-BBDO Atlanta/New York and AT&T have veered from the little kids’ roundtable for the moment–though the now-familiar moderator is in tow–to one with NBA legends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Bill Russell in its latest “It’s Not Complicated” spots. The latest round will debut tomorrow during March Madness coverage. Check out the second spot here.

-Authors Judy Gelman and Peter Zheutlin have released The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook, with every cocktail and dish connected to a specific episode of the AMC series. link

-Toys ‘R’ Us has scrapped its $800 million IPO. link

-After a year-long stint as global account director at VML, Bret Faszholz has joined Critical Mass NY as VP/client partner. During his career, Faszholz has also worked on the account side at the likes of TBWA and CP+B.

-Mayor Bloomberg‘s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has rolled out a new series of ads. link

-True Action, a digital/ecommerce agency housed within the eBay-owned GSI Commerce fold, has launched the new “Goldfish My Way” ecommerce site for Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish brand. link

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

On Christmas Day, the NBA returned after a 5-month lockout put the entire 2011-2012 season in jeopardy. The league’s shortened 66-game season kicked off with some very exciting games on Sunday which included a Chicago Bulls last-second come-from-behind win at the L.A. Lakers, perennial losers the L.A. Clippers looking unstoppable with the addition of point guard Chris Paul, and the Miami Heat avenging last season’s championship series by drowning the Dallas Mavericks. Also, we had Kevin Durant‘s disgusting shoes for some reason.

Of course, advertisers couldn’t be happier that America’s second most-popular professional sports league is back. Aside from media buyers rejoicing that prime time sports will continue well into 2012 after the NFL season comes to a close, creative types are giving a nod to the NBA. Above, NBA commentators Bill Walton, Steve Kerr, Kenny Smith, Spero Dedes and Jon Berry star in a new spot for Google+ from GS+P. The spot is one of three highlighting Google+’s “Hangouts” feature (the other two were created internally by Google Creative Labs), a critically adored but oft-ignored feature of the social network that has lost considerable buzz since its launch five months ago. Aside from the “Big Red-Head” and his buddies doing a very nice job commenting on an backyard game of hoops, the campaign features a spot that uses “Hangouts” to watch the Muppets rock out to David Bowie and Queen’s classic collaboration, “Under Pressure.” Like The Muppets (currently in theaters), it’s well-worth a viewing.

Also, we would be remiss not to give some mention to TNT’s epic opening day promo, “Forever,” which was directed by Sedna Films’ Drew Watkins. The above spot delighted NBA fans across the county (Kiran and I included) by pairing today’s superstars with legends of the game. Above, you’ll see the impossible become a reality, including Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant running out on court together, Brandon Jennings playing alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan fist-bumping Derrick Rose to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors’ track “Live Forever.” Considering how upset and jaded NBA fans got over the course of the lockout, it’s stunning that TNT of all things was able to remind us why we love this game so much.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Well, since he’s already attended Bonnaroo, used their john and read a chess book seemingly within the same day, we guess Kareem Abdul-Jabbar can be anointed as a hipster. Besides, who are we to doubt anything the basketball/Airplane legend does? But regardless, this clip truly befuddles us as the man once long ago known as Lew Alcindor plugs a new Smashing Pumpkins efforts called Oceania, which is being billed as an “album within an album” according to the band’s main man Billy Corgan, who seems to have forged a friendship with Abdul-Jabbar according to their Twitter convo (below). Well, who are we to judge the bond between an apparently Ewok-saluting man who gave us some of our favorite ’90s albums and a man who gave us some fine basketball highlights? Let’s hope this goes viral as the parties involve intended.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Smith joins D&G from Saatchi & Saatchi’s Team One, where he spent eight years, moved up from art director to ACD and worked on retail and brand campaigns for, you guessed it, Lexus North America. Prior to Team One, Smith spent a couple of years each as an art director at BDDO and Fallon’s Minneapolis offices. Now at D&G, Smith will serve as creative director on Kia.

As for Covitz, we’re wondering what took D&G so long to introduce him as his name’s already been attached to that Carl’s Jr. ad starring a jetskiing Olivia Munn and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Anyhow, as ACD at David & Goliath, Covitz’s other client assignments include Hardees (of course) and the California Lottery.

Smith and Covitz’s new boss, D&G ECD Colin Jeffrey, says the pair shares a mentality that “fits right into our Brave culture.”  We’ll take his word for it.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.