Out to Launch
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
A.1. consciously uncouples from steak. Bowling makes a comeback. Let's launch!
  • southwestairlinesSouthwest Airlines is giving its customers many reasons to smile. The airline is going international for the first time in its 43-year history. Beginning July 1, Southwest will now fly to Aruba, Nassau, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, Cabo San Lucas and Cancun from select cities. The launch TV spot features employees of Southwest Airlines staring sheepishly into the camera before giving a big, excited smile. Turns out, each employee is sitting for his or her passport picture and readying for international flights. The campaign uses the new tagline: "Smile, Southwest is getting its passport." See the ad here, created by GSD&M. CCI Camelotin Dallas handled the media buy.

  • firstbankI can easily picture this scenario happening, if it hasn't already. FirstBank has launched an amusing TV spot to promote its easy-to-use mobile banking app. The ad takes place at a family's dinner table, where everyone is wearing a device that looks quite similar to Google Glass. Mom tries to serve dinner to her husband, son and daughter but everyone is preoccupied with their wearable technology. Dad keeps yelling "go away" at his device, which his wife takes as a signal to skip serving him peas. The daughter is trying to take a picture of dinner and a selfie, but nothing is working out. The young son looks like he's swatting bugs away from his face. The ad concludes with Mom spilling more dinner on the table than placing food on everyone's plate. "Get back to the real world," closes the ad, seen here and created by TDA_Boulder.

  • A1 SauceI have always been a fan of using A.1. on foods other than steak, and it looks like I'm not alone. Taking a cue from Gwyneth and Chris, A.1. is "consciously uncoupling" from steak. And if you don't believe me, check A.1.'s Facebook page. Can we say relationship status has been changed? So it's the real deal. In an amusing 2-minute online video, we follow A.1. as it updates its Facebook page, initially proclaiming its love for steak via status updates and pictures, until A.1. removes itself from a relationship with steak, thus opening the doors to relationships with bacon, pork, salmon, corn on the cob, meatballs, fish tacos -- and the list goes on. Steak's feelings are undoubtedly hurt when A.1. post pics with new foods. When A.1. has a potluck dinner with his favorite foods, steak refuses the event invite, but surprises everyone and attends. A.1. then posts a life event about changing its label to simply A.1. Original Sauce and showcasing a new tagline: "For Almost Everything. Almost." That means you, quinoa. See the video here, created by CP+B LA.

  • bowlmoreWith upscale bowling brands gaining in popularity, are the days of slipping your feet into gross, used-by-countless-people bowling shoes a thing of the past? I don't know, but one thing's for sure: Bowlmor AMF launched a TV campaign that makes bowling look fun, sexy and scandalous. And I bet it's cheaper than a weekend in Vegas. This also marks the first national television ad for a bowling alley brand since the 1970s. "Bowling Makes Saturday Night More Fun" features reactions from people as their typical Saturday night activities, like going to the movies, the mall or a nightclub, are interrupted by human-sized bowling pins and a ball. Strangers are recruited and whisked away into a party limo, and let off at the local bowling alley. The ad, seen here, is running on MTV, TLC, Comedy Central, TruTV, E! and Spike TV. Concept Farm created the ad, directed by Josh Ruben and Vincent Peone.

  • lazboyLa-Z-Boy has launched a new collection of furniture, Urban Attitudes, which is geared toward people living in tiny city apartments. City dwellers can have stylish, smaller pieces of furniture without breaking the bank. Brooke Shields stars in the first ad, "Photo Shoot." In it, Shields is in the midst of a photo shoot, wearing a ravishing red dress and rocking wind-blown hair, when she stops to speak to the camera. She ponders how people can have stylish living rooms without the help of designers, an endless supply of money or perfect lighting. That's where La-Z-Boy's Urban Attitudes collection steps in, making style affordable to all, even those living in small apartments. The ad, seen here, is running on A&E, Bravo, Food Network,Hallmark, HGTV, OWN and TNT. RPA created the campaign.

  • whitehousepsaVice President Biden launched a PSA encouraging men to speak up and step in if they see someone in danger of being sexually assaulted. The PSA launches in coordination with the 1 is 2 Many campaign and the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. One in five women is sexually assaulted while in college, and young women, ages 16 to 24, experience the highest rates of sexual violence at the hands of someone they know. The PSA will air in select Regal Entertainment Group and Cinemark movie theaters, over NCM Media Networks' Lobby Entertainment Network and in movie theaters on military installations and ships worldwide. Along with the President and the Vice President, also in the PSA are actors Daniel Craig, Seth Meyers, Benicio Del Toro, Steve Carell and Dule Hill, encouraging men to step up and help if they see a woman being sexually assaulted. See the PSA here, produced by The White House.

  • heinekenHeineken Netherlands is a sponsor of the Netherlands national football team and very proud of its Dutch heritage. A 60-second ad celebrates the country's "Oragjekoorts," or Orange Fever, leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The ad begins with a Dutch float in a Brazilian carnival with an endless supply of Heineken for the hometown fans. There's dancers, a windmill and a cameo from illusionist Hans Klok. The festivities are led by Heineken's Chief Orange Officer, a man who bested 2,500 applicants for the job of spreading Orange Fever throughout the Netherlands and globally. See the ad here, created by Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam.

  • fbstatusRandom App of the week: Less is more, especially when it comes to Facebook status updates. Bugle has created an app that helps users express their feelings in a simple, short status update. Bugle! takes its name from the musical instrument that can play only a limited number of notes, yet its sound is unmistakable. The app is just the same, offering users only a limited number of options. Users are guided through three simple steps, selecting an attitude, a noun and an adjective. And that's it: status update completed with little to no effort. Download the free app in the App Store or Google Play store.

  • rubioSan Diego-based restaurant chain Rubio's has launched "Through the Language," an extension to its current "To The Ocean" ad campaign. The 60-second ad begins with pictures of the ocean and fresh seafood dinner plates at Rubio's. Each picture is captioned with copy describing Rubio's goal of using fresh seafood to make simple, flavorful meals, giving customers a sustainable, ocean-to-table meal. See the ad here, created by barrettSF.