That Honda Commercial Took 606 Takes to Complete

The Honda commercial where car parts miraculously obey the laws of physics for the entire length off a two minute commercials is absolutely real. No trick photography or post production manipulation. Read all about it here.
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The Couric/Leno Sweeps Stunt

Now this should be interesting. Jay Leno and Katie Couric are switching places on May 12. Katie will host The Tonight Show and Leno will host Today. I'm sure Katie will do fine but Leno in the morning will be a strange one. It was Katie's idea says Jay. It's also the first time Leno has had a a guest host.

"She'll do fine," says Leno. "People like her; she has an infectious personality. And she's so cute that if she bombs, she can get away with it because she's cute."

How very un-PC of you, Jay:-) [via TV Guide Online]
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J2O: Bathroom Advertainment

Check out your accuracy with this little Flash Pee Game. [via Adland]
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Truck Advertising

Now here's a good one that I had never been aware of before. Even with all my long years buying space and time, I had never heard of a company called Truckads. What do they do? Just like a bus transit company, they place ads of the sides of trucks nationwide. Think about all those trucks you see going by you on the highway or the ones you are stuck behind in a traffic jam. Now think about all the millions of people you could reach with an ad on the back of that truck.

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Skeptical About Online Advertising? This Might Change Your Mind

Those of us who have a connection to the online advertising world here it all day long. "Results are sketchy. I can't compare them to offline. It's too complicated. No one sees the ads. There are too many ad units to choose from. It's measurement isn't comparable to other media. Online doesn't help offline sales."

And the list goes on. All valid points. Though if you are skeptical and if you do have an interest in online advertising, you should spend 5 minutes reading this article which address, one by one, each of the above concerns. Perhaps you are all for the benefits of online advertising but your client is not. Have them read this article. It might help.
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Reality and Scripted Work for Cable

Love it or hate it, reality TV is here to stay. It's serves a purpose which is to deliver an audience for advertisers. Cable is finding, however, that given its fragmentation, there is room for plenty of scripted shows in the mix. Phychographically, everyone does not love nor watch reality television and smart network executives know this. And they are programming accordingly with a mix of modified reality programming and scripted dramas. [via MediaPost]
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When Your Brand Name is a Problem

Clothing company, Fidel, is under fire from the New York Post saying "THAT some idiot on Seventh Avenue, who doesn't realize that the dictator of Cuba is about as popular with his people as the dictator of Iraq was with his, has come out with a Fidel clothing line. Ads show a cute brunette in a tank top with the Fidel logo across her chest."

Wasting no time, Fidel fires back saying, "Your article makes the connection between our brand - which stands for loyalty and integrity - and the firing squad execution of "would be (Cuban) escapees". Exactly what is your intention in doing this? Are you purposely looking for ways to slander and embarrass us, or do you actually consider your implications to be accurate?

Your comments are juvenile and unfounded. Making the connection between our brand name and the execution of (Cuban) escapees is preposterous and inflammatory. We are adamantly opposed to the execution of prisoners and to the implementation of the Death Penalty in general - whether on Cuban soil, in the United States, or elsewhere in the World."

Granted Fidel has a point about the "over-reactiveness" and "over-sensitivity" of the media but then again, brand names are very important and they can be damaged overnight if associations become negative whether justified or not. It's really a lose-lose situation for the marketer when it gets to this point.

Interestingly almost all the reactions in the comment section of the company's web site are positive and supportive...except for this guy:

"serves you pinkos right! it's time to get off Castro's dick and pay your respect to the red-white and blue.....if you really loved god you'd call your shitty company Springsteen."

There's always one in a bunch. Going to name your company or product soon or doing it for a client of yours? Better be sure to consider all the potential ramifications of your choices.
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Arnold and Monster.com Part Ways

Boston-based Arnold and Maynard, MA based Monster are parting ways as announced today in AdWeek today. Arnold has handled the account since 2000 and Mullen handled it prior. It seems the fall in budget from $60M in 2000 to $30M in 2002 cause difficulties between agency and client and may have contributed to the split..
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Placing Advertising in Books

Jason Kottke has a novel idea. If advertising were placed in books, it might bring down the cost therby making some literature much more affordable or, in some cases, free. A very interesting idea.
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We Missed it But Hallmark Wants to Wish Guys a Special Day

[via Viralmeister]
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