Force Fed Diversity Nets Photoshop Disaster

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We're all for diversity but not when it becomes forced efforts both in real life and in Photoshop hack jobs like this cover of Toronto-based Fun Guide. You can't fake diversity which is exactly what the magazine did when it chop shopped a perfectly decent, racially-nebulous photograph of a family for its cover.

Nope. We need a black man, stat!

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by Steve Hall    Jun-10-09    
Topic: Magazine, Opinion, Worst



You Want Me to Put What Between My Legs?

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We love contextual advertising. What? You think we're down on it because we always make fun of it? Well...you'd be right. But that's the point of it all. What would we do without the occasional contextual corrigendum?

Especially less than humorous ones that marry "fun between your legs" and rape.

by Steve Hall    May-27-09    
Topic: Online, Worst



Simply Put, Samsung Fails at Amateur Video

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It's with relief that we can say successful online videos have evolved from the astroturf amateur days.

But Samsung must've been sick when that memo went out -- it's still stuck on that low-budget "Is it real? Can't be!" crap.

In its latest online effort, "Awesome computer comes to life," a woman at a trade show stops by the booth for Samsung's new mini-Notebook, the N310. Two Notebooks, side by side, boast the two lamest faux features imaginable: some kind of hologram effect, and the ability to give life to mischievous putty people.

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by Angela Natividad    May-21-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Promotions, Video, Worst



Quizno's Gets It's Carl's Jr. On With 2 Girls 1 Sub

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Quiznos hooked (oh no they di'nt!) up with Playboy to riff on the disgusting "2 Girls 1 Cup" thing. While Quiznos has reportedly denied any involvement with this production, we can't help but wonder just how many people over at Quiznos are loving (even hoping) this thing gets as much exposure as it's getting. We still think there's some shenanigans going on here.

In the ad, two women in bikinis sit on a bench. One is enjoying a Quiznos sub as the other looks on. In fact she's enjoying it so much she can't quite contain herself. Happy to share the pleasure, she hands the sub to the other who can't get it into her mouth fast enough.

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by Steve Hall    May-20-09    
Topic: Racy, Strange, Video, Worst



Obama's Been in Office Long Enough. Time to Commoditize Him.

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How best to commemorate the trendiest American icon today? With another American icon: the Chia pet.

"Your Chia Obama is a symbol of liberty. Opportunity. Prosperity. Hope."

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by Angela Natividad    May-18-09    
Topic: Packaging, Sponsorship, Television, Worst



Lady Liberty Gives Birth to...Really Bad Healthcare?

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Perhaps we're misinterpreting this ad but it sure looks like Lady Liberty is giving birth to or, worse, defecating a...what..."tired, poor" immigrant? What, exactly, is this ad trying to say? That America keeps pumping out the same shit over and over again? That America isn't into birth control? That it's healthcare system is so bad even Lady Liberty can't afford to have a baby in a hospital?

Please. Do tell. We're going to have nightmares about this for a long time unless someone supplies a more cherry interpretation for us to focus on.

by Steve Hall    May-15-09    
Topic: Cause, Strange, Worst



This 'Mexican Beauty' Will Make You Puke

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OK, this is just wrong. It's one thing to watch Mena Suvari frolic in a bed of roses, a much punned scene from the movie American Beauty. It's quite another to watch a fat guy make eyes at you from a bed of Doritos. One is quite enjoyable. The other? Puke inducing.

Oddly, it's an Australian commercial created by Make in Brisbane.

by Steve Hall    May-15-09    
Topic: Commercials, Worst



Carl's Jr's Resident Burnout Shakes Milk Cows for Milkshakes

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Some ideas should never see the light of day. "Making Milkshakes" is one of them.

To plug its new orange cream milkshakes, Carl's Jr. releases this mildly bestial ad in which a hipster dances around a cow and tries shaking the shit out of it. We hate him. And we don't feel thirsty in the slightest.

Brought to our attention by BL Ochman, who seemed equally repelled by the prospect of an orange milkshake after recovering from this instance of audiovisual molestation.

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by Angela Natividad    May-14-09    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Promotions, Television, Worst



Do Not Eat This If You Don't Want to Be A Doofus

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If ever there were a commercial which made us not want to be associated in any way with the product being advertised, it would be this Clemenger BBDO-created commercial for Campbell's Chunky Fully Loaded soup.

Seriously. It's like a bunch of Darwin Award winners crossed with Evil Knievel wannabes in search of McGuyver.

by Steve Hall    May-12-09    
Topic: Commercials, Strange, Worst



It's Like A Fireman Came in Your Mouth

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We like to think our Adrants headlines, on occasion, are snark-filled gems of wit and pithiness but this particular headline wasn't written by us. Apparently, it was written by a copywriter whose first language is, it would seem, not English. Or the ad was carelessly pushed through some automated translation software which, as we all know, never ends well.

Add to that boner (look it up. the word doesn't have just one meaning) of a headline the expulsion of a milky white substance, some creepy fireman shapes and a woman who looks quite pleased after she swallows and you've got an ad that, well, would be right at home as an SNL spoof...if they were allowed to go that far on broadcast television.

What's it all about? Some kind of heartburn medicine from Gaviscon.

by Steve Hall    May-10-09    
Topic: Racy, Strange, Worst