In a hilarious use of Asian characters - pointed out by Tian, one of the contestants, J.D., on CBS' Rockstar INXS wore a shirt that, when viewed normally, appeared to say something in an Asian language but, when viewed sideways, clearly reads "Go Fuck Your Self." Censors did not catch the trick and images of the contestant are all over the Rockstar INXS website (as we figured, CBS has removed the images) and, presumably, were broadcast as well. Screenshots of the website are captured here and here for posterity's sake.
Accompanying the recently launched online game for the upcoming Court TV show Parco's Watching, San Francisco-based Venables Bell has created additional campaign elements including posting on ATM machines, in laundromats, on bathroom mirrors and on bar coasters along with taxi tops, bus posters and wild postings. The phone kiosks have slogans that say "Because Vinnie Parco was watching, I went from successfully cheating on my wife to living with my mom." The bar coasters say things like "Would you want this conversation you are having to be overheard?" The work can be viewed here.
Finding success with its Less is More, shorter form commercial break strategy, Clear Channel will introduce "ad-lets," five second radio spots to compliment their shorter, :30's and :15's. Clear Channel has been in discussion with an undisclosed agency about the short ad units which, like the five second television Cadillac commercials, will either be a novelty or a viable, long term ad unit. Let's just hope radio doesn't become a quick-cut, ADD-style barrage of micro-ads likely to drive some insane while they attempt to keep up with the pace.
Perhaps introducing a new category of marketing, Nashville television station WSMV landed its news chopper on a Brentwood High School soccer field as a football game was being played on an adjacent field and handed out footballs with the station's logo affixed to them. One can only hope, for the sake of the football players and male fans, the cheerleader's skirts were deliciously blown up in the chopper's wind.
In a unique street posting, caught on camera by Bucky Turco, Canon has created an interesting, 3D-like wallscape that shows tennis balls embedded into a brick wall as if Maria, herself, was in the middle of the road whacking balls into the bricks. Affixed to the wall, along with the images of tennis balls, are stickers that say, "Maria was here. Canon PowerShot." Very creative if we do say so ourselves. See another image here.
Rush Hour star Chris Tucker who had agreed to do a PSA, along with Tim Robbins and John Cusack, for non-profit MoveOn.org, seems to have thrown a Hollywood hissy and bailed out on the taping session. Tucker postponed the 3PM recording session, moving it back to 5:30PM costing MoveOn needless extra studio costs, then, upon arriving in a limo, paid for by MoveOn.org, sat inside the limo talking on his cell phone. After 25 minutes of cell phone babble, Tucker drove off in the limo, never getting out to record the PSA claiming he was felling ill. Later, MoveOn.org's Matthew Bautista said Tucker, who had returned to his hotel, asked the limo driver to take him out on the town. Bautista squashed the request telling the limo driver to head home. Fame really does make fat heads.
FOX has acquired IGN Network for $650 million. IGN will be placed within the FOX Interactive Media segment of the company and will bolster the company's growth into the Internet medium.
Spotted by our ever vigilant Bucky Turco next to the Prada store on 5th Avenue in New York City, Abercrombie & Fitch has erected a huge billboard in the form of a jeans-clad gentleman sporting what many might find to be a nice package. The doorway into his crotch is a nice touch too.
The New York Daily News has been informed Madonna was paid $8 million by Motorola for appearing in an ad for the company's new Rokr phone. For the $8 million, which Motorola paid because it was rumored Motorola was fearful Madonna would back out, the star spent ten hours filming the ad last week in London. That's a pretty good hourly rate.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney will appear in an ad campaign for Fidelity Investments and the mutual fund company will sponsor McCartney's 11-week U.S. concert tour which kicks off September 16 in Miami. With McCartney at age 63 and many Beatles fans at that age too, Fidelity is capitalizing on the rock star's appeal to a generation approaching retirement. Personal footage of McCartney's life will be used in the ads.
Random Culture points out Lee Jeans has given Buddy Lee more to do with the launch of Buddy Lee Guidance Counselor, a microsite where the little guy dispenses career advice, calculates your future salary, give career tests and challenges visitors to explore four potential careers - Judo Instructor, Helicopter Rescue Pilot, Matador and Alaskan Fisherman - via online games. We never got to the part where Lee Jeans are actually promoted but that's the whole point, isn't it?
Just one day after winning the $400 million Volkswagen account, Crispin Porter + Bogusky has yanked the $45 million Spite account away from Ogilvy & Mather. Here's the funny part yet a very common occurrence when accounts shift. Upon attempting to get comment on the move, Ad Week reports, "Ogilvy referred calls to the client. CP+B executives were unavailable. A Coke representative declined comment." Another circle jerk. What a surprise. You'd think, at least someone would be jumping for joy and willing to talk about $45 million. We just don't understand all this corporate, pass-the-buck, no backbone, media-shy, no comment stance in which grown up professionals insist upon engaging. Alex Bogusky and Coke should be running around exclaiming, "We are fucking stoked!"
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