It took 38 years for Starbucks to unleash their full-bodied, flavorful instant coffee known as “Via.” It took only one well-documented loss in OscarFest 2003 to steal my likeness for their VIA marketing bulletin.
Archive for the ‘advertisements’ Category
Starbucks Instant MimeFest
Saturday, October 31st, 2009Blend THIS!
Sunday, October 18th, 2009Last week, I had the opportunity to meet and attend a talk given by David Meerman Scott, marketing guru and author of “The New Rules of Marketing and PR”. I had actually just read his book several months ago, so the core principles of the discussion were familiar. However, many of the examples he used to demonstrate creative and effective communications strategies were completely new to me.
One these examples was the “Will It Blend?” campaign by the blender manufacturer, BlendTec. In this series of videos, the company’s CEO, Tom Dickson, dons a white labcoat and puts his standard blender to the test with a variety of random objects, including an iPhone (above video). It’s a simple, essentially free marketing campaign that has apparently sent sales through the roof.
I need to do something like this for my ScienceCheerleader special reports — any ideas?
Nearly Four Feet of SkyMall Fest 2009
Saturday, October 17th, 2009Nice six pack
“Nearly four feet tall” — the boy or his stream of urine?
SkyMall Fest 2009: Ye Olde Baseball Pinball Game
Saturday, October 10th, 2009
There’s gotta be a Facebook app for this out there somewhere.
SkyMall Fest 2009: Cenegenics Reloaded
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
I’ll leave it up to you to decide which is most ridiculous: the jeans with no belt, the cell phone and pager on the swimming suit while BBQing, or every other aspect of these damn Cenegenics advertisements.
More Flags, More Nightmares
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Let’s talk about decisions that led to Six Flags’ bankruptcy and start with the disturbing “More Flags, More Fun” advertising campaign. Seriously, ew. No responsible parent should feel comfortable with their children being exposed to this strange man’s irreverent laughter and Pee Wee Herman bow tie.
Flo from the Progressive commercials
Thursday, June 4th, 2009Flo!
Progressive really hit a home run with their recent commercial series starring “Flo”, played by strangely endearing actress, Stephanie Courtney. The above clip is by far my favorite, if only because that random high-pitched squeal she lets out reminds me of Jim Carrey’s random squeal in Dumb and Dumber (below, ~1:10). Flo could potentially be in the elite class of inhumanly annoying characters like the Verizon guy, Jared from Subway, or Wilford Brimley, but she someone remains tolerable through most of the commercials. Of course, she apparently signed on for 12 more entries, which means it’s only a matter of time before she goes the way of the Taco Bell dog.
SkyMall Fest 2009: Fashion Attack of the Clones
Sunday, April 5th, 2009
Get more out of life with a Masters in Stealing John’s Likeness
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009Mimefest 2009, MBA
Marylhurst University: “Academic Excellence Since 1893″ and “Wanton Disregard for John’s Sense of Self since 1998″
One trip to through the Imperial Sand Dunes at the Arizona/California border during our 1998 trip to San Diego, and Richard and I inspired an entire advertising campaign for Marylhurst University. I hate to think what would have happened if the Star Wars creators had gotten their hands on this picture.
SkyMall Fest 2009: Dr. Cenegenics
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Hey, everyone, Dr. Life invented the miracle cure for aging, Cenegenics. Did you hear?
It improves muscle tone and energy, decreases body fat, sharpens thinking, and improves your outlook on life. While Cenegenics can reverse the signs and symptoms of aging, those suffering from male pattern baldness are out of luck. Hey, there’s only so many conditions you can fix with one unique blend of “exercising”, “nutrition”, and “hormones”! I mean, really.
Cenegenics will also help if you’re going for the “Gene Hackman reenacting the Top Gun volleyball scene” look that all the ladies are raving about. Jeans with no belt is definitely becoming trendy again. You knew it would.
How does this 69 year-old doctor have the body of a 30 year-old? Cenegenics. That’s how. Yeah it’s hard to believe. I mean, forget the 69 year-old stuff. I don’t know a single 30 year-old with a rack like that. Thankfully, Dr. Life has provided this unenhanced picture of his washboard abs, rock solid pecs, and two-thirds X-ray body. The proof is in the pudding.
