Viagra in the Mid-East
A couple of days ago I thought of an ad I once saw in Saudi Arabia many years ago (2002, I think). So, trying to be the best ad blogger I could be, I tried to find that particular TV commercial. The commercial I saw was a spot for Viagra but even that I am not sure of. All I know for sure is that it was a commercial promoting some erectile dysfunction medication. Now before I tell you about the commercial you should know that television in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general is highly censored. You should also know that I can’t recall every exact detail…
Oh, Facebook
I believe I saw the ad above on Facbook’s sidebar ads a few weeks ago. It’s one of the funniest things I ever saw. Does anyone have that much “Man Hood” to earn up to $9,000 for your donations? Maybe I should change professions. What do you guys think? These ads, is how Facebbok makes its money I guess. What I think bothered me the most about the ad is that it was tailored to a location close to where I am which seems a little big brother-ish but it makes the ad more relevant to the audience. None-the-less, I thought the ad was hilarious. Best,A.B.
A 2nd Arm Wrestling Movie
There have been many movies on basketball, many movies on football, and some could argue even hockey but not so many on arm wrestling besides Sly’s “Over the Top.” Now there is a second “Pulling John” hitting the big screen in March. I feel the title needs some editing. Why, you ask, because people will always think of that joke that involves someone named “Johnson.” Yea, I know you know the joke I’m talking about. The movie is actually a documentary about arm wrestling. I wonder how it will do? Is arm wrestling very popular still? Back to the original arm wrestling movie “Over The Top,” I didn’t think it…
Gymkhana
The video above is a marketing video to promote the sport of Gymkhana to become larger in the U.S. Gymkhana is the real live version of the movie “Tokyo Drift.” The above viral Web-video was apparently watched over 29 million times via various sources. The video was produced for rally racer Ken Block, DC Shoes and Subaru. The agency the produced the above Web-video is called Mad Media. My question is, will this video actually result in more events taking place in major U.S. cities, higher ticket sales, and major event sponsoring companies? I realize that viral marketing is one of the best methods to promote your product or service…
To Much Boasting on Boost
I found another commercial I would like to discuss through Adfreak. The spot above was done on behalf of Boost Mobile by Latino marketing agency Inspire. I didn’t really understand the point of the message. In the commercial a guy discusses how great his Boost Mobile service while is friend is being mauled by a pack of dogs. My question is, what was the point of the commercial? Is wasn’t funny, it may have been memorable cause we are now all discussing it. Maybe I didn’t think it was funny because it was in Spanish and I don’t know Spanish. I don’t think it would have been funny anywhere, in…
Good VS Evil
I saw the commercial above on my YouTube landing page and I liked it so I thought I’d share. It’s a Nike spot with famous soccer players facing off against demons in a soccer match. I believe its simply a brand awareness spot. I know what your thinking, who is not aware of the Nike brand right? But really what are they promoting in that spot besides the Nike brand name? I really liked the creative execution, partly because I am a huge soccer fan but also because sport can teach a lot about life’s challenges. Evil can be the obstacles you overcome, no? Anyway, the ad agency is Wieden+Kennedy,…
A 30-Second Mr. Brooks
I don’t about you guys but I am a huge movie buff. When I first saw the spot above for The Lustgarten Foundation, a PSA announcement for Pancreatic cancer it reminded me of a movie. A movie that I absolutely love titled Mr. Brooks starring Kevin Costner. In the movie, Costner is a tortured serial killer who views his unnatural desire to kill as a disease. His disease is fueled by a hunger that is personified as a man known as “Marshal.” You can see Marshal in the movie but he isn’t real, he is only in Mr. Brooks’s mind. Marshal is always sitting in the back seat of the…
Anti-Happiness Drug
When I first saw this news piece in an Adfreak post I couldn’t tell if it was real or not. This news piece was discussing a newly approved drug for cheerfulness. Can someone actually be too happy? I don’t think that such a thing is humanly possible? But once the doctor being interviewed about the drug used an “F-bomb” I knew this isn’t real news. Yes, I know I’m slow. Shoot me. They even gave the drug a “real” sounding name, Despondex. Wouldn’t you have been faked out? And yes, a news piece can fall under the catagory of advertising. Best,A.B.
Absolut Security
I wanted to do a short posting before I went to bed for the night so that I could say I post everyday. The Absolut print ad above was one of my favorite wallpapers for my computer screen in college. Not to Mentin Absolut advertising is what got me interested in advertising in the first place. I believe the ad agency is TBWA Chiat/Day, New York. Nest,A.B.
Absolut Tolerant
On February 8th, a 30-second brand awareness spot for Absolut Vodka ran on prime time television. I believe it ran during the last half of the Grammy Awards. This marks the first time ever a distilled-spirits product has appeared on any CBS-owned TV station. Here is another sign of the changing times. A company like CBS that usually shunned distilled-spirits companies now accept them. I ask you is this due to the troubled economy? The spot created by TBWA/Chiat/Day is titled “Hugs” the ad presents a universe where the sanctioned currency is kisses on the cheek. The spot ends with the campaigns’ tag line “In an Absolut World.” This is…
