Apryl's Advertising Blog

Flash back to the 80s. "Great taste, less filling" is returning for Miller Lite's NFL ad campaign.

The "More Taste League" ads from last year will re-air with Scrubs star John C. McGinley as "The Beer Commish." The only change will be the "Great taste, less filling" tagline being added. The "Ultimate Light Beer" ad campaign has been completely scrapped.

It's been less than two months since Miller Brewing Company and Coors Brewing Company became MillerCoors. Crispin Porter + Bogusky Miami resigned the $175 million Miller Brewing account last year over creative differences and Bartle Bogle Hegarty, New York, now holds the account.

What press kits components do you include when creating a media kit? See examples of press kits components and how each one can be used to generate free media buzz for you or your company.

If you're on the fence about a career in advertising, you need to know what to expect before you take the plunge. Evaluate this career's traits to find out if working in advertising is right for you.

QVC is launching a new ad campaign centered around on-air hosts, celebrities and product representatives being candid. As the commercials were shot, cameras still rolled to capture flubbed lines, comic banter and bloopers on the set.

While one commercial with Joan Rivers has been confirmed, QVC is keeping quiet about its other celebrity guests who may appear in future ads. Carson Kressley, Heidi Klum, Paula Deen, Whoopi Goldberg and Marie Osmond have all appeared on QVC to help sell products.

Ads are scheduled to run on national cable channels like A&E, History, H&G, Lifetime, TBS, TNT. This is QVC's second national ad campaign. The first was the "iQdoU" campaign that aired last fall.

Straight from the "What were they thinking?" files, a promotion for the new Dark Knight Batman movie lead to a news station calling a bomb squad and the building being evacuated. A chocolate cake with wires coming out of it and a phone number written across the top was sent to KENS 5 TV.

The Santikos Theater movie chain's goal was to promote Dark Knight. The result was the local San Antonio, Texas, bomb squad being called in.

• Boneheaded or Brilliant?:
  Talk About This Publicity Stunt
• Publicity Stunt Goes Wrong:
  Aqua Teen Hunger Force Promo Brings in Bomb Squad

The publicity stunt is too reminiscent of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force promo that was mistaken for a terrorist threat. That botched publicity stunt lead to the resignation of the executive VP and general manager of Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network.

More on the Dark Knight Publicity Stunt: Read more...

Celebrities in advertising are the big buzz this week:

• "McCain’s ad did a better job of promoting Obama. Paris is, well, just Paris. It is ironic that Hilton campaign money helped fund the ad." -Sheila on Paris Hilton Responds to McCain's Anti-Obama Ad
  
  
• "That’s completely ridiculous! Clearly H&R Block needs cash and their lawyers think this is a good way to get it." -Christa on American Express Sued Over Ellen DeGeneres and Beyonce Knowles Ad
  
  
• "50 can't just change his name like it's some cloth. It takes time to build a name and Taco Bell should actually consider changing their name for just a day and see how much damage it will cause them. 50 is not merely a person he is a walking enterprise." -Luckyman on 50 Cent Sues Taco Bell for Ad Campaign

H&R Block has filed a lawsuit against American Express for trademark infringement. The controversy centers around a commercial featuring Ellen DeGeneres and Beyonce Knowles.

• Are the Ads Too Similar?
  Share Your Opinion
• See the Ad:
  American Express Commercial

In the ad, Knowles tells DeGeneres to "have your people call my people" for her concert tickets. DeGeneres begins a search to "find my people" who can get her into the show before relying on her American Express card.

More on the H&R Block Vs. American Express Lawsuit: Read more...

Socialite Paris Hilton has released her own mock ad after John McCain used her image in an anti-Barack Obama commercial. McCain's ad uses about two seconds of Britney Spears video and one second of a still shot of Hilton, while various clips of Obama video with people chanting his name fade in and out. The voiceover says, "He's the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?"

• What Do You Think of the Ads:
  Talk About It
• See the Ad:
  McCain Ad Says Obama's a Celebrity
• Hilton's Response:
  See Hilton's Spoof Ad
• Paris Promotes Burger:
  Steamy Spicy BBQ Thickburger Ad
• Hilton Goes Yellow:
  Suits Up in Knickers for German Ads

In Hilton's rebuttal, she's lounging by the pool in a leopard bathing suit and says "that wrinkly white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I'm running for president." She goes on to lay out her energy plan before saying she might paint the White House pink if she wins.

More on the Hilton and McCain Ad Controversy: Read more...

Preparing an advertising portfolio when all you have is SPEC ADS can be a challenge. But most of it is just nerves getting the best of you. This Q&A segment answers real questions budding copywriters have when they begin preparing an advertising portfolio.

Verizon Wireless is in the doghouse with PETA over a commercial showing two pit bulls chained up in a junkyard. Verizon has now pulled the commercial after PETA members sent more than 7,000 Emails to the wireless company's top execs.

• What Do You Think?:
  Is the Ad Offensive?
• See the Ad:
  Verizon LG Dare
• Verizon Fined:
  Graffiti Campaign Ruled Illegal

In the commercial, a man jumps a fence at a junkyard and two chained pit bulls charge at him. The ad is one of a series in Verizon's campaign for the LG Dare cell phone. In another commercial, a woman walks on a ledge just to touch the cell phone. The tag line for the commercials is, "Dare you to touch one."

More on on the Pit Bull Commercial: Read more...