Slayterbox1748

Thomas the Tank Engine partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia to create interactive games that will help develop the emotional quotient of children with autism. Full Story

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I just came across a hilarious ad for Clear Shampoo. It is a battle of humans against evil dandruff warriors. I just thought it was creative because I had never seen something advertised this way. The video below is a must watch.

Everyone has seen popular products practically float through mass media. Product placement is a popular style of marketing, especially with today’s screen media.

In the television show Entourage, the only beer they drink is either Budweiser or Bud Light. In the upcoming film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 7-Eleven will have their product of the Slurpee drank by the main character on screen. This is an interesting tactic done by 7-Eleven.

Once the film is out in theaters, they will have a new kind of Slurpee titled “mutant-berry.” Hopefully this strategy will work. Entourage and their deal with Budweiser seems to work as that’s the only beer I buy now.

While Billy Mays has hocked countless Mighty Mendits, Big City Slider Stations, Handy Switches, Steam Buddies, Simoniz Fix Its!, and several other semi-useful products in the past few years, is it any wonder DC Snowboards and ESPN360.com have recruited the almighty infomercial man to be there spokesman?

Ashton Kutcher’s film production firm, Katalyst Media, has partnered up with Slide Inc. which creates social networking applications for Facebook. Kutcher has designed a short online series called “KatalystHQ” which will show viewers behind-the-scenes shots of the Los Angeles Katalyst offices.

KatalystHQ marks a changing online sphere, where Facebook is rivalling MySpace’s capacity to produce entertainment alongside social networking.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers deserve a standing ovation for their outstanding performance in this year’s Super Bowl, Slayterbox1748 would like to thank those at Hulu for hosting all the ads.

Here are some of my favorites:

Cars.com - David Abernathy

Hulu - Alec in Huluwood

Doritos - Power of the Crunch

Monster - Need a new Job?

Coke - Heist

As a proud native of Pittsburgh and a glorified Steelers fan, I felt it was necessary to give everyone out there a preview of what is to come in terms of the infamous commercials that air during the big game. Not everyone can remember the famous Coca-Cola commercial with Mean Joe Green from 1979, but this year Coca-Cola is planning to remake the commercial with Steelers safety, Troy Polamalu. This got me very excited because I cannot wait to see some hilarious commercials during the Super Bowl. Here is the original version as well as a link to some behind-the-scenes of the new version that will air on Sunday.

Behind-the-Scenes footage with Troy Polamalu.

‘Veggie Love’: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad

PETA’s newest ad, entitled “Veggie Love” was recently rejected by NBC for its excessive level of sexuality. Hoping to run the ad during the Super Bowl, PETA seems a bit disappointed.

Unbeknownst to this blogger, it seems that PETA has a history of saucy commercials that, for one reason or another, have been banned by television networks. Who knew?

“Infomercials Find Their Way to Television’s Prime Time”/ NYTimes / Stephanie Clifford

While ad revenues for virtually all companies plummet, the availability of Prime Time commercial slots have increased significantly.

As an essential source of income for virtually every form of media, executives at television networks like ABC, NBC and CBS are now forced to accept infomercials as quick alternatives to fill the vacancies. “But wait, there’s more!”

Running for a fraction of the cost of “normal” commercials, it looks like the major networks will have to starve for a while as the traditionally reliable clients like sports and pharmaceutical companies figure sh*t out.

On Thursday’s edition of “Hardball,” host Chris Matthews dissed blogs. As NY Daily News reporter Liz Benjamin cited blogs regarding a recent scandal with Caroline Kennedy and her suspicious withdrawal from consideration for the New York Senate seat, Matthews told her to “stick to journalism.”

For the record, Slayterbox1748 would like to thank Liz Benjamin for citing blogs, thus validating our purpose. Click the pic. for the Huffington Post article.

As New York Times columnist Brian Stelter wrote in December of 2008, many American news organizations have stopped sending correspondents to Iraq. But, while the interest in the war that has seemingly defined the States fades into oblivion, is another war ready to take its place? 

Though a long-standing animosity has existed between Israel and Palestine,  can we learn anything from the media coverage that “makes sense” of these events to the millions of those outside the Gaza strip?

Is American media coverage problematic? Do we play favorites? Greg Mitchell wrote an interesting editorial about this very issue on Huffington Post. Leave a comment and tell us what you think.

Looks like Viacom and Time Warner have come to an agreement regarding the increase in carriage fees. Turns out the media conglomerate, Viacom, will receive a 12% increase in fees - resulting in an extra $39 million. Not a bad Christmas present, if you ask me.

The good news is nobody suffered because of this disagreement and shows like “Dora the Explorer,” “The Colbert Report” and “The Hills” were aired as scheduled.  Read the full story at Huffington Post.

Time Warner Cable Loses Viacom: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central To Go Dark - R. Nakashima / 31 Dec. 2008 / Huffington Post

“Media giant Viacom Inc. said its Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and 16 other channels will go dark for 13 million subscribers at 12:01 a.m. Thursday if a new carriage fee deal with Time Warner Cable is not agreed upon by then.”

Yup. Turns out Time Warner Cable, the nation’s second-largest cable provider, wants to increase its carriage fees from 22 % to 36 % per channel. But what does this mean?

Well, if the deal isn’t worked out by January 1, 2009, programming like “The Daily Show” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” won’t be available! If the deal is worked out, those who watch television in New York state, the Carolinas, Ohio, Southern California and Texas may see a 23 cent per month hike in their cable bill. But, unless Time Warner Cable wants to hear the wrath of millions of hungover SpongeBob fans, Viacom and Time Warner make a deal.

Best and Worst Ads: A Year the News Eclipsed Commercial Breaks - NYTimes / S. Elliot / 28 Dec. 2008

The New York Times published an article yesterday regarding the high and low points of advertising in 2008. Citing an exceptional presidential campaign and the recent financial crisis, it seems that actual events eclipsed the commercials that traditionally dominate television screens.

“Overshadowing the best ads, but also drawing attention away from the worst,” companies like Coca-Cola, Burger King and Microsoft survived Obamania while Volkswagen and Toyota came up short in their attempts to capture American audiences.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran, delivered an [alternative] Christmas message yesterday on British television’s Channel 4. Though the broadcast congratulated “the followers of Abrahamic faiths, especially the followers of Jesus Christ,” the Iranian leader’s nationwide broadcast seemed to cause an uproar.

Looked down upon by many in the Western world for his blatant anti-Semetism and his continued efforts towards nuclear proliferation, President Ahmadinejad’s Christmas message called for happiness, peace and prosperity while condemning “the tyrannical policies of prevailing global, economic and political systems.”

Many claim the Iranian leader also made thinly veiled attacks against the United States, stating that Christ would have stood against “bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers.” Nonetheless, the controversial broadcast will complicate President-elect Barack Obama’s stance regarding the possibility of diplomacy with Iran.

Read more at HuffingtonPost.com or click the image for video.

Over the Holiday season, I always get a chance to see some great commercials that are holiday themed. There is always some sort of christmas light holiday commercial and I think they are pretty spectacular. This one is from Wal-Mart. It has all the essentials, the music, some lights, and some holiday cheer. Check it out. 

Here is a link to a bunch of 2008 Holiday Commercials. 

“COVERLOAD CNN, left, used to scroll news continuously at the bottom of the screen. It now has a more static approach” - B. Stetler / NYTimes / 20 Dec. 2008 .

The New York Times published an article yesterday regading the departure of one of cable news’ most [in]famous partners: the Crawl.

Apparently the “crush of news” sparked by the 9/11 terrorist attacks ushered in the constantly-updated-news era, and thus a graphics revolution. But does a less cluttered screen offer more to the viewer? Click the pic. to find out.

Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe is one of the most entertaining and informative shows on British television. Containing reviews of current shows, as well as stories and commentary on how the shows are produced, Screen Wipe is serious. Here’s a clip of Charlie “taking the piss” out of the popular, 24.

Sadly, those outside the UK have to settle for YouTube clips rather than video straight from the BBC’s website. Enjoy.

Washington Capitals Choose Web Producer to Fill in For Injured Goalie

 Here’s a story everyone can appreciate. With a man down and practically no time to spare before a big game against the Ottawa Senators last Friday, the Washington Capitals called upon Brett Leonhardt to fill in for an inured Jose Theodore. Of course, no one would suspect the 6′ 7″ former college goalie was none other than the Capital’s own Web site producer.

<– Click for story

In an effort to bolster the quality of original programming, MTV will release several “aspirational, enterprising and empowering” new series for 2009.  Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group says, “these new series reflect Generation ‘Why Not?’ — living, working and playing on their own terms, ‘adventure capitalists’ if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking, 2.0, express-yourself enterprises.”

For those curious, expect a new Donald Trump show where he will attempt to reform a group of party girls, “How’s Your News,” from Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame, and “The CollegeHumor Show,” which will shadow the “offbeat” workplace of the twentysomething-run Web site CollegeHumor.com.” More on this story at Reuters.