Oink Ink Radio Announces Eighth Annual Dead Radio Contest

Oink Ink Radio, a bicoastal agency specializing in the creation and production of award winning radio commercials, announced today the call for entries in its Eighth Annual Dead Radio Contest. Frustrated copywriters across America are invited to submit their best radio scripts that suffered heart-wrenching deaths at the whim of their client's egos. The winning script will be produced – or resuscitated – by Oink Ink, free of charge, who will also fly the winners to New York or Santa Monica to attend the recording.

Seems the contest has paid off. Two past contest spots went on to achieve Mercury Finalist status as well as winners of National Addys and one Gold Winner at the London International Advertising Awards. Last year’s Dead Radio winner was Greg Christiansen, hailing from Young & Rubicam/Chicago. His spot entitled "Testing" was designed for the Miller Brewing Company promoting their new Fridge Pack.

All contestants submitting scripts will receive a copy of the winning entry. The deadline for entries is May 15, 2005. Enter here. Oink Ink’s East Coast office is located at 38 Greene Street in Manhattan’s SoHo district. Its West Coast office is located at 1119 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, CA.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Virgin Mobile Promotes Pay Plan With Wacky Subway Commercial

OK, this is just plain weird. If you thought Burger King's Hootie spot was weird, take a look at this commercial called, Subway, for Virgin Mobile's Pay As You Go Plan. Weird. Just weird. Thanks, Rick.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Cat Pee Billboard Distracts

The last thing we need while driving into the city sucking down our second latte, fighting with our girlfriend on the phone while texting the other girlfriend is a billboard with the giant headline PetPeePee. Yes, PetPeePee. It sort of makes it difficult to remember whether you're talking to Julie via text or Amanda via voice. Or was it Amanda via text and Julie versus voice? Not a situation you want to be in. Of course, we've never been in that situation nor have we ever seen this billboard while driving, let alone text one girlfriend while chatting with the other but someone was quick enough to snap this picture of this for us all to enjoy.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Beer Babes Are Back, Burping And Farting

This week's Ad Age TV Spots of the Week is led of by beer babe 4,726 for Troegs Beer. This one burps and farts. Progress. Less entertaining and far sillier is a ridiculous, non-sensical "Snack Fairy" spot for Nabisco. Next is a Deutsch-created spot for Pier 1 - and we only know that because they stuck the logo at the end of this excuse-to-be-creative commercial. OK, maybe it's not that bad but at least tell us to go shoot up before viewing for full enjoyment. Grey gets the caffeine addiction right with a "Shock Therapy" spot for Dairy Queen's Caramel MooLatte spot. Then, there's an oh-so-boring spot from TBWA/Chiat/Day (that we know the client must have butchered) for Nissan Xterra followed by a bunch of JWT created turkeys that turn into chickens all to promote Miracle Whip, a silly commercial from DDB for Budweiser illustrating the insanity of Nascar fans and a really great anti-drug commercial by TBWA/Chiat/Day.

Oh, and, Ad Age, that agonizing TV Guide pre-commercial, commercial? Frequency cap the damn thing, will you?

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Statutory Rape Not So Good For Gap

Now that the fact 17 year old Joss Stone has moved in with her 25 year old music producer millionaire boyfriend, Beau Dozier, has come to light, Gap may be having second thoughts about hiring the teen as their new spokesmodel especially since, in California, where the two live, it's considered statutory rape for someone of Dozier's age to have sex with Stone. Statutory rape isn't exactly a word a brand such as the Gap would willingly associate with. Delicate as the situation may be, we guess it's all part of growing up for Stone who recently booted her mother, Wendy, as manager and is blissfully oblivious to what anyone thinks of the situation. Likely, SJP is smiling a very big smile right now.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Viral Ads Help Sell Books

As the use of online promotion increases for book authors, so has the use of viral book marketing courtesy of VidLit, BookShorts, TeachingBooks and BookWrapCentral, companies that produces videos to hawk books and their authors. VidLit charges about $3,500 to create a :60 video and recently helped authors Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman sell 150,000 copies of their book, Yiddish With Dick And Jane.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Transit Campaign Promotes Marital Bliss

Already in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and debuting soon in New York, is a transit campaign, called Marriage Works, from advocacy group Campaign for Our Children promoting the sanctitiy of marriage with the idea respect for the insititution will reduce teen pregnancy. Not to be snide or anything, but the only thing that will reduce teen pregnancy is surgically implanting a permanent female condom inside every girl under the age of 18. Oh, and a little dose of open, parental discussion about sex and its consequences.

4-Apr-05 » (0)

Frank Perdue Dead At 84

Frank Purdue, founder of Purdue Chicken and, until his son, Jim, took over as CEO in 1994, frequent face of the company's televisions commercials died Thursday night at the age of 84 after a short period of illness. Known for his "it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" tagline, Purdue appeared in 200 commercials from 1971 to 1994. His son continues as spokesman in the long running campaign.

2-Apr-05 » (0)

Donny Duetsch Separates From Wife

Page Six reports ad man Donnie Deutsch and his wife, apparel executive Stacy Josloff are "trying a trial separation," according to a Deutsch spokesman. As if to somehow make light of the situation, the spokesman continued, "They're still very close friends and speak all the time. Donny and Stacy continue to love and support each other."

2-Apr-05 » (0)

Stuart Elliott Spices UP TVB Panel

Apparently New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott rocked the house last week during a Television Advertising Bureau panel questioning the quality of TV audience measurement taunting, "They're still using paper diaries. Jackie Gleason and Milton Berle's ratings are still being counted!" Elliott also took pot shots at the industry's Prime Time bias saying, "Oh, you mean you all just watch 'Desperate Housewives,' but not 'Nip/Tuck' because it's on cable? Oh, come on!" He might not have been so right on that one. "Desperate Housewives is just a tad bit more popular than "Nip/Tuck" but that's not really the point. Elliott added a bit of much needed spice to the usually staid event.

2-Apr-05 » (0)