Category Archive: Media Watch
A Commercial a Day – Day 9: Capri Slims
I’m a little confused on this commercial for Capri Slims from 1995. We don’t allow cigarette commercials on TV in the U.S., but I don’t know what’s the norm in Canada. Lisa Whitaker was the stunt double for this commercial and she posted it. I contacted her for more info but it’s been over a week with no word yet. This commercial follows the typical “creative person amidst a sea of stuffed shirts finds an unusual way to take care of business.” Actually, it’s almost exactly like a Mentos commercial, except Capri Slims aren’t exactly a freshmaker. There’s nothing hotter than a barefoot career woman reeking of polyester, pantyhose, and cigarette smoke. Watch the commercial after the jump.
A Commercial a Day – Day 8: Audi TT (Car as Skateboard Part 3)
I get the whole deal with German engineering and all, but all I get from this commercial for the Audi TT is a sterile computer animation vibe. I barely noticed this when I saw it on TV. Catch the commercial and links to the other “Car as skateboard” posts after the jump.
A Commercial a Day – Day 7: Nike SB Chalk
What’s the deal with naming it Nike SB? I mean, do we ride skate boards or skateboards? Even if you have a beef with Nike getting back into skateboarding, you have to admit they have always done their commercials right, starting with the famous “what if we treated all athletes they way we treat skateboarders” series. Actually, I should have posted those first, but this newer ad is almost equally as good. I’m including Nike SB in this series because Nike is primarily a company that is not skateboarding centric. Catch the commercial and a behind the scenes vid after the jump. [Source: Brettner.com]
Switch Wilson or Fakie Wilson?
You be the judge. Watch this reporter take a hard slam on a skateboard while interviewing a BMX guy for the Dew Tour. Perhaps she should have gotten skateboard advice from a skateboarder instead. This happened on a local Portland newscast and somehow we got scooped. Catch this video without annoying aftermarket sound effects or Ebaums’ World screen tattoo after the jump.
A Commercial a Day – Day 6: Pierre Andre Yop Commercial
Yesterday we did Australia, so today we’re in Europe with Pierre Andre, the other, other freestyler. This is a commercial for a French yogurt drink called Yop. If it were English, it would have been appropriate to call it Fop, considering the fashion and demeanor of freestyle in the 80’s. The highlight of this commercial is the Primo slide, Primo being the other, other, other freestyler. More Pierre Andre love after the jump.
A Commercial a Day – Day 5: Sun Herald
Short, sweet, and to the point. This is a commercial for the Sun Herald newspaper. Which one? Well, it’s not the one in Mississippi or Florida, so that leaves the one in Australia. Heck of a nice backside 180 ollie. Catch the commercial after the jump.
A Commercial a Day – Day 4: LA Weekly Pool Skating
Here’s a short commercial for the free paper LA Weekly. LA Weekly is giving a nod to skateboarding culture without resorting to the easy way out with Extremeâ„¢ stereotypes. That’s what you’d expect with a “hip” paper. Appears to be shot on super 8 and looks authentic. Hmm… I wonder who made this. Sound familiar? Watch the video after the jump.
A World Without CEOs
A World Without CEOs is a response to A World Without Pros. It’s a good piss-take on the Blitz’ site, although it would have been better if it had stuck to rational argument instead of the occasional name calling and profanity. Not that I have anything against profanity in general, but in this case I think it’s counterproductive. I just think it would be more effective without calling the IASC a bunch of morons. The “Don’t sue me. I’m just a poor skateboarder” page is kind of weak too. If you are going to make a statement, stand by it and don’t include a “just kidding” as an afterthought.
A Commercial a Day – Day 3: It ain’t Coca-Cola, it’s rice.
Coca-Cola Road Trip: I think this aired in the summer of 2006. In the story line, some kids get bored building their miniramp so they go on a road trip to find some full pipes in the desert. They skate for five minutes and get kicked out. Someone did some cultural research, throwing in terms like “desert water project” and having full pipes in the first place, except the pipes are small and metal. The punch line is “At least someone got to skate.” Gee, maybe if you hadn’t brought seven guys to the session in the middle of the day it wouldn’t have been a problem. These kids need to learn about stealth. All in all though, a fairly innocuous effort. Catch the video after the jump.
Sony patents something already invented by college kids
Remember that Sony patent we reported on for a vehicle steerable by movement of center of gravity? Well, Sony may have an artist’s conception of a stick figure snowman riding one, but some college kids at UBC (where?) have video footage of pretty much the same device that they made and actually rode back in February of 2005. Patent law in the U.S. is one big mess. I’m sure these kids will get screwed. No matter, it’s not like the devices are going to become popular. Catch the video after the jump.











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