Cisco Copies Old Spice. No One Notices. Not Even the Crickets

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Having worked with high tech clients back in the dot com days, we're acutely aware of their unending need to give everything an acronym. So we weren't surprised when Cisco's Doug Webster introduced us to Cisco SPice, or as he explains, Cisco Service Provider Interacrive Communications E-thingy.

What is Cisco SPice? Its a direct copy of Old Spice's response video campaign which garnered 40 million views. How many views did Cisco's one day effort get? 2,750 views from 18 different videos in the first 24 hours. Can you say fail?

Megan O'Neill can and she does so at great length in a post on SocialTImes. Read and learn, people. Read and learn.

by Steve Hall    Jul-29-10    
Topic: Bad, Social, Video



Wake Up and Smell the Hottie in Your Bed, Idiot

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You can interpret this Lynx commercial with Jessica Jane Clement in two different ways. First, the guy is just an absolute clueless idiot. Over and over, he kills his chances at having a continuing relationship with one of the hottest women in the world. And the fact he and his idiocy are even remotely associated with Lynx would cause one to avoid the product at all costs.

Second, they guy is still an absolute clueless idiot but so is every potential Lynx users because, according to this commercial, they have to be hit over the head again and again and again before they realize all they need to do is use Lynx to get one of the world's hottest women. Which, of course, is one of the most idiotic notions in the world.

Either way, the entire thing is an idiotic premise. Of course, that doesn't make it unfunny. Not at all.

by Steve Hall    Jun-25-10    
Topic: Bad, Commercials, Good, Racy



Yawn. Microsoft Does Flash Mob For Office Launch

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When will Microsoft realize there's absolutely nothing it can do to associate even the tiniest bit of cool with its brand? In yet another lame attempt, we get this flash mob stunt the brand did yesterday in New York's Lincoln Park for the launch of its new Office product.

It's as bad as that in-store dance disaster they did last Fall.

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by Steve Hall    Jun-17-10    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Guerilla, Worst



Esurance Brings Back the Dot Com Tagline

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Jesus. It's like we just stepped back to 1999 when at Leo Burnett Technology Group we pumped out campaign after campaign touting the equity-building properties of a strong brand presence based on the four pillars of an account planner's wet dream: Vision, Mission, Essence and Position. Architecting the brand as it were.

It all usually netted in some self-important puffery akin to this new tagline from Esurance, "People when you want them. Technology when you don't." Sounds like a Peoplesoft tagline. Anyone remember them?

Anyway, the new campiagn is a play on technology versus people. There's a time for technology and there's a time for people. 1990's tagline aside, the campaign does a pretty good job illustrating that separation.

You can see it all here.

by Steve Hall    Jun-14-10    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Campaigns, Commercials, Good



Skin Irritation Campaign Nets Confuzzled Confusion

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This Saatchi & Saatchi Romania-created campaign for skin irritation relief product Fentsil Gel confuses. When one thinks of a product that alleviates itching and burning, one usually conjures images of the product that does just that rather than what we see in this campaign.

To illustrate relief from bug bites, we see a person completely covered by bugs. To illustrate relief from a cat scratch, we see a woman covered in cats. To illustrate relief from a rose bush prick, we see a boy entangled in a rose bush. To illustrate relief from a burn, we see a guy covered with burning matches.

Um, huh?

Yea, we get the juxtaposed visual alliteration coming from the tube of Fentsil but still, it just seems a bit off. Hmm. Must be a European thing.

by Steve Hall    Jun- 8-10    
Topic: Bad, Campaigns, Strange



Paris Hilton's Carl's Jr. Commercial Re-Imagined Cowgirl-Style

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Derivative. Obvious. Awesome. We'd yawn except even derivatively obvious commercials featuring sexy women dressed as cowgirls are, well, awesome. Not sure the pair are going to sell any Double Chili Cheeseburgers for Wienerschitzel but that's probably a good thing.

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by Steve Hall    Jun- 2-10    
Topic: Bad, Commercials, Good, Racy



Rape Campaign Just Makes Men Think More About Sex

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Copyranter couldn't have said it better: "Call me confused, but showing a half-naked woman in a rape awareness ad being viewed by plastered horny pissing men is just bloody stupid, right?"

He's got a point. And this long-running bathroom stall British Home Office campaign does a poor job achieving its goal In fact, all it does is make men think more about sex. Because, as we all know, men don't need much in the way of motivation when it comes to wanting sex.

This is not to say men are just walking hard ons looking for a play but it's a well known fact sexual imagery makes men think about sex. Why a rape awareness campaign would go even remotely near the use of sexual imagery is a bit baffling

It seems something a bit more direct like, say, "Rape Will Get you Ass Fucked in Prison" minus the panty-clad image would have greater effect.

by Steve Hall    May-28-10    
Topic: Bad, Campaigns, Cause, Creative Commentary, Racy



Two Guys, One Cup. OK, Not Really.

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Truly disgusting. But a powerful message. View at your own risk. Feces are involved. But it's all in the name of the need for clean water in parts of the world where clean water isn't the norm.

You can thank WaterAid for this message.

by Steve Hall    May-17-10    
Topic: Bad, Cause, Video



Porn Network Promises Bad Acting Delivered by Big Breasted Bimbos

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OK, so there's no redeeming value to these ads for Canadian adult entertainment network Amour apart from reveling in the irony of actresses doing a good job acting poorly. Created by Cossette, we see a trio of bimbettes doing their best work. Which is to say, really bad acting. Which, of course, is what good porn is all about. Which, as we all know, people don't watch for the acting. Which, as it turns out, is why this is such a great campaign.

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by Steve Hall    May-11-10    
Topic: Bad, Cable, Commercials, Good



Newsflash! 'Naked' Woman on Chatroulette! Must Be an Ad. Yawn.

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Oh, Chatroulette, how we used to love you so. Back in the day before anyone had heard of you. Back before people could pleasure themselves in peace before everyone found out that's all anyone does on Chatroulette. And back before every brand in the world decided Chatroulette is the new Second Life.

Here we have Amsterdam-based condom shop Condomerie using a "topless" hottie holding a sign which, at first, lets the viewer think they've struck masturbatory gold. Then the young lady holds the sign up and the viewer is presented with, "You are now in touch with a HIV infected person. Don't play Russian roulette in real life." Way to bring a guy down.

Of course this is completely stupid and the targeting is idiotic. First of all, no one needs a condom to masturbate. And, second, no matter how prolific a person's Chatroulette orgasm may be, there will never be an exchange of bodily fluids and, hence, no chance of becoming infected with HIV.

Can we move on from Chatroulette now?

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by Steve Hall    May-10-10    
Topic: Bad, Creative Commentary, Online, Opinion, Social