Marketers committed to spending millions on the Beijing Olympics would be in a real fix should they decide that the Chinese government's actions in Tibet could hurt their corporate image. Advertisers and agencies say they are closely watching the situation but at this point, the gains from being a part of the Games outweigh the disadvantages from being associated with the crackdown. "Pretty much every corporation is saying: 'We're aware of it, but it's not our place to dictate policy,' " says one agency executive. "It has not yet precluded any advertisers from being there." And media buyers …

Gatorade is launching a new "Tiger" line named after golfer Tiger Woods, with the first spot breaking over the weekend during the NCAA Men's basketball tournament on CBS. Woods, dressed as an astronaut, takes his game to the moon in an effort to be followed by an "Out of this World," sweepstakes promotion next month. Print, Internet and point-of-purchase ads will support the campaign from lead agency is Element 79 Partners, Chicago. The TV ad tries to reenact astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr.'s golf stroke on the moon that went 400 to 600 yards. Further, a "Gatorade Tiger …

A progressive group has rolled out a new ad that takes presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain to the woodshed for backing an Air Force decision to award a huge contract to Airbus, a European aircraft manufacturing consortium that, ironically, includes a favorite conservative bugaboo: France. "A message of thanks to John McCain from the French people," the ad says -- in French with English subtitles. It comes from the Campaign for America's Future and the Gallic imagery continues as "John McCain, hero of France," is on a banner on the Arc de Triomphe in the opening scene, …

"Jericho," the post-apocalyptic CBS drama with its devoted followers but poor ratings is, like the city it is named after, history. While fans rallied to try and save it, CBS pulled the plug and the show will air its final episode Tuesday. "Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more," says CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, who adds that "we have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try." The show was first canceled last May, but a fan protest that deluged the network with about 40,000 pounds of peanuts …

Michelin is readying a pick for a new agency to handle its North American replacement passenger car tires. The review, handled internally initially featured 15 shops but only 13 made it to the formal process, begun in January. Incumbent Cohn & Wolfe, which has had the account since 2005, is defending. Says Lynn Mann, Michelin's director of PR, the decision to look around was driven by a routine look at whether the current agency was the "best fit and focus" for the division. The review is tentatively set to conclude in April, with the new shop coming …

Just in time for the spring gardening season, Scripps' DIY Network is linking up with NBC's "Today" for "America's Most Desperate Landscape Search," a new contest to find the country's worst yard. The morning show will feature the four most offensive yard-owners, giving the winner a makeover from DIY host Jason Cameron, who will appear in segments through May 8 as finalists compete in landscaping challenges. The move is part of a growing partnership between the do-it-yourself cable network and "Today." Earlier this year, DIY premiered its "Today Show Tips," a compilation of the show's best home-improvement …

Sneaker maker New Balance is readying a new ad effort themed "LOVE/hate. this is the new balance" as part of a plan to nearly double its shoe and apparel sales by tripling marketing spend. One spot set for the NCAA basketball tournament shows a man walking by a house party. He is tempted to join in, but skips it so he can stick to his training. "What has running given you?" asks the voiceover. The answer: "An extra half step in overtime." A key point of the campaign, created by BBDO New York, is to stress New Balance's …