Guinness Sexed, 50 79'd, Mars Caves, Parker Pisses

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- This fake Guinness commercial illustrates the pleasures of multitasking among friends...while naked...and having sex.

- To varying degrees, most people feel it's OK to have advertising in free online video content. The highest level of acceptance (82 percent) was for ads in full length TV shows (shown online).

- 50 Cent is not pleased with Taco Bell's publicity ploy urguing him to change his name to 79, 89, or 99 Cent to promote new menu items. 50 Cent has filed a lawsuit claiming his name an likeness were used without permission.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-25-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Policy, Spoofs, Video



Janet Jackson's Boob Ruled Not Indecent

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Back in 2004 (yes, it really was that long ago), Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were victims of a unfortunate "wardrobe malfunction" which caused Janet Jackson's pierced boob to be seen by something like 80 million people. Most of us laughed. others got all freaked out and had a legalk orgasm shooting law suits all over the place.

Well, four years later, it's all over and a Philadelphia Court of Appeals has injected some common sense into the debacle. The court overturned the FCC's fining of 20 CBS stations and the FCC's claim the stations were liable for the "malfunction." Basically, the Court of Appeals ruled the fines ran counter to the FCC's long-standing history of forgiving fleeting instances of indecency.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-21-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Opinion, Policy, Racy



Gladiator Ad Banned Because Contestants Breasts Are Too Large

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Hot women with big breasts always seem to get the bum deal and it makes no sense. Why is it right to label and discriminate against a person simply because of their hotness and bra size? That appears to be what happened with a recent campaign for Gladiators in the UK which features Jemma Palmer in her Gladiator costume.

A local vicar has objected to the campaign. A spokesman for Sky One, the network on which Gladiators appears, said. "We thought it was such a great image that it would be great for the campaign. But it seems the vicar just thought Jemma was too hot and that her boobs were just too big."

OK so the board was to be placed next to a church and she's certainly dresses in less than her Sunday best but would God judge on looks alone?

by Steve Hall    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Bad, Policy, Racy



Parker Pisses, Gloves Sleep, Axe Smells, Lynx Attracts, Advergirl Advises

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- George Parker tells us why political advertising sucks and why doing shots in a local bar doesn't make on "one of the boys."

- Somehow a boxing glove is suppose to induce sleep according to Sominex sleeping aid.

- Axe is doing its "our smelly deodorant will make you a chick magnet" thing in Japan.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Policy, Political, Racy, Strange



Travelers' Red Umbrella Makes Triumphant Return

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After a goof six years ago which kept the iconic red umbrella with Citigroup as it spun off the Travelers unit, Travelers has won it back and has gone BIG (literally) in a new commercial celebrating the umbrella's return. In the ad, a man carries the gigantic umbrella back home and on his way does what good insurance companies do, helps people when they need helping. OK, so most insurance companies don't a shit other than making money but it's a nice sentiment at least.

Fallon Minneapolis did a nice job with the spot. It's elegant, well-produced an fairy tale-like in that big adventure movie sort of way. It's one of those ads that really doesn't look like it's actually an ad but at the same time, delivers its brand message beautifully.

by Steve Hall    Apr- 2-08    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Good, Policy



American Apparel Puts Woody Allen on Billboard, Allen Angry

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Perhaps in reaction to complaints about their over-sexified imagery in their advertising, American Apparel has decided to opt for something mush less sexy: an image of Woody Allen. Yup, he's up on billboards in New York and California as well as in online ads.

Not too happy about his image being used without permission, Allen has sued American Apparel for over $10 million in damages. American Apparel's decision to use Allen's image seems to make sense though. American Apparel loves to use young girls in their ads and Allen likes to marry them. I'd call that a great use of celebrity in advertising.

by Steve Hall    Apr- 1-08    
Topic: Outdoor, Policy



T-Mobile Asks Engadget Mobile to Stop Using Magenta

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In yet another display of corporate legal idiocy, T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom sent a letter to Weblogs, Inc.'s Engadget Mobile asking them to stop using the color magenta in their logo. The letter states T-Mobile uses the color magenta in its logo and, as a result, people might somehow become confused as to what T-Mobile does and what Engadget Mobile does.

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by Steve Hall    Mar-31-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Policy, Strange



Bottoms Up Ad Messes With Kid's Mind, Frustrates Mom

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"Mommy, why does the lady on that sign have her bottom sticking up and there's like a string tied around it?"

"Well, honey, it gets hot here in Florida and sometimes your bottom can get sweaty. It's just an advertisement for a place where woman can go cool their bottoms off."

"But mommy, it says 'Gentleman's Club.' Why does it say that if only ladies go there? Have you been there? Is your bottom hot?"

"Oh no, no, no, honey. I haven't been there but I think men go there to help the women cool off. I don't know how they do it. Maybe they have to hold the fans or something. Hey, want to go to McDonald's?"

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by Steve Hall    Mar-20-08    
Topic: Outdoor, Policy



Agency 'We Are Gigantic' Resurfaces As 'Tremendous'

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Over two years ago, Bernard Urban rebranded his URBANadvertising company to become GIGANTIC. Last April, agency We Are Gigantic was born out of an MDC consolidation of its MFP and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners agencies. We Are Gigantic was headed by Neil Powell who was formerly a partner at the now defunct MFP which suffered significant client loss.

Urban sued MDC for trademark infringement and recently won, effectively ending the existence of Niel Powell's We Are GIgantic. Oddly, the We Are Gigantic site, though taken down as part of the court decision, is now back up. It seems, Powell, or someone, is trying to get whatever business they can out of this drama. The We Are Gigantic site's contact section says "We've moved" and a telephone number leads a company called Tremendous, which, following We Are Gigantic, is pretty funny.

We've left a message for clarification on all of this and will share that with you as soon as we have a response.

by Steve Hall    Mar-17-08    
Topic: Agencies, Policy



UK Christians Crusade Against Deliciously Sinful Haircare Ads

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Having received 23 complaints -- including one from the Archdeacon of Liverpool -- the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has decided to pull GHD's "A new religion for hair" campaign off the air. Which is too bad, because the ads are gorgeous. Especially when compared to the Super Bowl trainwreck that was Sunsilk's diva spot.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar-12-08    
Topic: Bad, Commercials, Opinion, Policy, Television