Commentary

Out To Launch

The people have spoken. Join the running revolution. Mac and PC seek professional help. Let's launch!

CareerBuilder.com launched a collection of videos entitled "The Office Worker Survival Series" that aid employees during bad job moments. One video describes a multitude of work-related illnesses that can be cured by posting your job resume on Careerbuilder.com. Do you suffer from ECGF (excessive celebrity gossip fixation) or CSSE (compulsive self-searching engining)? (I'm starting the first 12-step program for this.) There's help available here. Another video allows workers to gauge their workplace value by examining how co-workers celebrate their birthday. This will determine your worth. Wieden + Kennedy Portland created the campaign.

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I'm not a Yankees fan, but I remember last year's game against the Cleveland Indians. Swarms of bugs overtook the infield and despite endless bug spray, the Yanks lost to the Indians and the bugs. That said, ESPN launched a dramatization of said incident to promote "Baseball Tonight." Former player and current analyst John Kruk recalls finding his old briefcase half-buried on the field. Opening it brought swarms of bugs to the surface, distracting the Yankees, who are seen swatting bugs and applying bug spray. Couldn't have happened to a better team. Watch the ad here. In addition, ESPN Radio launched "Cat Sitting," where a family drops their behaviorally challenged feline at the home of a complete stranger. At least they included the cat's food and medicine. Click here to see the ad. Wieden + Kennedy New York created the campaign.

The latest "Got Milk" ads introduce viewers to White Gold, a rocker deeply devoted to milk. The first spot, "Legend," depicts the rocker's ascent from scrawny-haired, small-muscled man to rock legend. See the ad here. There's also a Web site and YouTube page where additional ads are housed. The ads and music videos are worth a watch, if only to see the rocker sip milk from his milk-filled guitar. Goodby, Silverstein and Partners created the campaign and PHD handled the media buy.

Volkswagen listens to the people. The company launched a TV, print and online campaign called DAS AUTO, meaning "the car." The campaign stars Max, a talking 1964 black Beetle with its own talk show. Max and guests discuss what the people want. German engineering? Is Heidi Klum available? Klum and Max have a heart to car conversation about the importance of inner beauty. See the ad here. The ad featuring Bob Knight is quite funny. After discussing VW's award for "best resale value 2008," Max tells Knight: "Well, at least one of us is winning a title this year." Furniture is thrown. Watch it here. Shawn Fanning, creator of Napster, pokes fun at himself in another ad. When Max tells Fanning that creating free music sharing devices online is cooler than making clean diesel cars, Fanning replies: "Well, your thing is legal and trust me, legal is cooler." Click here to see the ad. David Hasselhoff rounds out the ads with the knowledge that something is more popular in Europe than he is. See the ad here. Teaser print ads ran last week in TheNew York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today featuring Max alongside a statement regarding what the people want. See the ads here, here, here, here, here and here. Non-teaser ads can be seen here and here. Crispin Porter + Bogusky created the campaign and Mediacom handled the media buy.

NikeNike + launched a TV campaign pushing runners to join the run revolution without using words. Running alone is a thing of the past, begins the ad, featuring runners across the world readying for their solitary run. They aren't alone, thanks to a chip placed in their sneaker that syncs with their iPod, telling them how far they've run and how much farther they have to go. The spot ends with each runner, side by side, preparing to run. The 30-second spot, seen here, is quick and to the point. The 60-second spot nails the places runners do their thing: a track, busy road, atop the Brooklyn Bridge, in the pouring rain, and a park. Wieden + Kennedy Tokyo created the ad.

PC seeks the help of a yoga instructor to relieve his stress about Vista in one of the latest Get a Mac ads. PC's yoga instructor goes from Zen to angry hen the more she describes Vista's faults; the worst being she's not getting paid. "Maybe I should try Pilates," says PC, as the disgruntled instructor lets off some stream by knocking over a gong. See the ad here. PC comes close to having a breakthrough in his group therapy session with Mac. After the therapist explains that it's not his fault that all the pieces of a PC don't work well together (because they come from different places), PC happily shouts, "It's not my fault. It's Mac's fault." Watch the ad here. TBWA/Media Arts Lab created the campaign and handled the media buy.

Zoo York launched a colorful TV and viral campaign promoting Zoo York footwear via cockroaches and skateboarders. The TV spot shows two cockroaches conversing on a park bench, arguing over who is tougher: roaches or skateboarders. Right on cue, the pro-roach roach gets run over by a skateboarder. Barely alive, the roach insists that he'll be fine. See the ad here. The online version, on the other hand, contains a more colorful use of the English language. NSFW. "Spread the Word" is gross. Live roaches are spray painted with the Zoo York logo and thrown at innocent bystanders. I will not support roachvertising. See the ad here. davidandgoliath created the campaign and Patrick Media handled the media buy.

Travelers Insurance is bringing the red umbrella back in a big way: a 35-foot, surprisingly lightweight multifunctional piece of equipment. A deliveryman embarks on a trip to return the red umbrella logo to Travelers. On his way, he keeps kids out of the rain, carries circus members across a stream, and gives two children a ride that would make Mary Poppins jealous. Watch the ad here. Fallon created the campaign and handled the media buy.

Johnson Outdoors launched a print campaign targeting recreational kayakers and hard-core paddlers. The Ocean Peekaboo kayak is shown from an underwater perspective in one ad, seen here. There's a window at the bottom of this family-oriented kayak. Hopefully the water is clean enough to see through. A second ad targets enthusiasts who test the waters and their physical abilities. See the ad here. The ads are running in issues of Canoe & Kayak, WaveLength, Adventure Kayak, Sierra, Paddlesports Business and Paddle Dealer.Hanson Dodge created the campaign.

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