
Tuesday, August 31
Real Housewives on Daytime

Monday, August 30
Temple Grandin

Friday, August 27
Emmys All A Twitter

Thursday, August 26
Kashi Makes It Real

Wednesday, August 25
Zappos and Customer Service

Tuesday, August 24
Express Yourself with Sharpie

Monday, August 23
I Got It Wrong

Friday, August 20
Playtex Bra Makeover Series

Thursday, August 19
Target Fashion Event

Wednesday, August 18
4Food: You Are What You Tweet

Tuesday, August 17
Women at the Box Office

Monday, August 16
Back-to-School

Friday, August 13
Pretzel M&M's

My colleague Andy Levy takes a page from my book and comments here on the new advertising for Pretzel M&M's. Personally, I've just discovered the coconut flavor, and I'm crazy for it. Either way, the brand consistently delivers.
What's your experience, Andy? Jim.
In his book “The Experience Effect”, Jim so deftly describes M&M's as a brand with a unique but concrete personality. M&M’s is a total experience in and of itself, from that iconic little black (or yellow if it’s peanut) bag to its full-on retail fantasy experience. But how about their commercials? Does the experience translate to the small screen?
Sure does!
I don’t watch too much television, primetime or otherwise. I know I’m going to sound like a caveman, but I don't have a DVR yet, so when I do watch I have to sit through the advertising. Most commercials go in one ear and out the other, however there are a few that stick and when they do, I know they are good.
One of those is the new M&M Pretzel campaign - probably one of the funniest commercials this year. For me, the chocolate and pretzel combination is not an obvious one, especially for M&M's. I have had chocolate pretzels before and they are heavy and filling. Not my cup of tea. The thought of a pretzel in a very small candy like M&M's seemed off at first – they're so small, how's it going to work?
Then I saw the commercial and every time I think about it I giggle, the response I'm sure every brand would like.
It goes like this – the official M&M's spokescandy is not happy that he has been tapped to be the guinea pig for the first pretzel surgical insertion. In comes the pretzel with a plumber’s disposition saying, “Listen buddy, I’m not too thrilled about this either.” Then with backs to the camera, they look at a surgical blueprint on how this is going to happen. Knuckles cracking, the pretzel says, “All right, let’s get this over with!"
The voiceover casting is genius. You can sense the trepidation and eventual resignation. It’s hilarious! It just shows that the M&M's brand personality is original, engaging and always an experience.
The best part? That little commercial got me to try that new candy and I like them quite a bit.
- Andy Levy from Lippe Taylor Brand Communications
Thursday, August 12
Print Magazine Innovations

Wednesday, August 11
Steven Slater, Instant Celebrity

Monday, August 9
Martha Stewart at PetSmart

She's at it again ... launching a new line of products. This time aimed at pets and exclusively at PetSmart. Martha Stewart Pets at PetSmart is a line of accessories for dogs including bowls, collars, toys, and clean up products.
West Elm

Friday, August 6
BlogHer

Thursday, August 5
Best Buy Geek Squad

Wednesday, August 4
Mad Men Advertising

We are in the midst of a Man Men craze. Social media circles and water coolers are all a buzz about Don's behavior, the new office, the clothing, even the pace of the show. We are all in '60's adland heaven.
Tuesday, August 3
VH-1 Do Something Awards

Monday, August 2
Jersey Shore

Some classic examples in the event you actually had something better to do during the Season 2 premiere:
Snooki: I don't go tanning tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning. McCain would never put a 10 percent tax on tanning. Because he's pale and would probably want to be tan. Obama doesn't have that problem. Obviously.
The Situation: Ron is at the club hooking up with grenades, which is a bigger ugly chick, and land mines, which is a thinner ugly chick… (note from Jim: holy cow!)
The exciting news is that our witty Jersey Shore friends have now been immortalized as action figures and thanks to Funko you can have your very own Situation, Snooki or DJ Pauly D for the mere price of $12.99!
That’s right kids – the Situation Talking Wacky Wobbler says things like "I check out the mirror and I’m like...Wooh, today's gonna be a good day."
After you GTL, you can pick up your very own piece of Jersey (Staten Island, Long Island) here.