advertising Tag

Fox TV has a long history of upsetting the status quo. At its launch, it gave the finger to the mainstream networks and introduced edgier shows such as “The Simpsons,” “In Living Color” and “Married With Children.” Sure, this meant smaller overall audiences than its rivals, but it scored with the ever desirable 18-49 demo, whom advertisers love. Now Fox TV is rocking the ad world again…Read More

by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Guy Who Just Got Turned Off Vodka; image – scan of actual magazine ad by Belvedere Vodka… So I’m thumbing through my favorite geek magazine, Wired, when I’m suddenly confronted by this Belvedere Vodka ad that features a woman applying lipstick in the reflection of a belt buckle. (If any of my female readers have ever executed such a task, please let me know… What? None of you have? Gee, what a surprise!) Not exactly what I expected in Wired amidstRead More

by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Husband of Beetle Owner… He sits there before his mic, round and retro, emanating the cuteness that made him an icon in America. On this occasion, he wears formal black, though he’s usually seen in the wild dressed like a jelly bean. Then he speaks… And out comes the voice of an old German man. And he’s saying, “I know vhat ze people vant.” Yeah, right… I usually applaud the work of ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. For VW, theyRead More

by Freddy J. Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango LLC American Apparel CEO Dov Charney acts like he’s missing his calling. The controversial and flamboyant entrepreneur could parlay his promotional genius and predilection for the prurient to become one hell of a porn producer. (The San Fernando Valley, the porn capital of the world, is just over the hill from American Apparel’s headquarters.) It would certainly suit his notorious lifestyle…Read More

by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Marketing Forensics Expert… Dear Monica Rockle: I got an invite to your “Psychology Marketing Project” on Facebook. (Note: Facebook has since removed this “Project.” Too bad.) And as someone who professionally conducts and teaches marketing I have to hand it to you: pretty damn clever. First of all, it’s written just like a college student would write it — no whiff of advertising copywriter here: I’m doing a paper in my Human Behaviors – The Psychology of Marketing class. The paperRead More

by Freddy J. Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango LLC Who ever imagined that naming a company would become a game of speed and chance? As soon as the Eliot Spitzer-prostitute story broke, I looked up the name Client9.com. Then New York Governor Spitzer was busted for hiring prostitutes: he was the mysterious “Client 9” in investigative reports. Given my penchant for anything that sounds like it came from a James Bond film, I immediately looked to reserve “Client 9” as the site of a satirical series, but someone beat meRead More

by Freddy J. Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Semi-Pro Tree Hugger… From the industry that gave us the Kardashians comes another exquisite display of empty décor… Behold: a glossy oversized 12-page dead-wood booklet promoting the movie There Will Be Blood. This lustrous piece of eye-candy fell out of my L.A. Times, nearly crushing my toe. The heavyweight pages flaunted full-spread images from the lusciously shot film, along with quotes from critics, its Academy Award nominations and… nothing else. I don’t deny that this film deserves promotion. I’m thrilled toRead More

by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Almost a Beer Snob… As a Samuel Adams drinker and stockholder, I don’t partake in Budweiser’s anemic brew, but I’ve always loved their brilliant, often hilarious marketing. Until now…Read More

by Freddy Tran Nager, Founder of Atomic Tango + Beer Ad Snob… While thumbing through Wired magazine I come across an attractive painting of beer. What’s not to like? As a microbrew fan, I stop thumbing and say “talk to me!” But the only words in the ad are the name of the beer and the tagline “Artfully Crafted.” And the first thing that pops in my mind is not a desire to quaff the brew, but a distinct sense of disappointment. “What a waste!”Read More