A few months ago the iPhone became a truly “smart phone” with the addition of 3rd party applications and I am not too proud to admit that I have become more than a little dependent on a few of them. Here are three that I use daily.

1. Twitterific - My best friend and I have traded Larry King-style e-mails for years. Daily lists of  non-sequiturs that didn’t merit a phone call or an e-mail, but that needed to be shared. Twitter replaced all of that and Twitterific made if mobile. If you ever wanted to know what I’m listening to or what I thought about the latest episode of Heroes, you can find out by following me with Twitterific. For about ten bucks, you can buy the premium version, or download the free version that displays the occasional, unobtrusive ad.

2.  ScoreMobile - I’m a big sports fan (Yankees, Buccaneers and UofL) and ScoreMobile puts up-to-the-minute game information at my fingertips. Everything from pre-game betting lines (for entertainment purposes only, of course) to starting pitchers and injury reports, this is a must-have for the sports fan. I can't wait to get back to Vegas and hit the sports book with this little gem. Coverage includes MLB, NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL and CFL.

3. Urbanspoon – Having trouble deciding where to have lunch? Wondering if there is a restaurant that offers vegetarian dishes in the Clifton area? Then you’ll want to check out Urbanspoon.  Just select your city (or let the built-in GPS find you if you are rocking the new 3G iPhone) and three slot machine-style dials let you select a neighborhood, a type of food and a price range. Lock in a choice in any of the reels and “shake” your phone and the gods of fate will pick a place that fits your parameters. Don’t like the choice? Just shake again and see what comes up. Once you settle on a restaurant, Urbanspoon can give you an address, phone number and reviews and a “Like it” score. You can also take chance out of the mix and browse the lists manually.

All three of these apps are free and can be found on iTunes.

Not everyone gets an Oscar nomination in their first big screen role. (I'm looking at you Ed Norton.) For most professional actors, their careers progress in stages and they spend a lot of time paying their dues. Before they get their big breaks, even some of cinema’s most respected actors will make ends meet by shilling for pretty much anything.

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like John Travolta and Morgan Freeman paid the bills by pitching soap and mouthwash. Before staring in classics like Legends of the Fall and Fight Club, one of Tinsletown's hottest hunks, Brad Pitt, made his mark selling Pringles. And nothing sells burgers like a cute kid, especially if that kid grows up to be a hot vampire-killer.

One of the funniest guys in Hollywood, Paul Rudd, took a turn as pitchman for Nintendo, with mixed results. But one of my all-time favorites has to be this gem from smart aleck actor Seth Green.

Wow, I miss the 80's.

I don't know about you, but there are few things I love more than a good old-fashioned clash of cultures. And the culture I find myself most fascinated with/confused by is Japanese pop culture. I don't really understand Hello Kitty or PokeMon, Anime cartoons confuse me and Japanese horror movies give me nightmares. (I'm not proud.) But what I love most is the appropriation of our western culture by the Japanese, often with hilarious results.

Take for example celebrity endorsements. In the age of instant access and unlimited information, most celebrities go to great lengths to protect their image. They hire consultants and spin-doctors. They train their bodies rigorously and diet religiously. But one image concession even the biggest stars in Hollywood are willing to make is the big money grab of overseas commercials. Stars who would never consider "selling out" by doing strange commercials where they look ridiculous, (at least by Western standards) have been throwing caution into the wind for years and selling everything from cosmetics and alcohol to fizzy drinks and yogurt. Most involve a celebrity standing around looking beautiful and holding/pointing to/eating/drinking the product. But my favorites are the ones that get lost in the translation. Like watching a pre-Food Network episode of Iron Chef (sub-titles, please, no voiceover) or a black and white Godzilla movie, I often don't know what is going on, but I don't really care. But with my all-time favorite Japanese celebrity shill, I think very little is lost in the translation, mostly because I can't really understand this guy when he is speaking English. That's just bad acting, in any language.

arigato

In the midst of blogging about March Adness last month, the gang at the lunch table here at CurrentMarketing got to talking about some memorable commercials from our childhoods. Spots we loved. Spots we hated. Spots that made us want to run right out and spend our folks’ hard-earned money on the latest sugary cereal or totally rad new Atari Cartridge. We had so much fun strolling down the Madison Avenue version of Memory Lane that I thought I’d do an occasional blog and revisit some fun spots from the good old days.

I thought I’d start with a staple of child marketing: fast food. Nobody under the age of 30 had any idea what I was talking about when I mentioned Burger Chef. Back in the late 60’s and early 70s, Burger Chef was a giant in the fast food industry, with more than 2,400 locations, nation-wide. Burger Chef was known for several innovations in the hamburger industry, including “The Works Bar,” (where you could dress your own burger) and toasted buns. Founders Frank and Donald Thomas patented the flame broiler in the 1950’s and were pioneers in children’s meals, including toy premiums with their “Fun Burger” in the early 1970’s. In fact, Burger Chef was on the losing end of a lawsuit against McDonalds, who lifted the idea and introduced the Happy Meal several years later. Prizes ranged from riddles, puzzles and small toys to Flex Discs and  Star Wars posters. I grew up just a few blocks from the Burger Chef in Valley Station, so I did as I was told by Burger Chef and Jeff… I collected them all.

It's been a long road, but we're finally here. It's time to crown a champion for March Adness.

In our first Final Four match-up we have:

3) Wendys’ "Where's the Beef?"
vs.
1) Volkswagen "Think Small"
The blue-haired powerhouse had finally met her match. And since I've said pretty much everything there is to say about the VW campaign, I'll take this opportunity to plug one of my favorite shows on TV these days, AMC's Mad Men. The show chronicles life on Madison Avenue in the "Golden Age" of advertising, the 1960's.  In the 3rd episode of the first season (Marriage of Figaro,) the aforementioned VW campaign gets a little shout-out as Don is flipping through Life Magazine and happens across the famous "Lemon" ad from the campaign. If you haven't seen Mad Men yet, check it out. In the wasteland of Reality TV and bad prime-time game shows, it's a hidden gem.

Winner: Volkswagen

In our second semifinal, we have:

1) Apple's  "1984"
vs.
4) Absolut "Bottle"
As much as I love the Absolut campaign, it is tough to match up with the genius of the "1984" spot. While the Big Brother spot was one of the most memorable in history, many people don't remember that there were at least two other computer companies running spots in that Super Bowl broadcast: Atari, featuring Alan Alda and Radio Shack, with The Incredible Hulk himself, Bill Bixby.

Winner: Apple

So it comes down to this. Somebody wake up Bill Packer because it is time to crown a
champion.

1) Apple's  "1984"
vs.
1) Volkswagen "Think Small"
While I appreciate what VW did for the subtle sell, Apple's ominous vision of the future of home computing made an incredibly strong impact. Another interesting tidbit about the campaign: Apple bought all of the advertising space (39 pages!) in the November/December special election issue of Newsweek to promote the Macintosh.

It is that kind of bold risk-taking with their image that makes Apple our 2008 March Adness Champion. And before we wrap up, check out this reprint of the story of the 1984 ad, as told by Owen Linzmayer in his book "The Mac Bathroom Reader." It's interesting stuff.

Alright folks, it's time to crank up "One Shining Moment," because I've got some serious celebrating to do. Not only have we crowned an Ad Champion , but Memphis took one on the chin this year and there is nothing a University of Louisville fan loves more than the tears of a Tiger. Those old Metro Conference rivalries don't just go away, you know

It's time to narrow the field to a Final Four and we've got a lot of ground to cover, so let's get started in the Food & Drink Region.

1) McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today"
vs.
4) Coca-Cola "Have a Coke and a Smile"
This is a huge 2nd round match-up between two of the most recognizable advertisers in this field of 32. An interesting side note: 70s icon Barry Manilow didn't just write the songs that make the whole world sing. He also wrote the song that made the whole world buy cheeseburgers and won 2 Clio Awards in 1972 for his work with Tab and the famous "I am Stuck on Band-Aids" spots.

Winner: McDonald's

3) Wendys' "Where's the Beef?"
vs.
7) California Milk Processor Board "Got Milk?"
Both of these campaigns have gained a foothold in the public consciousness, but when your catch phrase plays a part in presidential politics, you have taken advertising to another level. During the 1984 Democratic primaries, Democratic candidate and former Vice President Walter Mondale ridiculed the candidacy of  Senator Gary Hart, by using the phrase during a March 11, 1984 televised debate. Hart focused his campaign around the phrase "new ideas." When Hart used the slogan in the debate, Mondale responded by saying, "When I hear your new ideas, I'm reminded of that ad, 'Where's the beef?".

Winner: Mondale won the nomination and Wendy's wins this round.

So in the Regional Finals we have are:

1) McDonalds
vs.
3) Wendy's
Clara Peller became a media sensation, making appearances on Saturday Night Live (4-14-84), and Wrestlemania 2. Becoming a cultural zeitgeist is more than any client could ask for and Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample delivered just that to Wendy's.

Regional Winner: Wendy's

Transportation Region:
1) Volkswagen "Think Small"
vs.
5) Avis "We Try Harder"
The classic Doyle Dane Bernbach campaign "Think Small" is still taught in advertising classrooms around the world. If you get a chance, check out Frank Rowsome's book about the campaign. It's out of print, but you might find it in a used bookstore or on ebay.

Winner: Volkswagen in a rout.

3) Isuzu "Joe Isuzu"
vs.
2) Chevrolet "See the USA in your Chevrolet"
As funny as Della Famina, Travisano & Partners' Joe Isuzu was, it just doesn't hold up to the Campbell-Ewald jingle from the 1950s. I you get a chance, check out Jerry Della Famina's book, "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor." It's a collection of "war stories" from one of the most outspoken members of the advertising community. (The title came from a brainstorming session for the client Panasonic.)

Winner: Chevrolet

Regional Finals:
1) Volkswagen "Think Small"
vs.
2) Chevrolet "See the USA in your Chevrolet"
Dinah Shore will only take you so far. DDB made a small, noisy, uncomfortable car produced in a factory built by the Nazis appealing to the American consumer. I'm not sure there is a taller order in advertising history.

Regional Winner: Volkswagen

Let's head out to Vegas for the Sinful Products Region where we have:

1) The Marlboro Man
vs.
4) Absolut Bottle
The irony of multiple Marlboro Men dying of lung related diseases is not lost on me (thanks Rob), and while Absolut has recently changed their campaign, the "Bottle" ads succeeded in making a tasteless, odorless liquor a tasty option when pulling up a barstool.

Winner: Absolut

2) Winston Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should
vs
3) Miller Lite Taste Great- Less Filling
It is hard to get past using the Flintstones as cigarette shills and the Miller Lite ads still make me laugh, even if I did have to explain to my wife who Boog Powell was.

Winner: Miller Lite gets a seat in the front Row.

Regional Finals:
3) Miller Lite Taste Great- Less Filling
vs.
4) Absolut Bottle
The vodka giant is just too strong for Ueke and the boys. As much as I enjoy those Miller spots, there isn't a coffee table books with Billy Martin and Bubba Smith on the cover. (But the minute there is one, I'm placing my order.)

Winner: Absolut takes a spot at the Final Four.

On a side note: Absolut recently ran into a bit of bad PR with their Latin "In an Absolute World" campaign. In fact, there was such an outcry from north of the border that Absolut actually had to run an explanation on their web site.   I'm guessing much of the outcry came from folks with a limited grasp of American history and an even more limited sense of humor.

And last, but not least, the Consumer Products Region:

1) Apple – "1984"
vs.
4) Timex "Takes a Licking"
While "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking" is a clever line, the Apple spot was cinematic in scale. And it should have been, as it was directed by Ridley Scott, who had just come off filming Blade Runner and Alien.

Winner: Apple by a mile.

2) Nike - Just Do It
vs.
6) Energizer – "The Energizer Bunny keeps going and going and …"
Even the Energizer Bunny finally runs out of steam and trying to stop the Nike juggernaut is just too tall an order.  Like Mars Blackmon said, "It's gotta be the shoes."

Winner: Nike just does it again.

Regional final:

1) Apple – "1984"
vs.
2) Nike - Just Do It
Maybe I'm just a computer geek, but I'd rather be like Woz than like Mike. What many people didn't know about the 1984 spot is that it was very nearly axed by Apple's board of Directors, who ordered the ad scrapped and the time slot in the Super Bowl sold.

Winner: Even 24 years later, Apple's spot is still amazing.

So there you have it… our Final Four.  Wendy's vs. Volkswagen and Absolut vs. Apple. Check back tomorrow and we'll crown a champion. And, as always, if you have thoughts, leave a comment or drop me a line at jimdoesntcarewhatyouthink@yahoo.com.

We're finally there… the last of our four regions. From Minneapolis, MN, home of
the largest Mall in the country, The Mall of the Americas, it's the Consumer
Products Region.

1) Apple – "1984"
vs.
8) Levis – "501 Blues"

Apparently the revolution was televised after all. To introduce the Macintosh, Apple ran what has become an icon in the advertising industry, the "1984" ad. It only ran once, during the Super Bowl, but it effectively positioned Apple as the alternative to the mainstream, a position it still claims, despite its growing marketing share. On the other side of the fence is an American classic, Levi's 501 jeans. From the era of wine coolers and a singing Bruce "Bruno" Willis, the campaign made Levis hip again, despite stiff competition from the "designer" brands of the day like Calvin Klein and Jordache.

Winner: Big Brother beats the Blues.

4) Timex "Takes a Licking"
vs.
5) Alka Seltzer – "Plop Plop Fizz Fizz"

A great tag versus a great jingle. The Timex campaign established their product as stylish, yet durable by placing the watch in fantastically perilous situations. To Alka Seltzer's credit, this is one of the best jingles of all time. Whether you have ever used the product or not, everyone can sing along. And while their mascot Speedy didn't stand the test of time, the catchy tune did.

Winner: Timex keeps ticking in the tournament.

3) DeBeers – "A diamond is forever."
vs.
6) Energizer – "The Energizer Bunny keeps going and going and …"

De Beers single-handedly created the diamond engagement ring tradition around the turn of the 20th century… no small feat. And by reinforcing the myth that diamonds don't break or depreciate in value (they do), they forever tied together love and diamonds. To Energizer's credit, the Bunny campaign has become a part of the lexicon in America. When someone says "he's like the Energizer Bunny," the reference is lost on no one. Eventually the spots
perfected the art of misdirection by interjecting the bunny in spots that seemed to be for other products, a clever creative device. The campaign has proved flexible over the years and is still effective today.

Winner: In an upset, Energizer keeps going into the next round.

2) Nike - Just Do It
vs
7) Calvin Klein - Nothing comes between me and my Calvins.

Nike is now an American advertising juggernaut. They are one of the very few products that can run a spot without identifying themselves with anything more that an icon… the swoosh. In the short span of 36 years, Nike has become as familiar as Coke and McDonalds, thanks in no small part to their Just Do It campaign, featuring a who's who of celebrity athletes, from Andre Aggasi, to Bo Jackson, to perhaps the biggest product spokesman of all time Michael Jordan. Nike's opponent in the first round is a Lolita in denim. While the spots featuring an underage Brooke Shields proved successful, they also sparked controversy. I guess the old adage is true; there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Winner: Nike runs away with this one.

Well, there you have it. The field has been narrowed down to 16. Check back Friday and we'll narrow down the field to a Final Four. And remember, if you disagree with my picks or think I've left a deserving campaign out, post a comment here and let me know.

While the wages of sin might be death, the wages of sin marketing are huge profit centers for agencies and media outlets. From cigarettes to chocolates, selling things to the public that are bad for them offers an interesting moral dilemma and a chance to do some powerful advertising. Let's take a look at the Sinful Products bracket, being played… where else… Sin City, Las Vegas, NV.

1) The Marlboro Man
vs.
8) Keep American Beautiful (pollution)

Cowboys and Indians in the first round… how great is that? The Marlboro Man has been around since the 50s, when the brand was re-launched as a filtered alternative for men. (It had previously been targeted to women.) Originally the campaign revolved around many different rugged individuals doing manly things, including car repair, hunting and fishing.
After a brief switch to a more gentile treatment in the early 60s, Marlboro settled on the Cowboy motif and garnered some credibility by using real cowboys in their advertising instead of models. The campaign is still going strong today. And who can forget the crying Indian of the Keep America Beautiful campaign to fight pollution? As the stoic face of the noble Native American turned to the camera and shed a single tear, the nation felt it's collective guilt swell. Ironically, K.A.B. didn't follow Marlboro's example of authenticity, as it was revealed in the mid-90s that the star of the spot, Iron Eyes Cody, was in fact Sicilian and not native American.

Winner: History repeats itself and the Indians lose again, this time without the smallpox-infected blankets.

4) Absolut Bottle

vs.
5) M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hands

Talk about a concept with legs. The Absolut "Bottle" campaign has been a successful and much-loved campaign since its inception in the early 80s. With over 1,500 ads in the series, it has been the subject of books and museum shows. With a series of "statehood" ads and the commission of famous artists and designers to offer their take on the iconic bottle, the breadth of this campaign is staggering. M&Ms have long based their various campaigns around a central theme: a chocolate candy you can eat without making a mess.
The line "melts in your mouth, not in your hands," set the perfect tone for parents everywhere who are tired of sticky messes.

Winner: Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. Absolut in a romp.

3) Miller Lite Taste Great- Less Filling
vs.
6) Budweiser "this Bud's for you"

A true clash of titans, the giants of America beer face off. For Miller Lite, you have the "Taste Great. Less Filling" spots of the 1980s. With sports and pop culture stars espousing the virtues of Miller's entry in the light beer category, it made the product look like the beer you wanted to be holding when you sports hero walked into the bar, whether it was Billy Martin or John Madden. Comic relief often came in the form of the loveable loser, former major league catcher and Brewers play-by-play man Bob Uecker. For Bud, the angle was simple…"You work hard and you deserve an ice cold beer. Let me get that for you." While Bud has changed its campaigns frequently, the tag still shows up, often paired with the famous Budweiser Clydesdale Team.

Winner: Miller Lite. But I'd rather drink a Guinness.

2) Winston Tastes Good Like a Cigarette Should or Version 2
vs.
7) Lucky Strike - Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet

It's time now for two of the most shameful ad campaigns of all time. I do love a catchy jingle and Winston has one of the best of all time. And ethics be damned, let's get these cigarettes plugged on the biggest show on TV, even if it is a cartoon aimed at children.
As for Lucky Strike, "Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet" was a hugely successful campaign in the 1920s, responsible for a 200% increase in market share. Playing on people's vanity is always a good angle, but "smoke so you don't get fat" just feels wrong.

Winner: It's like picking Duke in my NCAA pool. Winston is the winner, but I don't feel good about it.

Tomorrow: Our last region, Consumer Products.

Today's Ad Madness Transportation Region match-ups are coming to you from Motor City USA, beautiful downtown Detroit! Seriously, I hear parts of Detroit aren't so bad.

1) Volkswagen "Think Small" or This One
vs.
8) Greyhound "Leave the driving to us."

In the age of the tail fins and rampant consumerism, the iconic Doyle Dane Bernbach print campaign to introduce the VW Bug made it possible to buy a small car and be happy about it. It embraced what was seen as a negative and, with a clever, self-deprecating soft sell, spun it all into a big positive. In doing so, it not only created a counter-culture icon, but changed the face of advertising. On the other side of the fence, the folks at Greyhound managed to make an 18 hour bus ride from Cincinnati to Birmingham, surrounded by a who's who of mental illness seem like a good idea.

Winner: Volkswagon in a walk.

4) Fed Ex "Fast Talker"
vs.
5) Avis "We Try Harder"

These days we take overnight delivery for granted, but half of our staff at CurrentMarketing remembers when overnight delivery meant getting in your car and driving a package where it needed to go. (The other half of our staff doesn't remember life without Cable TV, but we tolerate them, even if they don't know the difference between Green Day and Morris Day.) In 1982, affordable overnight delivery was a fairly new concept and using motor mouth John Moschitta to communicate the speedy nature of the service was a stroke of genius. Avis faced a different challenge. For most people, being second isn't a selling point. It is something you don't even admit behind closed doors. For Avis, it was a legitimate reason for a consumer to give them a shot: "We're #2. We try harder." Brave…and successful.

Winner: Avis by a nose.

3) Isuzu "Joe Isuzu"
vs.
6) Saturn "A Different Kind of Company. A Different Kind of Car"

This is a battle of diametrically opposed forces. On one hand, you have Joe Isuzu, the stereotypical car salesman...making outlandish claims to sell a car. With counterpoint subtitles to tell the real story and reinforce the positive attributes of the automobiles, they made for funny, clever spots and made a second tier carmaker memorable. With Saturn, you had just the opposite. A car company that wasn't looking to "take you for a ride."
With no haggle dealerships and a warm and fuzzy connection with its customers that included annual owner reunions at their plant in Spring Hill TN, Saturn set themselves apart not with claims of a superior product, but with a superior relationship.

Winner: Isuzu. You have my word on it.

2) Chevrolet "See the USA in your Chevrolet"
vs.
7) American Tourister, "The Gorilla"

OK, so putting an ad for luggage in the transportations division is a bit of a stretch, but we couldn't have a list without a monkey ad, and this one is a classic. Watching a gorilla "go ape" on a suitcase was funny as a kid and it is funny now. On the other hand, you have Dinah Shore espousing all that is great with America. Less than a decade removed World War 2 and with the Interstate system just a few years away, America was ready to hit the road and Chevy gave them the push they needed. Car companies continue to go to the patriotic well, from "Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet" to "This is our country," but this campaign did it best.

Winner: Chevrolet. They just don't write jingles like that anymore.

Monday: smoke 'em if you got 'em. It's time for the Vice Region. Everything from cigarettes to chocolate. Stay tuned.

Hi. My name is Jim and I'm addicted to March Madness. There… I said it and I've taken the first step to recovery. For 3 weeks every spring, I have a lot of trouble thinking about anything else. I'm not proud of it and my wife's not happy about it.

So in keeping with the theme, I've put together an Ad Madness tournament, pitting 32 of the best ad campaigns of all time. Over the next 4 days, I'll break down each region's matchups and pick a winner. Next Friday, I'll narrow things down and pick a winner for the tournament.

Like Jimmy V used to say, "This tournament is about one thing: survive and advance." I've tried to limit entries to one campaign per product. (You could to a whole tournament with just Coca-Cola campaigns.) Just like in the tournament, with a limited number of spots, your favorite ad might not make the big dance. Feel like I've made an unforgivable omission? Did I give your favorite ad the shaft? Want to just lash out while hiding behind the anonymity of cyber space? Drop me a line and tell me all about it at jimdoesntcarewhatyouthink@yahoo.com.

So with that, let's take a look at the first round matchups in the Food & Drink Region, being played in Des Plaines, Illinois, home of Ray Kroc's first McDonald's Franchise:

1) McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today"
vs.
8) Burger King "Have it Your Way"

McDonald's is the 800lb gorilla in this tournament. Over the years, they have created an entire world of advertising characters led by the redheaded harbinger of high cholesterol himself, Ronald McDonald. They have one of the most recognizable icons in advertising, the golden arches. Their campaigns consistently have smart copy and catchy jingles. (I can still tell you how to make a Big Mac, and that jingle hasn't run in years.) On the other hand, Burger King comes into the tournament with a recent history of scattered campaigns, none of which seemed to gain any traction. (Hootie in a cowboy outfit anyone?) But in the 70's they had a rock-solid campaign with a solid point of differentiation, that they would make your burger the way you wanted it.

Winner: McDonalds in a rout.

4) Coca-Cola "Have a Coke and a Smile"
vs.
5) Maxwell House "Good to the Last Drop"

Mean Joe Greene faces off against The Wicked Witch of the West in this huge first round match up. The Joe Greene spot is a perennial favorite on top ad lists. It not only makes use of a huge sports icon of the time, but gets beyond the pigeonhole of sports marketing with a warm and fuzzy end that makes non-sports fans say "awwwww." On the other side, we have an ad that you just couldn't make today. Ten seconds in, the husband takes a cheap shot at his wife's coffee, in public no less. The pained look on the wife's face is so sad you have to laugh to keep from crying. (And you can almost here her thinking "You think it tastes bad now, wait until I add antifreeze to your mug tomorrow, you bastard!) Fortunately a 500-year-old Margaret Hamilton comes to the rescue with a cup of Maxwell House that makes everything better. And isn't that how every ad should work?

Winner: Coca-Cola in a nail-biter.

3) Wendys' "Where's the Beef?"
vs.
6) Life Cereal "Hey Mikey"

Wendy's had the catchphrase that was on everyone's lips and this ad made them a force in the burger wars. As much as I love a commercial featuring a pair of kids with speech impediments (something think you couldn't get past a focus group these days), not even Mikey liked his chances here.

Winner: Wendy's

2) Pepsi 'Pepsi Cola Hits the Spot"
vs
7) California Milk Processor Board "Got Milk?"

This is one of the best jingles in advertising history. (Pepsi-Cola hits the spot Twelve full ounces, that's a lot Twice as much for a nickle, too Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you.) Pepsi takes a 2 seed in the tournament, but they get matched up against the minimalist genius of the milk moustache and the and the 2 word poetry of "Got Milk." Bottom like: The ubiquitous milk campaign has perfected the celebrity endorsement and anyone who remembers the Pepsi jingle is in their late 60s and probably doesn't read many blogs, so…

Winner: Got Milk?

Tomorrow – The Transportation Region