But the truth of the matter is that after the positive sales numbers are in, the guest counts are confirmed up and product has long since flown off the shelves, we like to know that our peers around the country (not just our clients) think we do some cool and interesting work.

Thankfully, after careful review and industry scrutiny, it appears that for yet another year, we don’t suck. In fact, building on last year’s One Show award, DFWIMA “Best in Show” and being featured in Archive Magazine, this year is also shaping up to be a great one.

-Five Telly Awards for both television and online video

-DFWIMA “Most Effective Non-Profit/Public Service” campaign

-Art Directors Club for “Eat Out for a Change”

-Dallas Society of Visual Comm. bronze award for television

Yes, when it comes to creative, we work in a very “what have you done for me lately” kind of industry. But this is proof that lately, we’ve been doing great work for great clients. More importantly, it’s achieved great results. And isn’t that why we got into this business in the first place?

As someone who spends a good bit of time in the world of retouching it is easy to forget that regular folks may not be aware of the magic that goes into any beauty shot, whether its cosmetics, fashion, or even food. This spot is a powerful illustration of the fact that perfection isn’t reality and is a spot-on way to communicate the mission of The Dove self-esteem fund.

A shout out to the folks at Dove who want to make a difference by “widening the definition of beauty” as well as the folks at Ogilvy for a fun glimpse behind the curtain. After all, who doesn’t need a boost to self esteem?

So enjoy the spot, and maybe even visit the campaign’s site.

Credits: Director Tim Piper, Ogilvy (concept, treatment and post production) and Yael Staav, Soft Citizen (live action)

Umm, what?

I know what telecommunications are. I also know what innovation is. But the former fits easily into a saleable package whereas the other floats free on the wings of the speckled-breasted jackasserobin. I’m not saying AT&T can’t pull this off, but it’s going to be a hard row to hoe. After all, are they going to be touting innovations outside of the communications field? Will I soon be able to get an AT&T insulin pump? I somehow doubt it.

Granted, I won’t be sorry to see the lame wonkishness of “Your world. Delivered.” go away. (The new tag is “Rethink possible.” which feels too derivative of Apple’s classic “Think Different.” for my taste.) Or those Luke Wilson ads die off (sorry, Luke, nothing personal). But when there are companies like Apple and even Dyson (check out their sweet new bladeless fan) roaming the Hills of Innovation, trying to climb that mountain seems like a slog worth avoiding.

But who knows. Maybe the work will blow me away. After all, BBDO does great work for FedEx. Bring it, guys. Prove me wrong. I’ll be happy to recant.

Later,

Fox

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Spots reviewed as they aired, more or less. Also, I don’t review regional ads (if I can tell they’re regional), film trailers or promos for CBS shows or the NFL.

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Bud Light, “Light House” – I’ll give Bud Light credit for refraining from the scatological (that means “poop”) comedy from years past, but this didn’t really have the feel of a Super Bowl spot. Good production values, of course, but it seem like, well, any other Bud Light spot. You could call that creative consistency, but I won’t. B-

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Snickers, “Betty & Abe” – This spot started off quite strongly with venerable comedienne Betty White getting walloped in a game of touch football and then talking smack. The payoff of “you’re not you when you’re hungry” however, was a let down (even if it is true as this diabetic can attest). If you’re going to intro a spot with Betty White at wide out, don’t change her to a pasty suburban dude halfway through the spot. Bonus points, naturally, for good use of Abe Vigoda in the stinger. B

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Focus on the Family, “The Tebows” – Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahha. Okay, the ad itself wasn’t great, but the strategy was brilliant. This “controversial” ad – dubbed so by pro-abortion advocates who hadn’t even seen the spot – was nothing more than a classic “please visit our website” ad. No mention of abortion. Not even a hint. Just a proud mom who speaks of her “miracle baby.” Me, I would’ve said “abortion” seven or eight times during the spot, but I’m ornery like that. Still, feels good knowing a bunch of so-called pro-choice (as long as you choose to agree with us) folks got their collective BVDs in a wad over this. Spot: B, Strategy: A+

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Hyundai, “Paint” – This spot for Hyundai’s new Sonata sedan, filled with classical music and well-done slow motion footage, had me right until the end when the someone insisted on inserting the supers “Better paint quality than Mercedes CLS550” and “Think about it.” Unnecessary and message-muddling. B-

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Boost Mobile, “The Shuffle” – Twenty-five years after the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl and tainted themselves with the stank of “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” Ditka, McMahon, Singletary and crew are back for another shot at rhythmless fame. Teasers were released in advance of this spot, and now I’m wondering why. Too obvious jokes and poor use of a Rascal – comedy sacrilege! And whoever thought Ditka saying “That’s fresh” was fresh was more wrong than going to Bears game without having a brat and a heart attack. C-

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Doritos, “Bark Collar” – This first of this year’s winners of Doritos’s Let’s Tick Off Our Agency and Let Random People Shoot Our Super Bowl Spots Contest was fantastic. Not counting the hideous premise, awful CG and lack of understanding how a bark collar really works (sound and vibration). Did I say fantastic? I mean craptacular. D+

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Doritos, “House Rules” The second winner in the Doritos contest was much better than the first. A little predictable, but well shot and the kid was a hoot. B

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Bud Light, “Asteroid” – Strategy was a bit weird (is Bud Light really the sign of a good time or just a signal that a pack of D-bags is nearby?), but the spot gained momentum until the very end. And again, no farting horses. B

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Coca-Cola, “Hard Times – Mr. Burns” – Coke continues it’s “Happiness” campaign with what appeared be the entire cast of “The Simpsons.” Except we all know it wasn’t the entire cast as Hans Moleman didn’t die. Still, well played, Coca-Cola. Well played. A

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GoDaddy.com, “Spa” – Another year, another chance to berate GoDaddy.com for their skeeztacularly bad spots featuring never-a-role-model-to-my-daughter, Danica Patrick, with their pleas to “go online for the unrated version.” Oooooooooh. Please, GoDaddy, go away. F-

I never link to GoDaddy spots.

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Doritos, “Casket” – The third (of four, yowza) winner of the Contest That Shall Not Be Named. Doritos, you are dead to me. D

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Bud Light, “Voice Box” – Hmmm, the Bud Light spots are getting progressively better. Dare I hope for a spot equal to Apple’s “1984” by the end of the game? Eh, no. But this spot was both fun and, hopefully, a message to Kanye, T-Pain (who appeared in the spot and must be laughing all the way to Da Bankz, yo) and the rest of the Auto-Tune crowd that their trick was played out the moment Cher released “Believe” back in 1998. B+

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Monster.com, “Fiddlin’ Beaver” – A beaver playing a fiddle? Funny idea. A beaver playing a fiddle promotion something called “precision job search” on Monster.com? No idea how the two tie together. Especially when it appears that said beaver just practiced and played his way to stardom, no want ad required. C

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Bridgestone, “Whale of a Tale” – Had me until the end when the “Now that was a bachelor party” line turned it into a “The Hangover” knockoff. Could’ve used more physical comedy than verbal. And that’s saying something when were only two lines. That I remember. Don’t make me rewind the TiVo, people. B-

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Skechers Shape-Ups, “Joe Montana Testimonials” Ummm, what? D-

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Cars.com, “Timothy Richmond” – Stellar production value, nice writing and a welcome low-key style. But this is simply a retread of Cars.com’s “David Abernathy” spot from last year. There’s even a medical intervention, and the final scene is nearly identical in execution. If I hadn’t seen this spot before, I’d like it a fair amount (although I still say the genius-stumped-by-used-cars is a bit of a stretch). But I have seen it before, so, well, meh. B-

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Budweiser, “Bridge” – Nice buildup with the town rushing to the aid of the Bud delivery truck stuck at a downed bridge, but a little too much time was spent on the solution to said problem. Probably funnier if they’d just shown the tire tracks on the people’s backs at the bar instead. B-

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CareerBuilder.com, “Casual Friday” – I don’t know if CareerBuilder.com will ever trump their chimp-based campaign that spawned a thousand Monk-E-Mails between me and my friends, but this one ranks pretty high up there. Nice use of tighty-whities and the guy’s disparaging remark about pants near the end was spot on. Voice over line beginning with “expose yourself” was a bit too snicker-snicker-tee-hee for my taste, though. Nonetheless, nice pants, Terry. A-

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Dockers, “No Pants” – Wow, two spots in a row featuring people with no pants. In this case, all men. And in this case, much less satisfying. If you’re going to have men wander around in their unmentionables, have them do something besides march through a field singing about said unmentionables. I’ll bet the agency is hating their media placement right about now. C

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Hyundai, “Favre” – Jokes about Brett Favre growing old and repeated retiring should probably themselves be retired. But the execution of showing a 50-year-old Favre holding a hologram-producing MVP trophy (“Help me, replacement hips, you’re my only hope.”) and still waffling on retirement made me chuckle. B+

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Bud Light, “Stranded” – I assume this was a pretty spot-on parody of “Lost” given that I recognized as such while having only watched about 15 minutes of the series. Some good sight gags and slow burn looks from the (hold on, let me check IMDB) Kate knockoff. Still don’t get double tagline of “always the sign of a good time/here we go,” but anything beats the dreaded “Drinkability” campaign of yore. B

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Dove Men’s Care, “A Boy’s Life” – Awesome, awesome, awesome spot for the wrong product. Up until the product reveal: A, After: C-

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Dodge Charger, “Man’s Last Stand”If I’m putting up with all the stuff the soulless dudes in this spot apparently put with, I can tell you the car I won’t be driving in exchange for my subservience is a Dodge Charger. Car guys know this, so I can only assume this spot was aimed at fans of Ed Hardy gear. C

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Teleflora, “Dead in a Box” – If you’re going to get Don Rickles to voice your insult-spewing box-o-tulips, let him be Rickles. Instead, Teleflora reshot last year’s dud while cranking down the muted irony and cranking up the elbows to the ribs. Although I think the guy that used to be in the Bud Light “Dr. Galakowitz” campaign might have appeared in drag. D+

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Papa John’s, “Papa John Delivers” – I don’t mean to repeat myself, but ummmmmm, what? D

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Dr Pepper Cherry, “Dr. Love – Little Kiss” – Even midgets in Kiss makeup can’t salvage this “let’s deliver product benefits straight to the camera” mess. Dear advertisers of the world: The ratio of people who claim to think Kiss is cool versus the number of people who actually believe it is quite high. So stop already. C-

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truTV, “Punxsutawney Polamalu” – An Oompa Loompa version of Pittsburgh Steelers fave Troy Polamalu (who was a in a Super Bowl spot last year for Coke Zero) replaces the world’s most famous groundhog and promises six more weeks of football. Pretty well done, but feels like it just needed a little more something something to push it over the edge. C’mon, man, yank it! B

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Universal Studios Orlando, “Harry Potter’s The Wizarding World” – Universal Studios seems to run a Super Bowl ad every year. And every year I wonder why. C-

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FLO TV, “Jim Nantz” – Grr. Arrg. This spot should’ve been funny. Premise wasn’t overtly original, but you don’t have to be original to be funny. You just have to let the writer write. Or maybe they did. Shame on you, writer! Also, the Chia Pet-esque “where to buy” tag really classed up the joint. Yeesh. C

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Intel, “Sad Robot” – “Okay, here’s the idea: A guy talks about how cool Intel’s new processors are and, in the process, hurts the company robot’s feelings. The end.” Maybe Apple should switch to AMD. C-

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FLO TV, “My Generation Remix” – So FLO TV hires will.i.am to do what he did last year for Pepsi, only less creatively. Mmm-kay. C

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Miller High Life, “Small Businesses” – Not quite as nifty as last year’s one-second spot, but still a nice bit of minimalist awkward awesomeness. B+

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Acura, “MDX” – Woman sees symbols followed by ugly, Japanese version of the Aztek. D

No link; suspect this was regional.

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Motorola, “Megan Fox – Motoblur” – Megan Fox in a bathtub pimping something called Motoblur that is either a phone or a phone feature. I couldn’t tell. And not because I was distracted by Megan Fox in a bathtub. I see better version of that every day, people. No, really, my wife’s name is Megan. Anyway, a tired technique with a couple funny bits. At least it wasn’t a GoDaddy.com spot. C

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Volkswagen, “Punch Dub” – Stevie Wonder notwithstanding, anyone who’s ever played this game knows it’s Slug Bug and not Punch Dub. You hit when you see an old Beetle, not some jalopy of a Jetta. If you’re going to co-opt lore about your brand – lore you didn’t create – have the courtesy to not jack with it. C

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Denny’s, “Free Breakfast – Chicken Warning” – I really shouldn’t like this spot as much as I do, and maybe it’s just the Girl Scout Thin Mints talking, but I thought it was a hoot. Used a screenwriting technique known as “the Pope in the pool” (look it up) to make what is basically a talking head spot interesting. Too bad the chicken puppets weren’t Muppets like I’d originally read. B

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Michelob Ultra, “Little Bumps (Lance Armstrong)” – Let’s see here. Throw cash at famous athlete? Check. Throw cash at production? Check. Throw cash at media buy? Check. Produce memorable, relevant spot? Check please. D+

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HomeAway.com, “Vacation Teaser” – Hmmmm, the Griswolds return in a short film for a vacation home rental website. Spot wasn’t great as far as trailers go, but you had me at “Griswold.” Spot: B-, Strategy: A-

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Bridgestone, “Your Tires or Your Life” – If you’re going to make a gag about someone mishearing “wife” for “life,” make sure said “wife” doesn’t look like a “hooker.” D+

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KGB, “Sumo” – 500 pounds of dumb. Both the commercial and the service. D

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Coca-Cola, “Sleepwalker” – Well-produced, but not terribly interesting. C

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E*Trade, “Baby Girlfriend” – Okay, I’ve actually liked most of E*Trade’s talking baby campaign in the past because they put clever, adult dialogue into the mouths of a baby. Which is weird, but whatever. This ad? Well, let’s just say throwing in overtones of hot, baby action and a milkaholic floozy pushed it right on over the shark tank. C-

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U.S. Census Bureau, “Snapshot of America” – I do love me some Christopher Guest mockumentary action, but this spot (and the entire series) is just flat and a waste of my money. Do you understand why I want small government now, my hippie coworkers? Do you? C-

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Google, “Parisian Love” – I was so ready to dog this spot after the first five seconds, but dang if it wasn’t effective in showing how Google can answer so many of life’s answers. Now I’m just creeped out. Where’s my New Testament? Shoot, Google probably knows that, too. Not evil? Ha! B+

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Kia Sorento, “Sock Monkey Dreams” – Three words: Jet-skiing sock monkey. Okay, some more words. Great music, great direction, great editing, great ending line (which wasn’t spoken) to tie it all together. Bra-freakin’-vo. A

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Bud Select 55, “World’s Lightest Beer” – Was this a regional spot? Sure felt like it. Message delivered! And ignored. C-

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Vizio, “Beyonce” – Well, at least this year’s Vizio ad wasn’t as mind-numbingly dumb as last year’s Vizio ad. Might want to try for some more au courant internet memes next time, though. C

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Diamond Foods, “Emerald Nuts & Pop Secret” – Sad + sad = sadder. D+

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Electronic Arts, “Dante’s Inferno: Go to Hell” – EA makes an interesting choice in pairing footage from its ultra-graphic new video game “Dante’s Inferno” with Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The music actually works quite well, but the footage feels a bit too much like a standard-issue video game trailer. B-

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Budweiser, “Clydesdale & The Bull” – Well, there was 60 seconds of nothin’. D

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Honda, “Crosstour Squirrel” – Writer: So, how do we pimp this bloated Accord/SUV mashup that looks like a Honda-fied Pontiac Aztek? Art director: I dunno, put a squirrel in it? Writer: Done. C

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Denny’s, “Chickens Across America” – Worth it if only for the chicken screaming silently in space. B

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Audi A3, “The Green Police” – I’m torn on this one. I like how most of the spot exposes the utter ridiculousness of the über-greens. But then they turn around and connect their A3 TDI diesel to the same movement. Not as cool as last year’s “The Chase” spot, either. Still, a good use of Cheap Trick. B

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Taco Bell, “Charles Barkley – NBA Buck Box” – Third time’s the charm: Uhhhhhhh, what? D

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Doritos, “Snack Attack Samurai” – The fourth and final “winner” in the contest I gave up caring about years ago. C

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Bud Light, “Book Club” – Bud Light saves the weak sister for the end. Even the preceding Doritos ad was better. Ouch.C-

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Hyundai Sonata, “Built by Hand” – Reminded me of the original Saturn work. In a good way. Not especially powerful for a Super Bowl spot, but nice branding nonetheless. B-

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E*Trade, “Tears” – Did E*Trade switch agencies or something because, wow, not good. D

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GoDaddy.com, “News” – Another “go here for an unrated version” tease from my least-favorite advertiser extant. More Danica. More T&A. More fail. F

As usual, I don’t link to GoDaddy’s garbage.

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Denny’s, “Chicken Birthday” – Okay, we get it. C

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And in case you forgot, the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

Look for the 60-second spot on ESPN during the second commercial break at approximately 7:13 p.m. (Thank you Firehouse media planning.) Here’s a sneak preview if you just can’t wait or are fearful that sleep may set-in after a day full of turkey: Interstate Batteries on YouTube

The “Pick Me” work done around the Fantasy Football craze was a neat example of how creativity can extend your media buy. I never saw the work myself, although I imagine I’m in (or certainly near) the target. In fact, I would never have known about it unless my 10 year old son made sure to grab me one day when I got home to show me a cool thing he saw on the computer.

Fun idea. Easy to see why it spreads, but I got to tell you, I’m not sure what Reebok is wanting me to do? Now, I hear the words “Pick Me” and I may like the players a little more as I see them without all the gear so I can identify them beyond just a numbered jersey…but it feels like a missed opportunity.

Next up of the ideas is the Fun Theory from VW from overseas. Check out this clip:

Wow. Love it. Love it. Love it. A hand for the team that thought it up. A hand for the client that signed off on an idea that does not readily identify with driving. A standing ovation for the production team that pulled it off so well.

But there is more — check out the rest here: www.funtheory.com. Man, I was pumped when I saw it. Well done.

Finally, I saw some really fun work for a tired and formulaic category. Think CPG work for cereal has to be typical slice of life work with expected product shots? You might be suffering from IDS. Fiber One has a campaign around the idea of IDS or (Irrational Disbelief Syndrome). Does a nice job of getting your attention, making you smile and getting you to think differently or rethink the expected reaction to breakfast cereals and snack bars.

I mean these guys are hammering the copy points of Fiber One at you and it still manages to be funny and entertaining. No misunderstanding what they want you to take away, yet it is done well enough that it doesn’t get old. Then you hit the site they have created and the integration is terrific. Good stuff all the way around.

While I loved elements of all three and the VW staircase execution I believe is the most memorable, the cork this month goes to: The Fiber One team and the good folks at the Coping with Disbelief Institute. Great idea and a compelling reason to try the product.

Cheers!

Can someone please pass the skim milk?

Two executions initially caught my eye. One from Pfizer for a smoking cessation campaign.

The rest of the campaign is carried over to the website.

Well done. Nice entry into their products that can help you break free of the addiction. Thankfully, I have never been in the target so I can’t speak directly to its effectiveness. However, the themes and messaging put in a format that is both visually arresting and with an added sense of time slipping away I thought was brilliant.

Next idea that stopped me becuase I am in the target and was squarely in the media target as they were hosting a PGA golf tournament. Barclays Investing put this together to help connect with those of us that have been punched in the face economically in the last 18 months.

Loved it! Interesting, kind of creepy. Lots of little details. A story well told. Great copy. Barclays really comes off looking like a rock (sorry Prudential) in these times. Clearly a big budget traditional spot that stopped me dead in my tracks and made me sit up and take notice.

Bad news — that is where it ends for me. As soon as the tournament they sponsored ended, they were gone….

I went to the website to see if there was any integration and it feels very much like they fell victim of the silo effect. One agency comes up with a great idea. A different special agency is responsible for the content on the site and the two shall never meet.

Guess I’ll be looking for the next rock that comes along.

So in review, I loved the glitzy spot, but I feel like maybe I was faked out. I guess that is a little like art imitating life –- imitating art, imitating life.

The cork then goes to My Time To Quit and Pfizer. Great work better integration. A bigger idea than just selling drugs. And hey, maybe some people will actually quit smoking.

What’s not to like? Cheers!

Just before I turn my phone to vibrate, something catches me. Through the clutter breaks a beautifully directed :60 from Wieden + Kennedy for Levi’s titled, “O Pioneers!” As part of Levi’s “Go Forth” campaign, this short captured me from the first frame. At first, I thought to myself this movie looks eclectic and artsy. Then quickly realized it was an apparel ad. If someone asked me to explain it, I would describe it as Abercrombie and Fitch meets Martin + Osa meets The Lord of the Flies, circa 1990.

Highlighting western youth culture, shots of darkness are merged with beautiful portraits of elements of earth, air, fire and water. Scenes of young adults experiencing life, love and adventure resonate deep within me. Vignettes of men and women raging against…err…whatever they’re raging against. Tearing off their shirts, running through fields of gold.

I am right there along with the story line and then…BAM! Tag and Logo.

I was left there in the darkness asking myself, “What the hell just happened?!” Motivated and energized, for some odd reason, I want to jump up, tear my shirt off and go running through the theatre. Damit! Levi’s just got me. I thought I was immune to this stuff.

This spot, along with other Levi’s spots, always seem to highlight sensitive social topics. They seem to always push the boundary. And that’s what great creative should do. Challenge convention.

In an effort to capitalize on the trend of staycations and daycations, the NH Division of Travel and Tourism created a campaign and contest geared toward residents, aptly titled, “I love it here.” And what better way to promote tourism in your state and stimulate the local economy than by engaging the people who love it the most?

The contest, “NH Dream Vacation Scavenger Hunt” which launched in May, encourages residents to visit their favorite attractions and outdoor activities throughout the state, and/or explore some new ones. To play, all you need is the “I love it here!” sign (pictured), a digital camera, access to the Internet, and an outing with a friend(s) to wherever in the state you love the most. Participants then upload their photos to NHdreamvacation.com where they are entered for a chance to win the grand prize, a dream vacation in New Hampshire.

Simple. Engaging. Fun. Three words perfect for consumers, and perfect for marketers. By the way, did I mention pretty cost-effective too?

The contest officially ends this weekend, but in a state with that much to see and do, and some of the proudest residents north of Texas, surely this campaign is just getting started.

We should all be ultimately accountable to business results. And, at times, it has seemed some BK initiatives build no brand more strongly than CP+B’s. Often, these have been followed by numbers pointing to BK’s failure to create gains on their arch nemesis.

But, in some ways, I root for the agency and The King. They have been bold. They have taken risks together. And some part of me believes that had it not been for their efforts the BK brand would have slunk into the shadows altogether.

Sure, we can measure and re-measure how much real growth BK has had versus McD’s. But, can you measure what would have happened to BK in a world where the work from CP+B never existed?