Fishnet Stockings and Cupped Breasts Urge Australians to Vote

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There are many ways to convince people to vote. This, we must say, is the first time we've seen a porn-ish strategy applied. To get young people to vote, a print ad asks, "I'm legal. How about you?" Accompanying that witticism is an image that leaves no doubt which double entendre the ad's creators were going for.

Dressed in fishnet stockings and a thong, a "barely legal" woman is cupping her breasts and looking into the camera as if you were the only thing on the planet she had on her mind the moment that shutter clicked.

Of course, the ad comes from the Australian Sex Party, an organization which aims to fight for Australian's sexual rights and personal freedoms and urges the government to keep politicians out of the bedroom.

Thanks, Bill.

by Steve Hall    Jul-20-10    
Topic: Cause, Political, Racy



Does 9/11 Make All Mulsims Terrorists? NBC, CBS Reject Ground Zero Mosque Ad

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There are just way too many political and religious issues surrounding this ad from the National Republican Trust PAC which asks Americans to oppose the building of a Muslim mosque near the World Trade Center site for us to comment.

But, why not. So, here we go. Everyone has the right to practice their religion of choice. At least in this country. Just because a particular religion is associated with the bad behavior of a few who practice that religion does not make everyone who practices that religion evil. Television networks have the right to refuse any ad which falls outside their guidelines. People have the right to call foul on any network who makes such a decision.

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by Steve Hall    Jul-16-10    
Topic: Cause, Opinion, Policy, Political



Republican Profiles, Bing Bombs, Philips Deforests

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- McDonald's. Still telling "people" it's a good thing to reward good grades with crappy food.

- Another middle-aged, white Republican walks the line with a pro-racial profiling ad. If you think about it, stereotypes are just assumptions based on past history. It's like a scientist making a hypothesis. So is this ad really that offensive?

- Despite Microsoft's Bing, Google still leads share of search with 71.4 percent in April, up from 69.97 percent in March. Bing fell from 9.62 percent in March to 9.43 percent in April.

- Witty. Instead of just telling people to Shave Everywhere, Philips Norelco is now telling people "Deforest Yourself. Reforest the World." How very green of them.

- HP is sponsoring the 2010 Cannes Young Lions Competition.

- &#@^% the brands that are &#@^%ing the people.

by Steve Hall    May- 6-10    
Topic: Political, Research



If You Want to Live in Alabama, You Had Better Learn English

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Well here's a political commercial the politically correct won't like. Of course, since we're not at all politically correct around here, we love this new ad for Tim James who's running for Governor in Alabama...where, as James makes very clear, English is the spoken language.

James wants the state's driver's license exams to be administered only in English. Currently, the test is given in 12 languages and James claims that's just too costly. If elected, he'd give the test only in English.

The best (most contentious to some) line in the ad? "This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it."

This is not going to get this man elected. Oh wait. Yes it will. This is Alabama. We're rednecks. If you want to live here, ditch your ethnic ways and become an American like the rest of us.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-28-10    
Topic: Bad, Good, Opinion, Political



Nike Rocks VIctorious with Female Athletes

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For its Nike Women division, Nike gathered together some well known female sports figures and put together mini documentaries for each of them.

With all the bravado of an eighties Rocky flick, the campaign website bellows, "Wining is contagious. You see it. You burn for it. True champions live for it. Never underestimate the power of victory."

Each of the four short videos highlights the careers of Maria Sharapova, Susanna Kallur, Lianne Sanderson and Serena Williams.

It would appear Maria Sharapova's come a long way since crotch-gate, skanklicious butt shots and sex pillows.

Of course she's still being sold as a sex symbol. One step at a time.

by Steve Hall    Mar-24-10    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Political



Gloves Grip, Hands Slap, Fiorina Fails, Arm Shopped

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- An interesting way to illustrate the gripping power of dish washing gloves.

- Like a little butt bongo? Then you'll love this NSFW ad (but safe for YouTube) for Coco de Mer.

- See Carla Fiorina's horrific commercial bid for a California Senate seat.

- When you're stuck with unusable images from a photoshoot there's always PhotoShop.

- Want to manipulate a male model Subservient Chicken-style? Then head over to Wrangler's Manipulate a Man.

- Foursquare just might end up trumping Twitter when it comes to a revenue model.

- That head chef in those new Domino's commercial? Not really the brand's head chef at all. He's the organization's VP of Innovation. But he does run the test kitchen and does wear a white chef coat. So that makes it all OK, right?

- Have an iPhone? Like looking at hot, half-dressed women? Then download Maxim's iPhone app. Pretend to be texting while your ogling hotties.

by Steve Hall    Feb- 4-10    
Topic: Magazine, Political



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



Losing Fuel, Teddy's dead legs and Mad Women

- Fuel loses fuel.

- MCD gives those hardworking kids a day off in the city.

- Well, that didn't take long. Long live Teddy's dead legs.

- Fake WWF campaign lands just in time for 9/11!

- Where the white women at?

by Bill Green    Sep- 1-09    
Topic: Cause, Creative Commentary, Opinion, Political, Specialty



You Say You Want a Chevolution, Well, You Know

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We all want to sell the world. A new doc out takes a look at the iconic "Guerilla Heroico" y'all know and love, Che Guevara for the new kids, and, which most of advertising has exploited quite nicely. With takes from people like Antonio Banderas, director Trisha Ziff takes a look at the origins of the initially copyright free image that now sells everything from Hope to coffee mugs. (Below.)

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by Bill Green    Sep- 1-09    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Political



Montel's Daughter Promotes Vegetarian Cafeteria Options

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If the children of celebrity chanteurs can draw a crowd to a promo, why not the children of celebrity talk show hosts?

In an ad slated to debut tonight during ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 14-year-old Wyntergrace Williams will urge Congress to amend the Child Nutrition Act to require the inclusion of vegetarian options in school lunch lines.

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by Angela Natividad    Aug-24-09    
Topic: Cause, Celebrity, Commercials, Political, Television