August 15, 2008
Ooh, Steve Earle!
Here's an ad for this weekend's Philadelphia Folk Festival; I just saw it on TV. It was apparently produced in 1971. It is awesome.
Posted by D-Mac at 06:22 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2008
Blog-Powered TV Ad Predictably Great
I had heard a while back about ads funded by readers of some liberal blogs running against Democratic Rep. Chris Carney of Pennsylvania. I didn't know until today how awesome they were. Ha ha, Monopoly photoshops and scary voiceovers about Bush and Cheney. I think I can safely say any increased influence of the Internet on politics is going to be great.
Posted by D-Mac at 01:06 PM | Comments (0)
Only Apply If You're METAL Enough
Major local media outlet is looking for freelance music journalists who specialize in METAL.
You must be passionate about METAL and have an extensive knowledge of the local METAL scene, relevant bands, releases, and history.
Your Craigslist ad of the day, people. METAL. Thanks, Emily G.
Posted by D-Mac at 11:48 AM | Comments (1)
Mike Richards Loves German Engineering
If you've watched sports in Philadelphia for any amount of time, you might be familiar with the BMW ads from a dealership called West German. In short: They make buying a BMW from the dealership akin to achieving Nirvana.
We finally caught the famed/hated remix with the Flyers' Mike Richards remix the other night, and... I must say, this is simply the most convincing testimonial ever. Now switch to Camera 2 one more time.
Posted by D-Mac at 11:13 AM | Comments (1)
April 30, 2008
SEPTA Stands Firm Against Mommies
 |
The supposed awesomeness of the game aside, SEPTA decided to accept ads for GTA IV; now SEPTA is defending its decision to keep the ads up. Not that anyone has complained or anything.
Septa officials would not be interviewed, but they issued a statement saying while some might consider the game offensive, "the advertisement is not." The ad campaign is slated to run for six weeks, with 350 posters on buses and other locations, generating $83,000 in revenue for Septa.
Septa last year was criticized for accepting ads for the movie "Hitman," ads featuring images of guns. The "Grand Theft Auto IV" ads show only the faces of three characters in the game and "Grand Theft Auto" logo.
Six weeks? Puh-leeze. SEPTA had an advertisement at Bridge Street for How Stella Got Her Groove Back (released in 1998) well into this decade. As a friend (okay, Chrissmari said to me online: "It's supposed to last 6 weeks but it'll be up for ages along with posters for Big Momma's House and last year's Jewish Career Fair." Exactly.
On the other hand, there was a noticeable drop in gun violence last year after SEPTA took down its ads for Hitman. Okay, maybe not.
Septa Defends "Grand Theft Auto IV" Bus Ads [KYW 1060]
Posted by D-Mac at 12:54 PM | Comments (3)
April 21, 2008
A New Type Of 'Rocky'-Style Celebration
Here's an ad I spotted this morning, apparently designed to appeal to those who are having their houses foreclosed on any minute now. But the real prize is the intro, where a man runs to the top of the Art Museum steps and (to celebrate his accomplishment, or his foreclosed home, or something) he does the "Apache" dance and then pantomimes sex. Honestly, at first I thought this was going to be an ad for Hillary Cinton.
Posted by D-Mac at 11:42 AM | Comments (1)
April 02, 2008
Hillary's New Hilarious Parody Ad
Hillary Clinton just released her new Pennsylvania ad like 10 seconds ago; it's a remake of her 3 a.m. ad, which asked what presidential candidate you'd want answering the phone during a crisis at 3 a.m.
It apparently worked so well Clinton is now re-running the ad in Pennsylvania, only this time it's a 3 a.m. phone call about the economy! It's pretty much a complete parody of the original ad -- only it's actually funny, a first in Internet parody video history. Oh, yeah, and she's serious about answering that 3 a.m. economic crisis phone call. WHO FORGOT TO LOCK THE STOCK MARKET???
Oh, and Barack Obama got into a fight with an "eBay guy" today in Philly. If I want a candidate to tell off somebody... hmm. It was Walnuts McCain in a cinch, I though, but Obama showed me something today. Keep it up, Barry!
Posted by D-Mac at 03:48 PM | Comments (3)
March 21, 2008
Fat Old White Dudes For Obama!
Check out one of Barack Obama's new ads in Pennsylvania, above. It's called "Carry," and though it's aired elsewhere, it's clearly attempting to show that, despite his pastor and his racist grandma, Barack Obama does not hate white people. Look how much those fat old white dudes love him!
Obama also has two just for Pennsylvania ads, which are about his life, and how much he hates lobbyists. Because I fully believe when President Barry takes office, he will eliminate lobbying.
Posted by D-Mac at 08:39 PM | Comments (1)
February 12, 2008
Vince Fumo, Moving To Camera 2
Challenger Anne Dicker's camp sent over this ad for Vince Fumo's State Senate re-election bid yesterday, complaining that Fumo really hasn't done much for illegal guns on the streets. Fair enough.
But I believe the real beauty in this ad is, um, the ad itself. I didn't really notice how brilliant it was 'til it aired after Gladiators last night: Fumo serving the people dinner, the face of the dude at the kitchen table, the little head-tilt by Fumo at the end. Forget the State Senate, we need to get Vince Fumo a sitcom.
If I were Anne Dicker, I'd just show this ad on an infinite loop at one of her watering hole meetups; I can't see how a night of drinking and watching this ad over and over could do anything but increase attendance.
Posted by D-Mac at 10:47 AM | Comments (4)
February 04, 2008
Found Item Alert
 |
Well, no. (I had to turn off ad block to see this after a tipster notified me.) But, thanks, Philly.com, for putting the letters F, C and K so close to each other.
Posted by D-Mac at 10:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
January 31, 2008
The 76ers Also Play Basketball, Kinda
The 76ers are may not have Allen Iverson anymore, but they certainly can figure out a way to promote attending a game at the Wachovia Center! Comcast apparently wants you to go to the game and spill your food all over the floor so you'll have to buy more. You also get to meet the Sixers Dancers with this "Guys Night Out" package, which means it's only a matter of time before the PR team is setting them up as escorts if Sixers' attendance continues to be 27th in the NBA.
Or, you know, the team could just continue to win by 43, like they did last night. But then they might have to advertise the basketball, which is not mentioned in this ad at all.
Posted by D-Mac at 11:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
December 27, 2007
City Toilet Removed, But It Will Be Back
 |
Phillyskyline's Brad Maule clues me in on a development I should have been paying more attention to. The pay toilet is gone!
The toilet opened in November 2006 and probably attracted a few customers or something. The toilet was removed because it was simply a pilot toilet on loan from Wall USA, which along with CBS and Clearchannel are bidding for Philadelphia's street furniture (read: ads) contract.
Anyway, we have a few ad- and toilet-free months (okay, not really ad-free) until the winning bidder gets to put a ton of toilets all over the city. Brad (who's responsible for the photo) has more at his website.
Posted by D-Mac at 12:18 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
November 06, 2007
Election Roundup: Voting Is For Dorks
 |
You should still go out and vote, though, and not because it matters (it doesn't) or out of a sense of civic duty (fuck civic duty). You should go out and vote because it's fun! While the voting booths are not the fun old-timey blues ones of yore, you still get to press a couple of buttons. Okay, so it's not Making Time. But if you don't press those buttons, Bush and Cheney will win, or something. Or maybe the terrorists win. I don't know.
Go out and vote today. If you don't, annoying people will lie to you and say if you didn't vote, you forfeited your right to complain. Whatever. Complain all you want whether or not you vote; but it's always nice to try to diffuse future annoyance.
Below, a roundup of fun election-themed stories. We're using a very liberal definition of the word fun here.
Continue reading "Election Roundup: Voting Is For Dorks"
Posted by D-Mac at 09:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 30, 2007
A Vote For Nutter Is A Vote Against, Uh, Bush?
Above, the new ad for Michael Nutter, who despite a nearly 75 percent lead in the polls feels he should run some ads. And how to get lethargic Philadelphians out to the polls on Tuesday? Tell 'em if they stay home, the terrorists (or at least Bush and Cheney) win!
Excellent graphics on the night to day transition. I wonder what Nutter's stance is on Daylight Saving Time.
Posted by D-Mac at 11:49 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
October 05, 2007
This Might Even Be More Depressing Than The Phillies
 |
First we get this Macy's ad plastered all over Philly.com, then we lose our blind seal to California? I can't go on.
Philly.com
Saved! Jersey’s blind seal is L.A.-bound [Inquirer]
Posted by D-Mac at 04:45 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)
August 02, 2007
Colt 45 Works Every... Every Other Time Or So
 |
You see, lots of people have been spending time shutting down "stop and go" beer takeout joints and nuisance bars and whatever else, but if SEPTA has two buses with Colt 45 wraps, then all their hard work is for naught. You see how things are.
SEPTA said it has received $600 grand from alcohol advertising this year, but they probably would have wasted any extra money on SEPTA-branded trading cards and pogs anyway.
SEPTA Removing Malt Liquor Ads From Buses [CBS 3]
Posted by D-Mac at 10:31 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
May 31, 2007
Yes, People Are Still Making 'Brokeback' Parodies
 |
Only, now it's not, because the state refused a grant for the ad because it's a parody of Brokeback Mountain. The state says it's not because of the content (or that Brokeback is almost two years old now) and actually because the "message was lost."
This is pretty tough to figure out:
The winning commercial shows a cowboy standing near a pickup truck, trying to sever ties with a cigarette. The commercial ends with the cowboy saying, "I wish I knew how to quit you. Why don't you let me? It's because of you I'm like this."
The cowboy shows his teeth, now brown from smoking.
Uh, yeah, this does seem like it could be a pro-smoking message. (Oh, the ad was also "hard to hear.") The ad, which wouldn't have stopped anybody from smoking anyway, might still air on TV if the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Montco can get private funds.
You don't want to know what the ad based on Showgirls was like.
'Smokeback' ad will not air on MTV [The Intelligencer]
Posted by D-Mac at 11:08 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
May 21, 2007
Blue Snow Fails To Fall, Dooming Giant SEPTA Ad
 |
SEPTA eventually took the "American runs on Dunkin'" ad down, but has now requested a zoning variance so it can put up a new building wrap ad two stories high. "Something tasteful," SEPTA spokesman Jim Whitaker said. A tasteful two-story advertisement.
The groups one might think would line up against this -- SCRUB, the East of Broad Improvement Association -- have indeed lined up against allowing the variance, along with Citizens Bank itself, who doesn't want a competitor being advertised directly above it. And it appears the ad might not be going up, saving us the trouble of inaccurate donut directions:
Zoning board chairman David L. Auspitz was angered by another delay, and his mood did not improve when Suletta floated the idea of letting SEPTA-Titan put up the building wrap for a "one-year trial."
"Forget about that," Auspitz snapped. "What, is it snowing blue outside?"
SEPTA's giant ad plans [Inquirer]
May 19, 2006: Now We Know Why SEPTA Isn't Raising Fares
[Photo via Inquirer via SCRUB]
Posted by D-Mac at 10:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
May 10, 2007
Get Off My Computer Screen, Michael Nutter
 |
You know, Michael Nutter may be leading in the polls now, but if he doesn't get off people's homepages on Philly.com, he's going to start dropping. I like my mayoral campaigning and my news reading separate, thank you very much. What's next for Nutter: Pop-under ads for spy cameras?
Posted by D-Mac at 03:17 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
May 09, 2007
If This Doesn't Work Out, It's On To Bazooka Joe
An ad in today's Metro:
 |
"Ahh, yes! You can either sell the famous paintings of respected French impressionists Pierre-Auguste Renoir or Camille Pissarro, or you can sell some prints from that dude who silkscreened the Stone Harbor water tower. Just email our Hotmail account!"
Stone Harbor Water Tower [PeterMax.com]
Posted by D-Mac at 02:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
May 08, 2007
Ken Smukler Takes On Knox With Meta Radio Spot
The ad Tom Knox got banned from TV last week is back, baby! Only this time it's on the radio and features a weird meta-discussion of Tom Knox threatening to sue TV stations who aired the ad as well as an extended discussion of the term "credit heroin."
It's titled, apparently, "Jaws II."
| "Jaws II" |
So, ah, ha. I love the fadeout at the end. And, hey, see, Tom Knox isn't a drug dealer! I do think the "loan shark" thing is starting to get a little overplayed, though. Aren't there any other animals these anti-Knox guys can anthropomorphize and compare Knox too? Maybe a tiger who eats the arms off the poor or something?
If you don't have audio the transcript/release is after the jump.
Continue reading "Ken Smukler Takes On Knox With Meta Radio Spot"
Posted by D-Mac at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
May 04, 2007
Tom Knox Hates Metaphors, Free Speech
 |
Well, The Next Mayor Blog got a copy of the letter Knox's attorneys sent. And this paragraph is pretty much the jist of a majority of the letter:
Therefore, you are herby respectfully on notice that any dissemination of these false, misleading and illegal advertisements, particularly those that state that Candidate Knox is a fraud, or state that Candidate Knox is associated with heroin, could unlawfully jeopardize Mr. Knox's right to a fair election, and subject your station to legal exposure.
Wait, the ad said Tom Knox does heroin?
Damn, no wonder... er, wait. It said "credit heroin." As in "[A] predatory loan scheme consumer groups called 'credit heroin.'" Yes, that really makes me think Knox is doing heroin! Almost as much as that awful Photoshop! And some homeless guy on the street telling me Knox is a heroin addict!
This kind of makes sense, though. Since he doesn't watch TV or read books, Knox is probably unaware there are ways to refer to things other than their actual names. For example, Tom Knox can be also be called Candidate Thinks He's Going To Lose The Election And Desperately Trying To Save Hide By Sending Lawyers After TV Stations.
God dammit. I can't believe Tom Knox made me defend this stupid ad.
Yee-ouch [The Next Mayor Blog]
Earlier today: Tom Knox Got This Ad Banned From TV
[Original image from Kenn Kweder's website. (Of course.) Do you know how hard it is to find an easy-to-crappily Photoshop image of a guy shooting heroin? Harder than you'd think.]
Posted by D-Mac at 03:00 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Tom Knox Got This Ad Banned From TV
Economic Justice Coalition for Truth, a 527 group, attempted to put this ad on TV. Ha ha, get it! Mastercard! Only about eight years after that joke became old! And sharks, too! Tommy the Loan Shark!
I'm not quite sure what's wrong with this ad -- the statements it makes are, as far as I know, true -- but Knox's lawyers managed to get the TV stations to pass on the ad.
Knox's latest ad, of course, cites a headline from the Daily News, insinuating the DN said Knox's opponents' attacks were "fishy." Which they did, but as a pun because there was a giant anthropomorphic shark there.
2 stations pass on Knox ads [Daily News]
Posted by D-Mac at 11:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
'Inquirer' Uses Font Size Usually Reserved For Terrorist Attacks To Tell Us Circulation Is Up
 |
You can click to enlarge.
The above is a special pullout only for today in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Not only did the paper project pigs onto the side of the building last night, but in today's Inky there is a four-page special section complete with charts, graphs and man-on-the-street interviews.
Oh, and seven articles about the Inquirer's circulation going up and how pigs do indeed fly. One of which quotes a person using the phrase, "Well, I'll be damned," which would probably be cut out of the regular paper ("[darned]") had an individual in a story said it.
My favorite part is the chart on the front page. After losing 40,000 readers the past two years, this year circ has gone up just over 2,000.
A note on Page 2 of the pullout notes: "While the information in this edition regarding The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and the newspaper industry is accurate, all other information (including but not limited to stories, graphics, artwork and photographs) in this edition is fictitious and satirical. All references to individuals are fictitious, and not intended to refer to any natural persons, whether living or dead. No pigs were harmed in the production of this work." Yeah.
Now, the section, as you can see, looks exactly like a real news section except it says "ADVERTISEMENT" at the top. We people are a stupid bunch, but I don't see how someone could see this section as real. But I'm not going to overestimate the intelligence of the average Inquirer reader -- especially a new subscriber!
But, ah, really? Wow. Just wow. My brain just exploded even harder than it did while reading that Kevin Michael piece. I'll try to do a little round up of the inside pages later today if I recover.
Earlier today: Japanimation Fighting Pigs On Side Of Inquirer Building
Posted by D-Mac at 11:07 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)