Advertising the lottery isn’t a huge challenge. Simply create far-fetched fantasies and convince people that it could all be theirs if they just spend $1.00 on one ticket. Or create an ad that serves as a smiling, twinkly-eyed friend saying, “Hey, you never know.” Either way, the lottery is an easy sell. It’s inexpensive, readily available, and tempting to try.

In David & Goliath’s new campaign for the California Lottery, a set of “unforgettable characters” convey the adventures that are suddenly possible when a lucky scratcher strikes it rich.

A 30-second TV spot introduces the first of these characters, an average man and his mutt, Corny. But lo! This man’s lottery card is lucky and he transforms instantly into a debonair British man with a twirly mustache. Corny becomes Cornelius the Genius (he invented long division and wears a suit), and they all fly away in a hot air balloon. The campaign also includes an interactive rich media banner in which users can outfit the fortunate gambler and his pampered pup.

While slightly fun, this campaign misses its chance to be creative. Ridiculous luxury and life-changing moments are tried and true lottery schticks. Maybe I’m biased by my home state, but I much prefer the Oregon Lottery’s old, low-fi ad from Boarders Perrin and Norrander. I find the plodding mattress man more of a charming character than Cornelius and his good-old-boy owner.

Credits after the jump.

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Football fans, IT’S ALMOST TIME!

The past few months have been hard. Sure, we were excited when the MLB season kicked off, but we’ve reached the mid-season lull where it’s become too difficult to feign interest anymore. And yes, the Olympics are finally here, but let’s be real for a second: SWIMMING? REALLY? THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO?!?

If you’re anything like me, football withdrawal has led you to make some stupid decisions. Last Saturday, I rolled out of bed, went to Best Buy and dropped $60 on a copy of NCAA Football ’13 just to fake myself into thinking that football season is kinda sorta happening almost. But, it’s just not the same, and David&Goliath knows that. To kick off NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football broadcast season, the agency has created three new spots starring a blue-suited man who, as Kiran notes, looks like former Chargers QB Dan Fouts (but with a better mustache). Yeah, I guess you can say he’s another Ron Burgundy/Old Spice guy archetype, but my excitement is outweighing my criticism here. Plus, he’s pretty funny.

Yes, Dan Fouts guy, I DO like blitzes, blocks and even penalties, so long as the penalties are against whoever is playing the Packers. Speaking of which, I’ll see you on Thursday, Sept. 13 for Packers/Bears at Lambeau. Thank God Thursday Night Football is starting early this year, especially if you’re one of the lucky ones with NFL Network. See credits and one more spot for Fantasy players after the jump. Oh, and stay away from Calvin Johnson in your draft this year, as the Madden Cover Curse shows no mercy.

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D&G seems to work in mysterious ways–well, maybe not so mysterious as we’ve learned from other agencies–as he was already a CD on new Hardee’s work at the indie operation. We guess the trial period is over and D&G feels safe enough to officially recognize him as a staffer. Anyhow, Grant will partner with Jason Karley and John Battle, who were hired and promoted earlier this year, respectively, as creative leads on Carl’s Jr., Hardees, the California Lottery, new business and other projects.

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From the ever-prolific David&Goliath comes the above advert for Hardee’s, seemingly the agency’s millionth TV spot for CKE Restaurants since taking over the ad duties for the brand at the beginning of the year. Hey, when you have four CDs and two ACDs working on 30-second spots like this one, you’re bound to come up with an idea here or there, right?

This time around, Hardee’s is advertising its hand-breaded chicken tenders by introducing a character who made his own basketball shoes. Okay, so someone trying to hide that fact that he’s greatly impoverished by comparing his footwear to Hardee’s menu items might not be the morally correct person to target. But, he certainly is the easiest. Also, for those wondering if Hardee’s actually has someone on staff hand-breading chicken before it goes out customers, the announce states, “At Hardee’s, hand-breading our chicken tenders fresh and made to order makes them better, and that’s just the way it is – a sentiment that rings even more true with the introduction of the new Hand-Breaded Buffalo Chicken Tenders.” Surprising, but at Hardee’s, that’s “just the way it is.” Credits after the jump.

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Yes, that does appear to be the guy who gets dissed in that Michael Jordan Hanes ad from last year, but now he’s the star of this latest Carl’s Jr. effort from David&Goliath that promotes the chain’s “Made from Scratch” biscuits. The mustachioed stranger in the ad above emerges from the sand and interrupts some SoCal beach revelry with his over-exaggerated drawl and basketful of buttery treats. We guess his intrusion, though, is not as egregious as Carl’s Jr. actually trying to convince people that they make biscuits like those scrumptious ones from the south. Could we just bring back Olivia Munn already? Credits after the jump.

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From David&Goliath and production company Smuggler comes a new series of TV spots for Hardee’s fried bologna biscuit.

When D&G first picked up Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s creative business at the beginning of the year, the agency seemed keen on using the brands interchangeably and continuing the sexy advertising that the CKE-owned fast-food chains had used in the past. However, in June, we saw work for Carl’s Jr. take a more silly (ridiculous) approach for the brand’s turkey burgers. And, it seems with this latest round of spots, David&Goliath is steering Hardee’s in a similar direction, albeit one that makes a bit more sense.

If there’s anyone that’s full of bologna (we guess), it’s rambling old guys who sit on lawn chairs and spout nonsensical tales to anyone who will listen. Pretty pun-laden, but is it anything compared to Red Lobster’s recent tagline? Bologna sandwiches will fill you full of bologna, and that’s just the way it is. Two more spots and credits follow after the jump.

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What? A Carl’s Jr. spot without a hot woman being sexy and doing hot sexy things vaguely related to fast food? It’s true, but don’t worry. The ever prolific David&Goliath is back with yet another spot for Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s. This time around, turkeys replace the models because, well, Carl’s Jr. is selling turkey burgers now. Give them credit as we can’t think of any other fast food chain in the world that includes turkey burgers on its menu.

As you can see, turkeys can’t babysit. They also can’t declare war on terrorism, play “Stairway to Heaven” on a flying-v guitar or run a speakeasy. But, as Carl’s Jr. claims, they can make for good burgers. Yep, that’s pretty much the whole story. Credits and a turkey failing as a tattoo artist follow after the jump. Only five CDs on these.

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Using the tagline “Just the way it is” (is Bruce Hornsby getting royalties?), David&Goliath serves up another ad (directed by Matt Aselton of recent FedEx ad fame) for its client, Carl’s Jr., this time with celebrities included. The main highlight: Daily Show contributor Olivia Munn, in skimpy bikini and all, indulges her carnivorous cravings while riding the waves alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for whatever reason. While there’s no Miss Turkey this time around, there are plenty of other scantily clad women and somewhat appetizing burgers to make up for it. Credits after the jump…

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It’s been years since I’ve seen a Hardee’s. I think there might be one outside of Lambeau Field in Green Bay? And, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Carl’s Jr. Maybe that’s just a West Coast thing? I honestly don’t know.

Regardless, when the restaurant chains’ owner CKE announced in January that they were taking their ad business to El Segundo, California-based David&Goliath, our commenters were hoping that maybe, just maybe, D&G would find a way to “elevate the work.” It’s hard to believe (or is it) that it’s already been over three years since the company’s former AOR, Mendelsohn Zien, had Paris Hilton rubbing her soaped-up body all over a car while eating a Carl’s Jr. cheeseburger. Indeed, next to Paris Hilton, that burger looked very, very sexy.

What crazy new direction would D&G take in for their first spot as the brands’ AOR? Apparently, they’re still using scantily-clad models eating the chains’ sandwiches in slow-motion to lure the horny-man demographic to the restaurants. The big difference is that this a turkey sandwich the model is eating. It’s under 500 calories which, according to a press release, qualifies it for Men’s Health‘s list of “Eat this, not that.” And, hey, anything without Paris Hilton is a definitely upgrade. Credits after the jump:

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Yee is a VCU Ad Center grad who had previous stints as a senior art director at TBWA\Chiat\Day and as an AD at Goodby. His cohort Battle, meanwhile, joined D&G last year and was involved with Kia and led new business pitches including the California Lottery.

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Now that the Yo Gabba Gabba characters and The Heavy song have been thankfully tucked away in their drawers,   David&Goliath is attempting to open up new doorways for Kia in the spot above called “Sweet Dreams.”

The spot takes us on a journey through a little boy’s imagination as his race car bed turns into a real car, his closet doors open to a magical world and we’re off. Not bad. Nice piece. Midsize sedan, though? Wrong car. Give it up to D&G for trying, though.

Kia decided it was time to elevate the midsize category and show its true potential. The automaker’s goal? Encourage kids to pin up a poster of the 2011 Kia Optima rather than a $250,000 shiny red Ferrari or fancy luxury sedan which is a very tall order if you ask us. This spot fits better for a sports car or luxury sedan, not the Optima. View agency credits after the jump.

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