Whelmed. Not over... but almost under.

Though my mom keeps sending me commercials, articles, clips, and many stream-of-conscious e-mails, I have continuously set them to the side until I have "time" to sift through them. BUT when she sent along this article from Huffington Post about the new Coca-Cola Super Bowl commercial, I felt the need to open it... and now I'm sharing it! People often say they are overwhelmed, or that something was underwhelming, but neither can apply to
this new commercial. I was definitely not overwhelmed... and I guess I can say I am slightly underwhelmed, but I'd rather settle on "whelmed".

The commercial is interactive and its ending will be decided by viewers, which in itself is a good idea (not original, but good). The company’s Super Bowl campaign features three teams that are competing to be the first to get to a Coke bottle mirage. Viewers can vote online at CokeChase.com for either the Cowboys, the Bandlanders or the Showgirls to reach the bottle first. The final results will be aired during the Super Bowl. Personally, I don't resonate with any of the three, so I'm not particularly invested in voting for any of them. Who would you vote for?

So... now that I've shared a not-so-exciting commercial, I'll round it out and share and ask you to PLEASE read the post below for an ad that I absolutely LOVE. Yes, it involves laughing babies... and kids... and adults... and seniors. I always love commercials from this company (guess who!)... especially when their advertising company decides to put the product aside, and connect with viewers on an emotional level. This 30 second spot is appropriately titled "Smiles". I hope it makes up for Coke's boring ad above.

POGS, 
AKtually Ashley

Sci-Fi, Football, & Volkswagen... AGAIN!

One of my favorite commercials of 2011 was Volkswagen's ad that first aired during the 2011 Super Bowl. The ad, featuring a powerful mini Darth Vader, is funny and adorable...and though I can't speak for men, I think it appeals to both sexes. I'm sure you've all seen the commercial on one channel or another (it runs pretty frequently)... but for my own entertainment, here it is:

This ad, called "The Force", created a lot of buzz (online and off). The video went viral. Consumers voted it as one of their favorite commercials. SO, with the help of Deutsch Los Angeles, VW is giving the Star Wars theme another go with "The Bark Side".

The dogs are cute, skilled, and the idea is funny... but I don't think this commercial will have the same impact as "The Force". I might be a bit biased because I (personally) think little kids are cuter/funnier than barking dogs... but that's not the case for everyone. The final ad doesn't run until February 5th (when the Patriots and HOPEFULLY the Giants will be duking it out on the field... GO GIANTS)... but they released the 60-second teaser during ABC's "The Middle" on January 18th.


We'll see how the Star Wars inspired canines fare in the highly-competitive Super Bowl commercial scene. Hopefully, for VW, they're just as powerful as mini Vader. If the NY Giant's don't win tonight, I plan on rooting for the Chewbacca dog during the Super Bowl.


POGS,
AKtually Ashley

...and this little Piggy went... WEEEEEEEEEEE!

Usually this little piggy would go "Wee Wee Wee" all the way home... but GEICO's takes the rhyme to a new level... literally. Maxwell the Pig is back, and zip lining the New Year away in the recently released GEICO commercial. Some viewers don't understand the commercial and think it's a poor effort compared to GEICO's usually clever advertising spots. Others argue that it is absolutely hysterical... but still don't get it. Regardless of consumers' opinions, the video, produced by The Martin Agency, is on a viral rampage. However, this may only be because people are trying to decipher with their friends what Maxwell actually says to his fellow zip liner. "Pure. Adrenaline."


While the GEICO gecko is my favorite of the company's many advertising reps, Maxwell the Pig can be pretty funny... just not in the zip lining commercial. 

POGS,
AKtually Ashley

Intoxicating Holiday Tree

Lynchburg, Tennessee. This post could end right here... BUT due to a recent holiday and whiskey-fueled event, I will continue! Jack Daniel's has taken its holiday celebrations to a new level in building the Jack Daniel's Holiday Barrel Tree! The tree, made almost entirely out of 187 hand-selected whiskey barrels, stands 26 feet tall in the center of Lynchburg (the whiskey purveyor's hometown).

Now, I know what you're thinking: free whiskey for Lynchburg, TN! No, no. Though the barrel tree was definitely a gift to the town, the whiskey was not included. The barrels were emptied before they were transformed into a sparkling symbol of Jack Daniel's holiday spirit. The whiskey from these barrels was used for the company's specific holiday line called Jack Daniel's Holiday Select, and is said to have the perfect balance of oak and vanilla character. Sounds like the perfect Christmas holiday blend to me!

The Holiday Barrel Tree is part Jack Daniel's larger holiday campaign (created by the ad agency Arnold Worldwide). The campaign includes a TV commercial, an interactive website, and a Facebook game. 

The commercial promotes the whiskey and the barrel tree, and exudes the holiday spirit of gathering together as friends and family.

The Facebook game, Jack Daniel's Barrel Bandits, can be accessed only if you "like" the Jack Daniel's brand page (of course). The premise of the game is to protect the barrel tree by chucking snowballs at bandits (labeled as close friends of yours -- they pull the information from your profile). I'm usually pretty good at computer games (nerdy, I know), but I had some difficulty smashing the bandits with my snowballs. The angels, on the other hand, were snowball magnets. Oops! Needless to say, the barrel tree festivities were spoiled by my criminal friends.

Very modern and beautiful campaign! Jack Daniel's used online marketing perfectly and repurposed content from the actual Holiday Barrel Tree magically. I'm sure they made their hometown proud! Wooden barrels, decked with garland and lights, and topped with a star -- never would have believed something so simple could be so gorgeous!

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

"Smell Better Than Yourself"

Old Spice, one of Procter & Gamble's grooming brands for men, has had a plethora of witty, satirical, and extremely successful campaigns. Old Spice really made a splash when they introduced their "Smell Like a Man, Man" (aka "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" campaign. The campaign features commercials and print ads with actor Isaiah Mustafa as the token "Old Spice Man". In all of the commercials, he addresses viewers in confident, rapid-fire monologues... each more ridiculous than the last. These ads have been around since February 2010 and really differentiate Old Spice from the rest of the men's grooming products in the market. 

Their newest campaign, "Smell Better Than Yourself", began around September 2011. The ad agency, Wieden+Kennedy, created both campaigns... I would've continued working with them too -- smart move Old Spice! This campaign is much different. The premise is: You might not be an attractive/respected/successful man in real life, BUT Old Spice can make you smell like you are.

This is the first spot, which launched during the NFL opener on September 8th. The faux sea captain is fighting an octopus while gold coins spill out of his pockets. Lets not forget to mention his 20-pack abs and his gorgeous wife! None of this is true BUT his wife has nooooo idea because with the help of Old Spice he SMELLS like a Sea Captain whose pockets rain gold. 

This is the second spot for the campaign. After taking a sniff of Old Spice Swagger, the guy begins to transform. An article on AdWeek describes the transformation perfectly! The Guy "cracks apart like porcelain, with bits of his unmanly husk shattering on the floor, revealing a super manly biker dude inside." An extremely overweight man then turns into a... bear? While an old man turns into a babe. Oh, the power of Old Spice!

Old Spice has the strength to turn average guys into attractive and adventurous MEN. The lighthearted, hysterical, and increasingly ridiculous campaigns continue to place the brand ahead of its competitors... at least when it comes to creativity. 

POGS, 

AKtually Ashley

Sneaky Commercials (in a good way!)

Oops! I gave it away! The title of this blog post eliminates any element of surprise these commercials may have had (sorry!), but the element of creativity remains. Both happen to be public service-type announcements AND were created outside of the US. Though they seem to be average ads promoting products and playing on viewers' emotions, the deeper messages within these commercials have had immense global impacts. At the end of each video, you'll probably still think yourself "wow, I didn't think it would take that angle. Hmmm." -- or at least that was the exact thought that ran through my mind.

The first ad was created by a Swedish agency named Forsman & Brodenfors to fit with the "smoothness" campaign of their client, IQ. The agency created a spot for a smooth whiskey... but the real meaning behind the campaign is revealed half way through. 

I bet you weren't expecting that ending... I know I wasn't. The commercial plays on the traditional style of advertising alcohol products. The soft lighting, local bar atmosphere, and peaceful music really tricks viewers into taking the commercial (at least the beginning) for its face value. Once the binge drinking commences, however, viewers start to realize that the commercial isn't promoting a smooth whiskey after all.

Another commercial, which has gotten a ton of global attention, was made specifically to address an issue in Australia. The video has gone viral, and though it only exists in the online world, its creators are attempting to raise enough money to air the commercial on television in Australia. It's your average love story, but it isn't until the proposal at the end of the commercial that viewers realize the couple isn't an "average" couple at all. The commercial is touching and its global viral impact really shows the success of the campaign for change. It has around 3.8 million views already... wow!

An article by AdAge makes a good point: why have no campaigns in the US managed to make such an impact?

POGS,

AKtually Ashley

Just The Right Amount of Wrong

Hotel advertisements and commercials are usually pretty generic. They highlight the hotel's amenities, its beautiful architecture and decor, the creatively prepared food, and its smiling employees. Most do not truly differentiate themselves from their competitors.

This is what I thought until I came across this article about the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Hotel. We've all seen the ridiculous, yet beautiful, myriad of Las Vegas hotels on TV, in movies, and for the lucky ones, in person. I've never been but would absolutely love to jet over there for a weekend with friends to experience the crazy city for myself. When that time comes, however, how on earth am I supposed to choose my hotel?! The Hangover's Ceasars Palace? The Bellagio from Ocean's Eleven? I'm just throwing out some memorable names. But in all seriousness, I would love to step inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel. It has 15 restaurants. That's right, 15 restaurants!!! Or see the Mirage Volcano. 

My opinions are entirely based upon what I have seen and read about these various hotels' decor, atmosphere, and amenities. For some reason, I am still intrigued by the Cosmopolitan Hotel. I know nothing about its services or decor... well, except for the elevator. 

I hope the elderly dancing couple is there when I visit. I think they would be fun.

The commercial is eery. It's definitely unique and grabs my attention. It provoked thought. It made me smile in disbelief and wonder. You know that smile that spreads across your face when you don't know how to respond or what to think? The feeling is almost indescribable. I think they're crazy, but I love it -- which is a success, I guess, right? I mean, I'm blogging about them, aren't I? 

If you liked the elevator commercial, check out this one too. Again, extremely different and unexpectedly influential. It makes you want to go to the hotel just to see if these things actually happen. When (if) I ever find out I'll need to keep my findings a secret -- What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! I guess you will have to see for yourself!

I agree with them, both commercials are definitely "Just The Right Amount of Wrong."

  

POGS,

AKtually Ashley