Saatchi 17 Wins Effies Post Exodus

After leaving Saatchi, famously, as the Saatchi 17, Ad Age reports four of the 17, all of whom are currently employed at Interpublic, won, in an awkward and final snub to their former employer, Effies for work done while at Saatchi. If that wasn't enough drama for the evening, Leo Burnett Chief Creative Officer Cheryl Berman, during her opening speech, wondered why creative giants Lee Clow, Dan Wieden and Jeff Goodby were not in attendance citing the second class value placed on the Effies, which measure performance over beauty, by many in the industry. Perhaps if the Effies were held at a location a bit more exotic than the New York Marriott Marquis, us shallow ad folk might be a bit more willing to whip out our bling and attend. Then again, we're all about the flash and the glamor, right? Beauty over brains. Art over commerce. Kick ass creative over steroidal sales increases. What fun are sales increases when you can play Hollywood wannabe in Cannes?

Oh, lest we forget what's important here, TBWA/Chiat/Day's iPod Silhouette campaign took top Effie honors.

by Steve Hall    Jun- 8-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary



Hummer Street Art OK, Flash Happy Microsite Insufferable

h3_street_art.jpg

GM (via Modernista! one assumes) is using street art to promote its new contradiction in terms, the Hummer H3. We suppose line extensions are the natural path for any product to take but a small Hummer just doesn't thrill the same way a big Hummer does. This street art was spotted by flicker user Runs With Scissors. The work was done by long time graffiti writers TATS CRU, Inc.

We'd be happy to link you to the H3 microsite but it's buried so deep under layers of fancy, slow loading Flash, accessible only from the Hummer.com front door, we'll spare you the agony. Take our word for it. It's there but it doesn't have near the amount of informative information as one might find in this Car and Driver pre-production review.

by Steve Hall    Jun- 6-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Outdoor



Paris Hilton Says 'Think Different'

paris_butt_carls.jpg
Have Pity On My Ass

Putting things in perspective and dramatically altering the meaning of the latest Carl's Jr. commercial featuring Paris Hilton, comes this altered voice over version of the spot with Richard Dreyfus reading Apple's "Here's to the Crazy Ones." While listening, the spot takes on an entirely different meaning. In some cases, it pegs Paris is a true idiot. In others, it creates a sense of pity for someone who has clearly lost their way. Originally, the intent of the Apple message was meant to be complimentary to those who think different and change the world in a positive manner. Yet, when voiced to Paris frolicking with a Bently and a Burger, it leaves one overcome with sadness and disgust with respect to the state of our culture.

by Steve Hall    Jun- 1-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary



IBM Expand-O-Banner Supports Tennis Tournament

ibm_expandobanner_tennis.jpg

While we had to fire up dusty old Internet Explorer for it to actually work, IBM, as part of its Rolland Garros sponsorship, is running in interesting Flash expand-o-banner which opens to reveal a customizable tennis player which you can pit against other online players. The scores of the actual tournament are displayed at the lower left of the banner. It was engaging enough to catch out attention which is a rarity. View here. You may have to reload a few times.

by Steve Hall    May-25-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Online



ExxonMobil Emission Reduction Ad Analyzed

exxonkettle.jpg

BAGnews Notes takes issue with a recent print ad for ExxonMobil touts the company's emission reducing efforts. Analyzing the ad, BAGnews Notes writes, "ExxonMobil is primarily involved in the production of gasoline, which is primarily responsible for air pollution and ozone depletion caused by auto emissions. The ad, however, refers to the capture of steam. If you read the ad copy, aren't they doing a bait-and-switch in which steam capture is (intentionally) confused with emission reduction? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems the company is using one process to cloud the other."

by Steve Hall    May-10-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary



Diago Promotes Smirnoff ICE With Quirky Russian Characters

uri_smirnoff_ice.jpg

Yesterday, Diageo announced the launch of a new ad campaign for Smirnoff ICE and Smirnoff Twisted V, starring a guy named Uri and his friend Gorb, both of whom have horrible imitation Russian accents. The snore-inducing press release claims the two "use their street smarts and unique cultural perspective to cut through the clutter encountered in daily life." Oddly, the campaign itself is not all that snore-inducing. See the commercials after the jump.

more »

by Steve Hall    Apr-29-05    
Topic: Commercials, Creative Commentary



Air Tahiti Launches Entrancing Promotional Website

Beginning with cosmopolitan line drawings of New York City which then wisk you away, first by taxi, then by airplane, to the lush Polynesian tropics of Tahiti, Air Tahiti, beginning service from New York July 9th, envelopes you with a new, very engaging microsite. After the long intro, which, of course, you can skip but won't really want to as it leads you deeper into tropical vacation paradise, the site, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, provides information on the culture, exquisitely beautiful photos of the destination and vacation packages. The experience is beautifully executed and compels you to mentally linger, dreaming up your perfect vacation.

UPDATE: Gawker covers the launch party in NYC.

by Steve Hall    Apr-28-05    
Topic: Creative Commentary, Online