Subway Files Lawsuit Because Some Soapbox Racers Threw Sandwiches At Each Other

pwned%20subway.jpg

According to The New York Times, Subway is inexplicably (as in pending lawsuit) pissed at Quiznos because of some "derogatory" user-generated videos that depict Subway unfavorably. Must see to believe (scroll down to view the big offender).

Some actual Quiznos ads, depicting people on the street choosing between the two brands, also made it into the lawsuit, but the big stars are the UGC entries from some contest Quiznos ran. Subway is also suing iFilm for running the contest.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Consumer Created, Online, Video



Because You Know You Love Yourself Some 'American Gladiators'

american%20gladiators%20promo.jpg

Tomorrow WhittmanHart Interactive launches American Gladiators, an online homage to the original series, to promote MGM's new American Gladiators.

Old-school fans can find out where their favorite original Gladiators are today. (The revelations will probably be depressing.) Video of best hits and stunts will also be hosted.

American Gladiators did something to our perception of adulthood as kids. We knew if there was even a small chance of wearing leotards and beating the crap out of people with giant batons on TV, there was nothing to fear about growing up.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Online, Promotions



Bacardi Sells Rum by Hocking Mystery Suitcase

murmansk%20suitcase.jpg

First Bacardi told us about the mysterious travellers of Murmansk Route. Then it said the mysterious travellers of Murmansk Route have something that will change our lives.

To get it, all we have to do is bid for a locked suitcase on eBay.

Not sold? Watch the video, which actually still won't win you unless you speak Spanish, and even then, odds remain 50/50.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Guerilla, Online



Lingerie Site Features Hot Models, Blog About Models' Demoralizing Effect

permita.jpg

So here's an intriguing campaign for you transparency lovers. Strawberry Frog crafted a website for Brazilian lingerie company Universo Intimo, filled it with images of impossibly hot models...then added a blog on which a woman writes about how young girls can be demoralizing and create impossible to achieve expectations.Um, nice but huh?

more »

by Steve Hall    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Online, Racy, Strange, Trends and Culture, Weblogs



HappySlip Promotes Manila Meet & Greet

happyslip%20meet%20n%20greet.jpg

As part of her trip to the Philippines courtesy of the Philippine Tourism Department, HappySlip is advertising news of her Meet & Greet in Manila at the Mag:net Cafe this February 7. Get on the guest list at happyslip.yehey.com (Yehey! is the Philippine Yahoo!, kind of). The fun and games go down from 11am-3pm.

Seeing as how this is for Philippine tourism and we want to put our best foot forward, it might be a good idea to filter the ads appearing at the end of the videos. Unless FilipinaHeart.com is a proud sponsor...?

by Angela Natividad    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Events, Online, Promotions



Prediction: Firebrand Will Not Exist in 18 (Maybe Even 12) Months

firebrand_monday_vid.jpg

You can look at this Firebrand video promoting its Road to Monday Super Bowl program this week as being somewhat comical in its efforts to portray the insanity in which we all engage regarding Super Bowl ads. Or you can look at it as a lame effort, cheesily produced with the unattainable goal of getting people to actually care about advertising. Of course, if there were any time of year the average Joe would care about advertising, it would be surrounding the Super Bowl.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Cable, Online, Opinion, Super Bowl 2008



Jay Mohr Follows Vanilla Ice With TurboTax's TaxLaugh

jay_mohr_taxlaugh.jpg

We always new Jay Mohr was an actor. We never really knew he was a comedian (we gave up on SNL long ago and, more recently, never watched Last Comic Standing). Apparently, appreciates his comic abilities and hooked up with him for a video contest called TaxLaugh in which entrants vie for a $10,000 and a chance to open for Mohr prize by submitting three minute comedy vids.

Jay tells us, "Most people think doing your own taxes is hard and being funny is easy. We're out to prove them wrong. TaxLaugh will give comedians the chance to make a name for themselves by making people laugh about something no one likes - taxes."

more »

by Steve Hall    Jan-28-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Good, Online, Promotions, Video



Match.com Invites Users to Live Out Love Stories

match%20love.jpg

Match.com swears if in six months you don't live out a love story with someone from its site, you can have six more months of free service to make up for it.

Not all tell-worthy stories end happily though. Sometimes you get locked out or hosed -- which, now that we think about it, isn't nearly as bad a fate as this one.

more »



GoDaddy to Run a Super Bowl Spot, Downplays it with More Racy Rejects

godaddy%20danica%20sb08.jpg

Battering its usual "boo-hoo, we are too racy for Fox" shtick, GoDaddy sent us a celebratory pressie reading something like, "FINALLY, they've approved one of our deliciously naughty spots for the Super Bowl!"

The ad features Danica Patrick. And while GoDaddy didn't send us a teaser for that, it did send us one for yet another rejected ad called "Exposure." It's supposed to be a spoof of "a certain pop culture celebrity phenomenon" and Danica thinks it's really funny (we suspect she's contractually required to). See the whole thing here on game day.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-28-08    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Online, Promotions, Super Bowl 2008



Rubicon Project Eliminates Ad Network Selection Headaches For Publishers

rubicon.jpg

Making life easier for publishers struggling to keep up with the explosion of ad networks - now numbering over 300 - and the determination of which network will yield the best results, is the Rubicon Project. Launched eight months ago by Frank Addante, the company, today, announced series B finding of $15 million bringing its total to $21 million.

We've seen a demo of Rubicon and its really fascinating. For a publisher trying to best monetize inventory, Rubicon, in a nutshell, does exactly that. A publisher joins with Rubicon, enters relevant information of their site and, poof, relevant ads are selected from the 300 or so ad networks in the system.

more »

by Steve Hall    Jan-28-08    
Topic: Good, Online, Tools