Maybe Mr. T is Pretty Handy With Computers

This ad is fantastic. Like the kind that makes you want to go buy the product. The kind that makes you laugh until the guy two desks over asks you to stop. The kind that makes you wish the A-team would get back together for one more reunion special. The kind that makes you…I guess that’s enough.

For anyone who has ever gotten totally obsessed with any game like World of Warcraft, Mr. T portrays the feelings perfectly. And he has probably never played the game in his life. Or any video game, for that matter. I’m pretty sure if T really tried to play a video game, he would smash the controller, console, TV, coffee table, and walls if he got frustrated.

So either he has never played, he has played and is the best player ever, or he has Home Depot on speedial (to repair the holes in the walls, of course). I’m like a quarter of his size, and I’ve put some controller-sized holes in walls after a frustrating game of Madden.

Anyway, the spot is great, better even than the Toyota Tundra WoW spot. Please enjoy.

kudos to Kotaku for the heads up

Spoof That is So Right

So now I’ve written three or four posts on that incredible Cadbury Gorilla commercial. But now Adfreak is reporting that Wonderbra has created an awesome spoof of the now famous Gorilla Drummer. Right down to the opening nose twitching. And then they added…boobs. Well you can see for yourself here. Or now check it out below:

To me, this is great work for Wonderbra. They clearly have ear close to the ground, and have caught all the buzz on the Cadbury’s spot. They found a good (and not annoying or destructive) way to include their key brand concept. Great, and so very watchable. Enjoy (and don’t kill me Marisa!)

Behind the Scenes with Cadbury Gorilla

We have all seen some incredible animatronics in our time. But the most popular lately has no doubt been that gorilla from Cadbury’s. Their spot for Dairy Milk has been an internet phenomenon, helped relaunch Phil Collins to a new generation, and has even (gasp) boosted sales! It seems good creative and a well placed viral ad still works afterall.

Daily Mail, an online paper from the Brits, has written a comprehensive guide on everything Cadbury Gorilla.

The article reports all kinds of fun facts about the gorilla, from the actor behind the mask to the tech that makes it possible. Check out the full article here for more. Thanks to Adfreks for the tip-off.

Cadbury Gorilla Spotting

The Cadbury Gorilla commercial has been one of my all-time favorites since it premiered. I love that damn gorilla!  Check my post of it here.

But today I was watching the NFL preview show on ESPN and this ad comes on. What the heck? That’s my Cadbury gorilla dammit! Get your mitts off him, AXA Equitable.

I wanted to let you be the judge: is that the same gorilla or what? Check out another AXA Equitable ad from YouTube. If it isn’t, is there some crazy advertising gorilla trend starting up here late in ‘07? God I hope so. I love gorillas.

Plenty of posts this week, last one was a crazy one for me.

OK eBay, You Win!

So after I thrashed eBay’s windorphins campaign here and then posted some good old eBay campaigns here, I went over to my good buddies at Agency Spy and watched the latest ad for the windorphins campaign.

Alright, its cute. I’m so glad they got rid of those damn annoying little windorphins blobs. And I’m so happy they didn’t go with the “doctors” concept they illustrated on their windorphins website. Instead, they centered on the windorphins concept, which I think is good in abstract and doesn’t need to be the narrow focus of the entire campaign. I think they have a great idea here, displaying what the ‘race’ to win an eBay contest is like in metaphor.

Stay with the ‘cute’ idea eBay. Your service is simple and easy to use. Many people, from kids to stay-at-home moms, use your product. Keep the humor light and the message simple. I really enjoy that.

Read more with Agency Spy’s coverage here

Better Be Nice to Your Dog

Saw this over at Cool Loking Ads, also known as the Official Cannes Lions blog.  (And by the way, that is no typo – the site is actually spelled ‘loking’.  I don’t get it, but who am I to judge?)

I think this is a cool, original way of looking at the man-dog relationship. Instead of actually showing the dog relaxing in their favorite spot, the image shows the aftermath, with the human owner uncomfortably situated on the floor.

These ads came not just from extensive numbers research, but also from consumer insights. These insights create an instant emotional connection with dog owners, who are their target. It definitely brought a knowing smile to my face, as I thought about moving Marisa’s golden from his favorite spot.

The art is good too, with the lighting and design separating these ads from traditional dog food fare. Taking the dog out of the ad made it that much more eye-catching and appealing.

My only question is: is the dog food really called Crack Active? Sounds pretty scary.

Sorry eBay!

So as a dedicated eBay user, I feel really bad that I ripped their windorphins campaign a new one. But come on it really is annoying and terrible.

They have done better, and I have no doubt they will in the future.

To recognize some of their past work, I dedicate this post to eBay and their marketing work. I’m still trying to find some of the “it” commercials from this past year, but here are a few I grabbed quick.

I feel like these show the eBay benefit really well, are cute, and are sometimes hilarious. They really create a personality for the eBay brand and I am happy when I catch them on TV.

I also really enjoy the “it” campaign, so I will be looking for that throughout the day today. Sorry about the windorphins campaign, but I hope it dies a quick and painless death.

Skaters Get Beamed Up

So after seeing this EA ad for Playstation 3 over at AdRants, I decided to check up on my favorite agency, 72 and Sunny. I wanted to watch their DC Ads again, and see what else they were up to. Luckily, I found a YouTube copy of one of the spots 72 and Sunny made for DC Shoes so this time I can include it for everyone who is too lazy to drop on over to the 72 and Sunny site.

What is most important about this spot is, it’s cool to the SKATERS. To the crowd that already owns the product. They aren’t just trying to convince new little converts to beg their parents for a skateboard. That’s part of the goal, sure, but they are also showing their support for skaters as talented athletes. And they made an video that’s purely entertaining on top of it. That’s something that is sorely lacking in a lot of the “extreme” sport (for lack of a better term – can someone make one up please?) advertising. Don’t just try to convert new groms, but give some support and entertainment to the already converted who are out there busting their butts (literally).

Anyway, I’m over on the 72 and Sunny website and I see a link for spots they did for G4 TV. I’m a recent G4 evangelist, I just started watching “Ninja Warrior” a few weeks ago, but now I’m hooked. So I checked out the spots, and they are amazing. Here is one for Star Trek (the original), which G4 is now playing weeknights at 11 pm.

So good! There are others, like a Star Trek Cribs, and some Man Show ads. The animation is absolutely incredible, so fun to watch. And I won’t forget that Star Trek runs 11 pm on G4 either.

72 and Sunny seems to have it exactly right – pull in creatives from all kinds of backgrounds, throw them together, and watch creativity inspire creativity. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and amazing things can happen. Be motivated to let your product drive innovation! Man I’d love to see their offices! Way to go 72 and Sunny, and keep kickin’ ass!

FEAST!

I was watching G4 today and the new Snickers commercial came on. I remember reading about it a little while ago, but this was my first time watching it. I don’t know why, but I love it! It’s so simple, so weird, so good!

The tag of Feast is great too. It’s a great way to build a benefit into the tag, and I think “Feast” could work for a while. These characters are crazy, I hope we get to find out more about them in future spots.

The hawaiian flame-guy jumping off the stage is my favorite part. Enjoy.

Gorilla + Phil Collins = Amazing

Don’t click away! This isn’t a post about Tarzan. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk has gone one crazier than anything ever before it. Crazier than the Burger King ‘King’, even (CP+B, you better get on that) to create an ad that has nothing to do with milk but it so awesome anyway.

I can’t tell for sure, but being that the gorilla is all over their new stuff, he is going to become the mascot for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, which I’m told is very popular chocolates. You Brits are crazy.

You can read more about it at AdFreak today. But without further ado, point your mouse here or click to gorilla, and enjoy.

By the way, go Cadbury and Fallon for making this hilarious ad!

UPDATE: I am so stoked to announce that I got a hold of the YouTube copy so we can watch the ad right here

thanks to Scary Ideas.