When we first watched this spot from Keta Keta for the hyper fuel efficient FIAT Panda, we didn't get it. That's probably because Keta Keta tells us the logic of the spot works on three levels: fuel consumption by the West indirectly funds terrorist activities, Panda saves so by buying it people are aiding in the fight against terror and finally, if we call owned Pandas, people like Osama would be washing windshields instead of carrying out terrorist acts. Well that hurt. That's too much thinking. The spot's still weird enough to like though.
Using the delightfully lustful imagery of the typical male fantasy, this American Legacy commercial aligns the allure of cigarettes to that of the hot neighbor next door. The spot is part of a new multi-city health program aimed at acknowledging the difficulties of quitting smoking and offering resources to make the job easier. The spot points to BecomeAnEx.org where those resources can be found.
If there are still college students who use notebooks versus laptops for note taking then a new company called Unotes just might have an interesting new method of advertising to the hard to reach demographic segment. Launching in January, Unotes plans to take the lowly 5-subject notebook and turn it into an ad medium selling glossy four color divider pages, the back cover and watermarked pages and using that revenue to provide the notebooks to students for free. There's a charity angle as well with part of the proceeds going to First Book, an organization that provides books to children of low income families. We've seen the prototype and we like what we see. The program will role out nationally in September.
Along with Unotes notebooks, the website yet to launch Unotes.info will offer a virtual world of sorts which will mimick a college campus and college town complete with, yes, embedded brand promotions and other good stuff such as branded ringtones, MP3s, screensavers, wallpaper, buddy icons, video clips and advergames. It's not up yet so we can't comment on its viability though it's intended specifically not to be a Facebook-like place but rather an environment full of deals which studdents can seek out.
George Parker had a bit of fun with a leaked internal memo circulated within Ogilvy & Mather last week following their loss of the Wal-Mart account to Draft/FCB. The gist? Pump up the troop's morale prior to the inevitable headcount slashing. A good read.
At the corner of Rector and Washington in New York, Giovanni's Atrium has begun a storefront campaign that's generating more attention than restaurant windows usually get. Showcasing "The happiest Happy Hour south of ground zero," its posted menu includes lines like "Hot and Cold Antipasto Table to tantalize your appetite" ... "for destruction?" quips Gawker.
Hey, marketing's competitive in the Big Apple. They definitely got our attention. It's advertising in bad taste, but we can't help but ask ourselves if it's actually bad advertising. - Contributed by Angela Natividad
Ashlee Simpson, who seems to be morphing into some kind of plastic representation of her older sister Jessica, has hooked up with Skechers to launch a new line of footwear. During the launch announcement a few days a go, she said, "Skechers is brand that is not afraid to going the beyond. I look forward to representing Skechers clothing line; I also hope to add a few more pairs to my wardrobe," causing some to wonder if English is her first language. Whatever. She looks way better with blond hair and whatever facial/nasal adjustments she's had than her former I-Must-Look-Different-Than-Jessica look she forced upon us earlier.
Old hat at nipping at current events that rile people up, South Park works its boat-rocking magic in an October 25th episode featuring a smiling Steve Irwin, who shows up at Satan's Halloween party with a stingray hanging out of his chest.
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As members of a generation haunted by films like Child's Play and Puppet Master, as opposed to those weirded out by the non-sensical ending of 2001:A Space Odessey, it's only natural that we feel unduly sensitive to the new ad for Playstation 3, in which a naked doll laughs and cries in unsettling ways while alone with the new console.
Fuck that, man. We're not taking it home to wreak havoc with our toys. - Contributed by Angela Natividad
In the spirit of Halloween, Quebecois wine purveyor SAQ is conducting a rabais mystere (mystery reduction) promotion. We think the print ads are satisfyingly creepy considering other wine companies hedge their bets with shots of vineyards that go on forever and that's about all. See another version of the ad here. - Contributed by Angela Natividad
Candystand may not feature a sex-ridden, Adrants-inspired carwashing game featuring the blonde Wrigley's twins anytime soon, but after seeing the trailer they sent us for the Mini Putt game that's coming out we're more certain than ever we can convince them.
Video game females are so unrealistically, deliciously contorted. Better still, you can change their outfits before they get out on the green. Oh, and the music is cool too. - Contributed by Angela Natividad
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