Crispin Porter + Bogusky Resigns Miller Over 'Fundamental Differences'

Comments

Steve
No surprises there. After Man-Laws and that "GH" crap. I'm surprised they lasted this long. My "In-Depth" analysis is on AdScam.
Cheers/George

good for cpb. miller clearly has issues. most notably that they don't understand that beer is about fun. not stupid "product attributes" that no one gives a rat's ass about.

I think you have that in reverse veedub. Miller was doing fine talking about the BEER. Then they went to CPB, tried to do some "fun" stuff and it didn't work.

I'm eagerly awaiting the release that will come from Nike saying "We wish CPB well, but we were unable to see eye to eye creatively about our global running business."

I wonder if the folks at BK are spending this Friday looking at the sales sheet and wondering what and where all thier "groundbreaking" creative has gotten them...

cheers

i'm just trying to apportion blame based on the evidence. cpb are still by far the most innovative ad agency in america. you working at a better agency?

Veedub..
The only "evidence" you have to go on is the work. CP+B may have been innovative a couple of years ago, but the strain is begining to show now. By "apportioning" the blame, you are implying that the client is at fault for not buying everything CP+B does. Unfortunately, the real world isn't like that. Most clients wouldn't know good work if it hit them over the head. If you aren't prepared to live with that, you shouldn't be in advertising. It is, after all, one of the dunmbest businesses in the world. But if you're smart you can make a shitload of money at it. Though why you would try and convince yourself you are doing something worthwhile smacks of hypocricy!
As to "Am I working at a better agency?" The answer is no. I haven't worked at a "Better" agency in years... They all equally suck now!
Cheers/George

in what way was i "implying that the client is at fault for not buying everything CP+B does"? i'm just pointing out what i think is obvious. That cpb is, generally speaking, a lot better at what it does - creating ads - than SAB Miller is at marketing beer. fallon weren't good enough for them. wieden weren't good enough and now cpb aren't up to their elevated standards either. hmmm...i wonder where the problem lies.

was the man laws campaign unadulterated brilliance? no. but at least it wasn't the usual beer idiocy. cpb clearly tried and equally clearly -- doing their own ads inhouse, hello!--miller are a, cough, difficult client.

and ad agencies don't "all equally suck" now any more than they did forty years ago. pay attention man.

would you rather cpb retreated into BDA blandness?

Good for you CP+B. There are very few agencies these days that protect their employees and culture from the poison of idiotic musings and "processes" of the client -- integrity that's not willing to just do a bunch of crap and take the money. Therein lies the key to your success: enviable courage and no compromise. And that's what also creates jealousy in the industry. After all, it's hard to watch someone with balls, when you have none.

what tessa said. amen.

I have to wonder if the "fundamental differences" were that Miller wanted to sell beer and CP+B wanted to do cool advertising. If so, kudos to Miller.

I really like and respect Crispin on many, many levels. However, I've been wondering if the ultra-competitive culture and circus personality of their agency skews the tonality of their creative unfavorably.

Nevertheless, Crispin is still a great agency, and all the rest of us are still playing catch-up with them.

"was the man laws campaign unadulterated brilliance? no. but at least it wasn't the usual beer idiocy. cpb clearly tried and equally clearly -- doing their own ads inhouse, hello!--miller are a, cough, difficult client."

At leat it wasn't the usual beer idiocy? So you just like pretty things then? CPB's Miller work might have been different, but it didn't move product; which means it sucked....and sucked BIG time.

Would people stop saying CP+B is the best fucking agency in the universe... Without a doubt that title belongs to Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. They have produced outstanding work for years... Long before CP+B was a twinkle in Burt Reynolds eye. They still do great work... Yes, often for dificult clients, and it fucking works... It doesn't rely on frat boy, custard pie in your face humor... And they don't have to change campaigns every six months because the stuff they've done isn't working. GS&P will be around long after CP+B is remembered as the agency that did a book called "Hoopla!" What a perfectly apt title. Real agencies don't do books, they do great work!

george,

i love your blog(s), but you're just plain wrong. see tessa above. she's right. time to move on.

Veedub
Glad you like the blog(s)...
On CP+B versus GS&P... Let's check back in ten years.
In the meantime, did you buy the book???
MadScam!!!
Yeah, I'm a shameless AdHo.
Cheers/George

george,

i almost bought your book at the recent RAC (retail ad) awards. but then realized that i would only have left it behind me when i got pissed. so i didn't buy it. but i did come mighty close. you had an impressive display though. and you were in great company. or at least, your book was.

cheers 2u2

Veedub
Close... What the fuck is close... Yes, I've got pissed and forgotten things at shows... Usually my wife! I'm curious... Was it on a bookstall, or what... Or were you too pissed to remember?
Anyway, Amazon stays open all night... Pissed or not. No more excuses.
Cheers/George

it was in a display with seth, lovemarks and all the usual suspects for a marketing audience. but i was already half in the bag. your publishers did you proud though.

Veedub
Thanks didn't know about that.
Amazon is still open... Then you can go to bed.
Cheers/George

consider it done.