BRANDING=m3

Don’t mess with Em, dude. This one is askin’ for it. This home market spot for Audi is such a blatant rip-off of the Chrysler campaign that debuted on this year’s Super Bowl, that as I type this I’m looking for a place to hurl. Come on. “Inspiration” is one thing … but to virtually steal the whole damn spot? WTF?

Here’s a 2:30 mini-film from Audi about what it takes for a driver to compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans, a grueling 24 road race. The video is wonderfully written and directed, and the CGI is awesome. Driver Allan McNish’s voice nicely compliments the images on screen. Well done, Audi! ––Jeffrey Maciejewski

From Head and Shoulders comes this short spot featuring
Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety Troy Polamalu and Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe
Mauer. Going with the sports route again, I think this is a pretty funny
commercial if you’ve seen the previous ones put out by Head and Shoulders
featuring Polamalu. Head and Shoulders is really trying to expand its market
share as not only a dandruff shampoo, but one that has seven benefits. In 2010,
Proctor and Gamble took out a $1 million insurance policy on his hair. What do
you guys think?

I saw this Wheat Thins’ commercial on ESPN the other day,
and I thought it was pretty funny. I’ve never noticed them advertising a whole
lot until recently, and I think what they’ve come out with is pretty decent. I’m
always a big fan of using humor in advertising, and this commercial doesn’t
disappoint. I think if you’re a fan of Wheat Thins, then this will only make
you more likely to buy them. What do you guys think of it?

Here’s a McDonald’s ad featuring Orlando Magic superstar
Dwight Howard and a serviceable player for the Miami Heat, LeBron James. I’m a
big sports fan, and I always like when athletes are used to sell a product.
McDonald’s really doesn’t even feature the product too much in this commercial,
in my opinion. This is a take-off on the old commercial featuring Michael
Jordan and Larry Bird in 1993. In this commercial, I don’t really like the
super unrealistic dunks; I thought the original was much better, although the
two previous ones featuring Jordan Bird, and Charles Barkley all used
unrealistic shots. Lemme know what you think.

I am a huge basketball fan, and with the NBA Playoffs right around the corner, I have been seeing a lot of NBA commercials on ESPN.  It got me thinking what are some of my favorite sports commercials of all time, and this NBA one is definitely one them at the top.  When I watch this commercial there are moments that I get chills.  I feel like it is more than just a promotion, but a commercial meant to show the true emotion and feelings of NBA players that any NBA fan would love to know. Tell me what you guys think. -Jonathan S.

In the last few classes we’ve been talking about selling your products by conveying a certain attitude or feeling rather than by simply describing the product itself (unless you happen to be Matt when the opposite would be true!). Check out these print ads for Latin Wagon, a mobile eatery in Nashville. These executions are terrific; they’re wonderfully simple and use a simple but compelling strategy, which is all about positioning the brand as being fun and edgy. Makes me want to go down there an grab a burrito! ––Jeff

These real men of genius commercials had everyone buzzing when they came out a few years ago, and its obvious why, they frickin hilarious.  As far selling beer goes, especially a beer like bud light, you are going to try and appeal to men.  So first off you play your commercial on ESPN or Spike tv (duh), then you make your commercial funny so men notice it.  Though this commercial doesn’t exactly focus a whole lot on the product itself, it definitely gets the job done.  Here are a series of the commercials that someone put together on youtube. -Jonathan S.

Its been a while since the BK lounge turned out one of their creepy “Burger King” commercials, and I think its quite a shame. Talk about a funny and clever way to get across new food items, specials, or low prices.  Sure the guy wears a creepy burger king mask but thats what makes their commercials so much different from other fast food places.  What do you guys think? -Jonathan S.

From Leo Burnett in Toronto comes this :15 spot for Manwich that was posted on the brand’s YouTube channel. Manwich removed the ads today after receiving complaints about the men in the ads getting slapped. I think they’re pretty funny. Why is it that you can whip a guy with a dipstick in a Castrol motor oil ad, but you can’t smack one in a Manwich ad? ––Jeff M.