Anatomy of a Successful Commerical

So what's the recipe for the 'dream commercial' for a brand or product manager?

1. The product is the hero.
2. The commercial is memorable.
3. You like the product.
4. You like the commercial.
5. It's simple.
6. It's funny.
7. It's sweet.

Maybe you have seen it, maybe you haven't, but watch it again with these goals in mind.  This new commercial for Google does it all and it gets an A+.

Swedish TV - The Big Idea is YOU!

Here's a clever online ad created by a Swedish agency to encourage Swedes to pay their fair share for Public Television.  Alas, to truly understand the campaign it's going to take a little work on your part, but I promise you, it's worth the effort.  Give it a go.  Come on now - try it, you'll like it!

Swedish Public TV Campaign

Carlsberg Beer Penguin Campaign

After a raucous and gratifying Super Bowl of great football and mediocre ads, I am moving on.  Here's a fun ad campaign that I missed - the Carlsberg Penguin Campaign - which is a year old.  There are tons of short takeoffs on the intitial spot shown below.  I have included one other subsequent 10 second spot.  They are meant to look homemade, but they are still amusing - animals have that effect.  I had no idea that penguins were so good at ping pong.

Great Bud Light Ad: What will you do for a free Beer

Here's a new winner from DDB and the team that brought us the Bug Light 'Swear Jar' Commercial. It's called Clothing Drive.

News Story Formula

Here's a clever and amusing recipe for making a TV news story.  As a former network news producer I can assure you that this characterization is not far from the truth.  Warning, some objectionable language, but despite the language I think you'll enjoy it.