Colonel Sandrs Goes to the UN, Sigourney Snakes, Bond Bombs

- And, yea, there was that whole KFC Colonel Sanders thing at the UN. Everyone's freaking out over the supposed security lapse. Or the stupidity of security guards who must have thought the Colonel was an actual delegate of some country called KFC.

- Something about a snake and Sigourney Weaver.

- This is kind of sad. Sometimes you just want to remember someone in their prime. Not when they should really be sitting on a porch somewhere peacefully enjoying the fact they had a good run.

by Steve Hall    Oct-28-09    
Topic: Celebrity, Commercials, Guerilla



Improv Everywhere Grocery Store Musical Pimps Trident Gum

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OK. We've gotta admit. We love the work Improv Everywhere does for brands. While it might be seen as bothersome to have a group of people just randomly break out in song or dance in the middle of your day but don't we all need a pleasant distraction from time to time?

We're only seven days late to this but working with Gold n Fish Marketing, Improv Everywhere put together a grocery store musical for Trident Layers Gum. It's the story about fruit and how much better grocery store fruit would be if it were squished together.

OK, not literally. That would be gross. Figuratively, on the other hand, that'd make some pretty sweet tasting gum. Which, of course, is what this is all about. Nice work. And, as always, the gig got tons of coverage and was highlighted on CNN yesterday.

by Steve Hall    Oct-28-09    
Topic: Guerilla



Where the Hell is Matt...Uh...Oops...Coke?

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Joe Jaffe's Crayon (among other companies including Adam Brown at Coke) is behind a new program for Coke called Expedition 206. Beginning January 1, 2010, Coke will send three ambassadors around the world to visit 206 countries in 365 days. The purpose as Jaffe writes is to "seek out, discover and celebrate the epitome of 'happiness' as it presents itself across different people, places and cultures."

Sounds a bit like a corporate version of Matt Harding's work for Stride but hey, you can never leverage and monetize the power of "world happiness" enough. So it's all good.

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by Steve Hall    Oct-22-09    
Topic: Brands, Guerilla, Podcast, Promotions, Social, Weblogs



Bearing Change for Obama, Brammo Bikes from Detroit to DC

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With help from Crispin Porter + Bogusky (featuring built-in tweetage from @bogusky hisself!), two intrepid messengers from Brammo are on a mission to present President Obama with the most energy-efficient electric vehicle in America: the Brammo Enertia powercycle.

The pair adds a dash of bloggable epic to the quest by road-trippin' it from Detroit to Washington, DC: the route automotive CEOs took when they made their pilgrimages to beg for bailout aid.

"But instead of seeking aid, were going to present President Obama with a homegrown solution to the transportation crisis," the pair writes gleefully.

To succeed in their quest, dubbed ShockingBarack, they're depending on little more than "the kindness of everyday Americans." Visit the ShockingBarack website to offer them a place to crash, a source that'll help them get in touch with the President or an outlet to fuel their motorbikes. (They promise to reimburse you the $0.30 it takes to charge them.)

If you lack the inclination or the geographic convenience to do either, follow the journey. The latest video -- where they visit the Mayor of Adrian bearing a peace offering of donuts -- appears below.

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by Angela Natividad    Oct-15-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Guerilla, Online, Social



Michelin Man Made Over, Milk Meets Milkquarious

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- The Michelin Man is getting makeover. He's transforming into a "tire-chucking superhero." OK, then.

- WONGDOODY: The company, along with a few lucky staffers, will be featured on next week's Oct. 14 episode of "America's Next Top Model" as part of a "challenge" experienced by the season's petite models.

- Ooo. Ooo. Here's a good one from a reader: Bridge Worldwide, an ad agency in Ohio, is having employees spend the day selling the CMO's new book, Marketing With Meaning. They've sent my company four unsolicited emails about it, in addition to spamming social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Marketing With Meaning? I don't think these people understand what irony is.

- This is what those New York creatives who charge $750 per hour do with the money.

- Outside Magazine enters the world of Harry Potter moving media.

- Check out Milkquarious. It's about a rock idol, White Gold, who swears by the power of milk for strong bones, hair, teeth and nails.

- Yellow Pages guerrilla marketing campaign hits the target.

by Steve Hall    Oct- 7-09    
Topic: Brands, Guerilla, Magazine, Social, Video



It's Raining Noodles!

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OK so dumping thousands of ping pong balls from an airplane for a dorm complex party while in college isn't exactly the same as this but there are some similarities.

Yesterday, 300 pots of Golden Wonder were dropped from the skies over Portsmouth (UK) and one lucky winner, Tuan Anh Nguyen, 24 years old from Southsea in Portsmouth, took home a pot with £1,000 inside.

The stunt celebrated the launch of The Nation's Noodle & The Nation's Pasta, a new line of instant noodle and pasta snacks from Golden Wonder.

Here's a video of the event.

by Steve Hall    Sep-29-09    
Topic: Guerilla



Doomed New Beverage Goes Out to UN General Assembly

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RelaxZen, a beverage that promises to both relax and focus you, decided to put itself to the test by sending cases of product to the 192 leaders meeting at the United Nations General Assembly.

RelaxZen is outfitted much like other doomed drinks that came and went in the early 2000s. It has zero calories and sugar, is non-drowsy and provides "100% focused relaxation."

Check out their Open Letter to the UN, which is doing a molassessy circuit of YouTube as we speak. It sports a cheap potshot of Ahmadinejad, which is supposed to be a funny illustration of how some people need to mellow out, but it just came across as feeble and sad.

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by Angela Natividad    Sep-24-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Guerilla, Political, Video



Little Debbie Does Dallas (No Really. It's Part of the Promotion)

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OK so now we know why those silly little Smart cars exist. They're really not good for much and look like they'll blow over in the wind but cupcake maker Little Debbie has a use for them. The brand is launching a new cupcake and, along with a Facebook page, a 125,000 carton cupcake giveaway, a mobile tour, a Twitter feed, a YouTube channel, a Flickr photostream, event marketing, TV spots and blogger bribes..,uh...blogger outreach, will giveaway two Smart cars.

Se the spots here.

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by Steve Hall    Sep-22-09    
Topic: Events, Guerilla, Mobile/Wireless, Promotions, Social



Ass-Based Ads Tapped...IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

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As we seem to have said here many times over the past week or so, in these tough economic times, companies are resorting to all manner of silly pomp and circumstance to pimp their wares. So to announce to the world...OK, Australia... it will cease to charge booking fees, online travel agency ZUJI Australia has chosen an old standby: assvertising.

Apparently people all across Australia are dropping their pants to "uncover the online fees." We're not quite sure that's the best method for delivering the message but it did result in a PR stunt which shared with Australians hot-assed women (and a few men) in their underwear parading around central Sydney.

And what's not to love about some hot ass once in a while?

by Steve Hall    Sep- 8-09    
Topic: Guerilla, Racy



New Yorkers, Bagging Kenny Cole, and Party Pic Greatness

- Ken Cole. Patriot.

- Jetpacks still not quitting.

- All black ads look alike.

- New Yorkers shooting New Yorkers.

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by Bill Green    Sep- 4-09    
Topic: Brands, Guerilla, Specialty