Who's sick and tired of Sunshine Megatron?

T-Shirt Hell, purveyor of crass casual wear, said in January that it was going out of business because its owner didn't want to deal with the "idiots" who send him hate mail over his shirt slogans (sample: "It's not gay if you beat them up afterwards"). The owner, who goes by the name Sunshine Megatron (having legally changed it from Aaron Schwarz as part of an earlier reader contest), claimed it was the last chance to buy his most offensive shirts. Of course, it turns out it was all a marketing ploy. Megatron now calls the going-out-of-business stunt a "personal stimulus package" and claims, in his latest obscenity-filled post on the site, that he sold more than 100,000 shirts over the past three weeks. He also announces a new $50,000 contest to "Guess When and How Sunshine Megatron Gets Murdered by an Angry Moron." It doesn't stipulate in the rules that the predictor can't also be the killer. Then again, given that this is Sunshine Megatron, that might not be an oversight at all. Via Underwired.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on February 18, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (12)
Filed under Apparel, Cullers, PR stunts, T-Shirt Hell

Axl Rose and Dr Pepper deserve each other

Having written about Dr Pepper's infamous Guns N' Roses promotion before, we should come full circle with the latest about it. As you've surely heard, GNR has filed a lawsuit demanding that Dr Pepper make good on its promise to give everyone in America a free soda now that Axl Rose has finished his masterpiece, 17 years in the making. Dr Pepper's attempts to pay up, via a coupon on its Web site, failed when the site crashed. Fans then flamed the band—and specifically Axl. I think it's just misdirected anger over the dreadlocks, but GNR still wants an apology. At the same time, Axl is being accused of attacking China with this new album, and record execs are blaming the record's poor reception on Axl's disappearing act over the last few weeks. I don't know about you, but Axl just made first pick for my Fantasy PR Team.

—Posted by Rebecca Cullers

Published on December 2, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (5)
Filed under Controversy, Cullers, Dr Pepper, PR stunts

Dr Pepper admits defeat with GNR stunt

Hey, remember when Dr Pepper jokingly offered everyone in America a free bottle of soda if Guns 'N Roses released Chinese Democracy in 2008? Well, the album is indeed about to drop, and Dr Pepper is prepared to honor its pledge. Wired.com says that "those who want to claim a free soda can go to the Dr Pepper Web site on November 23, enter some personal information and get a coupon for one 20-ounce drink that should arrive within the following 4 to 6 weeks." The offer doesn't extend to anyone named Slash or Buckethead, but they're certainly rich enough to buy their own damn soda. And Axl Rose told the press that he'd spot Buckethead, anyway. Slash will just have to make do with what he usually drinks.

—Posted by David Kiefaber

Published on October 24, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (5)
Filed under Dr Pepper, Kiefaber, PR stunts

Agency copywriter risks life for pizza chain

With the media and advertising business more volatile than ever, it's prudent to keep one's career options open. Judging from this commercial, TDA Advertising & Design copywriter Joe Nafziger has two backup plans: pizza delivery and dirt-bike stunt jumping. That's Joe himself on the bike, starring as JoJo the Pizza Inn mascot, doing an Evel (or maybe more like a Robbie) Knievel-inspired jump of 50 pizzas in a Denton, Texas, parking lot, to celebrate a recent store opening. Why a motorcycle jump in a bobblehead costume? "Because it just seemed ridiculous," Nafziger says. The man's got a way with words. He really should write some of this stuff down. And given the news-media frenzy over the stunt (well, NBC-5 in Dallas did a brief segment), Joe should at least be able to get a job in PR someday. As for me, well, I've got my post-apocalypse job strategy thoroughly planned. You want fries with that?

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Filed under Gianatasio, PR stunts, TDA

Ringo Starr is suddenly playing hard to get

In what can only be interpreted as a savvy (or desperate) publicity stunt to regain a level of global stardom that began to fade the day the Beatles broke up, Ringo Starr says he won't answer any more fan mail. Does he still receive any? The video message on his Web site, in which he promises to toss all letters and packages posted after Oct. 20, is getting lots of media play—there are currently 2,243 Ringo mentions on Google News, which is probably 2,243 more than 24 hours ago. Wasn't his penchant for scrupulously replying to his fans a plot on The Simpsons way back when? Anyway, this finally opens up an opportunity for Pete Best, the original drummer Ringo replaced in the band. Pete, say you'll take in Ringo's unwanted mail and post an address pronto! (Might as well request Keith Moon's and John Bonham's mail, too, while your at it—then you'll seem all "edgy.")

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on October 15, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)
Filed under Gianatasio, PR stunts

KFC recipe moved to a new secure location

On Tuesday, reports the Associated Press, Col. Sanders' handwritten original KFC recipe was moved, under heavy security, from KFC's corporate offices "for the first time in decades." It "was placed in a lockbox that was handcuffed to security expert Bo Dietl, who climbed aboard an armored car that whisked away with an escort from off-duty police officers." There's more: "So important is the 68-year-old concoction that coats the chain's Original Recipe chicken that only two company executives at any time have access to it. KFC executives said they decided to upgrade security after retrieving the recipe for a new line of Original Recipe chicken strips." Three observations: 1) That armored car better not stop to let a bunch of chickens cross the road. It's a trick! Those hens are packing heat! 2) For a nonsensical PR stunt, this is way more compelling than most current media news, notably the story that Esquire's 75th anniversary issue will feature an "electronic paper" cover. 3) If Esquire ever figures out how to polybag KFC drumsticks, it could revive print media and also provide the perfect tie-in for Capri Sun juice pouches and Wet Naps.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on September 10, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (4)
Filed under Gianatasio, KFC, PR stunts