Hasta La Creative!

[Mild Breaking Bad spoiler ahead.]

In "Granite State," the penultimate episode of Breaking Bad's final season, Saul Goodman, contemplating his future with a new identity away from New Mexico, makes an offhand reference to a certain cinnamon-roll chain. "If I'm lucky," he says, "in a month from now, best-case scenario, I'm managing a Cinnabon in Omaha."

It took a little while, but naturally, a manager at a Cinnabon in Omaha couldn't let that go without a response.

A spokesperson for Cinnabon confirmed to Consumerist that the sign above, outside an Omaha location, is real and was approved by corporate. It might not be the most stunning creative execution, but kudos to the manager for making the most of what, in the end, wasn't the most flattering reference. (Perhaps he took his cues from the Belize Tourism Board, which earlier in the season embraced a very unflattering mention on Breaking Bad—the use of the phrase "taking a trip to Belize" as a euphemism for getting murdered.)

Cinnabon corporate was quicker to respond to Saul's quip. Check out the tweet below, linking to Cinnabon's careers page, made on the very night "Granite State" aired.

. @mrbobodenkirk When you're ready http://t.co/fynwXF6W9c #BreakingBad

— Cinnabon (@Cinnabon) September 23, 2013

Nest, the brand that reinvented the clunky old thermostat into something swank and intuitive, has just announced its new creation: a smoke detector that isn't super annoying.

In a promotional video for the Nest Protect, now available for pre-order, we see that the device actually announces when there's danger and how panicked you should be. "Heads up, there's smoke in the bedroom," the device says when a small candle is left burning unattended. In situations where smoke really starts billowing, the device blinks red, emits a warning tone and says, "Emergency, there's smoke in the living room."

Like the Nest thermostat, the Protect is WiFi enabled and communicates with your smartphone or tablet while you're away. There's also a motion-activated light to help you get around at night. And if the device is concerned about something minor, like a slightly burnt casserole, you can "hush it" with a wave of your hand.

Of course, there will once again be the issue of sticker shock. Just as the $249 retail price has made many homeowners reluctant to level up their thermostats, the new Nest Protect might be a tough sell for some at $129. Either way, it's good to see that Nest CEO Tony Fadell, the "father of the iPod," still has his sights set on giving more humdrum appliances an Apple-inspired upgrade.

You would think only joyful celebration would follow the news that Starbucks has created the "Duffin," a doughnut-muffin crossover pastry. But instead, we've ended up with Duffingate, a tempest in a Twitter teapot.

The story starts a few years back, when a small British bakery chain, Bea's of Bloomsbury, began selling its own jam-filled doughnut-textured muffin that customers would soon dub the Duffin. All was right with the world until last week, when Starbucks U.K. announced its own Duffin—and even had its supplier, Rich Products, trademark the name.

"I never trademarked the name duffin because I didn't think it was necessary," Bea's chef Bea Vo tells the Guardian. "We are a tiny independent—can we afford to fight this trademark and any future cease-and-desist letter? No."

Starbucks reportedly says it won't enforce the trademark, but that hasn't stopped the digital fist-shaking from small business advocates." Another reason to boycott Starbucks," notes one Londoner, "if the terrible coffee is not enough."

It may go without saying that NFL fans have an insatiable desire to get close to their gridiron heroes, whether that means having them coach a local peewee team or teaching them a customized victory dance. Some of those fantasies work out better than others, according to new spots from BBDO and Atmosphere Proximity for longtime NFL sponsor Visa.

As part of a season-stretching promotion to give fans an ultimate NFL experience, Visa is gathering fans' dreams on Twitter and Instagram under the hashtag #MyFootballFantasy. Not all of those will revolve around goofy end-zone movements, if luck is on the players' sides. The dreams could be anything, really, but they're capped at a cash value of $100,000. Plenty of leeway there?

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones stars in a BBDO spot that broke this week for the ongoing campaign, where the origins of his victory shuffle are revealed. Hint: chubby superfan with a white-guy overbite. (In a bit of bad timing for Visa, Jones's season could actually be over already due to injury.) Still to come: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees fulfilling another sample fantasy. The real winners will emerge before the Super Bowl.

Check out the Jones spot below and the kickoff for the promo, a commercial with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh going medieval on some pint-sized football players. Dad didn't think that one through very well.

CREDITS
Client: Visa
Spot: "Dance Fever"
Agencies: BBDO, New York; Atmosphere Proximity, New York
Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars
Executive Creative Directors: Toygar Bazarkaya, Tom Markham
Associate Creative Directors: Kim Baskinger, Rey Martinez
Art Director: Jamie McGaw
Copywriter: Mike Folino
Group Executive Producer: Brian Mitchell
Executive Music, Radio Producer: Loren Parkins
Associate Producer: Georgie Turner

Senior Account Director: Olivia Farr
Group Account Director: Mark Pileggi
Account Director: Joe Prota
Account Manager: Jessica Sinto

Agency: MRY
Associate Creative Director: Ben Waldman
Account Supervisor: Ariel Feigenbaum
Production Assistant: Samantha McGrane

Production Company: Traktor
Director: Traktor
Executive Producer: Richard Ulfvengren
Head of Production: Rani Melendez

Editing Company: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Carlos Arias
Producer: Lauren Cancelosi

Visual Effects: MPC

Audio Mix: Sonic Union
Mixer: Michael Marinelli
Mixer: Paul Weiss

Velocity Sports & Entertainment
Senior Manager: Kevin Solomon

Two premium meats—Kate Upton and Snoop Dogg—team up for this wildly ludicrous new music video for Hot Pockets, which humorously remixes Biz Markie's 1989 hit single "Just a Friend (You Got What I Need)" as "You Got What I Eat."

Lines like "I need your hot buttery crust" and "It's my premium meats that make your lips sing a song" are mixed in with lots of marijuana references and psychedelic imagery to produce a crispy finished product that's both fake and flavorful—just like Hot Pockets.

"I love working with the Hot Pockets sandwiches team," Snoop says in a statement. "They let me do what I do and bring the funk out with their message, you know? We needed to top [previous video] 'Pocket Like It's Hot,' and this video is so dope. It's funnier, and we got the flyest girl in it with me."

"I love the premium meats and the buttery seasoned crusts of the new Hot Pockets sandwiches," adds Upton. "I'm excited to hear which side the fans pick in this IRRESISTIBLY HOT™ battle!"

She's referring to a public vote being held at hotpockets.com pitting #TeamCrust against #TeamMeat in a battle to the death over which Pocket part is preferable.

Full lyrics below.

FULL LYRICS:
One, two, three to the heat
Stop counting sheep,
And move your feet to the beat
I bet you're wonderin'
"Who are you?"
The baker who made new
HOT POCKETS come true
Now let me give you an introduction
To the Master Baker of this production
You know he bakes here
You know he bakes there
He be baking all day
I bake everywhere
Wanna bake with me?
Then come on in
We light up taste buds
From beginning to end
My buttery seasoning so hip
It drips
Tastes so good
Gotta lick your lips
Smell my savory garlic
but don't disturb
The garden where I grow
flavor-fantastic-al herbs
…his flavor-fantastical herbs.
–
YOU… YOU Got What I Eeeeaaattt!
You say you're just a baker
But you're my HOT POCKETS maker

Oh baby, YOU… YOU Got
What I Eeeeaaattt!
You got the hot buttery crust
I need your hot buttery crust
–
Hold up, hold up
My friend's gotta beef with you
Take a step back baker
The Butcher's coming through
I see you like the crust
well I like it too
But without my premium meats
You got nothing to chew
See I'm the Master Butcher
And I bow down to zero
Online they call me
The 8-Bit hero
I fly cross the land
So my flocks are protected
Try to come for my beef
And ya gonna get rejected
Cuz if you step to me
Ya gonna get stuck
As your head takes a buck
From pepperoni nun-chucks
He's got premium meats,
The cream of the crop
Welcome to my B.I.G.G.
Butcher's shop…..ya heaarrdd
–
YOU… YOU Got What I Eeeeaaattt!
You make the Steak and Cheese
That brings me to my knees

Oh baby, YOU… YOU Got What I Eeeeaaattt!
The flavor is so sweet
You know how to spice that meat
–
Now I know the Butcher
Likes to take credit for the show
But there's a reason that my bakery
Is rollin' in the dough
Listen little baby
Don't fall for the cuts
It's the buttery crust
That makes you want it so much

Don't listen to him, girl
He's been baking too long
It's my premium meats,
that make your lips sing a song
When that sauce heats up
The pepperonis do the rest
It's exactly why my new
HOT POCKETS are the best
–
No no no… YOU, both Got What I Eeeeaaattt!
I love your buttery crust
But I love that meat just as much

Oh YOU… both Got What I Eeeeaaattt!
You got all my hot treats
You both make me complete

Telling the average adult to skip meat, or at least eat mutton instead of beef, is a pretty tough sell. But European designer and water-conservation advocate Angela Morelli is definitely up to the challenge with her interactive infographic, "The Water We Eat."

Morelli uses clear explanations and minimalist graphics to explain how the processes behind food production mean we each essentially "eat" 3,496 liters (923 gallons) of water per day. Most jarringly, she contrasts the fact that we use only 137 liters a day for bathing, cleaning, cooking and flushing, while the process of creating one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of beef requires 15,400 liters (4,068 gallons) of water.

Although Morelli created the infographic last year based on a presentation she had been delivering internationally, the site is still gathering momentum and reaching new audiences, such as the social-causes marketing blog Osocio. One reason for the graphic's success in changing perspectives is the practicality of Morelli's proposed solutions: Avoid wasting food; skip meat at least one day a week; and try to buy grass-fed meats.

May I recommend you start with a nice MLT?

Prankvertising can be annoying. Aggressively messing with people for questionable purposes is, after all, obnoxious behavior. But when it promotes something that is intended itself to be scary, it can be irresistible.

In that vein, Thinkmodo is getting rather good at public horror-movie stunts. First, it got a creepy chick to literally bend over backwards in a beauty salon for The Last Exorcism Part II. Now, it gets another creepy chick to show off freaky telekinetic superpowers in a coffee shop for Carrie—the upcoming horror film based on Stephen King's 1974 novel.

The looks on the patrons' faces are priceless. (For a change, it's not difficult to imagine these are real people, rather than actors.) Not insignificantly, the stunt ties seamlessly into the product, too—terrifying people also happens to be the point of the movie. 

And there's a levity here, too—unlike, say, stunts for flat-screen TVs that make you think the world is ending.

If you're a federal employee with some time on your hands, Vibrators.com has something they'd like to put in those hands—for free!

That's right, the e-commerce hub that bills itself as "the easiest way to find the perfect vibrator" is currently giving away 200 free vibrators a day to help idle workers go from being furloughed to dil-doughed. And demand is brisk, with the first batch snatched up by midday today, though another 200 will be made available each day until the crisis ends. Just use the promo code "shutdown" to unlock the free offer, which the Vibrators.com crew admit is a bit of a security flaw: "Order one even though you are not a furloughed federal employee and we won't really know, but Karma will get you."

Unfortunately, the 200-vibrator limit has to be enforced because "more than that and it will slow down our warehouse and prevent timely delivery of our paying customers' orders." You can almost hear the frenzied commotion of the vibrator warehouse, where forklift drivers are working late into the night, loading a fleet of tractor trailers with crate after crate of the undulating orifice tinglers that are keeping America running.

Via Philly.com.

The only thing better than Will Ferrell doing brilliantly stupid ads as Will Ferrell? Will Ferrell doing brilliantly stupid ads as Ron Burgundy.

As we mentioned on Friday, Ferrell has filmed some spots for the Dodge Durango as his Anchorman character ahead of the release of Paramount Pictures' Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Check out the first six spots below. The first few aired on TV this weekend, and Ferrell perfects the role of comically idiotic pitchman—with help from a roomy glove box and a "worthless" horse. The ballroom spots will premiere tonight on Dancing With the Stars.

Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, Ore., worked with Funny or Die writers on the scripts. FoD's production arm, Gifted Youth, which also produced Ferrell's famously offbeat Old Milwaukee ads, teamed with Caviar to co-produce this work. This is just the beginning, too. Chrysler chief marketing officer Olivier Francois told the ANA Masters of Marketing conference in Phoenix on Friday that this is "just a little appetizer," and that Chrysler was producing another 67 videos for the Web. "It's massive," he said.

CREDITS
Client: Dodge Durango

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore.
Creative Directors: Aaron Allen, Kevin Jones, Michael Tabtabai
Copywriter: Mike Egan
Art Director: John Dwight
Interactive Art Director: Chuck Carlson
Producer: Monica Ranes
Account Team: Kyleen Caley, Lani Reichenbach
Business Affairs Manager: Dusty Slowik
Executive Producer: Corey Bartha
Executive Creative Directors: Joe Staples, Susan Hoffman
Head of Production: Ben Grylewicz

Co-Writing Company: Funny or Die

Production Companies: The Gifted Youth, Caviar
Director: Jake Syzmanski
Executive Producers (Gifted Youth): Chris Bruss, Dal Wolf, Josh Martin, Ryan McNeely
Executive Producers (Caviar): Jasper Thomlinson, Michael Sagol
Line Producer: Stephan Mohammed
Director of Photography: Tim Hudson

Editing Company: Arcade
Editor: Geoff Hounsell
Post Producer: Leslie Carthy
Post Executive Producer: Nicole Visram

Visual Effects Company: Method
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ben Walsh
Lead Flame Artist: Claus Hansen
Visual Effects Producer: Colin Clarry
Executive Producer: Robert Owens
Titles, Graphics: Trailer Park, W+K Motion

Color Correction: Company 3
Colorist: Dave Hussey
DI Producer: Denise Brown

Song: “Grazing in The Grass,” The Friends of Distinction

Mix Company: Barking Owl
Mixer: Brock Babcock
Producer: Kelly Bayett

Ever have that dream where you look down and realize you're wearing only your underwear? Not me. That dream's for losers. The people in Crispin Porter + Bogusky's first work for Fruit of Loom don't seem to mind it, though. In fact, they've never felt better.

One ad features a pit crew at a racetrack working in their boxers, as jokey narration assures us, "This crew's not having to recalibrate their own nuts and bolts in front of 20 million fans." In another, stuntwoman Mickey Facchinello, clad in bra and panties, leaps from exploding buildings and over exploding cars while shooting a ninja-commando movie, as we're warned, "Do not attempt unless you’re a professional on a closed course wearing the right underwear." Ha ha, "professional" is such a funny word. The "Start Happy" tagline reinforces the message that beginning with the right underwear makes everything better.

In a related promotion, the brand is offering free underwear to thousands of LinkedIn users who find new employment in October. (They might consider wearing proper business attire over those freebies on the first day, just in case.) 

The accent throughout is on comfort, never a bad strategy for the category, though the goofy Fruit of the Loom mascots are sorely missed. (Rock on, Giant Singing Apple—I love you, man!) The new stuff is certainly fun and fresh—one hopes it's fresh, at any rate. Still, it doesn't quite scale the dizzying heights of Paul Smith's recent underwear endeavor.