• July 3, 2003

An AT&T advertisement featuring comedian Carrot Top is the tops in brand recall according to a new survey by Intermedia Advertising Group. IAG, which measures the performance of ads on television, said the American Idol spoof with a woman in a purple dress achieved a brand recall index score of 250, far above the second-ranked new ad. It was considered the most effective new TV advertisement.

Beyond the top ad, the rest of the top 10 were:

2. Oreo, Father teaches young son to eat cookie, 219.

3. McDonald's McGriddle, men in car talk about sandwich, boy in astronaut outfit and rocket on front lawn, 195.

4. Kodak High Definition Film, man snaps photos, rides boat through South American jungles, walks in village, 178.

5. Kodak High Definition Film, man snaps photos, rides boat through South American jungles, walks in village (30-second version), 175.

6. McDonald's McGriddle, man watches older woman attack ninjas, 171.

7. M&Ms, Groovy Summer Institute Win Game, concert by 60s style band with yellow M&Ms playing drums (30-second version), 168.

8. 1-800-CALL ATT, Carrot Top, Casa de Top, women watch pay phone on TV, 161.

9. Eidos Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, Lara runs, leaps, fights, 161.

10. Jeep Rubicon, Lara Croft drives in desert, tag for Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, 157.