The company is paying $1.6 billion for LIN Media, another operator of local TV stations, and will run 74 stations in 46 markets. Only Sinclair Broadcasting manages more stations.
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For the first time, the Disney Channel is televising the Radio Disney Music Awards as a special in prime time, and Nickelodeon is adding Kids’ Choice Sports.
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AMC's The Walking Dead is a massive multimedia story line these days, spanning comic books, novels, video games and, of course, the highest-rated series on television. At the epicenter of this sprawling narrative empire is its creator, comic-book writer Robert Kirkman.
So fans were understandably excited this week to see Kirkman offer himself up for a Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything") session. Many of his comments had implications not just for the comics he continues to write each month, but also for the show and other extensions that remain loyal to his vision.
We compiled a few of his more interesting responses, which cover everything from his willingness to kill off beloved characters to his complicated feelings on the TV series' high-profile turnover of showrunners:
1. He's not afraid to kill off Rick.
Q: Is Rick Grimes a "safe" character?
A: Absolutely not. Although when I look in Andrew Lincoln's piercing blue eyes, I feel safe.
2. Even Daryl, a popular show-only character played by Norman Reedus, could get killed off.
Q: How does popularity, if at all, affect the survival rate of characters? Have you ever killed a character just because they were popular and you wanted to shake things up?
A: In my opinion, I feel like characters ripen like fruit. So while I wouldn't say the more popular a character is the more likely they are to die; they do have to reach a certain level of popularity before they've "earned" the death. No character is too popular to die. (Suck it, Reedus!)
Q: How's your relationship with Reedus and the rest of the cast? Does it influence their character's fate?
A: It honestly doesn't. Everybody knows the score and everyone knows what they're getting into when they sign on. I think I have a good relationship with all the actors.
3. He supports AMC's decision to fire the first two showrunners but says he was "only on the sidelines."
Q: I was wondering if you could speak at all about the circumstances surrounding the trend of multiple showrunners (Frank Darabont, Glen Mazzara, Scott Gimple) and what you thought each of them brought to the show?
A: Our showrunner musical-chair routine is not entirely uncommon in television. There have been countless shows that have changed showrunners and some even from season to season. It's unfortunate that this show exists under such a microscope and the behind-the-scenes drama has been pushed into the spotlight … but it's a small price to pay for the success that we've had, so I'll take it.
It would be wrong for me to go into any details on the various changeovers because for the most part I was really only on the sidelines during the changes. Although, I will state for the record that I do agree with AMC's decisions in each case and strongly feel they were only acting with the show's best interests in mind.
I think Frank [Darabont] set the show up with a solid foundation to build upon and gave us a directing and visual style for the show that we still use because it's superb and has been a big part of what makes us stand apart on television. This show wouldn't exist without him and his work on the pilot still holds up as one of our strongest episodes. We were lucky to have a director of his caliber involved in the show from day one.
Glen [Mazzara] was a shot in the arm that the show needed in its second season and his instincts to move story up and really heighten the pace at times was a welcome addition to the show. The level of energy he brought to the show is something we still try to maintain. Personally, Glen was very good to me as a novice television writer and I feel that he was a great teacher whose lessons I still use often on the show. I owe him a lot.
Scott Gimple is an absolute rock star. I think that looking back at Season 4 as a whole it is by far our strongest season. The show is intense when it needs to be and slows down and digs into the interpersonal character drama in ways we never achieved without him. Scott's been integral to the show since he came on board for Season 2 and honestly knows more about this world than I do. (And he definitely remembers the ins and outs of the comic book WAY better than me). I think we'll keep him.
4. He hated the CDC episode in Season 1, but not because it was terrible. He felt it gave away too much.
Q: Why did you not like the mention about France (being a last human stronghold) at the CDC in Season 1?
A: I feel it revealed too much of the world and gave the characters too much information. I prefer the way they're more in the dark about the rest of the world in the comic. For instance, for all they know in the comic, the outbreak is contained on this continent.
5. He likes how The Walking Dead video game series by Telltale Games captures the mood of the series without requiring lots of his input.
Q: How much do you have to do with the Telltale seasons of The Walking Dead? I really enjoy them, but damn they're brutal.
A: At this point, I feel like if I got too involved, I'd just screw things up. I was slightly more involved in Season 1, I think, but really it was just a matter of me approving their story when they ran it by me. The team there did an enormous amount of work to get the tone and feel in line with what I do in the comics before they ever came to me.
Before we started Season 2, they asked me a lot about where I was going in the comic and some things they should avoid, and I gave them some notes, but for the most part, those guys have taken the ball and run with it … to what I think we can all agree is great success.
6. But he hates Activision's critically panned game The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, which he blames on AMC.
Q: Why did you allow them to make Survival Instinct?
A: I'm pretty sure there's an AMC logo before the title of that game and not a picture of my face. If there was a picture of my face in front of the logo, then I'd be completely responsible for that. I can only oversee/be involved in so much … and my efforts were focused more on the Telltale games series.
In all honesty, it was at least cool getting to play Daryl Dixon, right? Right? Come on, guys.
7. Rick's hand wasn't cut off on the TV show because it would require too much CGI and complicate action scenes.
Q: In the Nerdist podcast you said that you wished you hadn't had (*Spoilers*) Rick's hand cut off as it was hard to draw him buttoning up a shirt (and a lot more, but this covers it). When it came time to do the same in the show, you didn't. Was this a financial CGI decision or just a "I get a re-do" decision.
A: To clarify, I think cutting Rick's hand off when we did was great for the comic. It's just that in another medium it would be harder to pull off. We cheat in the comic because things aren't moving. You can't do that on the show. You'd see Rick not being able to reload his gun and things like that.
The CGI of cutting off Rick's hand would be expensive, but we did it with Hershel's leg so if we felt strongly about Rick losing a hand, we'd do it.
8. He has no plans to stop writing The Walking Dead comic books anytime soon.
Q: I remember reading an interview from a while back in which you said you planned on having The Walking Dead span about 300 issues. As of now, is this still the plan for you, or could it continue indefinitely?
A: I do plan on doing at least 300 issues, but if I'm having this much fun, then I won't stop there. Also, if I suddenly start having a lot less fun, I may end it earlier, but I don't see that happening. I'm in for the long haul, and Charlie Adlard is too. As far as a new group/location … not exactly … although there are some really cool changes coming up in issue 127.
For more, read the entire AMA session on Reddit. Also, in case you missed the news, Walking Dead repeats will be coming to broadcast TV with TV-14 edits.
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Mekanism has just launched a new campaign for San Francisco-based shop, Method, “the premier disruptor of the home care category,” featuring a “romantic comedy-style series of TV and online ads, content and social media programs” which will run from March 24 – June 7.
The ads tell the story of Charles and Francine, two opposites who, over the course of the spots, meet, fall in love, and have a baby. Mekanism and Method buck conventions a bit by making Francine the messy one and Charles clean (even if they feel the need to point out that he’s “pretty neat for a guy”). In the first of the spots, the 30-second “They Meet,” Charles finds Francine asleep on his toilet after a night of partying, and Charles wonders how to break the ice. From there, their domestic tale evolves with a series of relatable messes marking milestones in their lives. While not laugh out loud funny, the spots have a pleasant kind of light humor and are quite watchable. The voice over by a man with a strong French accent definitely helps things along, especially in the 15 second “Super Pregnant” where viewers are treated to hearing the words “super pregnant” in said French accent.
“Our story is about opposites attracted to one another,” said Tommy Means, Mekanism founder and executive creative director. “Francine is charming, stylish, impulsive and a bit of a mess not unlike Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Charles on the other hand is clean and orderly. Telling the Method story through the eyes of this odd couple falling for each other is something everyone can relate to.”
Method is also partnering with digital agency Essence to develop and execute its media plan, which marks Method’s first significant foray into online advertising. Stick around for “Easy” after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Havas Worldwide Chicago has launched a new March Madness campaign for DISH Network featuring a new kangaroo mascot, which also marks Havas’ first campaign for the company since being named lead digital agency last summer.
The kangaroo mascot, voiced by Rebel Wilson, makes her debut in the TV spot “Mobile Basketball.” In the 30-second spot, the kangaroo shows off the DISH Network’s capabilities by watching college basketball at work, only pretending to be engaged in actual work when the boss walks by. While the spot never quite hits the humorous mark it’s aiming for, it’s still world’s ahead of the campaign’s painful digital spot, “Fight Song.” As you might have guessed, the 30 second spot is built around a “fight song” for DISH Network (in the style of college team’s fight songs) extolling the Network’s ability to let you watch March Madness games anywhere. “Fight Song” will run on sites like ESPN.com, where it will most likely be muted after approximately 1.2 seconds. Havas’s campaign also includes social media activations on Facebook and Twitter featuring the new mascot. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
McKinney just launched a new campaign for Samsung’s Galaxy Pro series called “It Can Do That.” If that sounds a lot like Apple’s “There’s An App For That” 2009 campaign for the iPhone 3G, Samsung would probably welcome the comparison. Their 60-second television spot takes on Samsung’s competitors in a very direct way.
The first spot in the campaign — also called “It Can Do That” — showcases the Galaxy Pro’s multi-functional capabilities, while disgruntled users of the iPad and Kindle ask “It can do that?” They also take on a Microsoft Surface user, making fun of the fact that his “tablet” has a keyboard, battery dock and mouse. The spot concludes with the tagline, “The Next Big Thing Is Here.” While the approach borders on being a little smarmy and self-satisfied, it certainly does make the competition look bad by pointing out situations where Samsung’s product can do things that their competitors just can’t. You just have to wonder, and this always seems to be the problem with this kind of approach, if they could have pulled this off without making Samsung users seem kind of mean about it. Stick around for credits after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
San Francisco-based Pereira & O’Dell were recently invited onto ABC’s Nightline for a segment exploring the recent “hunkvertising” trend, and even created a “hunkvertisement” for the show.
The five-minute segment, entitled “The Art of the ‘Hunkvertisement’” features executive creative director Jaime Robinson and Renuzit director Chris Applebaum explaining the phenomenon to Nightline reporter Nick Watt. After exploring the ins and outs of “hunkvertising” the pair, along with the rest of their team, coach Watt on how Nightline can appeal to more women, and even film a 30 second “hunkvertisement” for the program produced in-house by P&O’D.
It’s kind of fun to watch Watt struggle with the concept of mixing male sexual objectification and humor in ads targeting women, which he at one point labels “bizarre” and then attempt to star (rather uncomfortably) in his own advertisement. Nightline approaches all kinds of reactions to the supposed trend, including the idea that these kinds of ads empower women, that it’s sexist to assume women need a hot guy to sell them kitchen and household items, and the crazies at One Million Moms doing what they do best (being crazy). The segment runs through a number of prototypical “hunkvertisements” in their examination of the phenomenon, notably Renuzit’s “Scent Gents,” which we’ve included after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Wow, talk about efficient. Fresh off winning the AB InBev Harbin Beer business back in November, BBH China has launched a series of ultra-short television spots for their Harbin Beer World Cup 2014 campaign.
Harbin, the official World Cup sponsor in China, will run the blink-and-you’ve-missed-them spots every night on CCTV1 news and OOH media, where they are expected to reach hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers. As might be expected given the short duration, the ads keep things simple. The above “Freedom Time” exemplifies the approach here: the spot sees a Harbin drinker ignore a call from the boss during the big game, instead using the phone as a coaster. There’s something admirable about the efficiency required of the format, especially in contrast to the lengthy online spots that we see on a daily basis. Check out “Red Card” below, and stick around for the lengthy (7 seconds) “Slide Tackle” after the jump. It won’t even take a minute.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Venables Bell & Partners have released a new, celebrity-packed spot for the release of the new Audi A3 entitled “Dues.”
The 60 second spot features celebrities reciting lines from Queen’s ever-popular “We Are The Champions,” inclduing comedian Ricky Gervais, chef David Chang (of Momofuku fame), photojournalist Lynsey Addario, comedian Kristen Schaal, gold medal winning boxer Claressa Shields, street artists Cyrcle, and inner city church choir Voices of Destiny. Lines to Queen’s anthem are delivered as a means of expressing the uncompromising nature of those who never settle, interspersed with shots of Audi’s latest in action and easing into Audi’s “Whatever you do, stay uncompromised” tagline. Between the bevy of celebrities and the instantly recognizable (and arguably overused) Queen song, the spot should succeed at getting people’s attention.
VB&P’s campaign extends the star power beyond the “Dues” spot, through an online video series called “Uncompromised Portraits” on Audi’s YouTube channel. Some highlights include “Names,” in which a child in the back seat reads mean tweets aloud to Gervais (highlighting the A3′s 4G LTE connectivity), and “Touch,” featuring David Chang showing off the vehicle’s MMI® touchpad with handwriting technology. It’s a clever extension of the campaign that does a lot to highlight the A3′s new features, and in the case of “Names” is arguably more entertaining than the television spot. You can watch “Names” below, and stick around for “Touch” after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
The moment that products appear on television screens, viewers are encouraged to purchase them on their second screens.
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“Mondays With Marlo,” a talk show hosted by Marlo Thomas, the actress and activist, has built an audience by addressing the concerns of women over 35.
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Energy BBDO has called on the talents of comedienne Sarah Silverman for their new campaign for Wrigley’s Orbit gum brand.
Representing Wrigley’s strategy “to restore and grow the gum category by investing in its top brands,” the new U.S. campaign aligns Orbit with a broader global campaign that has driven sales for the company in international markets. The new campaign is centered around a pair of television spots (one 30 seconds, one 15 seconds) starring Silverman. In both spots, Silverman breaks up with the cup of coffee she had that morning, much to the coffee’s dismay; continuing the anthropomorphic trend from last year, but in a decidedly less creepy vein.
In both spots, Silverman breaks the news to that nagging cup of coffee, followed by a “Break up with lingering food” voiceover and the “Eat. Drink. Chew. Orbit.” tagline. Also of note is the fact that Energy BBDO seems to have dumped “Orbit Girl” Vanessa Branch Farris Patton (for this campaign at least), who has been a fixture of Orbit’s campaigns for the past several years, with the “For that just brushed clean feeling” line instead delivered by a male voice actor. We’re not sure what prompted the change, but without her the spots kind of feel like they’re missing something (that touch of “fabulous” I suppose). Stick around for the 15-second “Lipstick” spot after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
DDB Chicago continues bringing out the bizarre for Skittles in a new campaign complete with some perhaps unintended implications.
The new spot features a cloud named Freddie, who, when walked by an elderly woman “rains” Skittles after being pet. Now, the problem with portraying a product as something that comes out of a pet while being walked is…well, pretty obvious right? Okay, I get that Freddie is a cloud and that DDB has been doing strange stuff for Skittles for a while now, but you don’t want viewers asking, “Is that cloud pissing Skittles?” — a distinct possibility here. In the 30-second spot, “Cloud,” Freddie responds very differently when a curious onlooker attempts to pet him, ending with the spot-specific tagline “Pet The Rainbow. Taste The Rainbow.”
The campaign features two more 30-second adverts, each following the same oddball theme, with Freddie going to the vet and the groomers. Additionally, DDB Chicago teamed up with PR agency Olson to build a remote-controlled, Skittles-dispensing cloud. Built from the ground up, the cloud “features two unique dispensing functions and a variety of fun lighting and audio features.” It’s a high-tech evolution of The Rainbow team’s past Skittles-dispensing gifts like pinball machines and vending machines, and a pretty cool extension of the campaign (we’ll hear more about this later in the week). Stick around for credits and “Groomer” after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By David Schwab, Octagon First Call
Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars kicks off Monday night with some big changes—most notably, Erin Andrews is the new co-host, replacing Brooke Burke. Like Burke, Andrews is a past competitor—she finished third on Season 10. Andrews has a strong (mostly male) fan base from her days on ESPN and current gig with Fox Sports, so this new role should make her more of a household name with women. She is already busy in the endorsement space, with current and past deals including Reebok, TruBiotics, Diet Mountain Dew and Ticketmaster. It's also worth noting that Burke is still incredibly relevant and popular with brands, especially with her ModernMom.com platform reaching women 25-54.
Here's a look at our marketing predictions for the new cast:
Drew Carey: Carey has been a TV mainstay for two decades, most recently as the host of The Price Is Right. His endearing humor and nice-guy image will garner him much fanfare and show success. Carey's awareness level among adults 25-54 is twice as much as the average celebrity comedic personality, and DWTS will only increase that. His inspiring 80-pound weight loss over the last few years was a big media draw and gives Carey added relevance in the health and wellness space. As DWTS draws back the curtain on Carey's off-screen life and interests, look for opportunities with brands and organizations in the photography (he is an amateur photographer), health/nutrition and literacy (he is a strong advocate for libraries) spaces.
Candace Cameron Bure: Bure played DJ on the ABC show Full House and has made several appearances in television and film since the show ended in 1995. A devout Christian and mother of three, she has written two books about her approach to juggling motherhood; her most recent sparked a minor controversy in regards to her family structure. Still, she will be of interest to wholesome, family-targeted programs, and there are always plenty of mom-driven PR campaigns popping up. Working in her favor is the fanfare surrounding Full House after John Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier reunited for an Oikos Super Bowl commercial. It would be fun to see them and other Full House castmates show up to cheer her on and further fuel cast-reunion buzz.
Danica McKellar: Another child TV star turned nostalgia icon, McKellar is still best known for her role as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, but she has also authored four books on mathematics primarily targeted at adolescent readers (check out her "Pi Day" tweet from last Friday). A television veteran with a mass-appealing platform of youth empowerment and education, McKellar has all the makings of a fan favorite. Prime for the brand space, she is obviously great for education/academic-focused brands (LeapFrog, TI, Teach for America, etc.) or brands looking to activate with an intellectual spin (e.g., Gillette's "How Does Superman Shave?" campaign). Beauty, health and apparel brands should also watch closely as Danica is attractive, too.
NeNe Leakes: Leakes transitioned from The Real Housewives of Atlanta to a starring role in the short-lived NBC sitcom The New Normal and a continued recurring role on Fox's Glee. Her vibrant personality is sure to be a hit with viewers and will deliver some entertaining postperformance banter with the judges. She has participated in past marketing partnerships with Pretzelmaker and Sears. She made a smart choice to join DWTS, which could further incite interest from brands looking to activate campaigns that need a "larger than life" personality. More of a bump in marketing, not a mainstay.
Cody Simpson: At just 17 years old, Simpson is the youngest competitor this season. The Australian pop star is one of two cast members DWTS is likely banking on to bring in younger viewers this season. Unlike past teen stars on the show who hadn't resonated for brands yet, Simpson has already partnered with Bing, Jay Jays clothing and Teen Cancer America. His burgeoning music career sets him apart from past teen competitors who were associated only with Disney shows. Categories to consider would be soda, tech and shoe/accessory lines. Solid fan base of almost 6.5 million Twitter fans.
Meryl Davis and Charlie White: We anticipated a surge in Davis and White's marketability following their Winter Olympics gold medal performance and even mentioned that competing slots on DWTS would be most advantageous for them. They are not completely new to the DWTS family, as pro Derek Hough choreographed their Olympic routine. Davis and White were prominently featured in Kellogg's, Visa and P&G TV ads around Sochi, and those brands should take advantage of this extended spotlight. I don't see many new marketing deals but definitely an increase of performance fees at skating shows around the country.
Amy Purdy: As a Paralympian (bronze medalist, snowboarding), Purdy is the best human-interest story in the field. She is a double amputee and also underwent a kidney transplant from her father at 21 years old. Her magnetic personality, undeniable athleticism and inspiring story have already attracted brands including Toyota, Kellogg's and Runway. An occasional actress, she's also comfortable playing to a camera and being on the national stage. DWTS will introduce her to a whole new wave of opportunities and a definite future in motivational corporate and public speaking.
James Maslow: Maslow, 23, is the latest in a long tradition of young stars competing on DWTS (see Simpson above). As Disney is the parent company of DWTS network ABC, most young competitors have come from Disney Channel properties, but Maslow launched his career on competing network Nickelodeon's hit show/boy band Big Time Rush. A run on DWTS could help propel him as a solo musician (the show ended last year, and the future of the band is still TBD).
Diana Nyad: After years of preparations and four failed attempts, Nyad in 2013 became the first person to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys without a shark cage. Her endurance and no-quit attitude are obvious and should mitigate her advanced age (64) in terms of the competition. She is already an established motivational speaker, and the DWTS exposure will introduce her to further corporate speaking opportunities as brand execs tune in and track the cast throughout the season. However, she probably won't draw the same interest for marketing deals that her fellow competitors will.
Billy Dee Williams: At 76, Williams is the oldest competitor in this season's cast. He is rumored to be returning for the next installment of the Star Wars franchise, which could make this DWTS stint the beginning of a late-career renaissance for him. During his heyday, Williams was most famously the spokesperson for Colt 45 malt liquor, but we see few marketing opportunities for him post-DWTS. He probably won't be the one to do the typical PR runaround in New York or L.A., but his built-in sci-fi fan base and likable persona could potentially still be leveraged in digital content and marketing activations at sci-fi focused events (e.g., Comic-Con).
Sean Avery: Avery is a former NHL-er who spent the prime of his career with the New York Rangers and in the penalty box. He built a reputation as a bad boy during his hockey career, so expect him to carry that mantle throughout the DWTS season. Following his retirement from hockey, Avery modeled in campaigns for 7 for All Mankind (directed by James Franco) and Hickey Freeman. While Avery has tried to showcase the dynamics of his personality over the years, DWTS may not help his cause as he will be fighting an uphill battle to shine through a mix of personalities who are better known, have stronger and more positive backstories and/or have stronger marketability. He is the first hockey player to compete on DWTS, but that won't mean much to brands.
David Schwab is managing director of Octagon First Call, experts in aligning celebrities with brands to deliver a quantifiable return on objectives. Follow him at @david_schwab.
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Today, Budweiser has officially launched its “Rise As One” campaign, developed by Anomaly, to promote its sponsorship of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The basis of the campaign is a “fully integrated, global content series” centered around the the theme of honoring “the moments that unite football fans worldwide.”
Highlighting the campaign is the new spot “Believe As One,” which made its digital debut today and will air internationally as anticipation for the World Cup continues to grow. The new spot, filmed in black and white by director Garth Davis “to truly highlight the passion and pride for the sport that unites fans around the world, irrespective of the team they support” stokes anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil by showing the almost religious fervor fans across the globe bring to the game. The 60-second spot concludes with a group triumphantly raising their beers, followed by the “Rise As One” tagline.
“Football is unique in its ability to unite fans all over the globe and its unifying power is never more evident than when the world comes together during the FIFA World Cup,” Andrew Sneyd, Budweiser global VP, explains in a statement. “Through the ‘Rise As One‘ campaign and our new spot ‘Believe As One,’ Budweiser showcases the passion and building anticipation shared by fans and players the world over.”
In addition to the new spot, the folks at VICE (who are everywhere these days) are getting in on the action, partnering with Anomaly and Budweiser to launch “Budweiser Heroes,” which showcases “the real-life stories of individuals who have made a significant impact in their community and how their love of football transformed the lives of everyday people.” Beginning today, Budweiser is calling on fans to submit their own “Budweiser Heroes” stories. Budweiser and Vice will also be creating a series of digital shorts to serve as inspiration for the program. A few chosen winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, tickets to a football match and a three-day stay at the Budweiser Hotel in Rio de Janeiro.” You can learn more about the “Rise As One” campaign at the official website, and stick around for credits after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
W+K Portland have launched an campaign for Old Spice’s new line of electric shavers and trimmers (price range: $50-80), and have enlisted the help of a familiar face to help launch the new products.
Current Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews, who helped introduce Old Spice Shave Gel last year with the spot “Baby”, returns to help market Old Spice’s foray into the shavers and trimmers world. The 45-second digital effort, “Get Shaved in the Face,” is reminiscent of Crews’ iconic work for the brand from years past, with a predictable amount of screaming and general mishigas. In the spot, Crews is in the process of shaving when a mini-crews realizes that he is a hair. As you might expect, things get pretty crazy by the conclusion of the spot, which you can watch for yourself above.
While the strategy might not have the shock value it did years ago, it makes a lot of sense to call on the iconic Crews for the introduction of a new product line. Among the products being introduced are: Old Spice Hair Clipper (“Like a lawn mower for your hair with 8 adjustable settings.”), Old Spice Beard and Head Trimmer, and Old Spice Shaver (“Like 3 smooth barbers for your face, this shaver features a triple-action cutting system with twin foils that shave off stubble and an integrated cutter that shortens longer hairs…”). Stay tuned for credits and a “Baby” refresher after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Funding is still off sharply from the 2008 fiscal year, but 35 states have set aside about $191.5 million for 2014.
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Crown Media Holdings, ABC Family and Nickelodeon Group are among companies that are highlighting original series in upfront presentations, so called because they promote the fall season.
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Culver City, CA-based Pitch has just launched an NCAA March Madness campaign for tournament sponsor Burger King, the agency’s first since taking over for Mother NY on BK general market duties in January (Pitch has been in charge of youth/family ad duties since 2010).
For the campaign, entitled “Watch Like A King,” Burger King and Pitch have teamed up with iconic Fab Five member, former NBA star and current NBA TV/TNT analyst Chris Webber, who stars in the Final Four 2 for $5 “Watch Like A King” spot. The 30 second spot sees a fan tell the guy in front of him in a Chris Webber jersey, “Seriously dude, we’re trying to watch the…” at which point Webber turns around and the man lets out a comical scream. Webber then asks him about his two sandwiches for five bucks from Burger King, and they work out a mutually beneficial agreement. The new spot, which unfortunately does not involve Webber attempting to call a timeout, will debut on March 16th. Webber will also be in attendance at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Dallas cheering on participants of the Burger King-sponsored Kings of the Court 3-on-3 Tournament.
Meanwhile, from today through April 7th, fans can follow @BurgerKing on Twitter and tweet why they deserve to “Watch Like A King” and/or post a NCAA-themed photo with the hashtag #WatchLikeAKing for a chance to win a prize, including “$100 Burger King Crown Cards, mobile phone projectors, flat screen TVs, tickets to the NCAA Final Four and much more.”
“We know March Madness is about the fans, games and of course the student-athletes, so we’re celebrating by partnering with the NCAA to provide the fan base with a viewing experience fit for a king,” says Eric Hirschhorn, chief marketing officer, North America, Burger King Worldwide.
In addition to television and social media, Pitch’s “Watch Like A King” campaign will also feature experiential elements, details of which have yet to be released (but according to the credits you can expect “Throne Installation” and “Crown Headbands,” so that should give you some idea). Stick around for those credits after the jump. continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
The drama was co-written by Andrew Ross Sorkin, whose nonfiction book “Too Big to Fail” was turned into a movie for HBO.
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This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
