New Chris Farley Direct TV Ad

Is this new Direct TV ad starring Chris Farley and David Spade tasteless – or awesome?



I'm torn on it. It's kind of nice seeing Farley and Spade together again, even if it's just shilling some damn product. And when lifelike 3-D animation is totally perfected you're probably going to see whole movies starring dead people. So this is tame in comparison.

(my favorite YouTube comment for this commercial is: "can't wait til they make an awesome Kung Fu movie with Bruce Lee when the technology gets better." Or you could just watch "Game of Death," which has an actual picture of Lee's head taped on some nameless actor's body.)

The Evolution of Evony

Coding Horror follows the evolution of those ever-present ads for the online game Evony/Civony.

Here is the abridged version.

From this:
















To this:

Hulu Beats YouTube: "Old Media Strikes Back"

"Old Media Strikes Back" -- not my headline, but that of Newsweek's, in a post dated 2/21/09.

Newsweek's sub-heading:

"Hulu, founded by NBC and Fox, has become a better moneymaker than Web darling YouTube. The moral: better content wins."

My blog, a week ago:

"Authoritative vs. "Amateur" is the general crux of the mainstream media companies's...bid for pay-based content."

"The media companies are going to push "Authoritative" vs. "Amateur" within two years."

Again: my point is not that the YouTubes and Wikipedias of the world are amateur. My point is: big media will start to portray them as such though news reports and advertising.

From the Newsweek piece:

"Unlike YouTube, Hulu had legal access to great content—shows from NBC, Fox and others. And it had great technology—a clean, simple user interface and a smart search engine. Today, just one year after its launch, Hulu has gained the upper hand. "The empire is striking back," says Arash Amel, analyst for researcher Screen Digest. " (emphasis mine)

Now, the point can be made from reading the article that Hulu.com is making great money from their online advertising -- they are making money from *free content*.

But when we look closer at the advertising on Hulu -- it's resembling more and more traditional TV advertising!

"Hulu's team is trying new approaches to advertising that they hope will be more palatable to viewers, and more effective as well. One idea: a viewer can choose to see ads interspersed throughout a show, or can watch a single long advertisement up front. (But either way you can't skip through the ads.) Another example: a carmaker lets the viewer choose to see an ad for a pickup truck, a crossover SUV or a sports car—so the viewer gains some control, and the advertiser doesn't waste a pickup-truck ad on someone who wouldn't be caught dead in one."

Yes, it's placed differently. Yes, it's more "targeted" (which the media companies LOVE). But it's there, and you can't watch your Hulu show without watching it. Just like network TV. We've come full circle "This show brought to you by Lexus."

But then, can't the producers of independent videos -- like the ones on YouTube, for instance -- get these sweet ad deals too?

Big Media news outlet Newsweek pooh-poohs this idea:

"YouTube has lots of content, but from the perspective of advertisers much of it is utterly worthless. Nobody wants to tout their brand amid user-generated videos that could turn out to be almost anything..."

Yeah, nobody wants to see *amateur* stuff, the article is saying. They want to see "The Office." Right?

Newsweek:

"Fun as it may be to watch someone's kitten playing with a piece of string, last night's episode of "The Office" makes for a more compelling experience."

Sure, because...all the clips on YouTube are just kittens playing with string, right? Sure.

One more interesting tid-bit. Again, from the Newsweek piece:

"Hulu insists it's not really competing with YouTube. In fact, its real victim might be cable companies. Why pay $100 per month for a cable subscription when you can get so much great stuff online at no cost?"

And again, from my blog:

"I always told the BF that once another Hulu-type streaming video service comes out, we were going to have to cancel the cable."

"We have media media media (inexpensive media) coming out off our butts. Which is awesome. Sucks to be the cable companies, though."

Next up? Look for sites like Hulu creating separate "premium" channels that you have to subscribe to. Just like the traditional cable model. Full circle.

Jason Slashes Coraline

I will preface this by saying that though I'm a bit of a horror movie buff, I have never sat through an entire "Friday the 13th" movie. I sat through a part of the original first movie, and was impressed with how much it had a flat, "porn" feel (I'm not saying that this was bad, as I realize that was part of the 1980s slasher-flick charm). (By "flat porn feel," I am not referring to nudity but a sort of shallowness that is only punctuated by sudden moments of horror, much as a porn movie is hollow but is punctuated by sudden moments of sex). (Furthermore, I feel that John Carpenter does the "flat porn feel" better -- or daresay, he is a complete master of this technique -- and much prefer to watch his horror movies, which are usually either really good or crappy but enjoyable in a B movie sort of way).

I have also never sat through"Coraline," as the tickets were sold out yesterday and, since I was in the area, decided to go get a haircut instead.

Everyone loves dog movies.

Eyebrows raised at how huge the opening was for "Friday 13th," and how low "Coraline's" was in comparison. This might be a retread of the "Marley & Me"/"Spirit" scenario.

What up with all of this?

I am told over and over again that it is the mass-market "broad idea" movies, TV shows, comics, and concepts that win over big. I am also told this in Robert McKee's "Story," one of the classic "how to write" books. McKee says basically that if you would like to make a living writing movies, make them with a broad appeal and do not get too esoteric. Also, that it is okay if you want to make your films esoteric & intellectual, but then perhaps get another job to supplement your meager income from your niche writing.

That said, I have no idea if the new "Friday the 13th" movie is broad in appeal or instead maybe quite intellectual. If I had to guess, I would say that the flick is probably in league with the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake, which was enjoyable, extremely gory, but not incredibly profound -- sort of forgettable, except for its "set piece" moments of exaggerated violence.

Will "Watchmen" be the next "Dark Knight" or "Mystery Men"?

Which is all to say, in a roundabout way...what does this bode for "Watchmen"? Is the general moviegoing public not in the mood for something arty, profound, obtuse...dare I say, even "cubist?" Will this film be a big hit with the fan set, but not with the general masses? Or is this assuming too much about the film? Will it be styled in such a way so that it will have the same broad appeal as "Friday the 13th part 15"?

Also -- if these comic book/"fan appeal" movies do not have mass appeal, should we care at all? Should we not just enjoy the films anyway, secure in knowing that even if films like "Speed Racer" & "The Spirit" sort of tank, at least the cool kids understood and appreciated them? Like when I would read a short story in my high-school creative writing class about existentialist rabbits on LSD and most of the class didn't understand it but I got two really enthusiastic fans? Will these two fans grow up to be the ones who will buy by $300 limited edition maquette of LSD Bunny from Sideshow toys -- and be vocally abusive online to my detractors? Can I only hope?

Speed Racer: A Movie For All The Cool Kids

(A side point refers to a conversation I had with a friend a couple of days ago: questioning whether Watchmen was a good "gateway" comic book for the new reader, or did it just skewer the idea of mainstream superheroes and make it actually harder for him or her to get into Superman, Spider-Man, etc? Or even turned some of those new readers off to graphic novels, comic books, everything?)

This all reminds me of a great post David Cross wrote after his movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" came out. In it, he defends his appearance in a movie that might be looked down upon as mass-market piffle by some of his fans:

"I like to work. I really do."

Anyway, I have no set opinions on any of these important issues being raised here thereupon. I'm just throwing ideas out there, like foam darts. As for my haircut yesterday, it is only by writing this post that I realize what might have unconsciously influenced my choice of hairstyle:


Well, anyway. I haveta go write my "Confessions of A Shopaholic"-style pitch now. See you soon!

Grindhouse Style Fox Ad For Dollhouse and Terminator

What do you think of this Grindhouse-inspired ad for the Fox TV shows Dollhouse & Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles? Are they fun? Do they misrepresent the shows themselves?
Seems very 1970s/Wonder Woman to me.

Sassy Assy: The Power Of Great Branding

Let me make it clear that I have no particular interest in the particular entity that is Sassy Assy. None. This post is not about Sassy Assy per se. It's about the power of advertising and great branding.

Ask me what I remember about New York Comic Con this year, and two things immediately come to mind. The first is the giant George Costanza head on the banner across from the High Moon/Night Owls booth. I used that head repeatedly as a landmark to find the booth.

The second thing I remember about NYCC: Sassy Assy.

What a great name. I don't even mean that in a sarcastic way. Sassy Assy is a memorable name. It stood out. It rhymes. To call it "clever" might be stretching it too far. But it's catchy. It's Sassy Assy.

I initially assumed that Sassy Assy was an actual person, a Tila Tequila type personality. But actually, Sassy Assy is the name of a line of clothing shops. Representing the clothing shops are the Sassy Assy Models. Or maybe that's the other way around. The branding, while memorable, didn't initially make that clear. To be a Sassy Assy is like to be a Suicide Girl but without the drama. Oh, maybe there is still drama, but it's upbeat. The women dress like schoolgirls, but they're happy schoolgirls.

But that isn't the point. The point is -- their advertising worked. And not even the cheesecake elements on the banner, which I totally didn't remember. It was the name. The name got stuck in my brain. And, despite myself, I still remember it: Sassy Assy.

When coming up with the name for your website, comic book, or other venture, remember the lesson of Sassy Assy. Now, their name was a bit risque, but they're selling risque. But whatever you are selling, think of how to make it catchy. Maybe this will involve a giant George Costanza head. Maybe rhyming will be involved. But whatever the case -- be remembered. Stand out from the crowd.

Now, there is the separate issue of whether a lingerie/stripper shoes/sexy schoolgirl outfits store should be at NYCC anyway. Who is to say if the ren faire corsets are acceptable and the skin-tight Brazilian jeans are not. That's not for me to judge. Maybe next year I'll use my connections and import Brazilian jeans and sell them at a table at New York Comic Con. Mini-comics and Brazilian jeans. It might work.

Superbowl Commericals

You see, I totally get the whole hubbub about Superbowl commercials now. They are largely designed and targeted for people who wouldn't even give a rat's behind about football. It's ingenious. They tune in for the commercials. Or just watch them on Hulu. And before I watch the Superbowl commercial on Hulu -- THEY PLAY A DAMN COMMERCIAL!

(note: these Hulu links may not work depending on where you live. If they don't, try YouTube. Though they are yanking some of these commercials off of YouTube. Because God forbid. You pirate. COMMERCIALS!)

Angels and Demons: "Oh crap, Ewan MacGregor is a priest! David! David, did you see this, he's a &%$#$ priest! David!"


Land of The Lost: Now I hate Will Ferrell all over again.

Heroes Football: The most inspirational fantasy/sports hybrid since NFL Superpro.

Alec Baldwin "Huluwood": Baldwin seems to be making a real cottage industry out of playing the evil but lovable gasbag, isn't he? Have you checked out his IMDB entry lately? Profile picture from ten years ago. "Raven haired, suavely handsome..." Who wrote this entry and when? Then this passage: "Unfortunately, Baldwin fell out with Paramount Studios over future scripts for Jack Ryan, and subsequent Ryan roles went to Harrison Ford. It was a minor blip on Baldwin's horizon, and he then contributed interesting performances as a lowlife thief pursued by dogged cop Fred Ward in Miami Blues (1990)..." Minor blip on his horizon? That ill-conceived decision blew his chances of being a dashing Hollywood leading man forever. And oh yes, the trivia section says he loves Cuban cigars: "Some guys smoke good Dominicans, other guys smoke great Jamaicans. I only smoke the best - Havanas!"

Heheheheh...CUBANS! That's a good cigar!
He's a gasbag, but we love him, and Liz Lemon would sorta totally do him, or at least, wouldn't completely vomit.


Transformers 2: "David! Transformers 2! With Shia! Shia's more serious in this one! This is like "The Dark Knight" of Transformers movies! David! Look at this!"

Pepsi MacGruber: Well, we all knew having Richard Dean Anderson make an appearance on this SNL parody was inevitable. Anderson looks now the way Adam West looked like in 1986. Do the math.


Pepsi Max: You see, this is the sort of commercial some "men's rights" group should target as making males look like dumbasses. Pepsi Max is like the Ax Body Spray of diet colas. I mean, it won't necessarily get you laid, but it's Manly.

Year One: Will Michael Cera's unique brand of sweet, self-effacing, and neurotic humor work in a non-stop comedic romp through Biblical history? And, most importantly -- will Biggus Dickus make an appearance?


Star Trek: (takes in a mouthful of oxygen) "DAVIDDDDDD!!!!!"

BSG: The Roving Eye Of Apollo

One more Battlestar Galactica post, and I'm done. I promise.

Follow Apollo's eyes on this DVD cover:



via Photoshop Disasters

Battlestar Galactica: When Ad Placements Go Wrong

Have you ever watched an unfortunately-timed ad after a certain key scene on a television show?

This Battlestar Galactica clip has just that. It's a 3+ minute clip, but the ending is so totally worth it. One of the most creepy things I've ever seen, like something out of the mind of Kubrick (or early Peter Jackson). I almost vomited, so you know this is choice.

SPOILERS in the clip, so if you don't want to be spoiled for BSG, don't watch. Also, sort of NSFW.



Via

Sex Train

For those who aren't familiar with the New York City subway system, often the inside of the train cars will be covered all with the same advertisement; it's almost like "themed" trains.

On one side of my train today were ads for Remy Martin cognac that featured the tagline "Things are getting interesting" and took place in an exclusive club with one of those peepholes in the door. In one ad, a guy with girl on his arm whispers something to another girl. Both girls look happy, and excited. I thought, "threesome." In another ad, one woman has a thick chain around a another woman's neck and is pulling it with her teeth. Message of both ads: "crazy shit will start happening if you drink a lot, and it will be awesome."

On the other side of the train were ads by Wrigley's Gum featuring a bunch of fresh-faced hippie couples rolling around in the grass. There are a bunch of puns about computers, and the idea that after a long hard day in the office is over, you want to find a mate & have intercourse.

Of the two, I'm having a harder time buying that chewing gum will lead to hot passionate times.