Colbert withstands Miracle Whip ad assault

The war between Stephen Colbert and Miracle Whip reached new heights last night, with the sandwich spread debuting ads calling out Colbert by name, and the Colbert Report host facetiously admitting defeat on his show. The dispute began in October, when Colbert defended mayonnaise against Miracle Whip's new ad campaign from mcgarrybowen, which says the Whip is way hipper than mayo. Colbert even did a pro-mayo PSA. In response, as MediaFreak reported yesterday, Miracle Whip bought time during every ad break on Colbert's show last night to remind him just how "massively dope" Miracle Whip is. It aired three new spots (see one below) dissing Colbert. For his part, Colbert devoted his opening segment to the duel (that clip's also posted below). "Miracle Whip, I know when I've been bested," he said. "Thank you for buying ad time on my show. Because let's face it, revenue is down throughout the television industry, and I could certainly use the money. To buy more delicious mayonnaise!"

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on November 13, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (11)
Filed under Comedy Central, mcgarrybowen, Miracle Whip, Nudd

Droid phone will enthrall and/or enslave you

Mix the totalitarian subjugation of 1984 with the sinister cybernetic intelligence of 2001, and you get mcgarrybowen's launch spot (posted below) for Verizon's much-ballyhooed Droid phone. (I swear that's HAL 9000's all-seeing red eye about 22 seconds in.) It picks up the dark and industrial vibe from the tail end of the otherwise goofy and lighthearted teaser spot, which got lots of attention, particularly from Apple fans. The new spot stars intimidating robots who crush rocks and punch holes to assert their metallic superiority. And unless I've missed the point (unlikely, as I never have on AdFreak before, at least not that I'd admit), humans will do these droids' bidding once Earth is enslaved, toiling in factories and slugging it out in bloody boxing matches for their overlords' amusement. This isn't a smartphone, the ad warns, it's a robotphone. You don't talk to the boss on a Droid, the phone is your boss. Droid doesn't relay orders, it gives them. On the plus side, Justin Long will be among the first to go in the man-vs.-machine struggle. John Hodgman, a robot passing as flesh and blood, will probably get to run Cleveland.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Previously on AdFreak:
Apple fan strikes back at Verizon Droid spot
Creators of anti-Droid ad unmasked (sort of)

Published on November 9, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Filed under Gianatasio, mcgarrybowen, Telecom, Verizon

Take drugs if you enjoy getting scribbled on

This PSA from mcgarrybowen, part of the Above the Influence campaign by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, is a refreshing departure from most social marketing, in that it's not condescending or hyperbolic and uses a fairly common occurrence to represent a larger problem. (They aren't exaggerating much, if this guy is any indication.) Fear of humiliation is a potent force among teens, and it will be hard for this girl to save face in the morning, even after she scrubs it clean. Shame they didn't team up with Sharpie for this ad, though. Via Animal NY.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Published on June 17, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Anti-drug, Kiefaber, mcgarrybowen, ONDCP