Center of the Universe, YO!

Pretty clever, get in and out, very simple and it’s not boring.

I like many New Yorkers watched the Superbowl and saw one of the best superbowl games in Superbowl history. The younger Manning took control and helped his team to victory (I can’t wait to see the NFL film on this game). The ads were not so great, in fact I think the ads reached an even lower point this year (I never thought it possible).

The audience in the East Village apartment I was watching the game consisted of your average New Yorkers (i.e., attorneys, fashion girl, a Wall Streeter, slum lord, and me). Now granted we don’t write copy or art direct but we do have a point of view and most importantly we are consumers and the general consensus was that the commericals were bad. Three stood out and were memorable, E*TRADE showed you how easy investing can be, and our favorite was Coca Cola’s “It’s Mine.”

Enjoy.

Less is more.

“Live fast - - High speed Shopping diesel.com” So the agency that did these ads is Marcel Paris, I don’t know how I feel about the ads. I am really on the fence here, I think some are funny but don’t know if collectively they make sense. Is this suppose to be edgy? Does it deliver on the brand’s promise? Hmm I gotta think about this one a bit more.

As I am out and about town I hear a lot of people confusing the meaning of branded entertainment and product integration. I am going to easily break it down and give you an example.

Product integration is taking an established property (i.e., tv show, movie, etc) and inserting the brand on the set or in the story line. Think GM and the Transformers movie.

Branded entertainment pushes it a bit further, this is when an advertiser (brand) and a media company (network, studio, production company, etc.) form a partnership to co-produce content. Think BMW films, watch this clip it’s my favorite from this series.

Now I can care less about the Olympics, it just doesn’t excite me as much, but I do think this ad is cool.

Damn YO!

photograph: Spike Watson