Frank Perdue Dead At 84

Frank Purdue, founder of Purdue Chicken and, until his son, Jim, took over as CEO in 1994, frequent face of the company's televisions commercials died Thursday night at the age of 84 after a short period of illness. Known for his "it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken" tagline, Purdue appeared in 200 commercials from 1971 to 1994. His son continues as spokesman in the long running campaign.

Donny Duetsch Separates From Wife

Page Six reports ad man Donnie Deutsch and his wife, apparel executive Stacy Josloff are "trying a trial separation," according to a Deutsch spokesman. As if to somehow make light of the situation, the spokesman continued, "They're still very close friends and speak all the time. Donny and Stacy continue to love and support each other."

Stuart Elliott Spices UP TVB Panel

Apparently New York Times advertising columnist Stuart Elliott rocked the house last week during a Television Advertising Bureau panel questioning the quality of TV audience measurement taunting, "They're still using paper diaries. Jackie Gleason and Milton Berle's ratings are still being counted!" Elliott also took pot shots at the industry's Prime Time bias saying, "Oh, you mean you all just watch 'Desperate Housewives,' but not 'Nip/Tuck' because it's on cable? Oh, come on!" He might not have been so right on that one. "Desperate Housewives is just a tad bit more popular than "Nip/Tuck" but that's not really the point. Elliott added a bit of much needed spice to the usually staid event.

Agency Offers $100K Salary, New Car For New Business

Fans attending this weekend's NCAA Championship will be greeted on the downtown streets by a flame-adorned, vintage Cadillac limousine ejecting bright orange ping-pong balls emblazoned with the Web address www.zipatoni.com/yourehired. It's all part of a promotion launched by St. Louis-based marketing agency Zipatoni to get its next big client over the Final Four weekend.

The "You're Hired" promotion promises fans and passersby "100K, an open bar and the company car" to refer the agency to a legitimate, high revenue producing client. The agency is prepared to give one diligent, industrious, well-connected participant $100,000 and a "Night of Zipatoni Entertainment," which includes a happy hour at the office bar and use of the Zipatoni limo. Zipatoni's headquarters are located just a block away from the Edward Jones Dome, where the NCAA Final Four will take place.