While the toy "Aqua Dots" was recalled because some of its beads turn into a date-rape drug when swallowed, fliers advertising it still hit the streets in time for the holiday shopping rush. A Toys "R" Us ad distributed in some Sunday newspapers touted the Aqua Dots Super Studio; ditto Target, which hawked the toy on Friday. "These circulars were printed and in distribution before the recall," explains Kathleen Waugh, a spokeswoman for Toys "R" Us. "Absolutely, Aqua Dots are not available or for sale." At one time anticipated to be one of this holiday's hottest toys, Aqua Dots were …

The impact of the Hollywood writers' strike is still minimal, with a few late-night talk shows in reruns while the networks keep prime-time intact with comedies and dramas that were ready before the whole thing began. But that is about to change, as advertisers and TV networks here and in Canada begin preparing for the possibility that the impasse could drag on into next year. By January, there will be no more fresh episodes of top-rated shows, and advertisers are ready to seek compensation for the lower ratings that will result as the networks are forced into reruns. "I think …

Kraft is pushing ahead with an effort to remake Maxwell House by changing the coffee's formula and packaging while rolling out a new ad campaign. The effort, tagged "It's A New Morning. Brew Some Good," includes national TV and print ads along with product sampling and online promotion. Kraft also says it will give away nearly 1 million cups of hot coffee in 15 shopping malls nationally. The aim is to "further Kraft's commitment to contemporize even our most iconic brands for a new generation of consumers," says Lorraine Hansen, senior vice president and general manager of coffee at Kraft. …

Cadbury Schweppes has tapped four final shops to pitch for media duties on its U.S. beverages business, with the contenders including Initiative in New York, Mullen in Wenham, Mass., and The Martin Agency in Richmond--all Interpublic agencies--and incumbent, WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia, in New York. Cadbury, which spent $140 million in major domestic measured media last year, picked the finalists after visiting six shops earlier this month. Independent Horizon was one of the other agencies considered, insiders say, but no word on the sixth. Cadbury will brief the remaining contenders over the next few weeks, with final presentations slated for early …

HDNet owner Mark Cuban is whining to federal regulators about a distributor, expanding a dispute with DirecTV from the Texas courts to the nation's capital. In filings with the Federal Communications Commission, Cuban claims his HDNet and HDNet Movies are being discriminated against by both DirecTV and Liberty Media, which is seeking to acquire News Corp.'s 38.5% stake in the satellite provider. "The proposed transaction cannot be in the 'public interest' as required by law without the addition of conditions to protect independent programmers carried by DirecTV at the time this application was filed," HDNet says in its filing. It …

Jenny Craig has tapped WPP Group's Y&R in Irvine, Calif. to be its new ad agency following a review--dumping sibling JWT, New York from the account. "Although we have a great deal of respect for JWT, we felt we needed ... incremental strength in the area of direct response and celebrity management," says Scott Parker, vice president-marketing for the weight-loss company. He adds that Jenny also wanted a shop closer to its Southern California base: "We are in a very volatile business and we need people on the ground here all the time." And Y&R, along with general-agency services, also …

MTV is looking for online poker players--and others who may lead alterative lives on the Web--to star in its "True Life" series. "We're reaching out to a number of different online groups and cultures, and we thought it could be fascinating to profile someone who gambles online," says Ben Rosen, whose company, LeftRight.tv, produces the show. Rosen, who has been posting in online forums, including those dedicated to poker, adds: "the key thing we're looking for is that our subject leads a life that is very distinct/unique/interesting when juxtaposed to his or her online gambling activities." The documentary series tells …

A&E, Bravo, Fox Sports Net and Logo are now running an ad for Las Vegas that's in Spanish. Sin City's Convention and Visitors Authority bets its "What happens here, stays here" tag can transcend language and culture and lure U.S. Hispanics and travelers from Mexico to come visit. The goal is a 10% boost in annual visitation by the end of the decade, which would put that figure at 43 million. In Spanish, the slogan reads "Lo que pasa aquí, se queda aquí" and putting it in English-language media is just one part of the city's overall $80 …

Sen. Arlen Specter is fighting a possible adoption of Federal Communications Commission rules that could give the nascent NFL Network an edge in its negotiations with Comcast and Time Warner Cable. "The only possible outcome would be higher costs to consumers," the Pennsylvania Republican says in a letter to FCC chairman Kevin Martin, who supports the NFL Network in its dispute with major cable operators. Martin wants rules that would give the NFL Network the ability to invoke compulsory arbitration that would likely mean it could reach many more subscribers -- and get higher license fees -- than …

The passing of Osmond clan patriarch George Osmond gave a big boost to syndicated magazine shows in the week ending Nov. 11. The Nov. 9 appearance of the 100-plus member Osmond family on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" gave that program its best numbers since February. "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" also hit their highest ratings in seven months, with the former up 12% from the prior week and the latter gaining 8%. "Inside Edition," meanwhile, rose 9% to a 3.7, its rating in 35 weeks. Fourth-rated "Access Hollywood" was also at its best level in six months, …