Earlier today, we wrote of former Observer scribe-cum-"it" girl Jessica Joffe's magnificent dominance over the September issue of Glamour, having penned the cover interview and her advertisement for Banana Republic gracing the mag's back cover. With some help from the little sleuths over at Jossip, we're now able to reveal Joffe's much-anticipated modeling debut:
We never thought we'd write the following words, but: dear God, are we excited for the September issue of Glamour! And not just because we're looking for 100 looks for under $100, either. WWD reports that Jessica Joffe, the former Observer slave who has risen to Vogue fashionista and indie crooner Ryan Adams' fuckbuddy, not only interviews cover model Emmy Rossum but also leaves her well-heeled mark on the back cover, where her much-anticipated Banana Republic ad will debut.
We learned so much about heavy black ladies in this morning's Times. For instance, they're allowed to sell a variety of products ("Blacks regularly appear in commercials selling products as diverse as toothpaste, credit cards and erectile dysfunction medication."). They're often combative. ("Large black actresses have had recurring roles in commercials over the years, and often are cast in roles where their aggressiveness is a defining trait."). And even when they're docile or quiet, you know they're just waiting to explode ("She is not shown being aggressive or loud, but the commercial leaves the impression that if the man had given the wrong answer, she might have erupted.")
Villainous vigilante Bucky Turco of AnimalNY uncovers a sinister new front in the cultural war — T-bombing. The aNYthing blog spotted graffitist Espo (a.k.a. Steve Powers) at Bowery and Delancey Street, apparently mugging with a delivery truck he'd just tagged with the big-T logo of the New York Times' T style mag. We're guessing this is a stunt for the next T, which is all street now, yo. Espo confirmed his NYT involvement with a concise "Yes." Regardless of what you think of the magazine, that's a mighty nice gothic consonant.
TV Week reports that Court TV executive VP Charlie Collier "is leaving the network amid another round of layoffs at the network, which was acquired by Time Warner in May for $735 million. About a dozen staffers were affected in his round of layoffs, including senior managers in the network's human resources and legal departments."
• If you have a vagina, you probably enjoy reading about movie stars. [NYS]
• Analyst says Sumner Redstone should take Viacom private, stop showing repeats of MAD TV all damn day. [AdAge]
• TiVo wants to sell advertisers research on what commercials people watch. We're gonna save you a couple million bucks, Madison Avenue: it's the ones with tits or baby animals. You're welcome. [NYT]
If you've been to Grand Central today, you'll have seen the giant posters promoting investment in Germany and starring supermodel Claudia Schiffer. Not to be outdone, England has commissioned its own ad, starring native supermodel Naomi Campbell. You'll find it after the jump.
• Famous words from the world's best children's entertainer, who has now been sacked from PBS for once appearing in an abstinence parody wherein she said the following: "I've got big plans for my future: a good college, a career, maybe even my own business someday. But one thing I'm not planning on is getting pregnant. That's why I choose anal sex. I mean sure, it hurts a little, and I wind up walking funny for a day or two. But I think my future's worth it." [Salon]
• Scarlett Johansson signs a multi-year deal with Reebok to develop some sort of inevitably pink-hued clothing line called "Scarlett Hearts Rbk." Way to throw all of your hard work down the drain, missy. [Brandweek]
• Get Tabloid Wars — and Greg Gittrich — free on iTunes! [iTunes]
• Usefulness aside, we're getting a little sick of the 17 different star systems New York mag uses for their restaurant reviews. [Eater]
• Today in the world of inexplicable shit: Yvette Clarke has hired Ronn [sic] Torossian to help with her congressional campaign. [Daily Politics]
• OMG, so, like, Nick Lachey is totes gonna be on TRL tomorrow. We can't wait to watch Vanessa Minnillo go down on him in front of a live studio audience! [ONTD]
• Realizing that the industry has little potential for growth and pays poorly, men are getting out of the TV news game. Why would you stay if you had penis and all? [WP]
• Fox's new Internet strategy involves sticking the word "My" on every single property they own. [B&C]
• Ya know those Steven and Emily billboards? Turns out they were actually advertising. We know, we're are shocked as you are. [NYT]
New York commuters are likely familiar with this year's round of ads for the School of Visual Arts. "How Bad Do You Want to Be Good?" is the theme, with various posters and subway-car ceiling ads taking the theme in strange new directions. After the jump, the Williamsburger reaction, as sent in by a reader from Lorimer Street, "the second (or perhaps first) hippest subway stop in New York."
If you've left the house in the past few days, you've noticed the slightly aggressive Snickers campaign spreading throughout the streets, the hunger-inducing logo emblazoning cabs and bus stops with words like "NOUGATPOLIS" or "HUNGERECTOMY." Seriously, it can make Star Jones crazy — that shit's Pavlovian.
Working on the assumption that there's nothing you'd rather have your product associated with than a pile of puke, the marketing innovators at US Airways have announced plans to start selling space on their air-sickness receptacles, or, as they are more commonly known, barf bags. We're of the belief that this is a bad idea for a variety of reasons, but none more so than the initial campaign, a prototype of which we were able to obtain and now share with you.
Actually, it's kind of an improvement.
You remember the Times Square billboards that display secrets sent in by the confessionally minded? Too bad we didn't get a capture of this message actually on the billboard, but a tipster nevertheless caught its replay on the website accompanying the fine Secret deodorant ad campaign. Gawker Media's mandarin Nick Denton is no doubt pleased and titillated to know of his secret crush, regardless of the crusher's BO issues.
Okay, at this point we may as well admit the viral thing worked on us, because we've spent way too much time on figuring it out. After the jump, we give way too much advertising to a show that may or may not deserve it.
Remember the billboard we spoke of yesterday? Well, we are shocked - shocked - to find out that it's not all on the up-and-up, unless "Emily" and "Steven" have a bi-coastal thing going on. "Emily" has her own blog, which is kind of a half-assed set-up even for a campaign that is this poorly planned. But the question remains: What is this a campaign for?
Given that making fun of (or even mentioning) metrosexuals ceased to offer any sport or reward some time ago, it's good that we now have the entirely manufactured backlash against metrosexuality to mock. The New York Post is on stereotype-reinforcement patrol, never fear. Jokey masculinity experts like "Tucker Max" and "Maddox" have books to shill and brands to build, so get with the program and help American men get their balls back. Research indicated that manly men were "angry" that "advertisers were out of touch with their interests." Remember how enraged you were the last time an advertiser didn't cater to your interests? God, that pisses us off too. Hope awaits after the jump.
A few readers — or one marketing flack using several e-mail accounts — have/has sent us pictures of the following billboard on Houston near Katz's Deli. Clearly poor Emily is distraught, and feckless Steven has gotten his just desserts in a case of public humiliation. Or, you know, it's another douchebag viral ad designed to get people talking.
When unveiling a new deodorant campaign, one couldn't ask for a better lead-in than a motherhchristing heat wave like we're enjoying in New York. Lifting an idea better used elsewhere, P&G's Secret deodorant now has two giant billboards on either end of Times Square that will run "secrets" sent in by users for all to see. Send 'em via web or text message, or via on-site kiosks that will supposedly be ready tomorrow. Of course there will be a steady stream of inane bullshit, but surely a few gems will make it past whatever poor sap is in charge of editing these things before posting. If you see a particularly good, sad, sly, or dirty "secret" on the billboard, send legible photos of same to tips@gawker.com. We'll post any bad/good enough to warrant same.
