Avis Sponsors New York Yankees, Try Really Hard

We all know Yankee fans are a rabid bunch but Avis, who is 'The Official Car of the New York Yankees" is even more rabid. They're not just corporate sponsors. They're fans. Two spots created by McCann New York and produced by Reginaldo make that points in a quirky but clear manner.

Chrysler Bites Back At Ad Age Over Ask Dr. Z Campaign

Chrysler is mad as hell at Advertising Age and isn't going to take it any longer. Reacting to a story by Jean Halliday on Chrysler's Ask Dr. Z campaign in which she pretty much trashes the campaign saying it didn't do much for the automaker, Jason Vines wrote an article on the company's The Firehouse press blog entitled "Truth Takes A Halliday." In the article, Jason lays out data which contradicts Halliday's article and claims the campaign is doing just fine. Since, in the inimitable wisdom of Vines who publicly promoted the blog when it launched but limited it only to "known and established media organizations," we can't link to the story so we'll just reprint it in its entirety here until Jason asks us to remove it. You'd think he'd want more than just press to see this good stuff. And Jason, we're not anonymous. Just click the About link above.

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Pets Escape, People Escape...From High Cell Phone Bills

Following the "Stupid Pet Tricks": thing, Element 79 partners has created a series of spots featuring animals escaping form their cages just as humans like to escape from high cell phone bills which is what mobile phone company Cricket promises in these ads. See three of the ads here, here and here.

Carmen Elektra Signs With Weight Loss Pill, Boobs Stay Big

Carmen Elektra seems to be very busy these days. Perhaps she really can't find any work and has to turn to advertisers for her paycheck. Not too long after she signed with Ritz Camera to be its spokesmodel, the actress has also signed with NV, "the world's first beauty-enhancing weight loss pill." Whatever that is. This ought to be fun to watch. Carmen takes the pill. Carmen lose weight. Carmen gets skinny. Carmen's fake boobs stay huge.

Truth Campaign Newsflash: Teens Like Sweet Products!

Continuing their idiotic approach to anti-smoking, the TRUTH campaign is out with yet another off the wall commercial featuring the hairstyle-challenged Derek. In this spot, Derek tries to sell cigarette "flavors" to kids basing the whole shtick on the most ancient cigarette company document they've used to date, a 1972 internal document that stated "it's a well known fact that teenagers like sweet products" as if that statement were some sort of revelation. Can we please retire Derek and this idiocy and get back to some of the better stuff we know this campaign is capable of?

Carmen Electra Hired by Camera Retailer For Youth And Flash

AdFreak tells us Carmen Elektra, perhaps in a nod to her waning viability as...well...anything, has signed with Ritz Camera to be the retailer's spokesmodel for its family of stores. Though Elektra's youth and hipness are questionable, Ritz wants her to appeal to the young and the hip. In any case, it will certainly be a step up from the Ritz dude who always appears in the Sunday inserts. The campaign will promote the chain's picture development services and its new picture sizes.

Cadillac to 'Wild Post' For Younger Audience

As part of a new campaign which will included magazines and TV, Cadillac's new agency, Boston-based Modernista, will also use wild postings in several metro areas in an attempt to get its jiggy back and reel in some new demo segments the automaker is calling "alphas," move-ups" and "hot moms." Recent research the company did revealed many people younger than the typical Cadillac demo were familiar with the Escalade, likely due to its hip-hop status and appearances on HBO's The Sopranos, but didn't know the company had any other relevant vehicles. To address the desire to retain existing older customer while bringing in new, younger customers, the campaign will bring on a little attitude, highlight the insignia and explain the model line-up. The campaign breaks in August.

Altoids Thinks Sexual Oddities Will Sell Product

AdFreak points to three new commercials for Altoids Sours in which sexual deviancy is used to promote the mints. Somehow Leo Burnett, we assume, thinks this is an extension of the brand's "Curiously Strong" platform but we think it's just "curiously strange." Of course, that could be a good thing. After all, fruits who like their Fruit of the Loom underwear a bit too much, sadomasochists and transvestites should have equal time in ads just like every other minority group now does.

Scarlett Johansson Fronts Reebok Fashion Campaign

While Reebok and Scarlett Johansson would not appear to be two names normally mentioned in the same sentence, Reebok has signed a deal with the actress to front a new footwear and apparel fashion line called "Scarlett Hearts Rbk" which will launched in Spring 2007. Of course, no one's revealing how much coin Reebok will part with to secure Johansson but New York agency Mcgarrybowen will create a campiagn which will include television, print, Internet and outdoor.

Hipster Fashion Brand Gets Hip With Hipster Artist

It seems Kate Moss has made it perfectly fine for brands to use spokespeople who live the drug lifestyle. Fashion brand Adriano Goldschmied has hired artist, photographer, graffiti writer and self admitted coke user Dash Snow to appear in several ads promoting the brand's jeans. But it's all perfectly fine. After all an under the radar personality like Snow which only the hippest of hipsters has heard of is perfect for a fashion brand that only the hippest of hipsters has heard of. Snow's aunt, Uma Thurman, must be quite proud of her nephew's accomplishments.