sjbooher: This is a tv network ad, which probably only airs on their own network, so in a way, it is AEM. But at the same time, if the audience enjoys the ad, it can serve as a brand strengthener (think ESPN and their constant SportsCenter promotion as a success story). As a huge Hip-Hop head, I enjoyed this a lot. It is an animated look at the changing style of Hip-Hop over the years. Fun. B.
jtherkal: It’s a fun little commercial. Doesn’t have quite the attitude that I think Fuse would like. To me it says fun and easygoing, not very edgy. Isn’t Fuse like MTV, not VH1? I think it has more to do with the animation style than the concept itself. Although I’m not sure the concept is even that strong. The clear way to go would be to tell people what you are: a music video channel that actually plays music videos! I don’t feel very strongly either way about this one, though I would have liked to see some Hammer pants. C+.
sjbooher: Nothing too groundbreaking here, but I do enjoy this ad. The song is safe, AKA not much potential for annoyance, but not really catchy. The visual effects showing the phones “blooming” are pleasing to the eye. I’m not sure there is much here to convince me to buy the phone, though, other than strictly the positive vibes from the ad, and the buy one get one free deal. Above average, but not great — B.
jtherkal: I agree, nothing remarkable about this, but it does leave me with a positive feeling. I like the song and the flowers look sort of cool. I couldn’t tell you what phone it’s for, or why that phone is good, or anything of the sort. Hard to give this much better than a C+.
jtherkal: Not long ago we rated a Dove shampoo ad, and we rated it poorly. Most advertising targeting females, especially in the beauty industry, is entirely forgettable. This one is not. It delivers the message in a funny, memorable way. Someone out there understands that girls are smart enough to get jokes and that when people laugh, they remember. This may suffer from a slight case of “forget what product it’s for,” but overall I think we’ll start seeing more and more ads that target girls in this way. In my opinion, it’s smart. A-.
sjbooher: Hahahahahahahaha. Very funny, like TBS! “No she did not just do the crazy head twirl, girlfriend! Hell-to-the-naw!” Everything he just said, but downgraded a little more because of the lack of product focus. B.
jtherkal: On the whole, this campaign feels tired to me. Yawn. But this is miles better than the Shaquille O’neal one, which I officially hate now. Lebron, again showing his acting skills, gives a strong performance and I like the use of the basketball in his argument. That news lady at the beginning is annoying, though. B. Orange-orange VitaminWater is the new Gatorade.
sjbooher: I love this one. Of course, I’m a huge basketball fan and generally a LeBron fan, but as far as celebrity spokespeople in general go, LeBron does a great job here. He is a natural. I am not sure how the news lady is annoying… seems like a run-of-the-mill reporter, to me. I like that they use her to make sure the product takes center stage. Definitely one of the better ads in this campaign.
sjbooher: I love the idea… but I think I only like the result. I have a couple problems. First, Kobe vs. Shaq is soooooooooo 2004. There are so many storylines in the Western Conference Playoffs this year, that it seems weak and lazy to try and drum up more Shobe controversy. My second problem is with the LeBron/KG edition… well, I just realized it is not as much of a problem, after re-listening. I thought they both said “I remember seeing Bird win it all”, but after listening closely, LeBron says “Jordan”. Still though… this version is obviously scripted, since they would not both have nearly identical quotes, and I bet they forced KG to say “Bird”, just because he plays in Boston now. He is fo sho a Jordan baby. Anyway, they could have put up a black screen with “NBA Playoffs” written on it for 30 seconds, and I would have been excited, but the NBA did not reach the full potential with these. B.
jtherkal: Yes! Don’t talk to me about playoffs! Kobe was on PTI yesterday and they asked him about this, which was kind of funny. But sjb is right, let Shaq and Kobe go. The only way I’ll care about that now is if Shaq would actually go Incredible Hulk on Kobe. HULK SMASH KOBE! These ads were alright, but kind of forgettable. There is so much drama in the NBA, as my associate said, specifically out west, and these don’t really capture that. Probably a clever idea on paper, but falls flat in execution. C.
And just for fun, my all time favorite press conference:
jtherkal: A star-fucking creative director’s dream. I guess this plays up the elite aspect of Macy’s, and it lets you know you can get products endorsed by famous people there. But do you really want Mariah Carey’s perfume? Or Donald Trump’s tie? I don’t. You know what else I don’t want? Santana. Does he even have a Macy’s line? If not, who chose him to be the only non-product-endorsing person in this ad? Something about Santana is terrible. Whenever I see someone do a song with Santana I think, well, that person’s career is in the toilet. The biggest miss here is with Mariah’s wardrobe. Where’s the cleavage?! Bring it out! D.
sjbooher: I admit it, I am completely biased on this one. Anything that has to do with Mariah Carey, I love. I see and hear her, and everything else is inconsequential. I must say, though, that it is bizarre that you think that someone doing a song with Santana, widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all-time, is a bad thing. A.
jtherkal: Are you ready for some football? Are you ready for it all the time, winter, summer, fall, and spring? With this new campaign, ESPN boasts that “Now Every Season Is Football Season.” I’m not sure this is going to send Arena Football viewership through the roof, but not for lack of trying. Arena Football is what it is. The NFL’s younger, less-talented brother who happens to have a wild streak and crazy rules. The campaign was done by my friend and associate GVD, out of Weiden+Kennedy NY. They’re pretty funny and get the point across. The concept is good: You think football season is over? It ain’t.
Lucid Dreaming
jtherkal: Looking at these individually, I’m not going to go easy on Gary. I love the narration about lucid dreaming, but isn’t there something less obvious he could do than trying to fly? Seems like that’s the first idea you’d have, not necessarily the best. B+.
sjbooher: This one is a little too over-the-top for me, with focus seemingly on the “lucid dreaming” joke than on the product. And I didn’t find it particularly funny, but that might just be me. C.
Grandpa
jtherkal: Again, good start. A seemingly crazy old man is fertile ground for great humor, but couldn’t you write some truly wild shit for grandpa to be saying? And the “touchdown” followed directly by “first down”? That don’t even make no sense. Or maybe give him a rabid celebration dance, where he tears off his shirt and marches around the room flexing and shouting “who wants some?” B.
sjbooher: I like this one. It’s funny, and it really focuses on the football aspect. I love the inclusion of vacuum cleaners at the end. I didn’t notice the touchdown-first down combo the first time around though. My associate is right about that. A-.
jtherkal: I didn’t even make the connection between “door to door salesman” and a living room full of vaccuums. In fact, I didn’t even notice the vaccuums at all. Nice subtle humor. Upgrade: B+.
Dog Food
jtherkal: The last one, which I can’t find, is the guy who got eye surgery then eats dog food. My comments are about the same. Decent premise, but is feeding him dog food the funniest gag? Maybe, but I think if you spent a day or two thinking of alternates you could come up with something better. B.
jtherkal: When the iPhone launched, I initially resisted the gadget-lust I was experiencing, sticking with my current phone and avoiding the $400 hit I’d take for switching. Not even Apple’s iPhone advertising could convince me I needed it. But fate has intervened. This weekend, my phone was on the blankets of my bed and when my girlfriend rolled over, the phone flew off the bed and landed…wait for it…in a full cup of water. The only cup of liquid within 50 feet of the bed. Bullseye. So it’s broken and thanks to that little cup of water, I now own an iPhone. Boom.
jtherkal: Who needs advertising when you have a product this awesome? This series of “how to” type ads do a good job of showing the iPhone in action. But they lack some of the sex appeal you get with other iProduct advertising. In light of that, the iPhone sells itself. B.
sjbooher: In related news, my cellphone was once sitting on a ledge, in vibrate mode. I received a call, the vibrations knocked the phone off the ledge… into a bowl of milk. Game, set, match, for the phone. I agree with everything he said, but I will say this — those “perfect” hands/fingernails make me feel uncomfortable. B.
The Teaser Ad
jtherkal: This made me want an iPhone before they were released. Apple did a great job creating hype around the phone, partially because of the PR and advertising, partially because the phone was so dramatically different from anything else on the market. A.
sjbooher: I love this ad. Usually I am anti-”product at the end”, but I think the flow of this one is enough to keep the viewer locked in. Great. A+.
sjbooher: I absolutely love this ad. I start dancing and cheering for those dogs every time I see it. Get the beer guys, get the beer! Eat it Clydesdales! What a perfect song, and perfect visuals to go with the song. Now, if only the beer didn’t suck… A+
jtherkal: Mostly, I love that you love this. I didn’t think there was anything all that spectacular about it and probably wouldn’t have even thought to rate it. When I see it, I find myself thinking that it must have been wild getting all those dogs to run around like that. Dog party! All dalmations are invited. Tell your friends.
Plus, you make a good point about it being the perfect song. B.
Update:sjbooher: This is ad is so good that I now rewind on DVR during commercial skipping to watch it. Sony should send Miller Lite a check, as well, as I was inspired to download Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak”, which led to a rockfest, which all resulted in the purchase of Guitar Hero III for PS3!
jtherkal: Blah blah blah. There’s no part of me that wants to listen to Derek Jeter talk, and he yaps a bunch in this ad without really saying anything. G2 is Gatorade’s answer to Vitamin Water, though I’m not sure you’d know it. They do state it’s a low calorie off-field hydrator, but what that has to do with the lame baseball field appearing around him or why you’d want to drink it is a mystery. Remember, America is stupid. The only redeeming quality this spot has is Peyton Manning! Peyton! C.
sjbooher: I on the other hand love Derek Jeter. He is the Tom Brady of baseball: Men (other than The Mouth) want to be him, and women want to be with them. The special effect baseball field is attempting to say that Gatorade is not just for on-the-field activities, it, especially it’s new product, can be used in all aspects of life. I like it. It gets your attention, shows the new product, and then maybe you’ll try it. B.