Cal Worthington, called "The best known car dealer pitchman in history" by the TV Bureau of Advertising, has died. Worthington's outlandish commercial were first broadcast in the 1950s. The former WW II pilot was something of a star to California television viewers and radio listeners for his slapstick "Go See Cal" advertisements, which featured loony antics with his "dog, Spot." The hook was that Spot was never a dog; it might be an elephant, a tiger, a hippo -- even a killer whale. He …

The Martin agency will no longer get deliveries from Pizza Hut. The chain has moved creative work to Mcgarrybowen, which will handle the account out of its  Chicago shop. The chain left BBDO four years ago to go with Martin. With $245 million in yearly media billings, the chain becomes one of the largest accounts at the office, alongside Sears, Kraft, Mondelez and Disney.

Olive Garden will expand its Tastes of Italy small plates menu systemwide in early December, the company confirmed Monday. The chain, a unit of  Orlando, Fla.-based Darden Restaurants, was testing the options in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; and Portland, Ore.

Supermarket chain Winn-Dixie, with 485 stores in the southeast is asking customers who are big on beef to enter the "I'm Beef People" online contest for a chance to appear in an upcoming advertising circular or on an outdoor billboard. The social media initiative supports the supermarket’s new advertising campaign and recent introduction of WD Brand Choice Angus Beef to all Winn-Dixie stores.

Three insiders disclosed that Facebook once again postponed to launch its video advertising service which was scheduled to launch in October, and the new launch date has not been set yet.  Over the past year the company promoted its video advertisements to brand owners and advertising agencies.

For the first time in several years Fiat and Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne didn't make the biggest auto show in the world, the Frankfurt Auto Show, because of “unforeseen business commitments,” the automaker said. This marks the first time in recent years that Marchionne, 61, will not attend a major car show in the region. Fiat Chairman John Elkann will also not be in Frankfurt, Fiat said.

Same-store sales fell 0.2% in August, compared with a 0.9% decline in July and flat sales in June. During the last three months combined the industry experienced a 0.3% drop in same-store store sales when compared with the same period in 2012, per Black Box Intelligence and People Report.

Apple’s social video advertising strategy is underperforming with Apple iPhone commercials accounting for just 9.4% of smartphone video shares, according to a new report from Unruly. The research finds that Apple’s ads are lagging Nokia and Samsung, and those for Apple’s iPhone 5 are even further back, even when compared to its own previous models. Samsung ads dominate the smartphone market, attracting more than half of the total number of shares, due largely to the sheer number of videos launched.

Shipments of Smart, or Connected, TV units hit 12.7 million in the first quarter of this year. Smartclip and LG Electronics research shows Smart TV interactive quality is enabling advertisers to create "deeper engagement between the viewer and the content being viewed, including brand advertising." In addition, Smart TV users aren't shunning interactive ads.

Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito called the redesigned Fit the company's "most important," predicting it would see its biggest sales jump in North America The third-generation of the small car, crucial to Honda's U.S. expansion plan, is more fuel efficient and bigger inside. He said the market holds the biggest growth potential for the Fit hatchback.