NBA on ESPN Crew Bunks Up for New RV Spot
Posted in: UncategorizedAnother day, another team-up between ESPN and W+K. “Inner Monologue,” the latest 30-second NBA on ESPN RV ad created by W+K New York, answers very important questions about the crew’s sleeping arrangements. Yes, some players and analysts do have to bunk up. Bulls All-Star center Joakim Noah has to sleep in the same bed as ESPN kingpin Bill Simmons, even though neither of them are happy with the situation. Noah, who stands 6’11″, probably has a better argument than Simmons, who is listed at an unconvincing 6’2″. Simmons, for all his Boston sports proclivities, is in bed with a Bull. He’s actually sleeping with the enemy. But wait…as with most of the RV spots, there’s a Jeff Van Gundy punchline. And as usual, it’s the best part of the clip. Not only is Van Gundy funny-looking, but if you’ve been following his RV escapades, whether getting stuck on the stunt double vehicle or trading glasses with Russell Westbrook, you know that JVG is also funny. And in a sports media world that is often lacking in self-deprecation and humor, the silly shtick from the NBA on ESPN panel is always nice to see. Credits after the jump.
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Spinning Horror Into Gold
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Posted in: UncategorizedHyundai Giving Away Another Zombie-Proof Survival Machine in Latest Walking Dead Tie-In
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The new ad in Hyundai's ongoing tie-in with AMC megahit series The Walking Dead features a scruffy bunch of zombiepocalyse survivors who could pass for Woodbury refugees taking shelter with Sheriff Rick and crew. That means they'll probably be dead soon. Sharp sticks will get them only so far against angry hordes of walkers and that pesky black cloud that hangs over our heroes.
The latest commercial, from Innocean USA, helped kick off the drama's fourth season this week and launch the next round of Hyundai's Chop Shop initiative. Fans can win a custom-designed, tricked-out, zombie-proof 2014 Hyundai Tucson in the "Survive and Drive" sweepstakes. If it's anything like the inaugural prize, unveiled at the recent New York Comic-Con, there will be razor wire and machine guns.
Hyundai, an early sponsor of The Walking Dead, has to love this killer alliance. The show's Season 4 premiere pulled in a record-busting 16.1 million viewers, up 30 percent from its previous high-water mark. More Chop Shop-centric ads will debut on Hyundai's social media networks within the next few weeks. See the previews below.
CREDITS
Client: Hyundai Motor America
Spot: "Speech"
Agency: Innocean USA
Executive Creative Director: Greg Braun
Creative Directors: Barney Goldberg, Scott Muckenthaler, Tom Pettus
Art Director: Arnie Presiado
Copywriter: Jeb Quaid
VP, Director of Integrated Production: Jamil Bardowell
Executive Producer, Content: Brandon Boerner
Product Specialist: Lawrence Chow
VP, Account Director: Juli Swingle
Account Supervisor: Darcy Tokita
Account Coordinator: Kohl Samuels
VP, Digital Engagement and Strategy: Uwe Gutschow
VP, Media Planning: Ben Gogley
Media Director: James Zayti
Senior Business Affairs Manager: Lisa Nichols
Project Manager: Dawn Cochran
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks
Director: Mike Maguire
DP: Neil Shapiro
Executive Producer: Colleen O'Donnell
Producer: Tracy Broaddus
Production Supervisor: Mitch Livingston
Casting Agent: Mary Ruth
Editorial Company: Union Editorial
Editor: Jim Haygood
VP Executive Producer: Megan Dahlman
Music Company: Human
Producer: Jonathan Stanford
Telecine Place: Company 3
Online Place: Union Editorial
Record Mix Place: Eleven Sound
Fey and Poehler to Host Golden Globes for 2 More Years
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Posted in: UncategorizedYour Undead Post, Part II: Hyundai Builds Zombie-Killing Machine in ‘Chop Shop’
Posted in: Uncategorized“If you want to survive, listen up.”
So begins Innocean’s new spot “Speech” for Hyundai (Two undead posts in a day? What the hell, it’s October). The speaker of those lines credits his ability to live off the land and fight for his survival, but an onlooker points to his Hyundai zombie-killing vehicle. Although the spot’s attempt at humor falls mostly flat, it was perfectly timed, debuting last night during the premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead. The 30 second spot was also show during Talking Dead last night, while “The Walking Dead Chop Shop” — the site that lets users build their own Zombie Survival Machine — launched during San Diego’s Comic-Con in July. Innocean’s television spot will be accompanied by three digital spots in all — “Speech,” “Cooler” and “Difference — airing on Hyundai’s social media channels.
The spot functions not just as a stand-alone advertisement, but as a way to drive viewers to the “The Walking Dead Chop Shop” site, which is a great tie-in. Actually, I’m kind of not sure if the spot is a tie-in for the site, or the site is a tie-in for the spot. I’m going with the former, since the site existed first. At any rate, we covered “The Walking Dead Chop Shop” back in July, but for the link-averse, here’s a short review: you can use any of three Hyundai vehicles as your base-vehicle and then pimp them out with all kinds of accessories, like razor wire, a “horde plow” and (of course) flame throwers and cattle guns. This isn’t exactly my sort of thing, but it should be a lot of fun for the car/weapon happy and zombie-obsessed. Credits after the jump.
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An Alliance in Media Petitions Justices
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Posted in: UncategorizedFX’s Archer Finally Goes Full Danger Zone in New Promo
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Well, they finally went and did it.
After four solid seasons of douchebaggy secret agent Sterling Archer bellowing "DANGER ZONE!" in a Logginsy falsetto, FX has re-created the hilariously self-serious music video of the action theme from Top Gun. Archer is (of course) Tom Cruise's Maverick, evil psychopath Barry is Val Kilmer's Iceman, Archer's on-again-off-again girlfriend Lana is the Meg Ryan character, and his secret friend with benefits, Pam, is Kelly McGillis. And, of course, poor Cyril is Goose.
The crème de la crème, though, is disturbingly perverted IT guy Krieger as the great Kenny Loggins, leering at the camera in a fashion that seems parodic and over-the-top until you see the actual music video (see below the FX clip).
I wish I could remember the exact moment when Archer became a show I admitted I loved. It was probably around the time Archer started talking about how he "didn't invent the turtleneck, but I was the first to recognize its potential as a tactical garment." It's consistently one of the best-acted shows on TV, especially H. Jon Benjamin as the lead character. And the jokes … well, just watch to the end of the clip.
Strong Start for ‘American Horror Story’
Posted in: UncategorizedThis is the Cutest Football-Related Ad You’ll See All Year
Posted in: UncategorizedThe newly re-branded Philly-based Red Tettemer O’Connell + Partners (who recently expanded with an L.A. office) are behind this super adorbs spot for The Big Ten Network’s BTN2Go mobile platform. Who knew tiny mascots could be so cute? Who knew that I could squeal like a teenage girl upon seeing mini-Bucky Badger? Oh man, I have a lot of self-reflection to do, huh?
For those wondering how BTN2Go works, here’s a write-up:
This multi-platform mobile extension gives fans the ability to watch the network streamed live from wherever they are. Available on desktops, smartphones and tablets, the app is free for any cable subscriber with BTN in their line-up. More than just a live simulcast of games, the app is customizable to set fan’s team preferences, highlights and stats.
But who cares, right? It’s just too cute. Holy shit, so cute. It’s just inspired Kiran to tell me he wants a pet. Bfljeabf! Credits after the jump.
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To a Cinnabon in Omaha, an Offhand Mention on Breaking Bad Was Pretty Sweet
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[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