TV: Pepsi "Oh, Africa!" ad

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is right around the corner and the marketing departments of all the major sponsors are in high gear. Come June we will no doubt be inundated with many ads featuring the sport and athletes of soccer. Pepsi, for example, has released a fantastic advertisement that exemplifies the spirit of the game, the excitement of the entire continent for hosting the event, and the unifying power the game has.

In the ad, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Kaká, Frank Lampard, Andrei Arshavin, and Didier Drogba, find hand-painted jerseys with their names on them at an African village market. They attempt to purchase a Pepsi from another stand only to be told they would have to play the vendors for the beverage. The footballers ask the kids, "Do you know who we are?" to which the challengers respond with the same question. They then ask where the field is which is when the magic and creatively of the ad really begins.

With a soundtrack featuring the song "Oh, Africa!" by Senegalese-American R&B artist, Akon, the spot makes you want to board a plane for the dusty savanna and get your own pick-up game started. I can only hope for more creative and uplifting advertising campaigns in the next couple months!

Sergio del Limonar

TV: P&G Olympic Commercial

I am loving watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this year. I am loving watching for the Olympic Moms ad from Proctor & Gamble (makers of all kinds of products like Tide, Crest, Pampers, etc.) almost as much. I will be sad when both stop appearing on my TV.

I was a gymnast when I was a little girl and, pretty much constantly, had visions of myself flipping across the balance beam at the Olympics. I think this is a common dream many kids picture for themselves at one point or another whether they recognize it as a fantasy or not. I think that's what makes it that much more special for the athletes that do make it there. Everyone who has competed in a sport regardless of ability, all had the same dream.

Not that that is the message of the ad, it just makes it relatable. I love the speed skating kids and the sideways look the little boy gives at about :42 seconds into the ad. Although the clincher is, undoubtably, the anticipating look of moms everywhere at the ending shot as the ski jumper is preparing to take flight. I love this ad.

Buzzy

TV: d-CON ads

Sometimes the old adage of less being more is true. I am currently obsessed with the new set of advertisements by d-CON, makers of the snapping glue-filled mouse traps. It has been rumored that I cheer when they come on.

Whoever said you need to have millions of dollars for a successful ad campaign?

Sergio del Limonar

TV: Swine Flu on Sesame Street

It seems like people are starting to drop like flies falling victim to the Swine Flu (A/H1N1 virus). Perhaps offices, health care workers, and school teachers should start a pool at there places of work and the last one to get sick gets a prize!

"Have you seen how frail Edna is looking today. $10 says she's out by next week." I can hear it now!

Until then, keep yourself healthy by following these simple rules set forth by the ever relevant and intelligent muppets on Sesame Street. You know they taught you the difference between "near" and "far" - now they can teach you the proper way to sneeze too!

Sergio del Limonar

TV: 1989 Oil of Olay Ad

"Emerson High 1975. You were in my class."

"I was your teacher."

"Miss Fitzhenry?"

"Bugsy....Brown."

Classic lines from back in the old days when you would walk 5 miles to school, uphill both ways, in the snow. Back when you would run to the television to watch a good commercial. Back when Top Gun was hot. In those times, we had good Oil of Olay commercials that catered to feminist and cougar fantasies. Today I share with you my favourite commercial of all time:




Bee

YOUTUBE: Zazoo

I have no idea if this commercial for Zazoo from 2005 - and allegedly voted Funniest European Commercial for the same year - was every aired in the U.S. If it was, however, bravo to the genius who found someone in the FCC with a sense of humor. If it wasn't, it's probably because they are a bunch a 90 year old prudes who still think women should be stay at home baby makers in heels and men should be wearing ties at all times.

Advertisers take note: there need to be more ads like this one!

Buzzy

TV: Wordlock Ad

You know those combination locks with letters instead of numbers. I suppose they think people will be more likely to remember their combinations if it is a word rather than a series of numbers. I never got the logic since, although there are indeed potentially thousands of possible "codes" to use, a word seems less secure than a random number set.

Even so, this advertisement by one of these products, evidently called Wordlock, has made me concede that for the moment they are pretty Zonino! The ad is awesome because it plays right to the truth - the inner middle schooler in all of us.

Sergio del Limónar

TV: Foot By The Foot Ad

The first time I saw this ad I at once laughed and celebrated the fact that the good people at Fruit By The Foot did not shoot down the creative genius of this awkwardly unique and awesome television spot. I only wish it was shown more often. At least there's YouTube, though, eh?

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: PTY (Jabbawockeez)

In memoriam...

There never was a video made for Michael Jackson's Zonino-worthy song, "Pretty Young Thing (PYT)," so instead let's enjoy this dance sequence from the recent season of America's Best Dance Crew by the the contestants Jabbawockeez.

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: Is Anybody Listening

Perhaps you've heard of a little show called American Idol? No? Well, basically people sing songs on the world's biggest karaoke stage, put up with often-times asinine and contradictory comments from a panel of "judges," and attempt to win a popularity contest. The show has been in desperate need of a descent winner since season 4's Carrie Underwood. It seems this season, the 8th as it were, finally had some respectable, honest talent, in contrast to the past few years filled with accusations of producer-placed contestants.


As the season finale was last night, and the inevitable winner will be crowned tonight, it is obvious that the show could have it's third success-story in either Kris Allen or Adam Lambert. However, only one of these guys can blow like this: the song "Is Anybody Listening" from the short-lived wannabe Broadway musical "The Ten Commandments," as sung by the character of the slave Joshua.

Damn. How could you not be listening?

Sergio del Limónar

TV: The West Wing

It's taken me almost a year but i have now finally finished all seven seasons of The West Wing. According to IMDB and the copyright on the first season, this Aaron Sorkin masterpiece began in 1999 and ended in 2006, although I could have cared less when it was actually on television. Horrible mistake! I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I feel like I learned more about U.S. politics through this series than in either of the two civics classes I had in high school or the requisite political science course in college. (No offense to Mr. Rivkin in 9th grade; I loved watching episodes of "Law & Order" to learn about the court system!)

While you might not always agree with the political views and actions taken at various points, the fast pacing of the show, intelligent writing, and diversely intriguing characters will capture your attention and keep you routing for the collective executive team. This show has given me a newfound respect for the Office of the President, regardless of party, and made me realize there are people much better than I to run the country. Although, at times, I wish I too could walk around my work with the same degree of urgency and purpose that is fairly constant in every episode of "The West Wing." Sometimes I do...

Sergio del Limónar