The Children's Advertising Review Unit has asked P & G to pull a Pringle's commercial, called "Pop music," from children's programming which shows teens quick-cut-video-style eating out of more than one Pringle's container. Since one Pringle's container has six servings, the group claimed one can would be enough for all the kids in the ad.
Has the ad industry gone so insane that we can't even show product now? Do we have to be so literal and assume every viewer is an idiot and can't determine the difference between an ad and reality? Sure, kids are obese but last I checked, most kids have parents who should be able to provide proper guidance on eating habits. Actually, if that were true, Pringles would be out of business.
Capitalizing on the popularity of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice," is this spoof commercial from TrueMajorityACTION PAC, an anti-Bush group. In the spot, footage of Bush and "The Apprentice" are cut together to illustrate Bush's "giant mistake" of overspending, lying, and ruining the economy.
The ad ends saying, "Unfortunately, 'The Donald' can't fire Bush for us. But, we can do it ourselves. Join us at TrueMajorityAction. We'll fire Bush together, and have some fun along the way."
In one of the more brilliant comments about a segment of the media industry, Clear Channel Outdoor Chief Executive Officer Paul Meyer had this to say about the future prospects of outdoor advertising, "Until we're all flying around with backpacks, our business is going to be there."
Clear Channel is taking action following years of futuristic blather from the outdoor industry and has hired digital media guru and former AdSpace Networks President and CEO Michael Hudes to put all that blather into action. Hudes has been charged with placing existing technology into existing Clear Channel holdings, explore new technologies and determine appropriateness for Clear Channel and create partnerships with technology vendors who can help shift Clear Channels static signage to more efficient digital formats.
Much of the technology to create an advertising world similar to that seen in the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report exists today but implementing it is a long and costly venture. Clear Channel hopes Hudes is the man to make it happen.
The British, for years, have made fun of the U.S. for our ridiculous turn towards political correctness and lack of humor. Now, it seems, the British have become just like Americans now and can't even have any fun any more.
British Internet bank Egg sent an email newsletter out encouraging customers who have hit the negative category in their bank balance to skip a day of work, grab an Egg bank credit card, and spend, spend, spend. Newsletter copy reads, "Can't face the thought of work? Then throw a sickie and bed down for the day, where all you need to think about is how to pamper yourself next," and suggests this as a means to overcome financially induced depression.
The increasingly PC British Advertising and Standards Authority said, "The tone of the newsletter was irresponsible and could encourage recipients to incur debt at a time when they could least afford it." Egg bank cowered and agreed not to make similar statements in the future.
Is there no longer a place in the world we can depend on for dry wit and humor? If not from Britain, then where? Forget financially induced depression. This will lead to PC induce depression.
