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BBDO NY Takes Another ‘Great Ape Pledge’ with Help from Oscar-Winner

Kiran Aditham — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:27:16 +0000

Another year, another round of PETA’s “Great Ape Pledge” PSA campaign which aims to bring awareness of the plight of primates that suffer physical/psychological abuse at the hands of the entertainment industry. BBDO New York, which has taken the “Pledge” before with its nifty auto-correct effort from two years ago, joins forces with PETA once again for the spot above, which also features VO services from Oscar-winner Adrien Brody and VFX/production work from The Mill. If you stick around for the end, you’ll see that no real ape was used in the above PSA, which reemphasizes PETA’s whole purpose for launching “The Great Ape Pledge” in the first place.

Instead, the parties involved hammer home the message that primates shouldn’t be used as actors by creating a photo-real CG chimp that’s seemingly at its wit’s end. If the stark message touched a nerve or inspired you to pledge (it’s perhaps a bit more effective than auto-correct messaging), you can go here. Credits after the jump.

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Yes, BBDO NY Is Making Some ‘Significant’ Cuts

Kiran Aditham — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:24:34 +0000

The Spy line was spot-on once again as we’ve received confirmation that BBDO New York is indeed making some cuts this week that “are significant and across departments.” No numbers have been revealed (trust us, we inquired), but as your probably know, the agency’s longtime relationship with Gillette recently ended when parent company P&G passed over its shaving brand’s account to Grey a few weeks ago. No word if the “significant” reductions were directly related, but we’ll let you do the math. We’ve been told that the reductions are still happening, so we’ll let you know if we hear more.

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AT&T Taps More Kids for Youthful Publicity, Adds Mother’s Day Theme to ‘It’s Not Complicated’

Jordan Teicher — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:06:04 +0000

Let’s kill two birds, shall we? AT&T must really like little kids. First, we had the Beck Bennett commercials that ran incessantly during March Madness (and still run; check out the newest Mother’s Day-themed “It’s Not Complicated” clip from BBDO after the jump). Now, the telecom giant seems to think we want more, more, more. The latest work from Dallas-based multicultural agency Sanders\Wingo shows young’ns on their mobile devices, saying things like, “In my day…our connection was so slow, we had to take turns online.”

Some viewers may find this cute, others may find it scary, but as kids become more and more comfortable with the latest technology, these types of spots should become the norm. We already have videos of babies who can swipe a page on an iPad, but can’t turn the page in a book or magazine. Regardless, kids will always have to eat the trope-filled Brussels sprout before they get to use any of these devices, and that’s how we get the thirty-second “Veggies.”

Check out the second spot, “Haircut,” the aforementioned “It’s Not Complicated” Mother’s Day effort and credits for all after the jump.

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BBDO NY Bumps Up Kenyon to Head of Planning

Kiran Aditham — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:45:51 +0000

Nearly three years after joining up with BBDO New York as EVP/group planning director on the AT&T account, Jeff Kenyon has moved up the charts as he’s now been appointed head of planning for the agency. It seems like a natural transition for Kenyon considering that he’s already been shouldering some of the planning responsibilities handled by his predecessor, Paul Matheson, who if you recall returned to Asia last year (the head of planning post has been vacant since then). As mentioned in the past, Kenyon joined BBDO after serving as group planning director at Ogilvy on campaigns including IBM’s “Smarter Planet” and “My Life, My Card” for American Express.

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Copywriter Behind AT&T’s ‘It’s Not Complicated’ Campaign Heads to W+K NY (Updated)

Kiran Aditham — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:00:49 +0000

We’ve received confirmation that Carl Jannerfeldt, who has spent nearly the last three years at BBDO serving as a digital creative/copywriter on, perhaps most notably, AT&T’s now-ubiquitous “It’s Not Complicated” campaign, has joined Wieden+Kennedy New York as a senior creative. Sources familiar with the matter add that Stockholm native Jannerfeldt officially assumed his post yesterday and will work across a variety of accounts at the agency, which counts clients including ESPN, Heineken, Delta and Jordan Brand.

Jannerfeldt’s most recent AT&T work, run out of both BBDO New York and Atlanta, featured some NBA legends, though the videos appear to have now been taken private. Ah well, we always our charming efforts featuring the roundtable moderator and the kids, which the new W+K staffer was involved with (one example below).

During his career, Jannerfeldt has also worked as a copywriter for a couple of years the now-defunct, Stockholm-based Farfar.

Update: Got some clarification from the man himself. Jannerfeldt tells us that he was mainly involved in the AT&T “Brackets by Six-Year-Olds” digital campaign that launched during March Madness, the concept of which inspired the spots above, hence why his name was included in the credits. Thanks for the clarification, sir.

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Orbit Threatens Consumers with Anthropomorphic Food

Bob Marshall — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:41:20 +0000

From Chicago’s Energy BBDO comes two new spots for Orbit that illustrate the mantra “Eat, Drink, Chew,” a saying that became popular in North Carolina and surrounding regions in the late 18th century.

With the famed Tobacco Road turning to alternative industries due to America’s feeble attempt to kick its dirty, smelly habit, Wrigley brand Orbit is jumping at the opportunity to turn the saying into something positive for its strain of refreshing after-meal gum. To illustrate that Orbit fights bad breath, they’ve turned to living, breathing food mutant actors. Traditionally maligned by society due to their unsightly presence and caustic personalities, it’s inspiring to see these social outcasts given a role, whether they’re a pile of buttery mashed potatoes or a hunk of unidentifiable fried meat.

A second spot depicts working-class Americans’ number one reason for avoiding polo matches. No, it’s not the overabundance of pastel Ralph Lauren sweaters; it’s the fear of breathing partially digested nacho particles onto a horse that someone probably paid a lot of money and accidentally killing it. Remember, only Orbit can prevent a life of indentured servitude under the employ of an oil baron whose polo horse you mistakenly murdered. Credits after the jump.
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Chris Bosh Steals Kids for Foot Locker

Jordan Teicher — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:06:16 +0000

We’ve seen James Harden tear away a warm-up beard and trade an entourage member to Kris Humphries in past Foot Locker commercials, but in the latest effort from BBDO New York, for Kids Foot Locker this time around, Miami Heat All-Star Chris Bosh rounds up some youngsters and takes them to his team’s training facility.

Seriously, where are the parents? Tick Tock, Pork Chop, Sizzle, and Rick Springfield just roam the streets without supervision? Also, when Bosh says he “rounded up” other kids because of “fresh gear” at a Kids Foot Locker, nobody recognized how high this ranks on the Unintentional Comedy Scale?

This ad isn’t as clever as the Harden spots, but Ray Allen is involved, so that makes it okay in my book. And I mean the real Ray Allen, not Tick Tock. Credits after the jump.

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BBDO NY Makes More BofA-Related Cuts

Kiran Aditham — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:46:03 +0000

It looks like last year’s loss of the Bank of America business continues to haunt BBDO New York as we’ve received confirmation that the agency has let go of more staff due to said account. This latest news comes four months after the last round of layoffs at BBDO NY as a result of BofA shifting its ad duties to WPP last spring. This time around, though, we’re being told that approximately three percent of staff across departments (up from approximately two percent last time) were affected as BBDO NY continues making its “adjustments.”

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James Harden Sends Entourage Member to D-League in Latest Foot Locker Spot

Kiran Aditham — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:14:15 +0000

Ah, a Super Bowl breather and the Foot Locker/NBA-focused funny continues in this new spot from BBDO New York, which focuses on mohawk/fierce beard-sporting James Harden, the ex-Oklahoma City Thunder sixth-man-turned-Houston Rockets starter. See kids, this is what happens when you don’t have the flow to flaunt fresh kicks on a consistent basis: You hang out with Kim Kardashian’s ex. Ugh, we can smell the Drakkar Noir from here. Credits after the jump.

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Roe Returns to Energy BBDO

Kiran Aditham — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:32:04 +0000

Well, that was fast. After spending less than a year at McGarryBowen, where he helped lead creative on the Bud Light account (which A-B InBev, of course, handed over to Translation last August), Mike Roe has returned to his old stomping grounds at Chicago-based Energy BBDO. The returning creative, whose first tour of duty at said agency spanned nearly eight years, is rejoining as ECD, which we’ve been told is a new position.

During his initial run at Energy BBDO, Roe, along with his art-directing partner-in crime Frank Dattalo, served as group creative director on all things Wrigley (Orbit and Altoids) and Dial at the agency. Roe officially assumed his new ECD post at Energy on Jan. 2 and is reporting to CCO, Dan Fietsam.

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Ogilvy CD Gerstner Heading to BBDO? (Update: Yes)

Kiran Aditham — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:09:11 +0000

According to our magic 8-ball (and sources), signs point to yes that Greg Gerstner, currently a creative director/copywriter at Ogilvy NY, will be joining up with BBDO “sometime this month.” Details are somewhat hazy at the moment, but from what we’re hearing, the senior creative will most likely be assuming a CD post and work across various accounts at the Omnicom-owned agency.

Gerstner has spent the last six-and-a-half years at O&M, initially joining the agency as a senior copywriter and subsequently moving up the ranks. During his time at the agency, Gerstner worked primarily on the IBM account, helping lead creative on projects including last year’s U.S. Open data wall (see below). During his career, Gerstner has also spent some time as a copywriter at the likes of T.A.G. (now twofifteenmccann), TBWA\Chiat\Day and the now-defunct Cliff Freeman & Partners. Update: Yes, we’ve received concrete word that Gerstner is indeed joining BBDO later this month as a CD on various accounts.

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Some News from Above: Kugler Secedes from Union, Heads to BBDO; Tribal Canada Welcomes VP, Strategy

Kiran Aditham — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:41:16 +0000

Let’s kill two birds this morning with some news from up north, especially considering they’re both Omnicom agencies. First off, we’ve received confirmation that Gerald Kugler, who’s spent the last few years as an ACD at what was formerly known as CP+B Toronto and what is now Union, has left the agency and joined up with BBDO Toronto. Kugler, who can be seen talking shop here, officially joined BBDO last week and is working across various agency accounts.

Next up to bat is Tribal DDB Canada, which has now welcomed Dino Demopoulos as VP, strategy and innovation. While Demopoulos’s agency credits include the head of strategy title at MacLaren/MRM as well as planning/strategy stints at TBWA\MAL and BBDO/Proximity, perhaps more interesting to note is that the exec is a DJ/producer who also owns an indie label called Crash Records. How that plays into the Tribal mix, though, we have no idea, but Demopolous has worked with brands including Ford, General Motors, HP, Pepsi, Quaker, Sears and Tropicana during his career.

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All-Star Robo-Team from Old School Ushers in New School in Latest GE Spot

Jordan Teicher — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:21:29 +0000

If General Electric’s “Brilliant Machines” campaign was a movie, the brand’s “Robots on the Move” commercial would only be a teaser trailer. Although it’s full of intrigue and suspense, the ad fails to actually promote anything other than pop-culture nostalgia.

BBDO New York and GE teamed up for the sixty-second spot, which premiered on Thanksgiving and was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the husband/wife duo who helmed feature films such as Little Miss Sunshine as well as several music videos including Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight.” The pitch itself is clever: famous machines looking for new, powerful machines that will make the world better. If we were to grade the effort, we’d have to say incomplete. What are these revolutionary machines? Do they look any different? How will they make the world a better place? Will they cost less than the retail price of an iPhone?

Regardless, sci-fi geeks across the country won’t be able to hide their vinegar strokes. Star Trek fanatics will appreciate a Data sighting. Props on including K.I.T.T. as well, but GE needs to follow up this style-over-substance spot with something concrete—a fridge, a washer, anything that isn’t swiped from an 80’s TV show. The knockoff Avicii soundtrack is pretty fresh, though. All that’s missing is some Hasselhoff. Credits after the jump.

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HBO Will Help You Insult Your Co-Workers this Holiday Season

Bob Marshall — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:09:42 +0000

If you believe in the wisdom of Love Actually, that lovely 2003 Christmas rom-com that Americans have been failing to re-create for a number of years now, you know that the holiday season is the perfect time to tell people how you really feel about them.

Luckily, with the gift of HBO series box-sets, BBDO NY is saying that you can finally express your feelings for casual work acquaintances. Think of the possibilities! You can give that self-absorbed whiny crybaby Girls. You can give that booze-hound who likes playing dress-up Boardwalk Empire. You can give that fist-pumping loudmouth douchebag with terrible taste Entourage. You can give that guy who keeps quoting Borat like it’s still funny Da Ali G Show. You can give that failed musician Flight of the Conchords. You can even give your office crush The Wire to let he or she know that you have immaculate taste in classic TV. Credits after the jump.

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VB&P’s Jeffers Heads to BBDO SF

Kiran Aditham — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:55:22 +0000

After spending nearly six fruitful years at Venables Bell & Partners, ACD/copywriter Crockett Jeffers is moving on–but not very far, as he’s joining up with BBDO San Francisco as a creative director. At his new venue, Jeffers will oversee creative on BBDO SF’s Gallo, Barefoot Wine, Vail Resorts and Cesar Dog Food accounts while also lending a helping hand with new business efforts.

During his time at VB&P, Jeffers (in yearbook photo to your left) penned some notable campaigns for the agency, including “The Chase” Super Bowl spot for Audi from 2009 (along with subsequent Super Bowl efforts for the automaker) and more recently, served as ACD on the “talking car” ad for Conoco and campaigns for Healthy Choice among others.

Once he officially joins BBDO SF on Nov. 19, Jeffers will partner with fellow creative director Amber Justis, who herself just joined the agency from Draftfcb in August. Prior to his time at VB&P, Jeffers spent six years as a copywriter at TBWA\Chiat\Day and also logged in time at BSSP early on in his career.

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