Debbie Gibson Launches Cattle Call for Acting Camp/Reality Show

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Remember Debbie Gibson? You know, the one whose many hits include "Only in my Dreams" and "Electric Youth"?

We do, but just barely.

Here is an update on Debbie Gibson. To start with, you now have to call her "Deborah."

Anyway, Debbie Gibson is conducting scholarship auditions and a reality show taping for her pet project Camp Electric Youth (keep your volume down unless you want an electric deja vu attack). This is her performing arts summer camp for kids between seven and 17.

"I was the Hannah Montana of the '80s and I have a lot of experience and knowledge to offer today's aspiring performers," Debbie says. (Yeah. Like "you're never too young to start a career in reality TV.")

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by Angela Natividad    Jan-31-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Events, Promotions



Three Babes Suck Justin Timberlake For Pepsi Stuff

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Fleshing out its copy point "every sip gets you closer," this BBDO NY-created Super Bowl commercial hurls Justin Timberlake through the air in response to three girls sipping their Pepsi's by the poolside. It's a simple message for Pepsi Stuff. The more you drink the more you win: Justin Timberlake MP3s, HDTVs, and millions of songs from Amazon.

by Steve Hall    Jan-30-08    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Good, Super Bowl 2008



Because Arturo Fuente Cigars Has So Much to Gain from the Everyday Man

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"Duardo's Brand," which has a UGC feel to it (don't tell Subway!) is Raging Artists' attempt to (possibly) accomplish two things for its client:

1. Associate Arturo Fuente Cigars with the elite Cuban crowd through its choice of talent, Duardo Cantana
2. Put cigars back in the domestic space -- into the mouths of men sitting around playing guitars, and men whose wives batter them senseless for smoking indoors

Or it might be an exercise in irony. Because it's kind of "ha-ha, laugh with this artist who's just like me and you" funny and sort of "ha-ha, laugh at this thrown together wannabe UGC crap" funny.

We don't really know.

by Angela Natividad    Jan-30-08    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Online, Video



Paulie Walnuts Wants A Real Denny's Breakfast

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If you've ever watched The Sopranos, you'll love this new Denny's commercial featuring the Paulie Walnuts character Tony Sirico. In the ad, Sirico is presented with a fast food breakfast which doesn't meet with his approval. In response, he does his usual thing and refuses to pay for what he says is "not a real breakfast."

There's a second spot in the campaign which isn't near as good as the first one. Here's a bit of Tony Sirico trivia for you. Though he played a mobster on The Sopranos, Sirico was reportedly a real mobster back in the sixties and seventies attached to the Columbo family serving under Carmine Persico.

by Steve Hall    Jan-30-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Commercials, Good



The Beckhams Cavort Atop Tokyo's Omotesando Crossing

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It's not often both celebrities in a celebrity marriage are spokespeople for brands, let alone at the same time. It's even less often, if not ever, the two appear side by side in their respective spokesperson roles as do David and Victoria Beckham in Tokyo. In Omotesando Crossing, Victoria appears for Samantha Thavasa and David appears for Giorgio Armani.

by Steve Hall    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Outdoor



Lingerie-Clad Julie Newmar Wants Spokesperson Gig...At 74

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Copyranter caught the ad on the back of this week's AdWeek which features 74 year old Julie Newmar - formerly of the original Batman's Catwoman - who is looking to be a a brand's next corporate spokesperson. The ad promises she hasn't been retouched and we must admit she looks pretty good. It's not often you see a 74 year old dressed in lingerie like this. Kudos, we guess. Who knows. You go, girl.

by Steve Hall    Jan-29-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Good, Magazine, Strange



HappySlip Promotes Manila Meet & Greet

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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



Jay Mohr Follows Vanilla Ice With TurboTax's TaxLaugh

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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."

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



'Anonymous' Launches Campaign Against Scientology

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In what Tom Hespos calls "modern cyberwarfare" and "a significant social event ... people are going to be studying it for years to come," a group called Anonymous has targeted the Church of Scientology with, apparently, denial of service attacks, the downloading and publicizing of internal Scientology documents and a creepy video accusing the church of spreading misinformation, suppressing dissent and suing all who say negative things about Scientology. And we thought that Tom Cruise video was freaky.

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by Steve Hall    Jan-25-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Social, Strange, Video



Philippines Invites YouTube Star to Mother Country

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Instead of putting together a slick campaign about the Philippines' wonder and majesty, the Philippine Department of Tourism has done something that we think is risky but probably worthwhile.

It invited HappySlip, a Filipino-American who built a YouTube following with her impersonations of family members, to visit the country on its tab.

Here's HappySlip's arrival video. It includes a link for Experience Philippines; we're guessing that'll appear on all the videos documenting her trip.

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by Angela Natividad    Jan-24-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Good, Online, Video