Jaffe Juice

Must Freak TV

Steve-O brings some class to "Too Late" with Adam Carolla. Or at least woke the audience up...Kopell, you've never looked so sexy.

The producers allegedly juiced up Steve-O, but got a little more than they bargained for...or at least what they deserved.

BMW Films No more

Proving that all bad things come in 3's, BMW's completes the sequence by announcing that they're getting out of the content business...this after Jim McDowell moves over to Mini and Fallon is parted ways with.

I wonder if Films became somewhat of a political hot potato or even pariah within the dysfunctional ranks...if you think about it, everything/body associated with it...and ultimately including "it" itself was slowly but surely extinguished.

Even though this announcement is bigger than Films (I'm not sure of the specific timeframe, but as a program it's been dormant for a while) as it covers the broader hyped Madison + Vine, I can't but help spare a thought for a program so innovative that it has inarguably become the gold standard defining "big idea" meets "new marketing" on so many levels...in fact, I would put Films above the whole branded entertainment approach on the pecking order, which creates a sort of a perceptual vicious circle.

Bottom line....this has to send out a pretty grim message for the relative health of the branded entertainment biz, when the company that pretty much defined the whole rush, turns it back on it....

Fart Company

I’ve never been wholly convinced that MSM will succeed at blogging. It’s one thing to allow readers to comment, but it’s another thing to task potty-trained reporters, who chomp at the bit with the publisher-editor relationship, to blog with freedom, independence and a degree of irreverence.

Take my new best friend, Linda Tischler, who felt the urge to critique both Advertising Week and my panel in her blog post.

Let’s dissect her profound prose:

I just got back from a panel on the future of the 30-second spot, which could have been interesting except for the fact that the moderator (that would be me), in what must have been payback for help on his new book (are you saying that these panelists contributed to my book, paid for it or endorsed it in any way – because if you are, you’d be wrong.), assembled a panel of six talking heads (as opposed to?), and then lobbed questions that each answered in turn (‘er that’s called a panel Q&A). Had this been a 30-second spot, I would have TIVOed through it in a heartbeat. (drumroll please)

There must be a better way to deliver information from experts and pundits than the tedious panel. Anybody seen any formats that are more appealing? This industry could use some fresh ideas.

OK, Linda…what exactly are you so upset about? Are you lamenting on the panel format in general or specifically something about my panel? Why did you not have the courage to ask a question to the panelists or myself? If you were unhappy with either the line of questioning or the responses in general, why did you not stand up and voice your opinion?

Tribal Con-fusion

Podcasting and blogging apparently mean nothing to London cabbies, pub landlords and hairdressers. A shocked Tribal DDB’er reels in the reality that outdoor, coasters and magazines might in fact be the best way to reach these respective targets.

In a related story, Adam Curry reveals he knows nothing about the fastest route from Heathrow to Soho, how many Guinness’ it takes to become comprehensively paralytic and the new Japanese Heat Treatment remedy.

Who knew?

David Walks

Adbumb hosted a party during Advertising Week and boasted that there would be an address from David Ogilvy (M.H.D.S.R.I.P.) himself.

True to form, Ogilvie (note the subtle difference) did not disappoint with his ode to change. Check it out and reserve a chuckle when he announces his intent to return to being dead and funky.

Listening to my co-host

Steve rubel is presenting right now during Advertising Week.

Just presented his 4-step plan wrt tapping into CGC/Citizen journalism etc.: 1. Find 2. Listen 3. Engage 4. Empower

Perhaps he'll expand on an upcoming ATS podcast

Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

Nano-no you di'int

Great developing story regarding someone who purchased an iPod Nano and after his screen cracked, put up this little website, www.flawedmusicplayer.com, which thanks to AdJab, myself and no doubt countless other blogs, has now made the leap into the communal stratosphere.

While this is not the first consumer website harping on about a defective or flawed product, what is fairly original is the stance taken. This is not a consumer out to get Apple (Jarvis, Jarvis, Jarvis) but one that is passionate, principled and simply doing what they feel is right. Even though Apple replaced the cracked Nano in question...the site is not going away as he-or-she-who-will-not-be-named is sticking to his or her guns - which in this case is raising the collective communal consciousness to determine whether Jobs needs to do a bit of a recall.

On a personal note...Cory, I told you so.

That's gotta hurt!

3 points to this post:

1. Nice creative

2. Great execution of traditional advertising used in a non-traditional way

3. Most notably, kudos to Boone/Oakley who sent this to me. I get pitched so often - both as a consultant (read: recommend me to your clients in your capacity as a search consultant) and a blogger (read: give me free publicity) Most of the time, it's ho-hum, yawn, NEXT, Boring, L-oser. This time B/O (as opposed to body-odor) kills 2 birds with one, er Muffin :)

Shofar Idol

Ahead of next week's Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah - comes this little communal creation, titled Shofar Idol, which shows the world of e-greeting cards intersperced with a little bit of creativity and new marketing.

The Em-Per-Or Strikes back

Per Hoffman, founder of Adcandy sent this note to me, following my critique of AdCandy on Jaffe Juice.

"Believe me...I'm probably going to be the last person to call out any CGC-driven work"

Gimme a break! Obviously, you're not "the last person to call out CGC...", and obviously you're don't really "appreciate an irreverent approach." . Adcandy may be flawed, but calling it "bad" without any real justification, besides being "contrived," reeks of sour grapes. I find it amusing that traditional marketers, who make a lot of their living selling the public a bunch of BS and empty promises, become suddenly idealistic in their opposition to Adcandy.

If you truly believe what you say, that CGC has some value, and that you appreciate and irreverent approach, why don't you offer some constructive suggestions to improve the basic concept of Adcandy.

I'm all ears....

Here's my response to him:

Per - thanks for the note. I love your passion.

Kudos to you for your press in Wired btw. Really has put you on the Map.

Maybe you got me on a bad day...I was in London at the time and a bit jet-lagged. In my defence, I have sung your business praises to Adweek. You were the first to put a business model to this.

I still am not quite sure it sits well with me...not sour grapes, just bad digestive fluids. The thrust and power of CGC is its organic nature. Putting a structure or process to it...however informal and a dollar value to boot is really what I'm reserving judgement on. PS - I do know a good designer if you're looking ;)

I do wish you all the best and luck in the world and will certainly make mention of this on an upcoming podcast of Across the Sound. I will and intend to give credit whenever it's due.

jJ