Prime Time Shifts Later For Young Men

The disappearing men 18-34 audience may have been found again. A while back, networks were fretting over the sudden plunges in ratings among young men. Some follow up studies showed a shift to the Internet as one cause but a new study from Knowledge Networks/SRI "How People Use TV" claims the men are still watching TV but just watching during late night. In fact, most watch between the hours of 10PM and 1AM.

Automakers Are 'Mad As Hell And Not Gonna Take It Any More'

Bullied long enough by networks hoisting double digit ad rate increases on top of declining viewership, automakers are drawing a line in the sand and moving dollars to cable, online and outdoor. Nissan, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Kia are all considering other methods of allocating their advertising budgets. GM, while pontificating about its plans to increase use of non-traditional media, will not back too far away from its use of broadcast television.

America Loves Ads With Stupid Men

The trend of portraying men as clueless idiots has been going on for quite some time now. One supposes it's a reaction to all those years of portraying women as belittled housewives. Seems the trend is not dead yet as proved by this Domino's Pizza ad called "Home Improvement." In the spot, a woman in a home improvement store rings one of the many doorbell displays which causes men throughout the store to come running like salivating dogs believing it's the Domino's delivery guy at the door. Sad.

Other spots in this week's Ad Age TV Spots of the Week include Captain Picard assuring voice for Assurance Goodyear tires, a Samsung ad that compares hot technology to a hot chic, a goofy spot for Dymo labeling, a temptation monster for Kashi cereal, a Pizza Hut spot beating the Jessica Simpson "Chicken of the Sea" joke into the ground, a Ford Focus spot that tries to be street-hip and a bunch of people dressed as elephants singing in Spanish that in some way is apparently promoting the Ford Focus.

Ad Age (Finally) Writes About Weblogs

In today's Ad Age, there is an article in Ad Age about weblogs and Advance.net's foray into local news coverage with their NJ.com blog network and how it may be an ad-supported venture. Strangely, the article is not online and linkable - one of the main features of weblogging. Steve Rubel comments. Advance.net President Jeff Jarvis comments and gets interviewed by gothamist.

Calvin Klein 'Dry Hump' Billboard Causes Complaints

A new Calvin Klein billboard on Houston street in New York shows two bare-chested hunks, one wanting more than just a little hug from the girl he's got his groin pressed into and the other looking on desirously wishing his groin was in the other's position. Apparently, it's too much for some.

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, it's gotta go," said Miguel Rosario, 38.

"It's a little racy, a little indecent," said Zaire Asante, 49.

"I don't quite think it's selling jeans," said Valerie Joseph, 48.

Some, though, do like it.

"It's got some sexy boys on it," said Sara Powell, 20.

"I like it," said Michele Stuart, 28, "But that second guy looks pretty jealous over there." Well, yea. Who wants to be left out?

And all this started with cute, little Brooke Shields saying, back in the day, "Nothing comes between me and my Calvin Kleins."