YumSugar

Bud Light's "In the Can" Commercial Aims Below the Belt

YumSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:50:16 -0700

To promote its new Bud Light Lime cans, Anheuser-Busch is getting the word out through an interesting campaign that takes raunchiness to the next level. The online commercial features confessions of people who claim they enjoy "getting it in the can."

Industry vets have called the spot a "wannabe viral video" that's "crude" and "juvenile." Personally, I was entertained the first time I saw it - though it doesn't make me want to run to the store to buy Bud Light Lime. What do you think? Is this marketing ploy childish and gross, or a laughable campaign that you can get behind?

Source: Flickr User KeyExpert

Yummy Links: From Tom's Commercial to Momofuki's Milk

partysugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:50:01 -0700

Tom Colicchio is now starring in an American Express commercial. - Eat Me Daily
One writer's search for the perfect wok. - Serious Eats
Must make: grilled chocolate sandwich - Chow
Love Frank Bruni? Now you can make his mother's pesto recipe. - Mouthing Off
Would you eat this pizza in a cone? - Grub Street
Get excited for football season by stocking up on the latest tailgating gear. - The Epi-Log
David Chang's Momofuki Milk Bar is now selling flavored milk to go. - Eater

Hardee's Is Back With Biscuit Holes and High School Humor

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:50:32 -0700

If you were shocked by Audrina Partridge and Padma Lakshmi's lascivious Carl's Jr. commercials, then wait until you see what the company's up to now. Hardee's, the sister brand to Carl's Jr., has debuted "Biscuit Holes," deep-fried, doughnut hole-shaped biscuits that are iced with cinnamon sugar. To come up with a more creative moniker, however, Hardee's is asking customers for help through a new campaign titled "Name Our Holes." Customers can submit their name ideas on the campaign's microsite, NameOurHoles.com, where they can also view other entries.

In the TV spot below, consumers offer up names ranging from "hole munchers" to "puffy nuts." I don't know about you, but I think Hardee's is taking toilet humor a little too far - just watching the clip makes me feel kind of dirty. In your mind, is the campaign funny and successful, or simply gross and immature?

Source

Audrina Patridge Promotes the Carl's Jr. "Bikini Burger"

partysugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:50:03 -0700

Earlier this month we saw a behind the scenes video of The Hills star, Audrina Patridge, filming a new Carl's Jr. advertisement. The completed commercial was released yesterday. The ad is for the limited edition Teriyaki Burger and pays tribute to Patridge's amazing physique. She claims that she has to give up everything to have such a great bikini bod, but the one thing she can't live without is of course, the Teriyaki Burger with grilled pineapple. While I certainly don't believe that Patridge consumes burgers at the beach on a regular basis, I think she looks sexy and find the ad far less offensive than Paris Hilton's disgustingly seductive commercial. Check it out below and let me know what you think. Is it great or gross?

Burger King Apologizes For Controversial Commercial

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:00:21 -0700

Burger King announced yesterday that it was revising controversial ads for its Texican Whopper in England and Spain after Mexico's ambassador spoke out against the campaign, calling it offensive. The commercials promoted the Europe-only Texican Whopper, a burger with chili con carne, jalapeños, onion, lettuce, a wheat bun, and Cajun mayonnaise. They featured an American cowboy and a pocket-sized wrestler wearing a cape that resembles the Mexican flag. Jorge Zermeno, the Mexican ambassador to Spain, called the chain's ads damaging to the country's image and its flag.

In a letter to Burger King's Spanish division, Zermeno asked that the commercials be removed from the air because they "improperly used the stereotyped image of a Mexican.” In response, the burger chain released a statement saying it was revamping its campaign: "The revised campaign will focuses solely on the Texican Whopper sandwich and will not feature any characters or the use of the Mexican flag. The revised campaign will be on air and in restaurants as soon as commercially possible.”

I don't find this commercial shocking or surprising, given Burger King's track record of eyebrow raising advertisements, from the recent Sir Mix-a-Lot spot to last year's Whopper Virgins. After watching the video below, tell me: Do you think Burger King made the right move?

Source

Foodie Flashback: Learn How to Style a Burger

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:03:33 -0700

I was ~~wasting my time on~~ checking out YouTube when I came across this video clip from Buy Me That! an old 1980s special that taught kids the tricks in advertising. In this particular clip a "makeup artist for food" - these days they would be known as a food stylist - teaches everyone how to make burgers look tasty and delicious. The key is to cook them for only 20 seconds on each side, and to mark them with skewers. Oh and if it's too tiny, just rip it and spread it out, no one will know. To check out the video and see if you know all the tricks, just read more.

Have a Happy Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:18:11 -0700

Last Fall, Kraft ran a Happy Sandwich video contest, where they asked customers to create 15-second commercials. The commercials all had the theme "Happy Sandwich" - which is a grilled Kraft slice cheese sandwich - and the entries ranged from really fun to downright weird. The 383 entries were then judged and rated until a winner was chosen. That winner is Chris Gianelloni from Metairie, Louisiana and in addition to winning $50,000, he'll proudly be able to see his surreal video on national television. In it a cheese sandwich puts himself into a tanning bed and gets all gooey. It's cute enough, but if I saw this commercial on TV I would definitely do a double take. To see it for yourself, read more.

Foodie Flashback: Fresh Goes Better!

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0700

BellaSugar recently rented a cute Smart Fortwo car - be sure to check out her adventures. Hearing about the car's tiny size made me think of the scene in that old Mentos commercial. You know, the one where the girl's teeny tiny car gets wedged into a parking spot and she needs four burly dudes to come help her out? Well it's been running through my brain all week, and I think the only way to remove it is to share it with all of you. After all "fresh goes better" with friends, no?

If you're ready for this Foodie Flashback, then just read more.

Amy Sedaris's Rabbit Rescue

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:13:31 -0800

A friend of mine sent me this video of Amy Sedaris and her rabbits at their cupcake shop. And to be totally honest, it's one of the best things I've seen in a long time. The video is actually a commercial for the latest version of Microsoft Office, but the whole first half features them behind the scenes at their cupcake shop. Little fluffy bunnies making cupcakes on conveyer belt-like devices? Does it get any better than that? I don't know about you, but my dream cupcake shop would definitely be powered by an army of rabbits.

To check out the adorably kitschy cupcake shop video, read more.

Foodie Flashback: Brad Pitt Has the Fever

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:01:31 -0800

I was trolling around YouTube looking for a fun foodie flashback, when I struck gold. In a before he was famous moment, Brad Pitt is seen here hawking Pringles potato chips. The commercial itself is actually a bit weird. Three surfer dudes are cruising around in a convertible, run out of Pringles, which makes their car break down. Luckily three bikini babes arrive armed with a sackful of Pringles, they all hang out, eat the chips and then when the Pringles are gone, the dudes hop in their car and drive away. If you're interested to see this 1980's food spectacle for yourself, read more.