‘Madison Avenue’ Archives
Pitchmen the Logical, Reluctant, and Delusional
I've been thinking about this one for a while, the celebrity endorsement. The idea that I will buy something simply because a famous person is talking about it. I think I've identified three types of celebrities: The Logical, the Reluctant, and the Delusional. First up, the logical celebrity endorsement as typified by Ronald Reagan and [...]
Super Bowl Ads 2010, Betty White Rocks
Well its over now. We didn't get the highest scoring Super Bowl in history as predicted, but we did see some pretty good commercials this year. My personal favorite was the Mars' Snickers: You're not You When You're Hungry. How can you not like seeing Betty White and Abe Vigoda getting tackled? Unfortunately enjoyment of that [...]
Wal-Mart’s Screaming Clown Strategy
I know that Wal-Mart suffers from an image problem. Mainly that people in the big city turn up their nose at Wal-Mart and prefer to discount shop at the more chic (rather more chicly marketed) Target. The Wal-Mart brass thinks they can get my attention with a clown screeching like a banshee. The ad opens with a child's birthday party. Mom [...]
Needs More Tinsel, Evangelicals Whine About Christmas
I am sick of people who obsessively study the Bible and quote it-- yet they haven't learned a damn thing from it. Case in point, the evangelical whiners at Focus on The Family are waging their annual jihad about the "War on Christmas" and the encroachment of secularism with retailers. They have set up a website to track which stores are being [...]
Shiny Suds Promotes Rape
This week's award for missing the point goes to readers over at the blog Shakesville and its Today in Rape Culture page. They took offense to an ad that was part of a viral campaign for household cleaner company Method. The Association of National Advertisers and Method see the ad as supporting the Household Product Labeling Acts, which [...]
Mexico, Been There– Not Going Back Anytime Soon
I spent this last holiday weekend under self-imposed house arrest to avoid the blinding heat and idiots who like running around in such blinding heat. My only contact with the outside world, Saturday and Sunday consisted of no less than three delivery people and my television. There were more than a few commercials promoting various holiday [...]
Oh Stewardess, I Speak Jive
Check out the clip below, its fun. Its cheeky (literally). Air New Zealand has conveyed the message that affordable travel can be sexy and fun. Its a nice break from the complete drudgery that air travel has become. To be fair Southwest did try and bring fun back with their "Wanna Get Away" campaign-- yet somehow the message is that you [...]
