'Coupling' Star Rena Sofer Looks For Ratings

"Coupling" star Rena Sofer was on Howard Stern this morning hyping the show asking listeners to check it out. The series, which was supposed to be a smash hit has delivered less than expected performance and network executives are surely pondering the shows future. Sofer assured listeners the series will continue.

Mine is Seven Inches Longer Than Yours

A new spot from Dodge plays on the stereotypical assumption regarding the male anatomy of African-American men in this double-entendre urinal joke. There's no use describing it. Just watch it. It's funny and it does the job well.

The Damaging Portrayal of Women in Advertising

Hey Dude, I'm All Yours. Use Me

Feminist Naomi Wolf says that the beauty myth isn't good for men or women. "It prevents (men) from actually seeing women...in suggesting a vision in place of a woman, it has a numbing effect, reducing all sense but the visual..."

That is, perhaps, one of the most poignent statements regarding the numbification of society because of marketing images portraying impossible-to-achieve beauty and the representation of women as playthings. Granted, marketers are never going to show an ugly slob in an ad because no one wants to see a slob and we all aspire to something greater. But if all we see are unachievable representations of ourselves then certain unhealthy illusions of self are sure to emerge.

About Face, whose mission is "to promote positive self-esteem in girls and women of all ages, sizes, races and backgrounds through a spirited approach to media education, outreach and activism," examines the portrayal of women, specifically, in advertising and comments on how damaging the images can be to the phsyche of consumers. Part of the site has a list of the top ten marketers who, in the opinion of About Face, damage society through their imagery of women advertising.

Barnes and Noble's 'Book' Magazine to Fold

Today, Barnes and Noble announced to staff that it would no longer financialy support the bi-monthly "Book" magazine. Staff has been laid off. Via The Kicker.

Jennifer Love Hewitt Launches 'Enhance' Clothing Line for Top Heavy Women

"Women Should Be Proud of Their Big Breasts," Says Love-Hewitt

In a nod to curvaceous women everywhere, Jennifer Love Hewitt has launched a line of clothing that both supports and accentuates the figures of large breasted women. The line is intended to enhance rather than minimize god-given assets.

Love-Hewitt says, "If you have big breasts like I do, your design choices are limited. You're either stuck with stuff that's too tight and hurts because your boobs get squashed or you end up with baggy styles that hang out over your boobs and make you look fat. My new 'Enhance' line of clothing is designed to do just that - provide women with clothes that both enhance big curves as well as provide proper support for larger breasts. Let's face it, big breasts are heavy and it gets very painful when gravity is pulling them downward. "

Love-Hewitt says the idea for the new line came to her when she and a friend where trying on clothes together in a store a year ago, "She's huge. She has to wear this huge bra. It's like a harness. She can never find ay clothes that fit. She's constantly bulging out of her bra and clothes. I'm not as big as her but I still have trouble finding clothes that fit and I said there has to be a better way."

Love-Hewitt consulted with Shoshonna Lonstien, another very curvaceous woman with her own line of clothing for women with curves, and decided to launch "Enhance". The line will include specially designed bras and tops sold in cup sizes from D up to K as well as the more fun fashions shown in the accompanying picture. She hopes the line will "give women the courage to take that baggy t shirt off and show the world what they've got."

Acknowledging the trend towards larger breasts among younger girls coupled with earlier development, Love-Hewitt is also launching a Youth version of "Enhance" for tweens and teens struggling with early and larger than normal development. "Girls are very self conscious about their figures," says Love-Hewitt, "and I want this line of clothing to help them to build their confidence and to be proud of the bodies they have." It's not clear though how well received the cleavage enhancing designs will be to parents and teachers.

The line will be supported with an ad campaign set to launch before the Holidays and will include print, radio and billboards.

"Big breasts are beautiful. I have them and I love them. Most big breasted women would too if they only had clothes that properly supported the added weight." (J...as in joke, parody. There is no JLH clothing line for big breasted women though, from the number of comments here, maybe JLH should launch a line. Jennifer?)

Jessica Simpson May Become Chicken of the Sea Spokesperson

Yesterday, tuna-fish challenged Jessica Simpson was spotted touring the Chicken of the Sea plant and the company would like her to become their advertising spokesperson. Apparently, Chicken of the Sea wants to clear up any misunderstanding about what exactly Chicken of the Sea is.

"We wanted to bring her down and make sure she understood the difference, and told her the story of how the brand name originated," Chicken of the Sea senior vice president of marketing Don George said Monday. He said he would love to talk with Simpson about her becoming a company spokeswoman.

Maybe Jim Perdue should invite Jessica to appear in commercials with him so she can finally imprint the differences between chicken and tuna inside that fog filled head of hers. The breast jokes alone would be worth it.

Quiznos Launches Another Spot From Left Field

Mmm...Tastes Good

Sandwich chain Quiznos has launched another strange commercial this time involving a man sucking the nipples of a wolf. In the spot, two guys sit on a bench eating lunch. The guy eating the Quiznos sub wonders why the non-Quiznos sub eating guy hasn't heard of the new Philly Cheesesteak asking, "What, were you raised by wolves?" Cut to visual of non-Quiznos sub guy laying next to a baby wolf and suckling mommy wolf's nipples. It sure grabs the attention but is it really a visual you want in your head when you walk into a Quiznos?

Razor Publisher Richard Botto Says 'Metrosexuals' Just Good Old Gentlemen

Razor Magazine Publisher Richard Botto, in perhaps one of the best comments on the current "metrosexual" craze, sets the record straight and says a "metrosexual" is simply a new fangled term for what has always been known as a gentleman.

"Catchy marketing word aside, metrosexuality is just an extension of what people used to call a gentleman, says Botto in his publishers column this month." A style that appeared to have gone out of style but is making a comeback in a big, manicured way. It's about men being men, secure with themselves, flaunting their masculinity through individuality instead of simply emulating a stereotype. Call it the furthering evolution of the alpha male. Surely, women must be rejoicing. Because although you may hear about them wanting the pretty boy or the bad boy, at the end of the day when the lights are low, truth be told, they don't want a boy at all, they want a MAN."

Botto is refreshingly correct here and debunks the current Madison Avenue craze towards catering to this audience as if it where something new. That's not to say there's not a new market here. It's a welcome sign to see men become men again countering the sensitive idiot streotype they seem to have been stuck with for the past decade or so.

Financial Times Promotes Self, Creates World's Largest Newspaper

To promote itself, the Financial Times is in the process of adorning Hong Kong's newest and tallest skyscraper, Two International Finance Center, with a 60,000 square foot wrap. The wrap will cover the north and east side of the 88-story tower and contain paid ads. Mediaedge:cia created the concept.

Monster Truck Gets Toppled, Bankers Beg For Business

Take That Fat Wheels!

However unlikely, a new spot showing the Toyota Tacoma pick up truck stopping a monster truck dead in its tracks is very hilarious. Also this week from Ad Age's TV Spots of the Week are a spot from Delta Dental illustrating in a unique way the health insurer's specialization on dental coverage, the Cat in the Hat makes a promotional appearance in a spot for P & G, Sprint gets sloppy for their camera phones, a married couple finds reconciliation using AT&T Wireless text messaging, Smirnoff encourages us to forget the ice and to top off the glass, Staples promotes multiple check out lines to crazed shoppers and bankers drool for business on behalf of LendingTree.com.