Out to Launch
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Build the ideal post-apocalyptic car. Parent/child similarities. Let's launch!
  • The Walking Dead Chop ShopIf you’re anything like this “The Walking Dead” fan, you’re borderline obsessed with anything involving the show and comic book. Hyundai has once again partnered with The Walking Dead comic book creator Robert Kirkman to create a digital outlet to get creative juices flowing in a post-apocalyptic world. "The Walking Dead Chop Shop" can be played on an iPad, iPhone or desktop computer – Android version coming soon – and allows fans to create their ideal zombie-proof car, using one of three Hyundai vehicles: Elantra, Veloster Turbo or Santa Fe. Once a car is selected, it’s time to zombie-proof it, selecting from 300 options, like armor, razor wire, a muffler silencer, machine gun, machete and off-road bumper, to name a few. Users can share their creations via social networks and test it in a hypothetical scenario. Creations can also be entered into a contest with the winning design coming to life this fall as a bonafide zombie killer. INNOCEAN USA created the campaign.

  • GEICOHow do agencies come up with the ideas for the popular ads we watch on TV regularly? The Sundance Channel teamed up with GEICO to create branded vignettes to coincide with the television launch of “The Writers’ Room.” The roundtable talk show is hosted by Jim Rash, who interviews TV show writers about their smartest plot moves and worst mistakes. Guests include writers from “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones,” “Dexter,” “American Horror Story,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The New Girl.” GEICO’s “In the Room With” vignettes feature the creative teams behind GEICO’s memorable commercials. Shot at The Martin Agency in Virginia, each vignette gives viewers a look at the strategy and creative process that led to GEICO’s “Good News” and “Maxwell the Pig” spots. The vignettes launched during the premiere of “The Writers’ Room” on July 29. Watch “Good News” here, created by Horizon Media.

  • FedExWhile it doesn’t flow off the tongue like Kmart’s “Ship Your Pants” campaign, “Ship Your Clubs” from FedEx has been around longer. The campaign theme first launched two years ago, with this year's host of ads supporting  the 2013 FedEx Cup. Running on the Golf Channel and PGA.com are two 15-second spots showing how easy and not-overtly expensive it is to ship golf clubs. One man with money to burn brings his golf clubs to FedEx, with a briefcase of cash to ship them to Florida, regardless of cost. Informed that the clubs can be shipped for $51, the man pulls out a mini-briefcase to complete his transaction. See it here. A family trip for three generations of golfers turns into a competition of which generation had it the hardest. The youngest had it the easiest, while dad had to lug his clubs. Grandpa didn’t golf using clubs; he used his club-sized hand instead. Hold all callers, we have a winner. See it here, created by BBDO New York.

  • Can You Handle the Truth?With all the hype, overblown estimates and first-of-its-kind campaigns submitted for award shows, truth in advertising is oftentimes hard to find. Whybin\TBWA took a truthful route in its campaign for the 2013 Effie Awards in New Zealand, complete with polygraph examiner. To encourage agencies to enter, eight ECDs and CEOs from New Zealand were interviewed about their most awarded campaigns from the past year while hooked up to a polygraph machine. Unlike some industry awards, the Effie Awards only reward campaigns that achieved bonafide business results for real clients. See an intro video here. Viewers can watch every polygraph test at  www.resultsdontlie.co.nz, or take a polygraph test themselves. My favorite question asked under oath was: “Have more people on award juries seen your ‘Donation Glasses’ campaign than the actual New Zealand public?"

  • cliveowenWell this makes for an interesting media buy. We’ve all seen TV ads from the same brand run in close proximity of one another, but billboards, not so much. The River North section of Chicago is home to an affluent neighborhood and two large billboards of Clive Owen, roughly 70 feet apart from one another. Add to the creep factor that the two Clives are staring at each other. Thankfully, Clive is easy on the eyes, but why two billboards for Three Olives Vodka separated only by pavement? Do both sets of eyes follow you when you walk away? Which Clive will win the stare-down? Resident Jeff Burdick spotted the interesting media placement and wrote about it on his blog, seen here. See which Clive you like better here and here.

  • O'CharleysO’Charley’s launched a TV campaign featuring a new spokesperson, revamped restaurants and a new dinner and dessert menu. Brock Roland is a man who takes chances on love, push-up contests and seahorses -- but never on where he eats steak. It has to be seasoned perfectly, be the right cut and cost under $10. O’Charley’s fits all requirements -- a win for Brock, who exclaims: “Winner winner sirloin dinner.” Since O”Charley’s tweaked its pie menu to positive reviews, the restaurant now rewards patrons with “Free Pie Wednesday.” Sign me up. See the ad here, created by Doner Detroit.

  • VolkswagenA father and son have a great deal in common in "Pediatrician," a TV spot for Volkswagen Argentina. A check-up at the pediatrician’s office goes from boring to dreamy once dad sees his son’s attractive doctor. Both dad and baby have eyes only for the doctor, especially Dad, who’s daydreaming the visit away. Taking note, his wife tells the doctor another thing father ad son has in common: diarrhea. Buzz kill. The ad promotes the 2014 Suran. Watch it here, created by Fischer América and directed by Cali Ameglio.

  • saturdayeveningpostRandom iPhone App of the week:The Saturday Evening Post is available for use on an iPad or iPhone, powered by YUDU Media. The app offers bonus content and enhanced features like audio highlights, personalized settings and multiple viewing options. Users can buy a single issue for $3.99 or opt for a single-issue subscription for $1.99 that’s automatically renewed until cancelled. A one-year subscription of six issues costs $9.99. Download the app here.