Hasta La Creative!

It’s been about a decade since South Park truly offended anyone. But this subway ad, featuring a character from the show nervously awaiting “a giant red probe that’s about to be shoved up his backside,” has some riders of Toronto mass transit squirming in their own seats. For research purposes, we did a quick Google search for “anal probe” and “advertising,” and were not all that surprised to see a George Parker post about Saatchi & Saatchi come back as the top hit. George doesn’t ride Toronto subways that much, though, so he’s probably safe from the censors.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

(TrendHunter.com) I found out about Joao Sabino whilst looking at the keyboard bag (shown below) which led me to his website and in turn, a large section of some of his awesome designs.

I think the way he reinvents objects, such as the wine glasses, is really fresh and actually different, for once showing you can re…

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — After nearly four decades, Y&R has lost the Dr Pepper account. The brand said it has handed its creative account to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Deutsch Los Angeles. Y&R, San Francisco, will remain the agency of record for Diet Dr Pepper, Sunkist, 7UP, A&W and Canada Dry.

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Jacqueline Hernandez, publisher of People en Espanol, is moving to NBC Universal-owned Telemundo Communications Group as chief operating officer, a new post. She will be responsible for both Telemundo, the No. 2 Spanish-language network, and Telemundo's Hispanic youth cable channel mun2.

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) — Visa woes dampened the opening of the International Advertising Association's 41st World Congress today, as nearly a quarter of attendees were prevented from coming.

Want to hear an interesting conversation about social media and it’s impact on marketing, advertising, public relations and journalism?

LOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) — When MySpace TV started airing the celebrity fashion show "Who What Wear" early in December 2007, it was bereft of corporate sponsors. More recently, however, the show has found an unlikely sponsor in McDonald's, which hopes to attract fashionable and affluent customers.

Talk about a schmear campaign. Ha ha! That’s a silly pun, but consider the inspiration: Kraft’s Bagel-fuls (not shown here), which are frozen bagel sticks with Philadelphia cream cheese wedged inside. Bagel sticks? Do the laws of physics permit such atrocities? Look, some things are better pre-filled. Pens come to mind. Jelly donuts. Any kind of donuts, really. Calzones. Hot Pockets. (Imagine an empty Hot Pocket. Not so great.) Bagels, however, have a hallowed tradition. The spreading of cream cheese, or one’s other favorite topping, is part of the ritual. If it’s good enough for Albert Einstein—or even Einstein Bros. Bagels—it’s good enough for me. (God, I could go for some Hot Pockets right now. And yes, I’ll eat all of them and leave the empty box in the lunch-room microwave. It’s my right!)

—Posted by David Gianatasio

The Association of National Advertisers has once again asked 157 senior marketers what their top priorities are.

For the second year in a row, the number one response was integrated marketing communications.

Here’s how CMOs and other senior marketers see their challenges:

1. Integrated marketing communications

2. Marketing accountability

3. Aligning marketing organization with innovation

4. Brand building

5. Media proliferation

6. Advertising creative that achieves business results

7. Consumer control over what and how they view advertising

8. Attracting and retaining top talent

9. Globalization of marketing efforts

10. Multicultural marketing

The creative professionals in our audience will, no doubt, be thrilled to see number six in that sub top-five slot.

LONDON – Integrated agency Exposure has appointed Robin Gadsby as its new managing director in the wake of the departure of Mark Stringer in February following discussions over his future role.