We’ve been told by those in the know that this new effort from McGarryBowen NY for Verizon called “Powerful Answers” actually marks the wireless carrier’s first ever corporate branding campaign. Set to the sounds of legendary composer Philip Glass, Verizon veers from the usual Wireless and/or FiOS promotion to, according to parties involved, “showcase tech solutions that no one knew they did.” As you can see in the spot directed by Park Pictures’ Lance Acord above as well as the anthem clip below, some Verizon folks are lab rats whose tech prowess translates into solutions for medical emergencies just as easily as they could the classroom. We didn’t know there was side to them, but hey, you learn something new every day. Exhaustive list of credits after the jump.

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As part of Goodby Silverstein & Partners’ ongoing “BIG” work for the NBA, we leave your this Turkey Day with this double-dribble-galore tune brought to you by Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook among others to herald the Association’s Christmas uniforms. We need not explain more, but we with you a Happy Thanksgiving in the process. Let’s just hope there are no David Stern fines to be levied. You, like us, are hopefully looking forward to the NBA Finals matchup between the Heat and Thunder come Xmas. Credits after the jump.

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Now that we’ve got the whole Mother/Chevy/Goodby confusion out of the way (we hope), here’s the previously mentioned “Centennial” work from GS&P that broke during game one of the World Series last night. The spot, which is called “Then & Now” and was created in conjunction with Park Pictures and director/DP Lance Acord, celebrates the automotive brand that was founded on November 3, 1911 by Swiss immigrant Louis Chevrolet and U.S. entrepreneur Billy Durant. While it’s all nice and tender and all, commenters on YouTube are already calling foul, claiming this ad is ripping off the blog, Dear Photograph. Well, at least the “Let’s Do This” Chevy Sonic work that Goodby is also behind is fairly novel. What say you, readers? Credits after the jump.

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The confusing thing about this spot from the Richards Group and Park Pictures director and Oscar-winner Joachim Back is which of the groups in question needs to buy a sandwich from QuikTrip?

Is is the men, attempting to console each other before they are trampled to death by women with a hunger for cheap shoes, that don’t have time to take a long lunch break lest their store fall into even greater disrepair? Or is the women, driven mad by the siren call of discounted footwear, that are forced hit up the local convenience store for nourishment before trampling the poor shoe stores employees? Either way, someone in this town devoid of Subway or Quiznos is getting an Italian sub from QuikTrip, and at least once person is ending up in the hospital.

It’s sexist, it’s silly and all in good fun (on par with that movie Confessions of a Shopaholic), but give a convenience store credit for taking a creative leap with their marketing once in a while. Judging by QuikTrip’s website, the store could be planning for a total image redesign soon, so expect to see a lot more ads like this in the future. Caps lock-addled credits after the jump.

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Using the same approach as the Amar’e Stoudemire spot, Park Pictures, Bicoastal/London director Chris Sargent and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Worldwide go back to the future, so to speak, to a Canadian gym in 1996. Here, a young Steve Nash shoots hoops with a boy claiming to be from the future. The time traveler tries to convince Nash that he’s a future NBA star by listing what would eventually be the Phoenix Suns guard’s accomplishments. We’re guessing Doc Brown and the delorean are parked right outside. Great Scott! Credits after the jump.

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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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