AdHurl: January 2006 Archives

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Jan31	Larry Ellison... Going broke? George Parker January 31, 2006 Know More: Ad Critiques Have you ever wondered why Oracle’s advertising has been so bad for so long? I always assumed it was because “The Shogun,” CEO Larry Ellison, who gets involved in all the advertising, has absolutely no taste. Well, it turns out with the recent release of documents involved in a shareholders lawsuit… It’s ‘cos Larry is too busy worrying about the state of his finances. That’s right, one of the richest men in the world with a net worth of nearly $20 billion has money worries and his financial adviser is trying to convince him to cut down on his over-the-top lifestyle. At the bottom of a document detailing Ellison's 2000 debt load, the advisor had scrawled a rough accounting of Ellison's lavish spending, according to deposition testimony: "1) Life Style -- annual $20m 2) Interest Accrual -- annual $75m 3) Villa in Japan -- $25m 4) New Yacht -- $194m -- over 3 yrs 5) America's Cup -- $80m -- over 3 yrs 6) UAD -- 12m over 3 yrs." It's not clear what UAD refers to. Since this rough budget, Ellison has reportedly spent $200 million building a Japanese-style estate in Woodside, which includes a reproduction of a 17th-century Kyoto teahouse. He has also bought multiple properties in Malibu -- $180 million worth, by one report. No mention of his stable of passenger and fighter jets which includes a couple of MIG fighters! It’s tough at the top. But, Larry, there’s no excuse for those ads. They suck! This is not my yacht... This is the boat I use to get to my yacht! Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan31	Oh, Oh...Dot.Com Implosion? George Parker January 31, 2006 In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it might just be “Deja vue all over again,” because as of the time of this post, Google is down $73.25 (19%) in after hours trading!!! Apparently, they didn’t meet Wall Streets expectations.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bushwhacked! George Parker January 31, 2006 Because “El Presidente” is doing his thing tonight all the news media will be boring the nation rigid tomorrow morning with turgid commentators analyzing everything he said… Or didn’t say! So… I got bumped again! The piece will definitely air,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:16 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan30	Today show is not tomorrow... It's the day after!!! George Parker January 30, 2006 I've been bumped from tomorrows Today show... But before you rush out and shoot yourself... I'll be on Wednesday morning... They say about 7-15 AM... But, be on the safe side and record the whole thing... After all, you wouldn't... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Never, ever, invest in an ad agency! George Parker January 30, 2006 EarthLink’s agency review is now down to three finalists. Still in contention for the $50-60 million account are Interpublic Group's Gotham and Lowe, and Omnicom Group's Merkley + Partners. Heading for the dumpster are WPP’s JWT, Publicis Group’s Saatchi &... Continue Reading Posted at 5:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Have you driven a Dwarf lately? George Parker January 30, 2006 “The Poisoned Dwarf,” WPP CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell must be having a fit right now. The thing he has often warned the ad industry about has finally come to pass. One of WPP’s biggest clients, Ford Motor Co., has asked... Continue Reading Posted at 10:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan29	Fame!!! George Parker January 29, 2006 OK, here’s the deal. Friday night I get an email, out of the blue, from an NBC producer who asks me if I can do an interview about advertising on Tuesday’s edition of “The Today Show!” I naturally thought someone... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan28	GoDaddy... Go! George Parker January 28, 2006 It seems to me that GoDaddy.com is eager to have its Super Bowl spot repeatedly rejected by ABC as a publicity stunt--as long as some kind of version gets cleared in time to air in the game. After all, nothing... Continue Reading Posted at 1:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan27	Let your mind float, Grasshopper! George Parker January 27, 2006 In the never-ending quest to turn the brains of America’s shoppers into a bowl of advertising receptive mush, Coca Cola, Colgate Palmolive and Maxwell House have signed on to the test of a motion-sensitive digital advertising device that sits on the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You can't drink champagne at a triathalon! George Parker January 27, 2006 Why am I not surprised by the news the Boston Triathlon needs a sponsor for its 6th annual event in order to remain viable, even though it attracts nearly 1,000 top competitors annually, including many elite athletes who compete at... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Waaassssup?" George Parker January 27, 2006 According to TNS Media Intelligence, Anheuser-Busch, a 20-year advertiser in the Super Bowl, will now be the biggest ever Super Bowl advertiser at $230.5 million. And don’t forget, that’s just for the Super Bowl, they must spend another half billion... Continue Reading Posted at 11:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan26	Second greatest creative work in the world! George Parker January 26, 2006 OK… I know it smacks of nepotism, but as Malcolm Forbes junior once said, “I see nothing wrong with that!” I am referring to the best freelance team operating in the US today, Travis Ashby and Chris Parker… Who just... Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bloggers beware!!! George Parker January 26, 2006 A word of warning to all fellow bloggers. President Bush recently made it illegal to flame anonymously (I am not making this up). He signed it into law a couple of weeks ago and you can check out all the... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ford advertising. Forget it! George Parker January 26, 2006 Last night Ford launched a new TV campaign that apparently recognizes some of the company’s difficulties. I have to admit, I haven’t seen it yet, so I won’t comment on content or execution. What I will say is that it... Continue Reading Posted at 2:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Fickle hand of fate! George Parker January 26, 2006 I don’t care what anyone says, the toughest job in an agency is being the CD. Fallon just proved it by firing CD Paul Silburn less than a year after he joined the agency and after a dismal new business... Continue Reading Posted at 9:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan24	Jobs in MickeyLand!!! George Parker January 24, 2006 So, the Disney buyout of Pixar is official! This means Steve Jobs, who doubles as chief executive of Apple Computer Inc., will take a seat on Disney's board. He also becomes Disney's largest individual shareholder. Further, several Pixar executives will... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	When is the same old... The same old? George Parker January 24, 2006 Royal Caribbean International has just come up with a brilliant, never-been-done-before TV campaign designed to show cruise ship vacations from the guests' perspective. The TV spots are from Havas/Arnold in Boston, and will run on network and cable TV. The... Continue Reading Posted at 4:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Welcome to the USA... We think! George Parker January 24, 2006 It was announced today that the US government is to promote a more 'open door' policy to travelers, after concerns that the drive to secure its borders in the wake of 9/11 has alienated tourists. This follows a 35% decline... Continue Reading Posted at 7:40 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan23	Ed Morris... You lucky dog! George Parker January 23, 2006 AdWeek reported tonight that Frank Lowe has failed to bring Ed Morris on board at Lowe's new London agency as a partner and creative chief. Morris decided to remain executive creative director of the London office of Interpublic Group's Lowe.... Continue Reading Posted at 5:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mutiny in the Gnome's boardroom? George Parker January 23, 2006 WPP Chairman, Sir Martin Sorrell, (The Poisoned Dwarf) is facing opposition from some boardroom colleagues over the group’s succession planning and his management style. Two of the non-executives of WPP, which Sorrell has built into the world’s second-largest marketing-services group,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Murdoch will thrive in coming "Golden age for media!" George Parker January 23, 2006 Is it bravado, ignorance or senility? Rupert Murdoch, the News Corporation chairman, said the other day that the media industry is on the verge of a golden age and his companies are set to benefit because people still need content.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan22	Greetings from Great Falls! George Parker January 22, 2006 I've just spent the last two days in Great Falls, Montana, judging the regional ADDY Awards. I've judged many award shows over the years, both national and regional, and I'm always surprised at the high standards of a great deal... Continue Reading Posted at 10:16 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan19	Amazing News! George Parker January 19, 2006 I must have been doing something right for a change as I’ve just been informed that both AdHurl and AdScam have been nominated as finalists in AdLand - Ad-Rag’s “Battle of the Ad-Blogs.” You can vote for both, as they... Continue Reading Posted at 8:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Google Empire is striking back! George Parker January 19, 2006 Big Dumb Agencies (BDA’s) are increasingly looking over their shoulders as Google’s empire keeps expanding. It was announced yesterday that they are buying dMarc Broadcasting -- whose automated process for people to place radio ads mirrors Google's online ad service... Continue Reading Posted at 10:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Boldly going where no PR has ever gone before! George Parker January 19, 2006 Who needs an ad campaign when you can do really classy PR? GoldenPalace.com the online gambling company has added to its world-beating collection of junk by snapping up William Shatner's kidney stone for $25K. Shatner has said he will donate... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lowe versus Lowe versus Lowe! George Parker January 19, 2006 The troubles in the Lowe Empire are getting worse. Interpublic will try to impose a one year non-compete stipulation on Paul Weinberger (The CD of Lowe Worldwide, who has quit to join Sir Frank’s new agency.) This in an attempt... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan18	Frontier flips Flip the bird! George Parker January 18, 2006 Frontier Airlines Has a nice PR trip going at the moment with it’s “Flip the Dolphin” shtick. As the press release puts it… “In a move that shocked many at Frontier Airlines Flip the Dolphin, one of Frontier's leading spokesmammals,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I'm a Senior VP... In Arkansas! George Parker January 18, 2006 Julie Roehm, the 35 year old “Auto-Glam-Queen,” and sometimes controversial director of marketing communications at Chrysler Group since 2001, is leaving to join Wal-Mart. Ms. Roehm, will join the retail giant in the new position of senior VP-global marketing communications.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Getting in the face of CEO's! George Parker January 18, 2006 Because I’ve done so much Hi-Tech advertising in the past, I still get all the IT trade press. To be honest, I mostly look at them for the ads and to quickly scan what’s going on in Techdom that might... Continue Reading Posted at 4:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan17	AdAge on the World Cup... That's the one teams from all over the world play for! George Parker January 17, 2006 Jonah Bloom writing in today’s AdAge makes several good points about the upcoming year in advertising and media. This one on sports media really rang a bell with me… “Give a little respect to soccer (Hey Jonah… That’s what we... Continue Reading Posted at 4:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan16	Resistance is futile. Microsoft is in control! George Parker January 16, 2006 Microsoft is harnessing an army of mad scientists to develop ways of making online advertising ever more targeted. It plans to achieve this with a new research centre based in Beijing. Known as the Microsoft adCenter Incubation Lab, it has... Continue Reading Posted at 5:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Clown versus The King! George Parker January 16, 2006 Dontchaluvit when agencies are so bereft of original thinking they have to do an “Homage” (that’s adspeak for ripoff) on what another agency is doing for a competitor. Apparently, because Burger King’s plastic king is doing so well, McDonald’s is... Continue Reading Posted at 4:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Naomi and Kate Banned in Belorus! George Parker January 16, 2006 Seems like Alexander Lukashenko the President of Belorus has banned the use of non-Belorussian models in ads that run anywhere in the country. There are no exceptions, not even for Russian models. So, since the beginning of the year, Naomi... Continue Reading Posted at 4:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan15	Larry Ellison... The Japanese Elvis? George Parker January 15, 2006 The word on the street is that Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, producer of the worst advertising in the universe, known to fans of AdScam as “The Shogun,” because of his love affair with all things Japanese, has been sucking... Continue Reading Posted at 5:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Advertising is off the hook! George Parker January 15, 2006 If you get asked to work on a booze or cigarette account, you can now do so with a clear conscience, because apparently advertising is off the hook when it comes to driving people to drink and cigarettes. The real... Continue Reading Posted at 3:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan14	What's in a name? George Parker January 14, 2006 With the news out of London yesterday that famous ad guy, Ed Morris is set to quit as Lowe London's executive CD to join Sir Frank Lowe's new shop along with a mob of other hard drinking, well tailored London ad... Continue Reading Posted at 4:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You can't keep a good shop down. Particulary if it's Goodby, Silverstein! George Parker January 14, 2006 HP announced yesterday that Goody, Silverstein, which I still consider to be America’s best all-round ad agency has been awarded a $300 million global assignment for its Personal Systems Group, effective Jan. 16th. This will involve international work previously handled... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Team Ford." All gassed up and nowhere to go! George Parker January 14, 2006 WPP today took the wraps off a restructuring plan that takes resources from its major agencies and throws them into a giant dumpster called, “Team Ford,” based in Dearborn. The shops to be put through the sausage machine are: JWT... Continue Reading Posted at 8:22 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan13	WPP still flogging the 5th Network dead horse! George Parker January 13, 2006 Martin Sorrell (readers of AdScam know him as “The Poisoned Dwarf") isn’t giving up on WPP Group’s struggling fifth network, now being reinvented as a micronetwork (I guess that means ity-bitty-small) suffering under the name of "United" that will be... Continue Reading Posted at 5:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan12	Are the batteries Lithium or Uranium? George Parker January 12, 2006 With all the publicity about Apples iPod and how it has revolutionized the consumer music industry, there was a funny comment last night at a Computer History Museum event in Silicon Valley. Apparently Sun Microsystems almost merged with Apple on... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mine's a pint, thanks! George Parker January 12, 2006 Young's Brewery in London (who make a hell of a good pint) has been told to take down billboards that apparently are seen by the Advertising Standards Authority as linking the drinking of alcohol with social and sexual success. The... Continue Reading Posted at 4:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan11	Paris in the spring? George Parker January 11, 2006 Hilton Hotels will launch its first television advertising campaign in more than 10 years via Y&R when it rolls out new spots on Jan. 15. In common with most hotel advertising it’s guaranteed to be full of all the usual... Continue Reading Posted at 10:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	It could only happen in Britain! George Parker January 11, 2006 In the truth is stranger than fiction category, this just in from London… It would seem that an ad campaign featuring a series of billboards for online bookmaker Paddy Power has had to be withdrawn after a warning it could... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why people not in advertising think people in advertising are idiots! George Parker January 11, 2006 One of my New York spies just sent me a press release from a well know NYC ad agency. It reinforces my long held belief that agency people live in a different world than other people. They go to work in... Continue Reading Posted at 6:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan10	Panasonic slips Kaplan Thaler a Mickey! George Parker January 10, 2006 So, Kaplan Thaler picks up pills (see my earlier post) but loses Panasonic. Seems like they were not invited to re-pitch the account. Agencies expected to respond to the RFP in the $60 million Panasonic review have until Jan. 11... Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Being Stern on Howard! George Parker January 10, 2006 As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I promised the guys at KnowMoreMedia, that unlike my stuff on AdScam, I would keep my posts on AdHurl expletive free. Which is fine by me, because with my unmatched command of... Continue Reading Posted at 3:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Take my car... Please, take my car! George Parker January 10, 2006 There was a truly revolutionary news announcement yesterday at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Mark LaNeve, General Motors Vice President of North American sales, service and marketing, said that the company will take a new marketing tack in... Continue Reading Posted at 2:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Looking forward to some really bad drug ads? You're wait is over! George Parker January 10, 2006 I wrote on AdScam yesterday about Kaplan Thaler’s win of the $75 million Lipitor account. Reading further news on it, a couple of things bugged me… Yes, even more than usual… The review between WPP’s JWT, McGarryBowen, and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:07 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 9	OK, OK, I ,love the New York Times... George Parker January 9, 2006 But, enough already. It's bad enough that I can no longer come out of my old apartment on the corner of West 11th Street and Bleeker. Pop into the Magnolia Bakery for my pastry and coffee before going off to the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Am I crazy... Is AdWeek crazy... Is McCann crazy... Is the world crazy??? George Parker January 9, 2006 OK... Before you go nuts figuring ou what this post is all about, let me explain... Today's AdWeek BS "news-of-the-day" included this gem... I know it goes on-and-on, but stay with me so you can understand why subscribing to useless publications... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 8	Hanks... Big... DeVito... Big Challenged!!! George Parker January 8, 2006 Intel rolled out Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman and Danny DeVito to help sell its Viiv technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The star power, however, did little to convince anyone that Viiv is anything special. Intel describes Viiv as... Continue Reading Posted at 7:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Dot-Com-Boo-Hoo-Deja-Vue! George Parker January 8, 2006 I keep reading that while low end retail sales have been down for the Christmas selling season, ($10K Luis Vuiton suitcases are apparently selling like hotcakes) sales over the Internet are booming. So, maybe Amazon.com can finally start reducing it’s... Continue Reading Posted at 5:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Whatever happened to the computer spokesdudes? George Parker January 8, 2006 Remember Ben Curtis the “Dell Dude” of three years ago? This was the guy who used to annoy the crap out of me in those inane TV spots that seemed to be aimed at brain-dead buyers of PC’s. Dell finally... Continue Reading Posted at 5:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 7	More tasteful than a Viagra ad! George Parker January 7, 2006 I don’t usually feature ads that never ran, because as I’ve said to people showing me their portfolio’s when looking for a job, if it didn’t run, it doesn’t count. Having said that, Ill break my own rule with this... Continue Reading Posted at 5:22 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	TV is dead... Again... Yawn! George Parker January 7, 2006 It seems like every time you look up, someone is writing about the demise of TV as an advertising vehicle. I even posted about it yesterday. As did fellow blogger Colbert Low, making the excellent observation that you can’t lay... Continue Reading Posted at 4:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why Steve Jobs is an UberFreak! George Parker January 7, 2006 There's a great article in The Guardian about how Steve Jobs prepares for a major presentation. Like at MacWorld when an audience of crazed MacFreaks will go nuts even if Steve commands them to disembowl themselves. I know, 'cos I've... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 6	CMO's are spending more on online advertising... Duhhh! George Parker January 6, 2006 A recent report from Credit Suisse/First Boston (and who knows more about credit than the Swiss?) of 500 Chief Marketing Officers (CMO's) of Fortune 100 companies has come up with the astounding information that they intend to spend less on TV... Continue Reading Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tony the Tiger takes Torino... Yawn!!! George Parker January 6, 2006 Kellogs will be putting the ooomph of Tony the Tiger and his limited edition Frosted Flakes boxes behind the efforts of US Olympians at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Backed up by TV ads and a special Web... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	George Parker's AdHurl... As distinct from George Parker's AdScam... George Parker January 6, 2006 For all those fans of AdScam checking out my new gig at AdHurl, this may be somewhat superfluous. On the other hand, you might want to rediscover why you would want to put up with a double dose of my... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments

« November 2005 | Main | February 2006 »

Jan31	Larry Ellison... Going broke? George Parker January 31, 2006 Know More: Ad Critiques Have you ever wondered why Oracle’s advertising has been so bad for so long? I always assumed it was because “The Shogun,” CEO Larry Ellison, who gets involved in all the advertising, has absolutely no taste. Well, it turns out with the recent release of documents involved in a shareholders lawsuit… It’s ‘cos Larry is too busy worrying about the state of his finances. That’s right, one of the richest men in the world with a net worth of nearly $20 billion has money worries and his financial adviser is trying to convince him to cut down on his over-the-top lifestyle. At the bottom of a document detailing Ellison's 2000 debt load, the advisor had scrawled a rough accounting of Ellison's lavish spending, according to deposition testimony: "1) Life Style -- annual $20m 2) Interest Accrual -- annual $75m 3) Villa in Japan -- $25m 4) New Yacht -- $194m -- over 3 yrs 5) America's Cup -- $80m -- over 3 yrs 6) UAD -- 12m over 3 yrs." It's not clear what UAD refers to. Since this rough budget, Ellison has reportedly spent $200 million building a Japanese-style estate in Woodside, which includes a reproduction of a 17th-century Kyoto teahouse. He has also bought multiple properties in Malibu -- $180 million worth, by one report. No mention of his stable of passenger and fighter jets which includes a couple of MIG fighters! It’s tough at the top. But, Larry, there’s no excuse for those ads. They suck! This is not my yacht... This is the boat I use to get to my yacht! Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan31	Oh, Oh...Dot.Com Implosion? George Parker January 31, 2006 In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, it might just be “Deja vue all over again,” because as of the time of this post, Google is down $73.25 (19%) in after hours trading!!! Apparently, they didn’t meet Wall Streets expectations.... Continue Reading Posted at 3:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bushwhacked! George Parker January 31, 2006 Because “El Presidente” is doing his thing tonight all the news media will be boring the nation rigid tomorrow morning with turgid commentators analyzing everything he said… Or didn’t say! So… I got bumped again! The piece will definitely air,... Continue Reading Posted at 11:16 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan30	Today show is not tomorrow... It's the day after!!! George Parker January 30, 2006 I've been bumped from tomorrows Today show... But before you rush out and shoot yourself... I'll be on Wednesday morning... They say about 7-15 AM... But, be on the safe side and record the whole thing... After all, you wouldn't... Continue Reading Posted at 6:01 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Never, ever, invest in an ad agency! George Parker January 30, 2006 EarthLink’s agency review is now down to three finalists. Still in contention for the $50-60 million account are Interpublic Group's Gotham and Lowe, and Omnicom Group's Merkley + Partners. Heading for the dumpster are WPP’s JWT, Publicis Group’s Saatchi &... Continue Reading Posted at 5:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Have you driven a Dwarf lately? George Parker January 30, 2006 “The Poisoned Dwarf,” WPP CEO, Sir Martin Sorrell must be having a fit right now. The thing he has often warned the ad industry about has finally come to pass. One of WPP’s biggest clients, Ford Motor Co., has asked... Continue Reading Posted at 10:24 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan29	Fame!!! George Parker January 29, 2006 OK, here’s the deal. Friday night I get an email, out of the blue, from an NBC producer who asks me if I can do an interview about advertising on Tuesday’s edition of “The Today Show!” I naturally thought someone... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan28	GoDaddy... Go! George Parker January 28, 2006 It seems to me that GoDaddy.com is eager to have its Super Bowl spot repeatedly rejected by ABC as a publicity stunt--as long as some kind of version gets cleared in time to air in the game. After all, nothing... Continue Reading Posted at 1:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan27	Let your mind float, Grasshopper! George Parker January 27, 2006 In the never-ending quest to turn the brains of America’s shoppers into a bowl of advertising receptive mush, Coca Cola, Colgate Palmolive and Maxwell House have signed on to the test of a motion-sensitive digital advertising device that sits on the... Continue Reading Posted at 4:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You can't drink champagne at a triathalon! George Parker January 27, 2006 Why am I not surprised by the news the Boston Triathlon needs a sponsor for its 6th annual event in order to remain viable, even though it attracts nearly 1,000 top competitors annually, including many elite athletes who compete at... Continue Reading Posted at 1:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Waaassssup?" George Parker January 27, 2006 According to TNS Media Intelligence, Anheuser-Busch, a 20-year advertiser in the Super Bowl, will now be the biggest ever Super Bowl advertiser at $230.5 million. And don’t forget, that’s just for the Super Bowl, they must spend another half billion... Continue Reading Posted at 11:17 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan26	Second greatest creative work in the world! George Parker January 26, 2006 OK… I know it smacks of nepotism, but as Malcolm Forbes junior once said, “I see nothing wrong with that!” I am referring to the best freelance team operating in the US today, Travis Ashby and Chris Parker… Who just... Continue Reading Posted at 4:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bloggers beware!!! George Parker January 26, 2006 A word of warning to all fellow bloggers. President Bush recently made it illegal to flame anonymously (I am not making this up). He signed it into law a couple of weeks ago and you can check out all the... Continue Reading Posted at 2:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Ford advertising. Forget it! George Parker January 26, 2006 Last night Ford launched a new TV campaign that apparently recognizes some of the company’s difficulties. I have to admit, I haven’t seen it yet, so I won’t comment on content or execution. What I will say is that it... Continue Reading Posted at 2:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Fickle hand of fate! George Parker January 26, 2006 I don’t care what anyone says, the toughest job in an agency is being the CD. Fallon just proved it by firing CD Paul Silburn less than a year after he joined the agency and after a dismal new business... Continue Reading Posted at 9:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan24	Jobs in MickeyLand!!! George Parker January 24, 2006 So, the Disney buyout of Pixar is official! This means Steve Jobs, who doubles as chief executive of Apple Computer Inc., will take a seat on Disney's board. He also becomes Disney's largest individual shareholder. Further, several Pixar executives will... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	When is the same old... The same old? George Parker January 24, 2006 Royal Caribbean International has just come up with a brilliant, never-been-done-before TV campaign designed to show cruise ship vacations from the guests' perspective. The TV spots are from Havas/Arnold in Boston, and will run on network and cable TV. The... Continue Reading Posted at 4:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Welcome to the USA... We think! George Parker January 24, 2006 It was announced today that the US government is to promote a more 'open door' policy to travelers, after concerns that the drive to secure its borders in the wake of 9/11 has alienated tourists. This follows a 35% decline... Continue Reading Posted at 7:40 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan23	Ed Morris... You lucky dog! George Parker January 23, 2006 AdWeek reported tonight that Frank Lowe has failed to bring Ed Morris on board at Lowe's new London agency as a partner and creative chief. Morris decided to remain executive creative director of the London office of Interpublic Group's Lowe.... Continue Reading Posted at 5:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mutiny in the Gnome's boardroom? George Parker January 23, 2006 WPP Chairman, Sir Martin Sorrell, (The Poisoned Dwarf) is facing opposition from some boardroom colleagues over the group’s succession planning and his management style. Two of the non-executives of WPP, which Sorrell has built into the world’s second-largest marketing-services group,... Continue Reading Posted at 4:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Murdoch will thrive in coming "Golden age for media!" George Parker January 23, 2006 Is it bravado, ignorance or senility? Rupert Murdoch, the News Corporation chairman, said the other day that the media industry is on the verge of a golden age and his companies are set to benefit because people still need content.... Continue Reading Posted at 4:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan22	Greetings from Great Falls! George Parker January 22, 2006 I've just spent the last two days in Great Falls, Montana, judging the regional ADDY Awards. I've judged many award shows over the years, both national and regional, and I'm always surprised at the high standards of a great deal... Continue Reading Posted at 10:16 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan19	Amazing News! George Parker January 19, 2006 I must have been doing something right for a change as I’ve just been informed that both AdHurl and AdScam have been nominated as finalists in AdLand - Ad-Rag’s “Battle of the Ad-Blogs.” You can vote for both, as they... Continue Reading Posted at 8:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Google Empire is striking back! George Parker January 19, 2006 Big Dumb Agencies (BDA’s) are increasingly looking over their shoulders as Google’s empire keeps expanding. It was announced yesterday that they are buying dMarc Broadcasting -- whose automated process for people to place radio ads mirrors Google's online ad service... Continue Reading Posted at 10:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Boldly going where no PR has ever gone before! George Parker January 19, 2006 Who needs an ad campaign when you can do really classy PR? GoldenPalace.com the online gambling company has added to its world-beating collection of junk by snapping up William Shatner's kidney stone for $25K. Shatner has said he will donate... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lowe versus Lowe versus Lowe! George Parker January 19, 2006 The troubles in the Lowe Empire are getting worse. Interpublic will try to impose a one year non-compete stipulation on Paul Weinberger (The CD of Lowe Worldwide, who has quit to join Sir Frank’s new agency.) This in an attempt... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan18	Frontier flips Flip the bird! George Parker January 18, 2006 Frontier Airlines Has a nice PR trip going at the moment with it’s “Flip the Dolphin” shtick. As the press release puts it… “In a move that shocked many at Frontier Airlines Flip the Dolphin, one of Frontier's leading spokesmammals,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I'm a Senior VP... In Arkansas! George Parker January 18, 2006 Julie Roehm, the 35 year old “Auto-Glam-Queen,” and sometimes controversial director of marketing communications at Chrysler Group since 2001, is leaving to join Wal-Mart. Ms. Roehm, will join the retail giant in the new position of senior VP-global marketing communications.... Continue Reading Posted at 6:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Getting in the face of CEO's! George Parker January 18, 2006 Because I’ve done so much Hi-Tech advertising in the past, I still get all the IT trade press. To be honest, I mostly look at them for the ads and to quickly scan what’s going on in Techdom that might... Continue Reading Posted at 4:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan17	AdAge on the World Cup... That's the one teams from all over the world play for! George Parker January 17, 2006 Jonah Bloom writing in today’s AdAge makes several good points about the upcoming year in advertising and media. This one on sports media really rang a bell with me… “Give a little respect to soccer (Hey Jonah… That’s what we... Continue Reading Posted at 4:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan16	Resistance is futile. Microsoft is in control! George Parker January 16, 2006 Microsoft is harnessing an army of mad scientists to develop ways of making online advertising ever more targeted. It plans to achieve this with a new research centre based in Beijing. Known as the Microsoft adCenter Incubation Lab, it has... Continue Reading Posted at 5:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Clown versus The King! George Parker January 16, 2006 Dontchaluvit when agencies are so bereft of original thinking they have to do an “Homage” (that’s adspeak for ripoff) on what another agency is doing for a competitor. Apparently, because Burger King’s plastic king is doing so well, McDonald’s is... Continue Reading Posted at 4:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Naomi and Kate Banned in Belorus! George Parker January 16, 2006 Seems like Alexander Lukashenko the President of Belorus has banned the use of non-Belorussian models in ads that run anywhere in the country. There are no exceptions, not even for Russian models. So, since the beginning of the year, Naomi... Continue Reading Posted at 4:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan15	Larry Ellison... The Japanese Elvis? George Parker January 15, 2006 The word on the street is that Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, producer of the worst advertising in the universe, known to fans of AdScam as “The Shogun,” because of his love affair with all things Japanese, has been sucking... Continue Reading Posted at 5:10 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Advertising is off the hook! George Parker January 15, 2006 If you get asked to work on a booze or cigarette account, you can now do so with a clear conscience, because apparently advertising is off the hook when it comes to driving people to drink and cigarettes. The real... Continue Reading Posted at 3:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan14	What's in a name? George Parker January 14, 2006 With the news out of London yesterday that famous ad guy, Ed Morris is set to quit as Lowe London's executive CD to join Sir Frank Lowe's new shop along with a mob of other hard drinking, well tailored London ad... Continue Reading Posted at 4:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You can't keep a good shop down. Particulary if it's Goodby, Silverstein! George Parker January 14, 2006 HP announced yesterday that Goody, Silverstein, which I still consider to be America’s best all-round ad agency has been awarded a $300 million global assignment for its Personal Systems Group, effective Jan. 16th. This will involve international work previously handled... Continue Reading Posted at 11:28 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Team Ford." All gassed up and nowhere to go! George Parker January 14, 2006 WPP today took the wraps off a restructuring plan that takes resources from its major agencies and throws them into a giant dumpster called, “Team Ford,” based in Dearborn. The shops to be put through the sausage machine are: JWT... Continue Reading Posted at 8:22 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan13	WPP still flogging the 5th Network dead horse! George Parker January 13, 2006 Martin Sorrell (readers of AdScam know him as “The Poisoned Dwarf") isn’t giving up on WPP Group’s struggling fifth network, now being reinvented as a micronetwork (I guess that means ity-bitty-small) suffering under the name of "United" that will be... Continue Reading Posted at 5:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan12	Are the batteries Lithium or Uranium? George Parker January 12, 2006 With all the publicity about Apples iPod and how it has revolutionized the consumer music industry, there was a funny comment last night at a Computer History Museum event in Silicon Valley. Apparently Sun Microsystems almost merged with Apple on... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Mine's a pint, thanks! George Parker January 12, 2006 Young's Brewery in London (who make a hell of a good pint) has been told to take down billboards that apparently are seen by the Advertising Standards Authority as linking the drinking of alcohol with social and sexual success. The... Continue Reading Posted at 4:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan11	Paris in the spring? George Parker January 11, 2006 Hilton Hotels will launch its first television advertising campaign in more than 10 years via Y&R when it rolls out new spots on Jan. 15. In common with most hotel advertising it’s guaranteed to be full of all the usual... Continue Reading Posted at 10:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	It could only happen in Britain! George Parker January 11, 2006 In the truth is stranger than fiction category, this just in from London… It would seem that an ad campaign featuring a series of billboards for online bookmaker Paddy Power has had to be withdrawn after a warning it could... Continue Reading Posted at 7:20 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why people not in advertising think people in advertising are idiots! George Parker January 11, 2006 One of my New York spies just sent me a press release from a well know NYC ad agency. It reinforces my long held belief that agency people live in a different world than other people. They go to work in... Continue Reading Posted at 6:39 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan10	Panasonic slips Kaplan Thaler a Mickey! George Parker January 10, 2006 So, Kaplan Thaler picks up pills (see my earlier post) but loses Panasonic. Seems like they were not invited to re-pitch the account. Agencies expected to respond to the RFP in the $60 million Panasonic review have until Jan. 11... Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Being Stern on Howard! George Parker January 10, 2006 As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I promised the guys at KnowMoreMedia, that unlike my stuff on AdScam, I would keep my posts on AdHurl expletive free. Which is fine by me, because with my unmatched command of... Continue Reading Posted at 3:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Take my car... Please, take my car! George Parker January 10, 2006 There was a truly revolutionary news announcement yesterday at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Mark LaNeve, General Motors Vice President of North American sales, service and marketing, said that the company will take a new marketing tack in... Continue Reading Posted at 2:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Looking forward to some really bad drug ads? You're wait is over! George Parker January 10, 2006 I wrote on AdScam yesterday about Kaplan Thaler’s win of the $75 million Lipitor account. Reading further news on it, a couple of things bugged me… Yes, even more than usual… The review between WPP’s JWT, McGarryBowen, and... Continue Reading Posted at 11:07 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 9	OK, OK, I ,love the New York Times... George Parker January 9, 2006 But, enough already. It's bad enough that I can no longer come out of my old apartment on the corner of West 11th Street and Bleeker. Pop into the Magnolia Bakery for my pastry and coffee before going off to the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Am I crazy... Is AdWeek crazy... Is McCann crazy... Is the world crazy??? George Parker January 9, 2006 OK... Before you go nuts figuring ou what this post is all about, let me explain... Today's AdWeek BS "news-of-the-day" included this gem... I know it goes on-and-on, but stay with me so you can understand why subscribing to useless publications... Continue Reading Posted at 5:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 8	Hanks... Big... DeVito... Big Challenged!!! George Parker January 8, 2006 Intel rolled out Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman and Danny DeVito to help sell its Viiv technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The star power, however, did little to convince anyone that Viiv is anything special. Intel describes Viiv as... Continue Reading Posted at 7:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Dot-Com-Boo-Hoo-Deja-Vue! George Parker January 8, 2006 I keep reading that while low end retail sales have been down for the Christmas selling season, ($10K Luis Vuiton suitcases are apparently selling like hotcakes) sales over the Internet are booming. So, maybe Amazon.com can finally start reducing it’s... Continue Reading Posted at 5:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Whatever happened to the computer spokesdudes? George Parker January 8, 2006 Remember Ben Curtis the “Dell Dude” of three years ago? This was the guy who used to annoy the crap out of me in those inane TV spots that seemed to be aimed at brain-dead buyers of PC’s. Dell finally... Continue Reading Posted at 5:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 7	More tasteful than a Viagra ad! George Parker January 7, 2006 I don’t usually feature ads that never ran, because as I’ve said to people showing me their portfolio’s when looking for a job, if it didn’t run, it doesn’t count. Having said that, Ill break my own rule with this... Continue Reading Posted at 5:22 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	TV is dead... Again... Yawn! George Parker January 7, 2006 It seems like every time you look up, someone is writing about the demise of TV as an advertising vehicle. I even posted about it yesterday. As did fellow blogger Colbert Low, making the excellent observation that you can’t lay... Continue Reading Posted at 4:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why Steve Jobs is an UberFreak! George Parker January 7, 2006 There's a great article in The Guardian about how Steve Jobs prepares for a major presentation. Like at MacWorld when an audience of crazed MacFreaks will go nuts even if Steve commands them to disembowl themselves. I know, 'cos I've... Continue Reading Posted at 8:47 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jan 6	CMO's are spending more on online advertising... Duhhh! George Parker January 6, 2006 A recent report from Credit Suisse/First Boston (and who knows more about credit than the Swiss?) of 500 Chief Marketing Officers (CMO's) of Fortune 100 companies has come up with the astounding information that they intend to spend less on TV... Continue Reading Posted at 6:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Tony the Tiger takes Torino... Yawn!!! George Parker January 6, 2006 Kellogs will be putting the ooomph of Tony the Tiger and his limited edition Frosted Flakes boxes behind the efforts of US Olympians at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Backed up by TV ads and a special Web... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	George Parker's AdHurl... As distinct from George Parker's AdScam... George Parker January 6, 2006 For all those fans of AdScam checking out my new gig at AdHurl, this may be somewhat superfluous. On the other hand, you might want to rediscover why you would want to put up with a double dose of my... Continue Reading Posted at 4:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments

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