K. Todd Storch

The Weather and the Absurd

I feel like this infamous character in relation to the weather right now...

Yeah!  I got to ride outside this week! Wow...I wasn't going to let the day go by yesterday without getting in a few miles.  Late Tuesday, I went out for a 20+ mile ride.  Wind was out of the North and it was in the 40's. 

The ability to get outside and off of the stupid trainer was fantastic.

Now, on to the news of yesterday.  The city of Boston was shut down yesterday due to a marketing ploy gone bad.  Are you kidding me?  Wow...this just proves that we are out of touch with what the "kids are watching" on TV and our sense of fear (actually, you should be watching SO many shows on Adult Swim...pure greatness...)

You're telling me out of all of the police/FBI/ATF, there wasn't ONE SINGLE PERSON that recognized this was from a Cartoon Network TV show?

Ugh.  Funny...in a "I feel bad for the innocent people of Boston" kind of way.

p.s.  This whole Boston "terriorist" thing is really pissing me off.  The two men are being paraded around like they are horrible, horrible people.  Why aren't the news companies having interviews with Time Warner Turner Broadcasting to ask them why they did this type of marketing campaign?  Actually, Time Warner Turner should pay the city of Boston the $500,000 that was supposedly spent "reacting" to this problem.  They've gotten much more in free advertising from the media...here is a good follow up read

These Commercials Slay Me

Maybe because it is a slap at culture; maybe because they blatantly take themselves so seriously, but I give the new Volkswagen "V-Dub" commercials a huge thumbs up.  Of course, I'm not interested in the cars, but it is great entertainment!

Can you name what mainstream movie with Tom Cruise the main German "engineer" plays a doctor?

1)  "Say Vot?"
2)  "What Time is It?" - My favorite
3)  "Futchamacallit"

Olympic Triathlon on MSNBC!

Just got this info from the eNewsletter of USA Triathlon.

Olympic Triathlon airs in primetime
Athens, Greece (August 25 & 26, 2004) - NBC has announced that cable station MSNBC will show the men's triathlon event live at 4 a.m. EDT on August 26, 2004. For those who are not early risers, it will be rebroadcast that evening, either in Primetime or late night on NBC. The women's triathlon is still scheduled to be shown on August 25 in Prime Time on NBC. Keep your eye on www.nbcolympics.com for the latest schedule.

[read] via USAT's website

Is Coke trying to hurt our children?

Am I just getting old, or is the newest Coca-Cola spot a slap in the face to parents? Have you seen the commercial? I've seen it on Nickelodeon and at the movie theaters (great way to make sure the audience sees it...) as a preview to Collateral and the latest Princess Diary movie.

Its the one where the young teen has a party at his house and the narrator is describing that he needs to find a way to "hook up" with a girl (come on, even his buddy that doesn't shower has hooked up with a girl...love the peer pressure).

Company's have long tapped into the teen rebellion phase, but my biggest problem is that the commercial is running on a supposedly-kid network (Nickelodeon) and during movie previews where there are a lot of children.

So, am I just being an old man, or is this another way we are getting desensitized to what is right and wrong?

I have emailed Coca-Cola, so we'll see what their response will be. Probably its the exact feedback they want because then they'll know the spot is working...

COKE'S RESPONSE:
It took approximately 2 hours to get a response from them(I'm impressed; so they have a good operational plan in place). Here is the emailed response from a department called Industry & Consumer Affairs. The email address from "Greg" is coca-cola.support@na.ko.com. I don't know if this is a blind box email, but I share it if you are interested.

'Thank you for contacting The Coca-Cola Company about our summer advertising for Coca-Cola classic, Mr. Storch.

It is a challenge to create advertising that appeals to the broad group of people that enjoy Coca-Cola. Please know that we did not intend to offend or negatively influence anyone, and do appreciate your constructive criticism.

We do not want to lose your patronage. Please be assured that your remarks have been shared with the appropriate management here at the Company. Your comments are important to us, so please contact us again whenever you have more input to share.

Sincerely,

Greg
Industry & Consumer Affairs
The Coca-Cola Company'

This is a preplanned response, based on the "broad group" mentioned. The commercial is very narrow in focus, so I'm not satisfied with the answer. More to come.

HERE WAS MY RESPONSE TO COKE:
Greg,

I appreciate the quick response, but I believe you are missing the
point. You mention that 'it is a challenge to create advertising that
appeals to the broad group of people that enjoy Coca-Cola.'

Your message isn't broad, in fact its very targeted to teens by the
creative message (parent's out of town, throw a party, hook up with a
girl, etc) and its targeted in its delivery method (Nickelodeon TV and
in-movie ad before Princess Diaries 2).

So I don't buy into your answer. I think your company knows exactly
what message it is trying to send to our children and that is what
upsets me and a number of other parents. I would like to know the
email address of the 'appropriate management' you mentioned as well.

Thank you again for your quick response.

Todd

No response from them yet...suprised?