Why Would Anyone Jump Through Hoops to 'Experience' Your Ad?

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Check out this Jack Daniel's racing effort at your own risk. It'll appropriate your screen with its king-sized pop-up, deluge you with laggage and in some cases make you download software you don't want. And you STILL have to enter your birthdate.

All this to learn more about Jack Daniel's sticker-strewn Impala SS? No-bloody-thank-you.

You need either big balls or a life-changing message to force somebody through all this nonsense. And frankly, my life feels roughly the same.

by Angela Natividad    May- 2-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Sponsorship, Worst



Ever See 1500 Coke Fountains Blow at Once?

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You don't really want to.

Dubbed "The Diet Coke & Mentos Experiments," the Leuwen, Belgium-based event happened on 4/24 and broke the world record for most "exploding" fountains at once: 1500. (The previous record was 973 out of Missouri.)

Not sure where Mentos fits in but it doesn't look like there was a lot of fresh-making going on. Did it sponsor the raincoats or something? Something to contemplate while looking over previous Mentos/Diet Coke collabos. Thanks Influencia for sending this over.

by Angela Natividad    May- 1-08    
Topic: Events, Product Placement, Sponsorship, Strange



Schizophrenic NBA Ads Take Up Residence on MySpace

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The MySpace homepage has been invaded by concurrently-running banner ads for the NBA. Each features two different basketball players whose faces are cut down the middle and mashed together. Each player is repeating the same speech about fear and slowly ... sloooowly ... driving me mad.

The banners drive users to MySpace.com/NBA, which tells you nothing about the ads themselves. Too bad; I actually wanted to know, but not enough to dig through all that other crap.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-28-08    
Topic: Celebrity, Online, Sponsorship



Alicia Visits Motherland, Fights AIDS, in Documentary Special

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A soft-hued, angelic Alicia Keys appears -- on a first-name basis! -- for Alicia in Africa, a documentary following her efforts with Keep a Child Alive. (Not to be confused with that other video work she does.)

The film is streaming on the official site as well as on Blip.tv, which provided the video player; and on MySpace. (It's a wonder people still bother with that.) You can also download it for free on Spiral Frog.

But let's cut to the chase. KIDS! In AFRICA! With AIDS! Go DONATE.

by Angela Natividad    Apr-23-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Cause, Celebrity, Online, Sponsorship, Video



Nike: Jump Over a Moving Car. Kobe Bryant: How High?

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Jun Group is distributing a Nike-sponsored YouTube video where Kobe shoves some shoes in the camera's face and then jumps over an Aston Martin coming at him from 50 MPH.

"DON'T -- TRY -- THIS -- AT HOME!" he shouts, but come on. How often have you done some dumb shit on a boring afternoon just to see if you could?

That Kobe. If he's not cheating on his fine-ass wife, he's doing silly shit for shoe dollars. Way to set an example, role model guy.

We're filing this under "Bad," but what we really mean is "Stupid."

by Angela Natividad    Apr-14-08    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Online, Sponsorship, Video



Now There's a Home for Your Lame Home-Made Sports Videos

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That home is "Homestyle Sports."

And when I say "home," I mean a bonafide online show complete with hosts (Dan and Adam!), sponsor (Champion!) and a big-ass box of swag, which Dan and Adam explore between candid sports takes.

The whole thing's kinda like watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" except with two Bob Sagets, a lot of balls and some hoodies.

To be part of all the fear and loathing, upload your own clips to Break.com or YouTube.com/homestylesports. Be sure to tag them with "homestylesports."

by Angela Natividad    Apr- 9-08    
Topic: Consumer Created, Online, Sponsorship, Video



Aquafina Pins Piniella for Daily Words of Wisdom

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If the bobblehead starts talking to you, squeeze the wheel and look straight ahead. It's probably just an Aquafina promotion.

To celebrate its snappy new designation as "Official Water of Major League Baseball" (sorry, there's an official water?), Aquafina has launched Lou's Daily Affirmations, featuring Lou Piniella.

Put together by Tribal DDB Dallas, yesterday's affirmation was "Life is always more interesting with a bat in your hands."

No need to tell me twice. The pinata might need convincing though.

by Angela Natividad    Mar-31-08    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Sponsorship



It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Plaid Tour '08!

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Remember that van that looked like it was dipped into the dyeing vat of a private school uniform purveyor? Last year it motored through the East Coast converting heathens to Web 2.0; this year it's going West.

See tentative dates.

About four months from now, the Plaid van will stop at agencies and companies to preach the gospel of social media. Along with new ideas, they will come bearing Twinkies and shirts. (Email Darryl [at] thinkplaid [dot] com if you'd like them to pop by.)

The roadies need sponsors so if you can pitch in some cash, a hotel room or a new fashion tip for that chocolate ride, they'd be much obliged. (So would we.)

by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Agencies, Events, Good, Guerilla, Social, Sponsorship



Lovable Loser Challenges Celebrities for Cozy Cotton Underpants

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With money to burn from Hanes, a scruffy guy called Dave -- who's clearly approaching midlife with misgivings -- is challenging celebrities to games like Rock Paper Scissors or wrestling. (Somewhat more entertaining than watching Sarah Chalke moan off a wedgie.)

Dave has so far lost challenges to Cuba Gooding, Jr., Reggie Bush and Nelly, among others. But he did win a Comfortsoft Pose-Off against Paris, who unwittingly forfeited the game when she just didn't bother to look at him twice.

We'll clarify. She looked at him once, then tore him to shreds with her stare and publicly forgot he existed. It was superhuman.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Mar-25-08    
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Guerilla, Online, Sponsorship



For Chinese Olympian, Silver's Just a Po' Man's Gold

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More Beijing Olympics/Adidas gorgiosity by TBWA/China and Psyop. This one tells the story of Hu Jia, a competitive diver who in five years won a slew of Olympian silvers before taking the gold in Athens. Great mix of individual determination and community pride in these spots.

See previous efforts for the "Impossible is Nothing" campaign.