Coffee plot thickens for Malkovich, Clooney

John Malkovich, ghostly-white adjudicator at the pearly gates, bailed George Clooney out of premature death last year in in exchange for his Nespresso coffee maker in a French ad from McCann Erickson Paris. Now, John is back to shake poor George down for more of the good stuff (i.e., Nespresso products) this year. I can't see it ending well for Malkovich, angel or not, if this goes any further. No one gets between Clooney and hot girls without entering a world of hurt.

Filed under Celebrity endorsements, Europe, Food and drink, Kiefaber, McCann Erickson, Nespresso
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Is Coke's holiday spot ruined by the music?

Well, the verdict is in regarding McCann Erickson Madrid's lavish new "Snow Globes" holiday spot for Coca-Cola. And that verdict is: Lovely visuals, great holiday spirit—but oh my God, that song. That horrible, horrible song. Written and performed by Train exclusively for the campaign. That song, which apparently fills sensible humans with a keen desire to claw their ears out and halt the pain. What's your feeling on that? Does it ruin an otherwise good thing?

Filed under Coca-Cola, Holidays, McCann Erickson, Nudd, Soda
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Ugh, John Cleese does 'Faulty Showers' ad

Is John Cleese in danger of becoming the Ed McMahon of adland? If so, he's screwed, because Ed is dead. (As Ed himself would say, hi-yo!) But seriously, McMahon spent the last few years of his life slumming in crappy ads to pay the bills, and now the beloved and brilliant Brit comic Cleese appears to be headed the same way. No idea if Cleese needs the cash, but here he reprises his befuddled-buffoon act in a tepid "Faulty Showers" spot by McCann Erickson for AA's Home Emergency Response service in England. What would the young, rebellious Cleese, at the height of his powers in the early 1970s, say if he could see the depths to which his septuagenarian self has sunk? He'd probably say: "Oh my god, I've traveled ahead in time!" Hi-yo! Via Campaign.

Filed under Celebrity endorsements, Europe, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson
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America's worst ad: Staples edges Quiznos

Staples's "Wow!" guy has beaten out the Quzinos singing kittens by a hair (30 percent to 29 percent) in Consumerist's reader poll to find the Worst Ad in America 2010. Staples famously loved the "Wow!" guy, created by McCann Erickson, and this recognition—dubious though it may be—will surely only convince the client that the ads are working. The Consumerist contest officially awarded the second ad in the series (below). See the original, and an alternate version of the second one, after the jump. See WongDoody's craptastic Quiznos work here.

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Filed under McCann Erickson, Nudd, Office supplies, Staples
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Suicide ads projected under bridge jumpers

Marketing stunts can be a lot of things—funny, weird, innovative, maudlin, hectoring, and of course flat-out stupid. But once in a while, there's a fundamentally good heart at its core. Such is the case with this effort by McCann Erickson for Serbia's Suicide Prevention Office. Facing truly horrific yearly suicide averages, the SPO has projected a simple phrase—"You are not alone"—and its hotline number onto the water below Belgrade's tallest bridge. In fact, it can only be seen by looking down from the bridge. Heavy. Not only is it a grimly clever instance of targeted advertising, it's done with the right amount of minimalism and respect. I hope it works. Via Ads of the World.

Filed under Europe, Kiefaber, McCann Erickson, Suicide
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Thai bathroom-cleaner ad exceptionally odd

Copyranter has proclaimed this Vixol Red bathroom-cleaner spot by McCann Thailand possibly the best commercial he's ever seen. In my estimation, it would need meerkats or a claw-tongued robot kid to qualify, but it is wonderfully campy and entertaining as only insane Asian ads can be. That stall's bigger than most apartments; it would fetch $2,500 a month in Manhattan. The Gumby-limbed mildew-man gives a fantastic performance. He really captures he essence of scum. In a good way. The gals here in the office say the same about me. In a bad way, I'm afraid.

Filed under Asia, Cleaning products, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson
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Dad kills wife-stealing robot with lunchmeat

A cloying Asimo-style robot moves in on a doofus dad's territory in this two-and-a-half minute mini-epic for Campofrio lunchmeat by McCann Erickson in Madrid. I usually root for the humans, but Pops is such a stereotypical patriarch loser, I was hoping they'd destroy each other. No such luck. Best bit: when the LED-eyed lothario gooses Mom in the kitchen. She doesn't exactly object. I bet he knows the logarithm position. Dad takes his revenge when the rest of the family steps out. The robot really overplays the death scene, but since this is a commercial for cold cuts, I guess it's fitting that the little ham got fried.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Europe, Food and drink, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson
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New love affair brewing over cup of Nescafé

If you were watching American TV in the early 1990s, you couldn't miss Nescafé's Taster's Choice couple—the potential paramours whose liaisons were fueled by instant coffee. What you might not have known at the time was that the campaign, and even the actors, were brought over from Britain, where the ads promoted Nescafé Gold Blend. Next month, the campaign will return to British airwaves with an updated look and feel as part of an $8 million push for Gold Blend from McCann Erickson. Last time around, the campaign boosted sales by 20 percent in the U.K. and a respectable 10 percent in America. So, if the new couple has any good coffee-selling chemistry, will we see them a few months later on our side of the pond? Maybe they should leave some room for original leading man Anthony Head, whose time as Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer cemented his role as a sex symbol among occult librarians. Admittedly, he hasn't had a lot of competition.

—Posted by David Griner

Filed under Europe, Griner, McCann Erickson, Nescafé
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Bonnie Tyler does glamtastic MasterCard ad

Oh, how I've wished that some marketer would remake "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as a brand anthem and cast Bonnie Tyler, the power ballad's aging, whiskey-voiced warbler, as an angel swooping down from the skies to thank people for using the company's products and/or services. The wait is finally over! McCann Erickson in London and MasterCard sing the praises of average shopper "Neville" in this unapologetically over-the-top production. The new lyrics ("Half an hour ago you were buying some stuff/Now you're walking back to your car") improve the song immensely. Highlights include a rollerblading chorus, sparky pyrotechnics, rose-petals (I think) dropped from a helicopter, an '80s MTV-style lead guitarist riding a jetpack, a dog driving a tiny car ... and Tiger Woods. He's way in back, trust me. For an encore, Stevie Nicks should rise up from hell and poke shoppers with a pitchfork. Now that would be priceless!

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Celebrity endorsements, Finance, Gianatasio, MasterCard, McCann Erickson
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'Beyond Baseball' back for a second season

Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball—a day of hope and unlimited possibility for every baseball fan in America, even those on the north side of Chicago. It's also a good day for McCann Erickson in New York, which gets to continue its "Beyond Baseball" advertising for the league. The first spot, posted below, naturally celebrates Opening Day. After the jump, check out the first player-focused spot of the year, about Dustin Pedroia, the diminutive force of the Red Sox.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

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Filed under Baseball, McCann Erickson, MLB, Nudd
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Veggies out of luck in sex-enhancement ads

Click here to see the banana and eggplant versions. McCann Erickson in Bangkok makes a bid for naughtiest campaign of the year with three loopy print ads promoting a "sexual efficiency ring." Scantily clad women appear with human-sized bananas, eggplants and cucumbers, who are hiding as the husband/boyfriend comes home. The cucumber is lurking in the shower, perhaps because you should always wash your vegetables before, um ... eating them, I guess? And is that banana sweating? I don't think I want to know! The veggies won't be getting any more action now that the guys are using Fowin to enhance their erotic performances. The absurdity of the imagery here only slightly offsets the unpalatable theme. File under: seedy.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Gianatasio, McCann Erickson, Thailand
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Staples' annoying 'Wow!' guy is here to stay

We recently linked to a list of annoying animated ad characters, but if you were to expand it to live action, you'd have to put Staples' "Wow, that's a low price!" guy near the top of the pile. McCann Erickson's first spot with the character was considered a big success (annoying-memorable and not-annoying-memorable being essentially interchangeable in this business), and so of course now he's back for an encore, posted below. A third TV spot is on the way, too, and there's also an online-only clip (posted after the jump) in which the guy is seen annoying a colleague at work while shopping at Staples.com. You can't really begrudge the client for sticking with him, although perhaps there's a chance Jennifer Love Hewitt could replace him, now that she's admitted there's something about the office-supply chain that gets her all "hot and bothered."

—Posted by Tim Nudd

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Filed under McCann Erickson, Nudd, Office supplies, Staples
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Dentyne Ice spot says gum is like a condom

McCann Erickson is rolling out a new spot for Dentyne that compares gum with condoms. Using the tagline "Practice safe breath," the commercial shows a trio of men in need of protection from halitosis, lest it inhibit freaky time. One is about to get into it was a comely blonde in the backseat, another is nervously buying protection in a drugstore, and a third wakes his roommate late at night because he's got a guest. The spots are part of McCann's effort to make the Cadbury brand a little more hip to the kids. Last year, it rolled out a campaign that took its cues from social networking by urging people to get out in the real world.

—Posted by Brian Morrissey

Filed under Dentyne, Gum, McCann Erickson, Morrissey
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MasterCard jar spot knows I am a sexist pig

I didn't see it coming. A guy is seen trying to open a jar of pickles, as the MasterCard announcer talks about automatically paid gym memberships. I was thinking, "Boy, he's got to get off automatic bill pay, as he's clearly not going to the gym!" And then, "But what can you do at the gym to build finger muscles?" But I was not in a million years thinking a woman would appear and open the pickle jar for him. Leading to the punch line: "Finally convincing your boyfriend he should go [to the gym] with you: Priceless." It's rare to turn on the TV and suddenly be made aware, particularly by a commercial, of your own appalling gender bias. (This particular spot is from the early '00s, but has been resurrected.) I had been told for so long that women need men to open jars for them that it didn't even seem possible that a woman could do it. I'd even been told to let men open jars because it makes them feel more manly. When my husband is home, I don't even try to open jars. I just call out, "Honey, come be a man." Because I am a horrible sexist pig. So, well done, McCann Erickson, you surprised me with my own inherent sexism, and I liked it.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Filed under Cullers, Finance, MasterCard, McCann Erickson
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Verizon does Big Red, De Beers ad parodies

Verizon Wireless is clearly feeling giddy about its relentless pummeling of AT&T in the maps commercials, and is taking the campaign in all sorts of amusing and inspired new directions. Here are a pair of spoofs that McCann Erickson in New York whipped up. The one above is based on the classic Big Red gum commercials; the one below (timed to Valentine's Day) riffs on the De Beers diamond spots. Luke Wilson is going to be a busy man trying to respond to these.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under AT&T, McCann Erickson, Nudd, Parody, Telecom, Verizon
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A coffee maker saves George Clooney's life

George Clooney and John Malkovich star in this new McCann Paris ad, directed by Robert Rodriguez, for Nestlé's Nespresso. Clooney gets demolished by a falling piano, but Malkovich, at the pearly gates, gives him a second chance at life in exchange for his Nespresso coffee maker. Clooney once insisted he wouldn't do just any old commercial, but this spot isn't even as good as Spike Jonze's Softbank spots with Brad Pitt. Via Animal.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Previously on AdFreak:
George Clooney doesn't want to do terrible ads for crappy companies
Brad Pitt serves a sumo in Softbank's spots

Filed under Celebrity endorsements, Europe, Food and drink, McCann Erickson, Nestlé, Nudd
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McCann's gamers highly stimulated by Xbox

The dude's enraptured look toward the end of this U.K. spot (posted below) by McCann Erickson for the Xbox 360 is, to cop a phrase from another McCann campaign, priceless. One might say even call it orgasmic. At any rate, he's clearly enjoying himself as he strums on his Guitar Hero mini-guitar. Note also, if you will, the position of said instrument. I'm not panning this approach or the spot by any means. On the contrary, such a take on gaming is more honest and compelling than most of the effects-crazed entries in the genre. Video games today are all about immersion. This guy, if nothing else, looks pretty darn immersed. His geeky pal off to the side playing DJ Hero seems awfully happy, too. You could interpret their looks as signs of near-euphoric digital satisfaction, which surely casts the product in a glowing light with much of its target audience. Casual gamers and those who don't indulge, of course, will smirk and assume the guys are just wasting time playing with themselves.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Filed under Europe, Gianatasio, Guitar Hero, McCann Erickson, Video games, Xbox
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Avis helping out baseball's abused mascots

McCann Erickson's "Billy the Bear" baseball mascot needs a "rental health day" in this Avis commercial. He bitches about his sweaty costume, the rude fans and his grueling work schedule. The Boston Bruins' guy-in-a-bear-suit would kick this wimp's ursine ass. Hockey: tough, unforgiving. Baseball: Waaaaa, we can't finish the game because it's raining! Actually, all baseball mascots, save one, are already home for the off-season. And the Phanatic will join the rest after the Yankees brush aside the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series. It had to go six, people, so the Pinstripes could capture the title at home in the first year of the new Yankee Stadium. By the way, the Yanks don't have a mascot ... yet. One more torturous outing from Phil Hughes, however, and he might be demoted.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Previously on AdFreak:
Avis can't stand the sound of Red Sox fans
Bonnie Tyler tries harder in Avis GPS spot

Filed under Avis, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson, Rental cars
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Dentyne Ice kills smelly, smoking-gun squid

This unsettling Dentyne Ice ad from Thailand has it all: a cheating husband, a jealous wife and a giant, horrible squid. The sea beast represents the man's sushi-breath from a secret after-work dinner. The wife smells it when he gets home and flies into a rage. So, the man pops a Dentyne Ice and, with more anger than seems appropriate, breathes a big "Ahhhhh" into the woman's face. Weird. By McCann in Bangkok.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Previously on AdFreak:
Stop wasting your life online, says Dentyne
Avert bad breath/death with Thai toothpaste

Filed under Asia, Dentyne, Freaky, Gum, McCann Erickson, Nudd
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Grand Shoes are for big feet, not small dogs

A playful pooch does not fare well in this clip from McCann Sweden for Grand Shoes, an online retailer that specializes in large sizes. You can't see it that well, but he gets clobbered by the flying sneaker, which is probably at least a size 18. Considering the way dogs have misbehaved in some recent ads—mauling cell-phone consumers and leaving their waste around for kids to ingest—I'd say Fido had it coming. Still, I'm sure he'll quickly recover, and be treated like royalty back at home, wrapped in the comforting embrace of a canine Snuggie. Via Ads of the World.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Previously on AdFreak:
Ads for Bianco shoes promise foot-orgasms
DSW's shoes are lonely and looking for love

Filed under Animals, Europe, Footwear, Gianatasio, Grand Shoes, McCann Erickson
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Race relations a whole lot better in a hot tub

It's refreshing, after all this Sotomayor business, to see advertising from countries where mentioning race doesn't automatically beckon wingnuts. Above is a detail from this larger McCann-Lowe ad from Belgium for Luxor hot tubs, featuring a Klansman lounging with, from the looks of him, Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington in one of their deluxe models. The simple tagline is: "Extremely relaxing." There's been a rash of this kind of stuff in the Old World of late. Who knows why. What we do know is that Pat Buchanan should never see this ad. Via Copyranter.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

See also:
Modeling clay soothes the old antagonisms
Klansman ads promote Brazil radio station

Filed under Europe, Kiefaber, Lowe, McCann Erickson, Race
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Purity Organic juice calms the worst temper

Judging by the severity of his mood swings, the guy in this Purity Organic commercial (by McCann Erickson, New York) needs more than fancy orange juice to steady himself. Blood-pressure medication might be in order. But healthier organic juice is a start, and Purity is nothing if not organic. They mention this about a billion times on their Web site. Also, the only thing more entertaining than watching this hothead at choir practice will be the Parents Television Council complaints generated by this ad.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Filed under Food and drink, Gianatasio, McCann Erickson, Purity Organic
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Flying trash apparently gets everyone horny

McCann Paris should be lauded for this Durex condoms ad, in which the wrapper wafts in the breeze, leaving intense sexual desire in its wake. Since the tagline roughly translates to “condoms that generate desire,” this is most fitting. What's cool about this ad is the lack of judgment; there's a good spread of age, class, and orientation here, and it's all presented in a positive, even encouraging, light. And in a culture where sex is one of the most politicized topics imaginable, the simplicity of this worldview is appreciated. I do hope those cops were off-duty, though.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Filed under Durex, Kiefaber, McCann Erickson, Sex
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WebVet, for when your animal is pissing fire

The folks at WebVet know a thing or two about pets, even ones whose insides are so ravaged that they become living flamethrowers when they urinate. (Cesar Millan would probably just kick the dog into shape.) WebVet is pleased with the YouTube views so far. "That puppy's going global," they write on the WebVet blog. It's unclear who would win in a fight between this dog and Air Action Vigorsol's famous ice-farting squirrel. Via Adrants. UPDATE: The spot was done by McCann Erickson in New York and was largely the work of a young creative team: copywriter Jason Schmall, art director Mat Bisher and producer Eric Tao.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Animals, McCann Erickson, Nudd, WebVet
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Kevin Spacey flies American, never Ryanair

Kevin Spacey is the new face of American Airlines over in the U.K., and the carrier is already getting its money's worth out of him. The actor appears in three new spots from McCann Erickson, including the one above, directed by Michel Gondry, in which he searches for the perfect seat—beginning at the Old Vic theater (where he's been artistic director since 2003) and eventually settling into an American business-class lounger. The airline claims this is Spacey's first on-screen appearance in an ad campaign, though he has done voiceover work before. The two-time Oscar winner (for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty) also appears to be working overtime for the company. The video below, from the Financial Times ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards, held in London last Thursday, shows Spacey announcing an award for Ryanair, which he then ridicules when it becomes clear no one from the Irish carrier has shown up.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Filed under Airlines, American Airlines, Celebrity endorsements, Europe, McCann Erickson, Nudd, Ryanair
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