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Sexist Pots/Pans Spot Upsets Australians

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We had to laugh when we saw this spot for Madison Avenue Cookware ("The only thing that cooks better ... is a woman!"), which uses an old-school sexist tenor to push its shiny pots and pans -- the perfect after-hours treat for a tired lady.

The piece aired in Australia after CEO Roger Hudson of Madison Avenue Products concluded the tone "worked very well for us in America."

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Video



When All Else Fails, Hire an Internet Celebrity

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Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh, sorry. And no, we weren't just....oh come on! Get your head...no, not that one...out of the gutter. OK, now that we've got the required Adrants Filth for the Day (FFTD?) out of the way, we can tell you that, yes (not that kind of yes), it's time to celebrate yet another brand hooking up with an internet celebrity.

This time the brand is Marshalls and the internet celebrity is Liam Sullivan of Kelly Shoes fame. In the video, What R U Guys Talking About?, Liam just can get..her? his?...whatever...it's look right. His family and and a trio of mean girls trash on him but, in the end, the day is saved by...wait for it...yes (no, not that...oh, we said that already), the new, the hip, the oh-so-very cool...Marshalls? Wait, what? Did What Not to Wear just jump the shark? Wait, what? What are we talking about? Um, we forget. Doesn't matter. It's time to get all hip and shit with Liam and...yes (no, not...oh forget it), Marshalls.

Mr. Youth created the video which has achieved 100,000 views since Monday.

by Steve Hall    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Good, Social, Video



ABSOLUT World Replaces Currency with Kindness

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Imagine buying movie tickets with kisses instead of cash, or repaying your local streetside violinist with embraces and not cold change.

ABSOLUT Vodka builds upon its "In an ABSOLUT World" campaign with "Kindness as Currency," a soul-warming snapshot of a parallel universe where human contact is the end, not merely the means.

The charming piece is a jarring departure from past "ABSOLUT World" efforts that depicted Times Square slathered in costly art, or everyone alive winning the lotto.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Guerilla, Video



Apple Claims It Can Make You Mama's Favourite.

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Fresh out the Flagrant Email pile comes this subject line from Almighty Apple: "Last chance to give iPod for Mother's Day." We were like, okay, let's see how they work this angle, and popped the email open to meet eyes with the following header:

"Give Mom a reason to play favorites."

Need a blunter innuendo? Cast your gaze leftwards to see an iPod lovingly engraved, "No wonder you always liked me best."

Mac confidence at its most engorged state. Props to the shameless email marketers at Apple, whose capacity to self-promote -- for any holiday, or none at all -- knows no inhibitions. Might be time to swoop up another Shuffle; as things stand, we're lucky if Mom tells us we look nice in the morning.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online



Iggy Pop Jiggles Belly for Swiftcover

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We're a coupla months late on this one. But when a shirtless rambling Iggy Pop pushes insurance (--"ON MY INSURANCE!"), you can't let it lie without imposing it on others.

This is better than that one time Gene Simmons tried reigniting relevance through cola. Or almost anything Ozzy Osbourne's ever done for anybody.

Props to @tamega for sharing.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Commercials, Television



Curation v. Scraping, Oprah Over Twitter, Financial Fortune Smiles on Facebook

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- One man's curation is another man's scraping: more on the ongoing drama between pubs that report and 'net-based pubs that aggregate.

- Oprah over Twitter? Guess that means ... absolutely nothing, now that we think about it.

- Stats on motivations of Twitter users. Features graph intros like "A Large Following Doesn't Equate with Intelligence" and "Mixed Feelings about Reciprocity."

- Perspective on your perspectives on Swine Flu.

- Facebook has plen'y of cash, and expects interactive advertising rev to boost sales 70%, COO Sheryl Sandberg ballsily proclaims.

- Stolichnaya is the premier sponsor of Babelgum, which will air exclusive live concert footage from artists like Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics and Kaiser Chefs; as well as "Bananaz," a film about the Gorillaz.

- Aerocles deconstructs Dominos' approach to social media.

- Saw the Loud n' Clear infomercial on TV last night. This is why we love America. Hold 'til 1:27 for when Enthusiastic Geriatric shouts, "Bingo!" It don't get any better than that.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Opinion, Publishing, Social, Sponsorship



Agent Provocateur Delivers Sirens, Pirates, Witches and Virgins

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Wait, Sirens? Isn't that Victoria's Secret? Anyway, the sirens we're talking about here are the models in this very strange but very appropriate commercial for Agent Provocateur. We'd expect nothing less from a purveyor of lingerie fixated on sexualizing anything and everything to sell some bras and underwear.

Oh and there is a nipple in this ad so if that offends you or anyone near you, you have been warned. And there's a longer, very stylized version (along with others) at the Agent Provocateur site. It's interactive with asterisks you can click for product information.

Want more Agent Provocateur kinkyness? Have at it.

by Steve Hall    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Good, Racy, Video



Carousel Brings Sharp Clarity to a Moment in Crime

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Philips Cinema brings us the mildly unsettling "Carousel," where a hospital shootout between the SWAT team and demented clowns is frozen and investigated by a slow-moving camera.

Money flutters through the night sky, the faces of cops are taut with tension; and you can actually see the caked makeup creases on the masks of the tormentors. It's strange and beautiful; we watched wordless from beginning to end.

The online oeuvre was directed by Adam Berg via Stink Digital for Philips' hi-def Cinema Proportion TV. More at Philips Cinema; also see deliciously engaging making-of (shown below).

According to Berg, the secret to a great film is narrative and light. Food for thought, whether you're directing an epic or breathing :30 of life into a brand under your care.

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by Angela Natividad    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Good, Specialty, Video



Child Pornographers Should Be Hung by Their Balls

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Ever want to beat the shit out of someone? You will after watching this commercial from ecpat, a French organization which fights child pornography. Pornography is one thing when it's among consenting adults. It's entirely a different (and horrific) thing when it involves children. Via.

by Steve Hall    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Cause



Young? Broke? Want to Go to Cannes? Read This

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Attention young film...uh...commercial makers! YouTube and the Cannes Lions International
Advertising Festival want your best video. If they like it, they'll send you to Cannes all expenses paid. Yes, it's true.

If you were born born between June 27, 1980 and June 21, 1990, on May 15 you can access a creative brief which will give you the details to create your commercial. It will be a :60 for a particular charity. You will have 48 hours to make your ad which you will need to submit by May 17.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-29-09    
Topic: Industry Events, Promotions, Video



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