Hasta La Creative!

Ogilvy is S.O.L. on Wachovia, the bailout failed to pass and ad spending is falling through the floor. Are we in the beginning stages of the Apocalypse, as Christopher Hitchens would suggest?

Well who knows, although all signs point to, “Hell yeah, we’re screwed.” We’ve been hearing that in terms of business leads (especially real estate), New York is running short. Since it’s nearly impossible to get a loan these days, and media spending just dove from the high dive into a 4-inches-deep pool, it’s really no surprise that growth (for some) has been slow. For example, we heard Posner Advertising, a New York/Florida/California shop is sending folks to Dubai in hopes of drumming up some leads.

Sounds more like an evacuation plan &#151 why the hell would anyone in Dubai pay American prices? For the talent, of course! For example, that of New York based Posner, which we’re told will be opening a Dubai based shop by January of 2009. That according to Win Peniston, VP of business strategy and development.

The agency, with satellites in Miami and LA, is mostly real estate focused. And with a struggling US real estate market, Peniston is headed to the UAE to speak at City Scape Dubai (he was invited).

“What we’re hearing is ‘get here and you’ll be busy as hornets,’ ” said Peniston.

Makes sense, since Dubai has been exploding with new real estate ventures over the past 10 years. But the problem, and the reason Ponser hopes to get busy, is that most of the interest in Dubai is coming from local investors, says Peniston. He believes his agency can help Dubai by attracting travelers and business folk from abroad, mainly Eurpoe. Without their business, he thinks the city is destined for meager growth &#151 a la current economic climate stateside.

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More: “David Droga At Lynx“

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media

LONDON – ITN’s Mark Wood is stepping down as chief executive after six years at the helm to pursue opportunities outside the company. He will remain in his role as chairman for a period of time to assist a smooth transition.

Bond. James Bond. Yes, he’s back for another adrenalin-fueled adventure this November and, yes, brands are lining up to get a piece of the action.

LONDON – Mindshare has poached Mirror Group Newspapers head of advertising planning Suzy Jordan.

LONDON – BBC Worldwide has confirmed the appointment of Chris Dobson, previously Microsoft’s most senior UK commercial employee, as executive vice-president and general manager of global ad sales.

LONDON – Regional publisher Archant is to launch its first website allowing users to access neighbourhood-specific news by the end of the year, adopting the so-called “hyper-local” strategy adopted by Trinity Regionals and Northcliffe Media.

Most agencies pick up the phone and dial for dollars when it comes to pitching new business.

I don’t know or care what anybody out there’s politics are — I just think this is a really funny idea. Well conceived, well-produced, well performed and well targeted.

Telling Jewish grandchildren to schlep to Florida to talk their grandparents into voting for Obama. Clever.

And, really, she is hot and funny and says fuck all the time. Firmly ensconced at the tip top of my list.
And the great part is, since I’m already married to a Sarah – with the proper, Biblical H on the end 😉 – I don’t have to remember another girl’s name. Double-bonus!

One political comment: No matter who you like in this election or why you like them – Vote. Or you have no fucking room to talk.

I gotta say, who ever did the voice over on this Hardee’s ad created by the Los Angeles based Mendelsohn/Zien, I adore. It’s the dry, sardonic tone. Call me a jaded Gen Y’er, but I appreciate it. I also dig on the simplicity of the ad – clean and to the point.

The spot is in support of Hardee’s new push to the economically downtrodden (isn’t that almost everyone?). Five years after Hardee’s introduced their Thickburgers, the chain has created a smaller version – Little Thickburgers. Brad Haley, Hardee’s EVP of Marketing for Hardee’s restaurants said in QSR magazine:

“The only complaint some people have ever had about our Thickburgers is that they were either too big or too expensive to order as much as they would like, particularly in this challenging economic environment. So, we created Little Thickburgers specifically for those people.”

Mendelsohn/Zien has been holding down Hardee’s for years, since 2001. They were the ones to snag Paris Hilton for the “That’s Hot” commercial, in 2005. The agency has this whole burger thing on lock. They’ve have also retained Carl Jr.’s as a client since 1995. And yes, they’ve used Paris Hilton to rep that brand, as well. What do you expect? They’re from LA.

Both brands are part of the CKE family of restaurants, which recently sailed into Wall Street with quarterly profits above expectations.

On that fast food note, Crispin’s Burger King is still weathering the shaky economy, but Wendy’s? Not so much. Kirshenbaum Bond’s client has seen lower profits then competitors, a dismal roll out of a new slogan and a buy out in the past view months. Lets see if Bond can hold onto the account…

More: From Wendy’s To An Advertising Firm

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media

LONDON – Flamboyant interior designer Laurence Llewlyn-Bowen attracted 5m viewers as he traced his family history on BBC One’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, beating ITV1 drama ‘Place of Execution’, according to unofficial overnight figures.