Best Of The Superbowl

Let me preface by saying I didn’t actually watch the Super Bowl this year. I could care less about the Giants and the Patriots and there really isn’t a need with the half-time show all over YouTube and the commercials even being released a week early.

First of all, the half time show. It seems that Madonna has solidified herself as the eternal pop goddess to rein over all other music minions. I didn’t know anything about the show beforehand, but there were a ton of cameos from LMFAO to Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green. And if you have ever listened to MIA before, you shouldn’t be surprised that she flipped off the camera. Mad props to a fantastic show, but of course the producers had to make up for the abomination that was the Black Eyed Peas last year.

So being in the ad biz myself, I had to watch the infamous ads. Super Bowl spots just don’t have the prestige that they used to. The majority were for movies and cars – America sure is is desperate to sell us some damn cars. Anyways, I had a few favorites that stuck out from the rest.

1. Maybe the most manly, epic Super Bowl spot ever created. Victorias Secret Supermodel Adriana Lima, Motley Crue, A Rhino Rodeo, a lumberjack sandwich and MMA fighter Chuck Liddel. But for Kia, really?! I think it’s going to take a lot more than one bad ass commercial to make them into a bad ass car brand. Props to David & Goliath for this little bit of entertainment (plus a 5 hour promo video of Adriana Lima waving a flag for all you dudes out there.)

2. This commercial has it all – beer for the guys and a little rescue dog that’s simultaneously cute and ugly for the chicks. The beer spots tend to be near the top of my list every year but I really like that this one was tied to an animal-loving cause. Props to McGarryBowen in Chicago for this cute spot.

3. The Acura spot playing up the Seinfeld-Leno car rivalry also makes my LOL list. It must have been so much fun to be one of the creatives at RPA Los Angeles brainstorming all of the ridiculous things that Seinfeld would offer in exchange for being the first owner of an Acura NSX from the Soup Nazi to Manhattan zip lines.

Honorable mention goes to the witty E-Trade baby by Grey New York.

And then, there’s the majority of the ads that just kind of blended together. Chrysler (and W+K), way to make the exact same ad as last year except with Clint Eastwood instead of Eminem. You’re from Detroit, we get it. Most of your cars still suck (and I can say that because I drive one.) There was bound to be a 2012 apocalyptic ad, but the “oh sh*t” moment happened at the end when they called out their friend who didn’t make it because he drove a Ford. Ballsy move, Chevy. I wonder if Ford will retaliate…

The vampire ad for Audi was pretty funny, but I don’t know many Twilight-obsessed tween girls that can afford that calibur of sports car. The polar bear ads were pretty weak too. Polar bears + football = lame. Then the Hyundai Cheetah spot really pissed me off. As a former big cat enthusiast (I was obsessed when I was little), I know that Cheetahs are the only cat that can’t roar DAMMIT! They make little chirping sounds like this. The Doritos sling baby was annoying and predictable. As was the missing cat spot. Lets just say I didn’t like any of the Doritos spots. Cars.com did a direct lift from Johnny Knoxville’s dual character in MIB 2. Why can’t these agencies come up with something original?!

The Chevy Sonic spot was interesting and obviously trying to appeal to the youth market by taking a cue from Jackass and Red Bull. Except, I’m not sure how it sells the REAL benefits of the car considering you will never go skydiving or bungee jumping in that (or any) car yourself. The Pepsi spot was pretty weak too. Here’s their recipe: start with some Pepsi, add a reality show winner (Melanie Amaro from X Factor) and throw in a few random celebrities. (although I can’t say I’ve seen Elton John in very many commercials.)

Thats enough outta me. If you want to watch all of the spots, I’ve found the best source to be fastcocreate.com.

Feminine Advolution

I’m a huge fan of these new U by Kotex commercials by [according to this article] JWT New York. That surprised me since they are such a traditional agency [IMO]. The first suspect that came to my mind is CP+B and their typical anti-advertising approach.

I also liked where these Tampax Mother Nature ads started, but think they’ve gotten a little ridiculous as of late (haha period pun).

Newsworthy

I think these new commercials for the AT&T Backflip are brilliant! (However, they’re not compelling enough to make me trade in my iPhone.) The dialogue is funny but even funnier than that is the human truth of the campaign. I check Twitter and Facebook compulsively. I read the Onion and watch the Colbert Report exponentially more than the real news sites and channels.  I read my friends’ blogs more than tangible magazines or books.

I’ve never really thought about it before, but it’s kind of cool and kind of scary at the same time.

AT&T Is The New Mac

First it was Coke and Pepsi. More recently it was Microsoft and Apple. Now, two new contenders have stepped into the Adver-fighting ring. Since when did mobile phone services start beef with each other? I’m referring of course to Verizon’s spoof campaign “There’s a Map for That.” Personally I think it was somewhat a misdirected attack, since the “Apps” refer to the iPhone, but I know all too well that they have an exclusive service contract with A-double-T, so I guess it makes a minute bit of sense. I guess Verizon can sink even more money into it’s campaign now that AT&T’s lawsuit didn’t go through.

Anyways, the Generals at Omicron BBDO must have been inspired by TBWA’s Apple ads for the counter-attack. The strategy? Basically, recruit a spokesperson who can bash the crap out of your opponent and still be well-liked by the observing masses. Luke Wilson even looks like an older, wiser version of Justin Long! LoL

Having basically sold my soul to Apple, I have no choice in my 3G coverage, so I don’t care what Verizon does. I’m not particularly drawn towards the Droid, either:

Why in the world would I want to search my entire phone for “Human?”

I find this all interesting. Apple and AT&T. Verizon and Google and Blackberry. Are multiple brands forming alliances and preparing for a global Adpocalypse?

Faces

This American Express Ad caught my eye, not because I particularly liked it, but because it was exactly like an assignment I had to do in ad school (If you had Judy Penny as an instructor, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to)!

My super similar assignment was to take pictures of the “faces” that we see in furniture, objects, anything around us. Then we select the best and design a faux museum exhibit around it as if it was displayed at the Wolfsonian. I didn’t exactly love the assignment, but I never thought I would actually see it in real world advertising. LoL

The Douchebook

I really, really hate this commercial I keep seeing on TV for Verizon’s mini notebook things. You know, the one where this dude is sitting on a dock or something and this chick sits next to him to inquire about his worthless little device and he keeps finishing her sentences. I mean, this thing screams “toolbag.” Why get something cool like an iPhone when you can carry around a whole mini computer? I have way too much other crap I need to carry around in my purse.

The best part is at the end of the commercial when the chick starts saying something like “I’m…” and then he cuts her off with “Amazed? Jealous? Wanna be me right now?” and then she smirks and says “getting one.” I guess Verizon is trying to appeal to the Douchebag market with this one. If I was her, I would smack him upside the head with that little device and then throw them both over the side of that dock and hope that he gets a couple fingers clipped off by a mutant lobster. Good luck using your stupid mini keyboard after that! Ha!

(I would have posted the commercial here, but apparently the entire internet has deemed it unworthy of being posted anywhere.) Oh, and not to mention it looks like they are totally trying to rip off Apple with their attempt at design.

Eat Better All Day

I like this new Nutri-Grain commercial. It’s super simple and you don’t usually see things from the first person POV.

The supporting website is nice too – decent design (I just wish that big red bar was white. I’m a big fan of lots of white space) and I like how you can scroll through the different varieties at the top.

I think Leo Burnett is behind these creations, although I’m sure some fellow ad kids and I could have made this in school too.

Supersized vs Superskinny

I randomly stumbled upon some clips from this British tv show Supersized vs. Superskinny. Basically they parade an obese person and an anorexic person around in their underwear, and then make them switch diets for a week.

I can’t embed, so here’s a few links to clips where Georgetta and Amir meet and then attempt a meal swap.

(FYI: According to wikipedia, a “stone” is equal to about 14 pounds. So confusing – I hate metric! Why can’t we measure things like the other 90% of the world? Whatevs.)

Of course I don’t live in the British Isles so I can’t watch a whole episode, even online. Despite it’s good intentions, I don’t see how this is really healthy. I HATE reality tv, but this is strangely addicting.

I’m actually working on my own food portioning – or at least the sugary stuff. I am so proud of myself for not ordering dessert after dinner last night! Additional beneft: my bill was cheaper too! Pretty sure I didn’t need to drink that much beer tho, but it’s hard when there is a huge cooler full of it for free at work. lol

This show reminds me of this eerie commercial for this Swedish clinic that treats eating disorders.

Get Wet

The Wrong Vibe