This is a hilarious spot by Publicis Thailand for Shera Flexy Board, a ceiling tile company. I love seeing awesome foreign work, and in Thailand of all places! The work is getting some serious buzz and it’s well deserved. For some clarification- at the end of the commercial the two guys get pissed at the fat dude for buying cheap ceiling tiles.

Technorati Tags: Beyond Madison Avenue, Publicis Thailand, Shera Flexy Board, Funny Commercial

And all he wanted to do was submit it to the award shows…

ZURICH, Switzerland Some people will do anything to appear in the papers. But few have the audacity of a man in Switzerland, who conned one of the country’s biggest media companies into publishing a two-page ad he created of himself posing semi-naked beside a bottle of Gucci perfume.

The man, who claimed to represent the Italian fashion giant, called up the Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung last week to book the expensive color spread in Sunday’s edition, a spokesman for the paper said.

Christoph Zimmer told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the man asked for the 60,000-Swiss-franc (about $50,000) bill to be sent to Gucci.

From here.  

In other fashion ad news, Dolce and Gabana is pulling one of its ads from Spanish pubs. 

"One could infer from the advertisement that it is acceptable to use force as a way of imposing oneself on a woman, reinforced by the passive and complicit manner of the men looking on…"

From here.

Thanks to the New Shelton Wet/Dry for pointing out both stories.
 

With 1 day and 8 hours until the Red Sox play their first Spring Training game (not that I’m counting), it’s time to highlight a fantastic new marketing move by 7-Eleven.

To do this, I must switch Sox.  *sigh* 

For 1.5 mil over 3 years, the Chicago White Sox will start their games at 7:11pm.  According to the press release, the deal also includes "in-park signage, advertising on promotional giveaway cards and drop-ins during radio and television broadcasts."

$500,000 a season seems like a fair deal for both parties.  Sometimes it helps to run a campaign without a standard rate card.

A 7:11 start time… it’s quirky and simple, and oh-so-obvious.  And that’s exactly why it’s so smart.

Technorati Tags: Beyond Madison Avenue, 7-Eleven, Chicago White Sox

Back before the internet, we just had "Internet." Trust me, it makes sense when you watch this 1993 news report on the growing phenomenon of the world wide web.

It’s most interesting to me that, way back when, this little Canadian broadcast clearly described the essence of the web, even if only seeing its infancy, pre-Myspace, pre-YouTube, pre-Digg, pre-Friendster even. It’s always been about connections.

nice find from Greg Verdino.

Back in 1972, some women liked drugs, others liked protesting the government, most liked bell bottom jeans, but all of them liked hairy men. Cosmopolitan appeased their wish to see a hairy dude by putting Burt Reynolds on the cover. After this photo circulated around the world, Reynold’s manliness has never been questioned, nor has the sweet Mexican-ish, Geraldo Rivera mustache he sports.

Recently, Reynold’s famous picture was placed in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition to help break up the madness of beautiful women gracing every page. DirecTV used Burt to emphasize HD TV. The headline is, "Everything looks better on HD…well, maybe not everything."

Technorati Tags: Burt Reynolds, Cosmopolitan, Models, Sports Illustrated, DirecTV, HD TV, Beyond Madison Avenue

Yesterday’s pussy is today’s pretty-girl-slipping-tongue- to-a-billy-goat.

Oh, ain’t that the truth.

Houtlust spotted these ads sponsored by Comité National Contre le Tabagisme, the French National Committee Against Tobacco.

If you’re not into girl-on-goat action, how can you resist guy-on-afghan-hound? 

Not only are these ads, like, soooo HOT, but they’re far more en pointe than anything the Truth campaign has come up with.

I think it’s smart that they go with the "some people think it’s gross to kiss a smoker" angle rather than diving six levels further (e.g. the "LOOK!! MOUTH CANCER!" approach) right from the get-go.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, CNCT, french anti-smoking ads, goat kiss

and because I like stop motion.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, advertising, sneux shoes, MFP

I have no idea what the results of this poll are because I refuse to vote in order to see them.  But seriously.  I said it after the superboo, and I’ll say it again now.  You’ll never get by without offending someone.  Might as well do it with gusto.  

Are we really so buttoned up that we can’t laugh at a good suicide joke or two?  Heck, one of them was a robot.  A robot DREAMING for crying out loud!  And the other one never aired, and even if it had, the guy never jumps! 

And how is the body parts offensive?  Gross maybe, but offensive?   

People need a serious sense of humor overhaul.  Or at least a stick-up-the-ass removal.

Technorati Tags: offensive advertising, suicide, body parts, advertising

You might recall, but probably don’t, Pirelli’s last short film called The Call.  You know, Jon Malkovich as a priest fighting fire with tires (yeah…that was bad.  sorry).  

Well, the newest edition of Pirelli Films has recently been released.  Mission Zero stars Uma Thurman and a yellow Lamborghini.  Sounds great, right?  Yeah, well, but, I dunno…

I applaud Pirelli for trying to do something cool.  I really, really do.  This could be the worst short film ever, and I still think I’d like it better than the Michelin Man searching for his Michelin dog.  And anything is better than the Bridgestone spots with the hip-hop/R&B "Round and Round" track.

But (you knew it was coming) if they’re going to continually shell out for major names, I just wish they could do something a bit more with it.  Or put some of that money into the idea and help a no-name somebody get a start. 

I really want to like these because they are such a far cry from the bad tire advertising out there.  I just…don’t. 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, advertising, Pirelli, Uma Thurman

So, uh, I’m betting that got your attention… and not only because it rings true with so many of us.

This pussy-filled copy is from a series of print ads from back in 2000 for Butch, a New Zealand pet food company.  Check out the whole campaign here. 

Although the ads never ran as intended (via a direct mail campaign), they did manage to get play in the Australian editions of Penthouse and Playboy.

But here’s the follow up… seven years later, these guys are still doing weird, neat stuff that garners attention.

Or at least my attention…

Enter BUTCH IDOL!

Okay, fine, their website has a terrible color scheme and design-wise it looks closer to a MySpace page than a corporate website; nonetheless, they’re highly likeable, fun, and keep coming up with blogworthy stunts.

And, as such, I voted for Tyke.

As Paul has mentioned, I’m pretty impressed by this whole Jet Blue thing.  I’ve never flown JB, but given how quickly they’ve stepped up and admitted to a problem and tried to find a reasonable solution, I wouldn’t hesitate to give them a shot.

So why the heck can’t other airlines follow suit?  Or better yet, lead the way.  Maybe I just have bad travel luck, but I haven’t been on an on-time flight in as long as I can remember.  And I’m not talking "your pizza is two minutes late, I’m not paying" kind of late.  I’m talkin’ HOURS late.  Case and point…this weekend I flew round trip from New York to DC.  I was all set to take the train, but the plane ticket was actually cheaper and it was supposed to save me about an hour of travel time.  Let’s just say I’ll be taking the train next time.

The air travel industry consistently offers horrendous service and allows no recourse for the customer.  They’ve taken every step they can think of to wring pennies from travelers while at the same time cutting back on service. I’ve even heard rumors lately that they’re going to start charging for checking a second bag. 

"Ok," you say, "but we know that.  We’ve come to expect it.  It’s just part of life these days."  Yeah, I guess it is.  But from a branding standpoint, what’s that say? Is it even possible to turn these brands around at this point?  Can anyone build American Airlines into shining example of what air travel is supposed to be, or is the brand so tarnished that they’d be better off scrapping it and starting over?

It’s like trying to decide which shipping service to use.  In reality, they all stink.  Someone has a horror story about all of them.  But there are only three or four choices, so you continue to suck it up and use them. 

I think there’s a huge opportunity here.  The airline that can rebrand itself in a positive light could really corner the market.  Jet Blue has taken responsibility.  Unfortunately, as evidenced by the comments on Paul’s post, a lot of people can’t fly JB even though they’d like to.  And many are lamenting that after seeing them stand up and take responsibility for a bad situation.

Anyway, what do you think?  And sorry, this wasn’t supposed to turn into another Jet Blue post.  Just kind of happened. 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, branding, airlines, jet blue, air travel, american airlines

There’s not much bad I can say about Jet Blue. Well, it sucks that all those flights got canceled, but I’ve never seen such a serious response from any airline, or any company, for that matter. You can tell their CEO actually gives a shit, and the company turned circles to make sure we all knew that.

Kudos, JB, I wish I could fly on you. But, I live in Dallas, so I’ve only got the other profitable airline.

This video is embedded in the Jet Blue site here, along with the new Customer Bill of Rights.

I hesitate to even call this a post about product design.

Because really, it’s design trying so ardently to be retro, but it ends up being completely pointless.

I mean, I’m prone to digging 80’s revival crap.

I even think these tees are pretty neat. (That’s me in the picture, by the way.  Okay, fine, no it’s not.)

But an 80’s clunker cell phone?  Sure, cool as a gag gift… but for $169??  Gag’s on you, sucka.

And… THEY’RE SOLD OUT!  I’m embarrassed for all of you.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, 80’s Brick Cell Phone, DayDeal

If you get bored, and feel like learning some things about a brand or two,
the history of branding site is a pretty good place to start. It’s really more
the history of brands, rather than the history of branding, but, close
enough, I guess…

Found courtesy of the thief genius, Faris
Yakob.

This is a sweet commercial for Nissan by TBWA Paris. Seems familiar, but the effects are so cool that anything like this in the past doesn’t compete. They should make a second spot with punk rock music and have the skating action be a little more intense. Either way, I love it.

Technorati Tags: Skate Park, Skate Board, Commercial, Nissan, Beyond Madison Avenue

I rented a Mini Cooper on my last vacation, and it was seriously one of the phattest things anywhere ever.  And I don’t say "phat" unless I mean it.  Or unless I’m drinking a Colt 45 on a curb. Which happens.

Anyway, it handled the curvy part of Lombard Street like a fricking dream.

That’s why I think this fake trailer of a fake movie can do no wrong.  Also, it’s a damn fine spot, in that Samuel L. Jackson meets Jack Black kinda way.

[via BrandFlakesforBreakfast.]

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, MINI, mini cooper, hammer and coop

Mountain Dew’s new viral video, Do Your Own Adventure with Sue Teller is gaining popularity around the web. The work by 86 the Onion is a two-part mini-series that will be seen on Current TV. By combining 80’s cinematography, hip-hop lingo, and a little old lady, Mountain Dew is creating a cult phenomenon. I can see it now- Sue Teller will start making guest appearances at Mountain Dew sponsored events and from there, it will only be matter of time until people are wearing "Do It With Sue Teller" shirts. By the way, when watching the second spot, keep an eye out for her shoes.

Technorati Tags: Beyond Madison Avenue, Viral, Mountain Dew, Sue Teller, Mash Up

TalentZoo is bringing back Sally Hogshead’s podcast The Naked Career in a BIG way.  Their first guest?  None other than the guru himself, Seth Godin.

"The interesting part of this is the fact that this is the first time Seth has directly addressed the ad industry and the fact that they are in dire need of self reinvention if they are to survive and get back to leading the pack instead of merely following the status quo."

Let’s see.  An industry guru interviewing an industry guru who’s willing to call it like he sees it.  Sounds like a recipe for uproar to me.  Have a listen here.

Technorati Tags: Talent Zoo, Beyond Madison Avenue, Sally Hogshead, Seth Godin, Radio Talent Zoo, podcast

Every once in a while when I’m watching TV, I’ll stumble across a little gem of an ad that seems to have come completely out of left field compared to the rest of the spots for that product.  I’m always shocked and delighted when this happens.

For example, last night I saw this Domino’s Pizza spot. 

Funny, quirky, weird, focuses on the product, makes me chuckle.  Dare I say it?  I think it’s a pretty damn good spot.  Maybe it won’t topple the award shows or blow away audiences in awe, but the fact is that I like it.

Dodge pulled off the same thing not too far back with this spot for the Caliber.  Again, it may not be perfect given that it still ends with the cheesy focus group execs, but it’s still head and shoulders above most of the stuff on TV these days. 

Dodge also had a spot for the new Nitro that was pretty fun to watch.

So this begs the question of where the heck do these gems come from?  Is this a case of every once in a while, some great creative making it past the client’s red tape?  Did some other agency get brought in to help out?  Did the client sleep through the presentation meeting? 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, advertising, good commercials, domino’s, dodge

PETA continues its "I’d rather go naked than wear fur" endeavor with a new campaign that resembles a Playboy cover and early ’90’s movie poster mashup.  Go figure, it even features a Playboy model.

"An international cover model, actor, and spokesperson for Dollhouse Clothing, sexy supermodel Joanna Krupa is known for her famous photo shoots, but there’s one thing Joanna would never model: fur. The Polish-born beauty, who has graced the covers of many magazines—including Playboy, Maxim, FHM, and Stuff—laid her convictions bare, so to speak, by baring all in PETA´s latest and raciest “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” ad. And to top it off, she posed in not one but three versions of the sexy ad!"

PETA.  I’m not impressed.  She’s a hot model (in that playboy/maxim over-airbrushed cheap "I’m selling my looks" kind of way) standing around naked.  WOW!  I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE!.  From you or anyone else.  And the execution is horrible.  I’m pretty damn bored with your feeble attempt at shock value to make your point.  Are naked/near-naked women actually helping your cause?  Or have we escalated from bikini-clad Santa-girl to completely nude Maxim chick because you’re grasping at straws?

Read more about the campaign if you really want to.  Oh, and you can register for a poster-sized copy of the ad.  Go get’em college boys.

I’m starting to wonder why I even post these PETA things anymore.  They’re all the same…"Breaking news!  PETA exploits scantily clad women in an attempt to save animals!".  Should we even bother with these any more?

Technorati Tags: naked women, PETA, boring advertising, animal rights, fur