Hotel of Choice!

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In Extended Stay Hotels' latest ad, a sizable breeze blows out of clients' asses, effectively enabling them to slam doors from 10 feet away. The premise is, Extended Stay Hotel will make you just that comfortable.

More coherent than its last effort, where a girl wanders around licking stuff. I respect that ESH will make you feel comfortable enough to pass gas, but do I want to be in the building when everybody's sharing what their insides smell like?

Just the thought of strangers ambling about in robes, passing gas and licking shit ... ugh, I wish I hadn't just had Chee-Tos. Way to turn tummies, Toy/New York.

by Angela Natividad    Sep-18-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Online, Strange