The Logical Conclusion

Another late night with no end in sight.
It's just the start, so take these words to heart.

"Creativity is the logical conclusion of brilliant thinking."
-Mark Tutssel, deputy chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Worldwide

It's just like, it's just like viral advertising.

When Sammy Stephens started rapping about bedrooms, bathrooms and dinettes for Flea Market Montgomery, he probably didn't think it would make him an internet celebrity. Well, it did.

He could have just basked in his internet fame but instead, he got smart. He made a viral-friendly blue screen version of his rap that let singer-songwriters and little superstars show you "it's just like a mini-mall." My man gave the content to the people. They showed him love and helped spread the word about his business.

Sammy proved that even small business can make huge waves with their advertising. That's right, we're even talking 'bout flea markets.

This is Your Baseball On Drugs

Minutes after Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs, this commercial from The Partnership for a Drug Free America aired.

Oh, the irony.

The C-word

I've never had the balls to admit this, but I've always felt it. One day, cancer will come for me and it will be my fight.

Luckily, Lance Armstrong and Nike have made it their fight. Those little yellow wristbands, that were so cool you couldn't get them in stores, have raised $63 million dollars to fight cancer. Since 2004, this big idea put more than 70 million wristbands into the world. That's all advertising is really - big ideas.

Thank God Nike and Lance had the balls, no pun intended, to use this big idea to try and change the world.

Honk Once for Oden. Honk Twice for Durrant.

Portland Trailblazers general manager Kevin Pritchard keeps getting emails reading simply "honk" or "honk, honk." Thats because the team put up billboards encouraging fans to weigh in on the Trailblazers No. 1 pick in tonight's NBA draft.

Pitting Greg Oden against Kevin Durant is a clever little way to generate buzz around the team's draft selection and their upcoming season. However, the buzz is that the honks have it.

Product Placement Loops the Loop

Product placement has been all the rage for movies and television these days. That was until "Janet Jackson's left raisin shot that horse in the face." That's why Fox show The Loop takes product placement to new heights.

As funny as this is, it could become a reality. If the revolution won't be televised, product placement needs a new home. That means some brands might sell their souls to other brands in the form of product placement. It might even be successful.

In fact, the Stride Gum they mock in the show is a real product, and they're really promoting it through product placement. Like the man said, "There's a new whore in town, and she likes gum."

Leigh and Mack are back. Oh, and me too.

I was just thinking the other day, "Where has Advergirl gone?" Well, she's back and there are also signs of life from everyone's favorite ad monkey.

They've inspired me to start a come back. Just like an 80s hair metal band reunion tour, but without the big hair and tight pants.

Cartel Gets Blogger Buzz for Band in a Bubble

Tonight, Cartel will go all John Travolta on us and lock themselves in a bubble. The Band in a Bubble will have their every move monitored online and broadcasted on MTV as they write and record their new album in a giant transparent bubble located in New York City. After 20 days, Cartel will emerge and perform their new tunes live on MTV.

Dr. Pepper and MTV are behind the event and they've even solicited bloggers to give it some love. So when they promised me a Cartel prize pack, I was more than happy to sell out for one of my favorite bands.

Seeking link love and blogger buzz is absolutely the right way to promote this. Because people like me, who love Cartel, will jump all over this. I've seen them live and their drummer, Kevin Sanders, plays some slick SJC Custom Drums. So by hitting me up, these companies can authentically hype the event and, in turn, their brands.

The Things We Think Of And Do Not Say

Remember when Tom Cruise lost his mind? No, not going off on Oprah. Going off as Jerry McGuire on an all-night writing bender to produce his mission statement, "The things we think of and do not say."

Tug over at American Copywriter might not be "the lord of the living room," but he's churned out an equally inspirational manifesto. "Improving your creative life for tomorrow starts today" is packed with marvelous revelations about the creative process and doing it right. It's a must-read.

Well said, Tug.

Old Spice Asks A Ninja for Placement

After Bruce Campbell's awesome experience monologue on television, Old Spice has waded into the new media waters. The brand is promoting its Keep it Clean photo contest for Red Zone body wash on The Ask A Ninja podcast.

This is a great tactic for a brand that competes for the young male demographic with Axe, Tag and now RGX. In a category filled with boobs, boobs and more boobs this contest promoting sophomoric humor is a welcome change of pace. Not to mention being savvy enough to turn to podcasting to promote it.

So if you're unfamiliar this "factory that produces apple pie for whales," check it out.

Do These Pants Make My Wallet Look Fat?

Nice headline for Daffy's from Philadelphia agency Kanter International. However, my favorite headline from the campaign is "Slave to Fashion, Dominatrix to Prices."

Thanks to Flickr user outofhomedatabase for the image.

Japan Runs on Dunkin' and Dice-K

Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Red Sox's pricey Eastern import, made his home debut last night along with many ads targeted to the hordes of Eastern fans tuning in for the game.

Dunkin' Donuts replaced its traditional signage in the right-center-field bleachers with one that reads, in Japanese, "Welcome to Fenway Park." There were also a few ads behind the plate written in Japanese.

Dice-K mania also extends outside the frenzy of Fenway. There's Nike's TV spot and Bank of America's billboard touting them as the "official sponsor of the gyroball," Dice-K's mystical pitch. Sorry, no "One Bank" references here. I don't want to get hit with a cease and desist.

Rancher Dwayne Rides Again

Another Mighty Duck has been spotted.

A while back Goldberg the goalie was spotted hocking Castol. Well, now his cowboy companion, rancher Dwayne, is saddling up for Holiday Inn Express. The man atop "Crusher" is none other than Ty O'Neil, who played Dwayne Robertson in The Mighty Ducks 2 and 3 - even though they really should have stopped after the second one.

However, it's nice that Ty didn't stop after departing from the Ducks. But I hope he's not taking career advice from that rodeo clown.

'Here Come the Jayhawks'

Tonight my beloved Jayhawks of Kansas take the floor in the Big Dance. Here's a little tribute from the archives courtesy Mr. Robert Goulet and ESPN.



"Look out here come the Jayhawks.
Double team and say your prayers.
There's no room for pansies on the floor
when you got Kansas in your hair."

Snakes on a Concert

This weekend I went to an awesome concert in Lawrence. It featured some of my favorite bands - Cartel, Boys Like Girls and Quietdrive.

I also saw Cobra Starship, the band that played an integral part in the fueling insatiable internet hype leading up to Snakes on a Plane. The band, with a little help from their friends, did the Snakes on a Plane theme song.

In doing so, they joined the ranks of the great Vanilla Ice. You might remember that the Ice-Man did a little Ninja Rap in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

Oh, snap. Go, Cobra. Go, Cobra, go.