The Bug & IPosted by Barbara Lippert on Jan 31, 4:48 PM
"Barbara Lippert owes an apology to every single non-black Jamaican for implying that they do not exist!" That's a snippet of one of the more polite notes of the hundreds I've received since Monday morning, when I appeared on the "Today Show" to discuss the early release of VW's "Get Happy" Super Bowl commercial.» 21 Comments
What a week for semi-confessionals, bizarre attempts at damage control, and angry stabs at absolution. Actually, I'm not referring to Coca-Cola's decision to address the problem of obesity in these here United States in a new ad campaign that asks us to "come together." In an age requiring authenticity, there are some things mega-global corporations selling sugar water just can't be transparent about.» 13 Comments
This week, Sony Pictures Television announced that Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" was renewed for a second season. Wait -- "season" and "renewed?" Them's TV words, alright, although the series -- 10 episodes in the first year, 24 on order for the second -- is strictly an online affair.» 15 Comments
"Django" can be a hard pill to swallow. Of course it's offensive to think of slavery as the subject of an exciting new action-entertainment genre for Tarantino to use for fun and profit. But the ironic thing is that, unlike the very respectful and respectable "Lincoln," "Django" has really gotten audiences talking about the onerous subject of slavery.» 11 Comments
There's a stilted, "Twilight Zone"-ish vibe to the opening of this commercial, as if the viewer somehow broke through the time/space continuum to find herself watching TV in Poland.» 10 Comments
Last week at MadBlog, my "Best Spots of the Year" column ended with a mention of empty chairs. Yup -- I suggested that the year's winningest commercial, Chrysler's "Half-Time in America," inadvertently led Clint Eastwood to commit his unhinged monologue involving an innocent seating unit at the 2012 Republican National Convention. Here in part deux, my nominee for worst spot of the year also comes from powerhouse agency Wieden & Kennedy, and also involves -- wait for it -- empty chairs!» 15 Comments
Recently, my funny, prolific, and prescient MediaPost colleague Bob Garfield, the author of the award-winning book "The Chaos Scenario," publicly declined to do a column listing the best-and-worst commercials of the year. He could not do it, he semi-joked, because he hadn't seen any ads. Rim shot.» 5 Comments
I'll admit to feeling a bit sacrilegious as I write this, given that I am still a devoted member of the cult of Cupertino. But fair is fair: I nominate Samsung to be Best Tech Advertiser of 2012 (image division) for "The next best thing is already here," its Galaxy S III campaign.» 15 Comments
