Ugly Mug Coffee Goes Bold With Brand Re-launch

Sometimes even lowly coffee brands needs the occasional boost and that's what Indianapolis-based Young & Laramore did for Memphis-based Ugly Mug coffee as part of a complete re-branding. Focusing on coffee's true purpose, to dramatically kick your head into gear each morning, Y&L went bold. Very bold.

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GM Rethinks Depressed Robots. Hey, How About Robo-Nannies?

Remember that suicidal GM robot? Imagine it's refreshed, rehabilitated and ready to contribute to society again.

Would you let it touch the kids?

Courtesy of Make the Logo Bigger.

Old Spice Hair and Bodywash: For Hair and/or Body, or Both

In a moment of generosity, Make the Logo Bigger spilled some saucy new Old Spice beans on us (via Copyranter). If you have hair here, here and here but not there, you owe it to yourself to watch it.

It's neat that Old Spice tore open its billowing shirt and let out the musk. But now that everybody's laughing, how about improving on that old, spicy formula? We can't all be Bruce Campbell.

Consider:

o Old Spice in Cool Evergreen
o Old Spice a la mode (no one can resist the manly thrall of vanilla)
o Old Spice's alter ego: Youthful Mellow

Toshiba Print Ad Gives Us Salesgenie Deja Vu

We found this print ad for Toshiba's Smartcard technology in a recent business mag. It features a white executive and a bespectacled Indian IT guy holding the lead on a big dog.

The header copy reads, "Finance & IT: Working Together to Keep the Bad Guys Out."

Supporting text describes how execs will love Smartcard technology because it maintains data integrity and exceeds gov mandates for controlling access. And IT will love it because it "ensures user authentication with an ID card." (We know we get a thrill every time we're digi-frisked.)

Sooo. Is it racist, bad product positioning or right on the (executive!) money?

Johnson's Lotion, Blind Adoration Are Key to Mother/Child Bonding

To promote what it calls its "iconic baby lotion," Johnson launched Touching Bond to encourage moms to get touchier with their babies. Glean advice on making "your touch more touching," massaging your baby, and capturing its giggle.

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Ogilvy: While Contemplating Life's Journey, Think Vuitton

Here's a pretty but slow-going spot from Ogilvy Paris. Ask yourself (while reclining in the idleness of the inherited rich): do you create the journey, or does the journey create you?

We were a little stunned to discover the ad was for Louis Vuitton and not for the Tourism Department of, oh, Portugal. Or maybe the Virgin Islands.

In any case, to demonstrate LV's trademark decadence, Brentter points out the spot is the first-ever TV ad for the brand. And it clocks in at :90! Way to burn the scrilla-scratch dough.

TBWA\CHIAT\DAY Sends Us Grammy/Disruptunes Spot. What? WHO?

TBWA\CHIAT\DAY sent us a :15 ad for the Grammys and this thing called the Disruptunes. Watch it here.

The ad, scheduled to air during the event, is for Grammy-fan promotional material. Coffee table books, CDs, that sort of thing.

It also features music from The Generators, a band participating in TBWA's Disruptunes, an internal TBWA thing where artists can upload songs that in turn are used for ads. (The agency describes it thus: "[helping] agency talent express their creativity and bring brilliant music to the world.")

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Zhi to Reclaim Chinese Dignity on Olympic Soccer Field

Chinese footballer Zheng Zhi brings some Asian Algier to Adidas' Beijing Olympics campaign.

The hand-drawn spot builds on "Together" with Zhi's narrative about how the 2008 Beijing Olympics will redeem his people from loss. Disembodied wings carry the Chinese into the clouds. The Chinese, and some feathers, fall out of the sky when Zhi describes the 1999 game.

Despite the tripped-out depressing imagery, the story ends on an up note. Because impossible is nothing, right?

Deep. Or at least really abstract. In which case ... deep.

Blackberry Dabbles in Comedy to Snare Fresh Demo

So, 101 bellybuttons walk into a bar.

This is just one of the cliffhangers you won't revisit after checking out teasers for this Blackberry-sponsored improv troupe.

Add crappy video quality and comedians telling jokes on the phone (isn't that a social faux-pas? If it isn't, it SHOULD BE), and you've got yourself an unbeatable stench.

Ads for the effort were featured on the front page of the Times. Richard at Gawker pointed it out to us. Thanks for engaging us in the angst, Richard.

Rumors Favor Fallon For Microsoft Win

Since last December Fallon Minneapolis and Crispin Porter + Bogusky have been battling for the $2-300 million Microsoft consumer products account. The Daily Ad Biz reports rumors are flying Microsoft has chosen Fallon. There's been no confirmation either way but wouldn't it be fun if waning poster boy CP+B took a hit? OK, that's mean. We'd never wish that on anyone. Well, maybe we would but not here. May the best shop (or the one that plays the game the best) win.