Broadcast

As per usual, Doritos is planning to air a bijillion ads during this year’s Super Bowl. Of course, two of the potential spots would stir up some sort of controversy. That’s just the laws of percentages at work.

This time, the ads are raising an eyebrow for featuring “gay themes,” like the ad above for example. Are your kids safe watching something featuring two hunky gay dudes? Should we just boycott football altogether? Or, are you the type of person who says, “Well, I don’t see how that’s homophobic. It’s good that gay culture gets some exposure on mainstream television.” Is homosexuality the punchline here, or is it just part of a different humorous situation?

Okay, so yes, the ad might be playing a little into exaggerated stereotypes here. But, as Gawker reminds us, is this anything close to the “Gross, dudes kissing” vibe of a Snickers Super Bowl ad from three years ago? We’ll say probably not.

Finally, after the jump, watch another one of Doritos’ potential gay-themed ads for this year’s Super Bowl. Our verdict? It plays a lot more into certain stereotypes that don’t have anything to do with homosexuality. What say you, dear reader? Do Doritos in a sauna make any sense?

Update: Yes, as noted, these spots didn’t make the “Crash the Super Bowl” finalists list.

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As the above video and adorable children will tell you, $500 billion is spent annually on advertising. Today marks the launch of ADD or DELETE, an all caps social initiative dedicated to reallocating five percent of that money (approx. $25 billion) toward positive societal change.

The launch is timed to coincide with Super Bowl XLV and the enormous amount of attention being drawn to the $3 million price of a 30-second ad. Led by Minneapolis-based marketing group Haberman, ADD or DELETE urges consumers to question the value of that expensive advertising in two weeks. In a press release, Haberman MD Eric Block says he wants viewers to ask the question, ‘Is the approximately $3 million dollars being spent on every ad ADDing value or would you rather DELETE it?’”

The company’s namesake/CEO Fred Haberman echoes Block’s plan for the campaign, saying, “ADD or DELETE inspires marketing professionals to consider their legacies; do you want to be known for gaining approvals for lavish ad shoots or for creating campaigns that positively impact our world?”

Given the two participating NFL teams’ large fan bases, it’s a sure bet that a ton of people will be watching the Super Bowl this year, and the price of those 30-second spots isn’t going to drop before the game. What does the average sports fan prefer: watching Robert Goulet climb around on a ceiling, watching a giggling woman ride a seal, or hearing Tim Tebow speak out against abortions?

In response to one of my favorite pop culture journalists being dismissed after fabricating a book review, it’s time to own up to my own biases: Anything that stars William H. Macy as a drunk, deadbeat father with long hair, I will automatically get behind. I don’t know why, but since viewing his role in The Last Dragon (a good hungover Saturday movie to watch if you can get your hands on it), I’ve been a fan of the guy. He doesn’t get a lot of credit really, but he can play out there and crazy with the best of him. Of course, his new series from Showtime Shameless looks very promising from this trailer, but then, so did Boardwalk Empire before it got kind of boring. Will Shameless be another example of a great supporting actor not quite cutting it with a starring role in a TV drama? We’ll have to wait and see.

One of two slow-motion spots from award-winning Station director David Gray (no, not that David Gray), “Macy and Rossum” depicts Macy as an alcoholic father of six being cared for by his eldest daughter (Mystic River and The Phantom of the Opera‘s Emmy Rossum). Set in Chicago (it looks like they borrowed the couch from Roseanne for this show), Macy’s character must hold it together long enough in his wife’s absence to shamelessly pull his family together. Wacky hi-jinks and universal learning experiences are sure to occur when his daughter goes “out,” possibly compounding the problem when she produces six more children of her own. Check it out after the jump.

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Wouldn’t you like to have your TV spot played during the Super Bowl? Of course you would! It should be your dream! Well, here’s your chance so take it.

It’s that time of year again (is it us or is the Earth spinning faster?) and sister brands Doritos and PepsiMax are teaming up for the latest “Crash the Super Bowl” advertising competition. The brief: Make a spot for either brand, upload it to their site and cross those fingers. Ten finalists will be announced January 3rd, 2011, which gives you a little over one month’s time to get as many views and comments as possible.  The winners will have their ads aired during the big game, in addition to other rewards and perks.

So get on it peeps, fame and fortune awaits you. Check out links to a couple of submissions after the jump.

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Jesus H. Christ. The Situation and Bristol Palin owe me 1:45 minutes of my life back. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS PIECE OF SHIT AND WHO THE HELL DID IT?! After watching this, I want to punch my computer in the face, hop on a plane, punch the fucking Situation in the face, hop on another plane, punch Palin in the face, then shoot myself in the face so I never have to experience this monstrosity again. The only thing this spot makes me wanna do is go knock someone up and blame it on the commercial so they’ll pull it from wherever it’s running and claim that it’s responsible for AIDS or something.

My god, I haven’t hated something this horrifically in a long time. Feels good to get it out. Thanks guys.

via Gawker

To create awareness and excitement for Sony’s new in-dash A/V navigation systems with TomTom technology, 180LA brings us a digital campaign that includes two music videos (one rock-themed, seen above, and another R&B-based after the jump) featuring a mash-up of music and navigation. Directed by Grammy Award Winner, Trish Sie, I kind of love these. They’re funny, they acknowledge the annoyance of not knowing where you are, and the casting is spot on. Also, I dig that one of the videos is set in LA as anyone who’s driven there knows what a fuckmare it is to get around.

Gavin Lester, creative director at 180LA says, “The videos target 22-49 year-old women and men who take their digital music everywhere but are looking for a dependable, quality way to play their music and videos in the car.”

Credits and R&B video after the jump

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Check out this new Boost Mobile spot from 180LA, which features a a 20-foot tall giant who’s having a rough go at life and touts the mobile brand’s “Shrinkage” plan. In my world, shrinkage is never a good thing. And with the amount that it’s said in this spot, the point of it is completely lost on me.  How come they’ve gotta say it over and over again sooo many times? Welcome to the world of see, say, kids.

In a statement, Ari Weiss, CD at 180LA, had this to say about the clip (which was directed by MJZ’s Dante Ariola): “Giants have always been glamorized in the public eye, but the truth is being that large comes with obvious setbacks. Giants seemed to be the perfect spokespeople for a campaign featuring the upside of shrinking.”

Umm ya. It’s a whatever spot. Wouldn’t watch it again, wouldn’t necessarily talk about it again. But hey, some of you might actually have some shit to talk about it, so why not, right? Knock yourselves out. Happy November. Credits after the jump.

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Along with every holiday comes a host of associated advertising. We selected six our favorites for your end of day viewing pleasure.

Happy Halloween!
x Super Spy (We reposted this from last year, due to its classic-ness &#151 aw, we miss you SuperSpy, where ever you are)

Now this dark and creepy spot is not a real ad for Levi’s, but it’s darn good. This ad was created as promo material for AboveGrey Pictures and honestly, I enjoyed watching it much more than the recent Levi’s spots.

See the rest after the jump.

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What greater compliment could there be than someone knocking off your commercial to hype The Simpsons?

More: The Top 100 Most Social Brands of 2008
[via adverblog]

Submitted for your Friday fun approval is the recruitment ad above. The message: join the Ukrainian Army and get girls. Why not? Perhaps the US Armed Forces would get more recruits with such a concept. That and you know, not being actively engaged on two fronts in the Middle East.

According to YouTube the translation goes a-something like this:

Girl 1: Would you take us for a ride on your BMW?
BMW-driver: Even to the end of the world!
Soldier: Hey, i’d like to down some water, girls!
Girl 1: Just a second!
Girl 2: Where do you live?
Soldier: Right here- daytime at work, and at night in the clubs!
Girl 1: Which work???
Soldier: Contract of course!
Blonde girl: Contract?? Marriage contract or what?
Girl 3: Marines contract, silly!
BMW driver: Hey, don’t you wanna ride on my car?
Girls: Forget it, take your grandmother for a ride!
Narrator: It’s about time for new heroes! with contract based service in ukrainian armed forces!”